Prominent Musicians Join Music Institute Academy Faculty

The Music Institute of Chicago will welcome two new faculty members, cellist Richard Hirschl and violinist Ilya Kaler, to its prestigious Academy program for gifted pre-college musicians. Founded in 2006, the Academy's instructional model places significant focus on the student-teacher relationship. The 25 carefully assembled faculty members include teaching artists with a passion for developing young talent and established reputations for nurturing student achievement.

"I am eager to join the outstanding faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago's Academy," said cellist Richard Hirschl. "The students I know who have attended the Academy have been so well served that I am delighted to be associated with such a fine institution."

Richard Hirschl earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from The Juilliard School, where he studied with Leonard Rose and Channing Roberts. He went on to serve as an associate teacher at Juilliard before moving to Chicago and joining the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's cello section in 1989. Full bio follows below.

Ilya Kaler, currently professor of violin at DePaul University, has won Gold Medals at three of the world's most prestigious competitions: Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, and Paganini. He earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Moscow Conservatory. He served as concertmaster of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra as well as guest concertmaster with the Aspen Music Festival and the Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Baltimore Orchestras. Full bio follows below.

"I am happy to be joining the Academy faculty of the Music Institute of Chicago," said Kaler. "This distinguished organization has produced hundreds of outstanding musicians during its existence, unparalleled by any in the world. I strongly believe it to be a cultural pillar of the community, contributing enormously to the growth and education of our children. I am greatly looking forward to working side by side with my outstanding colleagues at the Music Institute."