Prestigious Music Institute Academy Moves To Evanston For 19th Season

EVANSTON, IL — The Music Institute of Chicago’s pre-college academy program for advanced string and piano students is set to relocate to the Music Institute’s Evanston campus at 1490 Chicago Ave. as it begins its 19th season.

The move brings the institute's program into a single facility and offers students the chance to rehearse and perform at the historic Nichols Concert Hall, according to Sue Polutnik, the executive director of the academy and the vice president of the Music Institute.

“While we’ve enjoyed the pastoral setting at Lake Forest College these past few years, consolidating the program into one building, our Evanston campus, offers Academy students the ability to rehearse where they perform orchestra and chamber music concerts—in our historic Nichols Concert Hall,” Polutnik said in a statement. “And their presence will offer inspiration to our younger students taking lessons at that campus."

The Academy is a nationally recognized training center for pre-college musicians, known for its rigorous curriculum and intensive focus on students aspiring to become professional musicians.

The program runs from September through May and includes private lessons, chamber music, orchestra experience and music theory training.

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Its 2024–25 roster includes 25 young violinists, violists, cellists and pianists, along with additional cellists and bassists taking part in its chamber music and the academy orchestra programs.

This year, it includes students from six U.S. states, as well as Romania.

Back in 2021, the academy relocated from the John D. Harza building, which is owned by the Ravinia Festival Association, to the campus of Lake Forest College.

Earlier: Music Institute Moves From Ravinia To Lake Forest College

Beyond the classroom, several academy alumni have gone on to achieve international success.

Among them, Johannes Gray won second prize in the XXIV International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in Leipzig, Germany, while Julian Rhee received a 2024 Avery Fisher Career Grant.

Rhee and fellow alum Joshua Brown also competed in the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition earlier this year, where Brown won second prize.

At least five free concerts at Nichols Concert Hall are scheduled for the 2024-25 season, including performances from the academy orchestra on Nov. 16, March 15 and May 17 and academy chamber music concerts on Dec. 7 and May 3. All shows are at 7:30 p.m.