Pocket Philharmonic

07/24/2025

🚨‎ LAST‎ CALL!‎ 🚨
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⁣Tomorrow‎ is‎ the‎ final‎ day‎ to‎ apply‎ for‎ the‎ NEXUS‎ Chamber‎ Music‎ Internship!
⁣Are‎ you‎ (or‎ someone‎ you‎ know,‎ age‎ 19–22)‎ passionate‎ about‎ music‎ and‎ curious‎ about‎ what‎ it‎ takes‎ to‎ run‎ a‎ festival‎ or‎ work‎ in‎ arts‎ administration?‎ This‎ is‎ your‎ chance‎ to‎ gain‎ hands-on‎ experience‎ with‎ a‎ world-class‎ music‎ organization.
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⁣📩‎ Send‎ your‎ application‎ materials‎ to‎ [email protected]‎ today!
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10/17/2024

The‎ reviews‎ are‎ in…‎ Check‎ out‎ these‎ student‎ reflections‎ from‎ our‎ October‎ 4th‎ concert.‎
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10/07/2024

What‎ an‎ unforgettable‎ day!‎ On‎ Friday,‎ over‎ 350‎ Chicago‎ school‎ children‎ blew‎ us‎ away‎ with‎ their‎ energy‎ and‎ enthusiasm‎ during‎ our‎ “Old‎ School,‎ New‎ Faces”‎ program!‎ Hosting‎ such‎ a‎ massive‎ event‎ would‎ not‎ have‎ been‎ possible‎ without‎ our‎ sponsor‎ ‎ or‎ the‎ incredible‎ help‎ of‎ Raul‎ Fernandez‎ and‎ the‎ volunteers‎ at‎ .‎ 🎵 Stay‎ tuned‎ for‎ exciting‎ content‎ coming‎ up!‎
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10/03/2024

☀️‎ Meet‎ Susi‎ ☀️
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⁣❓What‎ is‎ one‎ of‎ your‎ favorite‎ pieces‎ to‎ play‎ and‎ how‎ do‎ you‎ feel‎ when‎ playing‎ it?
⁣☀️My‎ favorite‎ piece‎ is‎ Mahler‎ 1‎ and‎ it‎ is‎ always‎ interesting‎ experience‎ to‎ play.‎ The‎ large‎ scale‎ of‎ the‎ orchestra‎ creates‎ a‎ powerful‎ sound‎ and‎ the‎ emotional‎ range‎ of‎ the‎ work‎ is‎ immense,‎ demanding‎ a‎ lot‎ from‎ the‎ musicians‎ technically‎ and‎ dynamically.‎ It‎ is‎ a‎ staple‎ of‎ the‎ repertoire‎ and‎ always‎ a‎ challenge.
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⁣Meet‎ Susi‎ tomorrow‎ at‎ Old‎ Town‎ School‎ of‎ Folk‎ music!‎
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⁣❓What‎ draws‎ you‎ to‎ playing‎ chamber‎ music?‎
⁣☀️I‎ love‎ playing‎ chamber‎ music‎ because‎ it’s‎ a‎ fun‎ challenge‎ that‎ lets‎ me‎ connect‎ with‎ other‎ musicians‎ on‎ a‎ deeper‎ level.‎ When‎ you’re‎ playing‎ in‎ a‎ small‎ group,‎ everyone’s‎ part‎ is‎ important‎ and‎ you‎ really‎ have‎ to‎ listen‎ to‎ each‎ other‎ to‎ make‎ the‎ music‎ work.‎ It’s‎ also‎ really‎ rewarding‎ to‎ work‎ together‎ to‎ create‎ something‎ beautiful‎ and‎ moving.‎ Plus,‎ chamber‎ music‎ concerts‎ are‎ usually‎ in‎ smaller,‎ more‎ intimate‎ venues,‎ which‎ I‎ enjoy.
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⁣Meet‎ Susi‎ TOMORROW‎ at‎ Old‎ Town‎ School‎ Of‎ Folk‎ Music!‎
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10/03/2024

♦️‎ Meet‎ Charlene‎ ♦️
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⁣💬What‎ draws‎ you‎ to‎ playing‎ chamber‎ music?
⁣🎻I‎ feel‎ alive‎ when‎ I‎ play‎ chamber‎ music.‎ Chamber‎ music‎ is‎ the‎ perfect‎ blend‎ of‎ individual‎ voices‎ functioning‎ together‎ as‎ collective.‎ Since‎ there‎ is‎ no‎ “boss”or‎ constant‎ leader,‎ we‎ all‎ have‎ to‎ work‎ together,‎ making‎ decisions‎ democratically‎ and‎ sharing‎ leadership‎ responsibilities.‎ In‎ great‎ chamber‎ music‎ playing,‎ it‎ is‎ true‎ magic‎ when‎ the‎ voices‎ work‎ together‎ to‎ create‎ a‎ piece‎ of‎ art‎ that‎ is‎ greater‎ than‎ the‎ individual‎ part.
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⁣💬What‎ helps‎ you‎ connect‎ to‎ the‎ music‎ you‎ are‎ playing?
⁣🎻I‎ always‎ start‎ with‎ the‎ score‎ -‎ looking‎ at‎ the‎ notes,‎ harmonies,‎ melodies,‎ expressive‎ marks.‎ All‎ of‎ these‎ things‎ give‎ me‎ clues‎ for‎ how‎ the‎ music‎ can‎ be‎ shaped‎ into‎ sentences‎ and‎ paragraphs‎ and‎ ideas‎ to‎ express‎ the‎ music’s‎ characters‎ or‎ feelings.‎ Then‎ finding‎ out‎ what‎ the‎ composer‎ was‎ thinking‎ about‎ or‎ going‎ through‎ when‎ they‎ were‎ writing‎ the‎ music‎ gives‎ me‎ the‎ context‎ for‎ what‎ I‎ think‎ and‎ feel‎ about‎ the‎ music.‎ When‎ it‎ comes‎ time‎ to‎ play‎ the‎ music,‎ I‎ put‎ my‎ energy‎ into‎ expressing‎ all‎ these‎ feelings‎ and‎ thoughts‎ through‎ my‎ violin.
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⁣Hear‎ Charlene‎ play‎ with‎ the‎ Pocket‎ Philharmonic‎ TOMORROW‎ at‎ Old‎ Town‎ School‎ of‎ Folk‎ Music!‎
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10/02/2024

We are so excited to feature our new partner Nova Linea Musica at Old Town School of Folk Music this Friday!

🎻 🎶 Get ready for a musical journey with the Pocket Philharmonic’s "Old School-New Faces" on October 4! 🎉 In collaboration with Guarneri Hall and Nova Linea Musica, this concert features the brilliant Rabia Brooke and Alexander Hersh as soloists along with a stunning ensemble of local Chicago musicians! 🌟 Don’t miss this blend of classic and contemporary October 4 at Old Town School of Folk Music !

10/02/2024

💭What‎ is‎ one‎ of‎ your‎ favorite‎ pieces‎ to‎ play‎ and‎ how‎ do‎ you‎ feel‎ when‎ playing‎ it?
⁣⭐️One‎ reason‎ why‎ I‎ am‎ attracted‎ to‎ my‎ instrument‎ is‎ because‎ of‎ the‎ Sibelius‎ Violin‎ Concerto.‎ I‎ feel‎ that‎ I‎ can‎ create‎ a‎ magical‎ and‎ distant‎ sound-world‎ that‎ captures‎ the‎ listener‎ from‎ the‎ opening‎ theme.‎ I‎ love‎ that‎ I‎ am‎ able‎ to‎ express‎ a‎ wide‎ variety‎ of‎ dynamic‎ ranges‎ in‎ the‎ movements,‎ portraying‎ fire‎ and‎ ice.
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⁣💭‎ What‎ draws‎ you‎ to‎ playing‎ chamber‎ music?‎
⁣⭐️Chamber‎ music‎ is‎ an‎ essential‎ component‎ of‎ my‎ life‎ as‎ a‎ violinist‎ and‎ violist.‎ I’m‎ inspired‎ by‎ the‎ repertoire,‎ especially‎ late‎ Beethoven‎ and‎ Bartók‎ and‎ Quartets,‎ and‎ I’m‎ attracted‎ by‎ the‎ collaborative‎ nature‎ of‎ rehearsals‎ –‎ the‎ exchange‎ of‎ ideas‎ with‎ fellow‎ musicians‎ as‎ we‎ bring‎ old‎ masterpieces‎ and‎ new‎ works‎ to‎ life.
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⁣You’ll‎ have‎ two‎ chances‎ to‎ catch‎ Rabia‎ of Nova Linea Musica with‎ a‎ double‎ feature‎ at‎ Old‎ Town‎ School‎ of‎ Folk‎ Music‎ THIS‎ FRIDAY,‎ October‎ 4‎ at‎ 10:30AM‎ and‎ 12:30PM!
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10/01/2024

🎼‎ Meet‎ Alex‎
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⁣💭What‎ draws‎ you‎ to‎ playing‎ chamber‎ music?
⁣🎤For‎ me‎ chamber‎ music‎ has‎ always‎ been‎ something‎ held‎ in‎ the‎ highest‎ regard.‎ I’m‎ the‎ 4th‎ generation‎ string‎ player‎ in‎ my‎ family‎ and‎ much‎ of‎ the‎ conversation‎ growing‎ up,‎ centered‎ around‎ chamber‎ music.‎ From‎ the‎ music‎ itself‎ to‎ the‎ relationships‎ forged‎ along‎ the‎ way,‎ chamber‎ music‎ has‎ remained‎ one‎ of‎ the‎ most‎ vital‎ things‎ in‎ my‎ life.
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⁣💭How‎ has‎ music‎ impacted‎ your‎ relationships‎ with‎ others?‎
⁣🎤Most‎ of‎ my‎ closest‎ friendships‎ formed‎ through‎ music.‎ People‎ who‎ I‎ first‎ met‎ at‎ music‎ camp‎ when‎ I‎ was‎ 14‎ years‎ old‎ remain‎ today‎ some‎ of‎ my‎ closest‎ friends.‎ It’s‎ amazing‎ how‎ many‎ friendships‎ one‎ can‎ make‎ through‎ this‎ craft‎ and‎ how‎ much‎ joy‎ and‎ meaning‎ this‎ box‎ of‎ wood‎ can‎ give‎ others‎ and‎ ourselves.
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⁣You‎ are‎ just‎ five‎ days‎ away‎ from‎ meeting‎ Alex‎ in-person‎ at‎ Old‎ Town‎ School‎ of‎ Folk‎ Music‎ (Friday,‎ October‎ 4,‎ 2024).‎
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09/29/2024

Meet‎ Momo‎ 📯
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⁣❔Describe‎ a‎ musical‎ experience‎ when‎ the‎ collaboration‎ went‎ well.
⁣🎵I’ve‎ just‎ released‎ my‎ second‎ album‎ with‎ a‎ jazz‎ guitarist,‎ as‎ a‎ classical‎ French‎ hornist.‎ I‎ would‎ say‎ that‎ the‎ collaboration‎ went‎ well‎ on‎ the‎ basis‎ that‎ the‎ finished‎ product‎ resonates‎ with‎ us‎ both‎ of‎ us,‎ and‎ because‎ we‎ continue‎ to‎ work‎ together.‎ I‎ think‎ we‎ were‎ successful‎ in‎ our‎ goal‎ of‎ playing‎ meaningfully‎ together‎ through‎ authenticity,‎ openness,‎ and‎ a playful attitude-‎ mainly,‎ being‎ willing‎ to‎ explore‎ the‎ possibilities‎ and‎ ambiguities‎ of‎ an‎ unusual‎ instrument‎ pairing.‎
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⁣❔How‎ do‎ you‎ connect‎ with‎ the‎ music‎ you‎ are‎ playing?‎
⁣🎵I‎ connect‎ to‎ the‎ music‎ I’m‎ playing‎ by‎ relating‎ similarities‎ and‎ differences‎ to‎ the‎ music‎ that‎ I‎ enjoy‎ listening‎ to/have‎ heard‎ before,‎ as‎ well‎ as‎ learning‎ or‎ imagining‎ what‎ the‎ composer‎ meant‎ by‎ their‎ composition.
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⁣You’ll‎ have‎ two‎ chances‎ to‎ meet‎ Momo‎ at‎ Old‎ Town‎ School‎ of‎ Folk‎ Music‎ Friday,‎ October‎ 4‎ at‎ 10:30AM‎ and‎ 12:30PM!
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09/29/2024

🎶‎ Meet‎ Vincent‎ 🎶
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⁣❓How‎ has‎ music‎ impacted‎ your‎ relationships‎ with‎ others?‎
⁣⭐️I‎ find‎ that‎ music‎ has‎ helped‎ me‎ learn‎ how‎ to‎ have‎ fun‎ while‎ getting‎ good‎ work‎ done!‎ Playing‎ music‎ is‎ a‎ uniquely‎ diligent‎ and‎ expressive‎ field,‎ and‎ I‎ learn‎ so‎ much‎ from‎ my‎ peers‎ while‎ also‎ seeing‎ a‎ goofier‎ side‎ of‎ them.
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⁣❓What‎ draws‎ you‎ to‎ playing‎ chamber‎ music?‎
⁣⭐️Chamber‎ music‎ is‎ the‎ best!‎ In‎ my‎ opinion,‎ it‎ is‎ the‎ most‎ collaborative‎ form‎ of‎ music,‎ and‎ is‎ quite‎ easily‎ accessible‎ to‎ the‎ public,‎ as‎ opposed‎ to‎ full‎ orchestras‎ that‎ require‎ lots‎ of‎ organization.‎ I‎ am‎ definitely‎ an‎ advocate‎ for‎ making‎ music‎ more‎ accessible,‎ and‎ to‎ have‎ a‎ chance‎ to‎ elevate‎ chamber‎ music‎ with‎ the‎ Pocket‎ Philharmonic‎ is‎ very‎ exciting.
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⁣Meet‎ Vincent‎ on‎ Friday,‎ October‎ 4‎ at‎ Old‎ Town‎ School‎ of‎ Folk‎ Music!
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09/24/2024

🎶‎ Meet‎ Christian‎ 🎶
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⁣What‎ draws‎ you‎ to‎ playing‎ chamber‎ music?‎
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⁣‎ ‎ ‎ I‎ love‎ the‎ intimacy‎ of‎ chamber‎ music.‎ There‎ is‎ a‎ lot‎ of‎ opportunity‎ to‎ connect‎ deeply‎ with‎ other‎ musicians‎ and‎ the‎ audience‎ when‎ the‎ ensemble‎ is‎ paired‎ down.‎ It‎ can‎ feel‎ more‎ personal‎ than‎ a‎ larger‎ ensemble.‎
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⁣What‎ helps‎ you‎ connect‎ to‎ the‎ music‎ you’re‎ playing?‎
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⁣‎ ‎ ‎ For‎ me‎ it‎ is‎ a‎ feeling.‎ It‎ is‎ hard‎ for‎ me‎ to‎ feel‎ connected‎ to‎ a‎ piece‎ if‎ it‎ does‎ not‎ make‎ me‎ feel‎ anything.‎ It‎ doesn’t‎ always‎ have‎ to‎ be‎ a‎ good‎ feeling,‎ but‎ hopefully‎ I‎ can‎ feel‎ something.‎
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09/19/2024

Meet‎ Lidanys‎ 🎻
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⁣How‎‎ has‎‎ music‎‎ impacted‎‎ your‎‎ relationships‎‎ with‎‎ others?‎‎
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⁣Music‎ has‎ taken‎ me‎ to‎ places‎ where‎ I‎ meet‎ people‎ from‎ different‎ parts‎ of‎ the‎ world.‎ It’s‎ interesting‎ to‎ get‎ to‎ know‎ their‎ culture,‎ having‎ them‎ share‎ their‎ stories,‎ and‎ find‎ out‎ how‎ different‎ we‎ can‎ be,‎ in‎ terms‎ of‎ language,‎ beliefs,‎ and‎ ways‎ to‎ look‎ at‎ things.‎ Music‎ puts‎ us‎ together‎ where‎ we‎ can‎ communicate‎ in‎ one‎ unique‎ way.
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⁣What‎ draws‎ you‎ to‎ playing‎ chamber‎ music?
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⁣As‎ a‎ cellist,‎ I‎ enjoy‎ playing‎ chamber‎ because‎ having‎ the‎ job‎ of‎ being‎ the‎ bass‎ of‎ the‎ group‎ it’s‎ very‎ important‎ and‎ fun!‎ I‎ also‎ like‎ how‎ we‎ communicate‎ by‎ just‎ breathing,‎ eye‎ contact,‎ and‎ body‎ movement-‎ we‎ are‎ all‎ leaders!
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