Eleanor Bartsch

Praised for her “clarion tone and technical aplomb” (Chicago Classical Review), Eleanor Bartsch joined the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra’s first violin section in 2024. Bartsch is also first violinist of the Chicago-based Kontras Quartet, with whom she has toured the US and Europe, recorded two albums, made frequent appearances live on classical WFMT Chicago 98.7, and held residencies at multiple US higher learning institutions. She is a performing member and frequent principal player of the Chicago Philharmonic. 

Prior to her appointment at Lyric, Bartsch was concertmaster of the Dubuque Symphony from 2016-2023 and associate concertmaster of the Elgin Symphony since 2015. She has additionally led the Chicago Philharmonic, Joffrey Ballet Orchestra, Chicago Opera Theater Orchestra, and many others. She has appeared as a regular guest with the Minnesota Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Grant Park Orchestra, Music of the Baroque, and the Knights. As a soloist, she has performed with many regional Midwest orchestras including the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Dubuque Symphony, Elgin Symphony, Chicago Philharmonic, and others. 

A passionate educator and ambassador of music, Bartsch is Professor of Violin and Head of Strings at Elmhurst University. She has additionally taught hundreds of music learners of all ages as a private instructor, chamber and orchestral coach, masterclass clinician, pre-concert lecturer, and through participation in many meaningful community engagement initiatives. 

Bartsch co-founded Madison, Wisconsin’s Willy Street Chamber Players, an award-winning ensemble and summer festival with an emphasis on creating community through classical music. She is a frequent guest with chamber ensembles, series, and festivals nationwide. 

Born into a family of professional musicians and music educators, Bartsch began violin lessons at the age of 4 in her hometown of St. Paul, MN. She received her master’s degree in violin performance with a graduate certificate in business entrepreneurship from the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying violin with David Perry as a Paul Collins Distinguished Graduate Fellow. Bartsch also received her bachelor’s degree from UW-Madison with Perry. During that time, she spent summers studying with Paul Kantor at the Aspen Music Festival and won tenured positions with the Madison Symphony and Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. Her previous teachers were Ellen Kim and Young-Nam Kim.

 Last updated: July 12, 2024