Meet New Member Eleanor Bartsch, Violin

Violinist Eleanor Bartsch joined our 1st violin section after auditioning last spring. She kindly answers some questions so we can get to know her better. Welcome Eleanor!

Where are you from and what made you fall in love with the violin?

I’m originally from St. Paul, Minnesota. I come from a musical family - my dad is a pianist and organist and my mom is a violinist and Suzuki violin teacher, so it was in my blood! My sister and I grew up totally immersed in a musical life with many inspiring musicians coming in and out of the house- friends, family members, colleagues and students of my parents (including many opera singers my dad accompanied and coached!). We attended many, many concerts, rehearsals, religious services, gigs, lessons and coachings since before I can remember. My dad’s piano and organ benches were full of coloring books. Fun fact - my sister is also a professional violinist who plays in the Sydney (Australia) Symphony!

Do you have a musical mentor who was important to you?

I was fortunate to have many amazing mentors and teachers in music (maybe it “takes a village” to nurture young artists). My first violin teachers, Ellen and Young-Nam Kim, were huge influences. I started Suzuki violin at age 4 with Ellen, who is a wonderful, gifted teacher and also extremely patient! Young-Nam is a beautiful musician who studied with many amazing and important violinists like Louis Krasner (who premiered the Berg and Schoenberg violin concerti!). He helped me find my own musical voice by, among many other things, fostering my love of “the old guys” with amazing stories and also a deep and continuing love and appreciation of new music and of chamber music.

Later, I attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and studied with David Perry, who I think is probably the best violinist in the world. His thoughtful approach to the instrument helped me grow so much as a player and musician. I still consider him a mentor and dear friend and even get to play with him sometimes now. I try not to “fangirl” too hard. Play it cool, Bartsch!!

What other musical activities do you enjoy outside of Lyric?

Before I won the job at Lyric, I had lived in Chicago for 9 years and worked as a freelance violinist and teacher in the area (I also subbed in Lyric quite a bit!). I am fortunate to be able to keep doing many of those activities as I’m able, including performing, touring and recording with my string quartet, the Kontras Quartet. I also teach violin at Elmhurst University, occasionally play with other groups around town like the Chicago Philharmonic and Music of the Baroque, and enjoy exploring interesting solo and chamber projects. I love the rich variety of my career, but always can’t wait to get back into the pit and dig into the next great opera!

If you were left on a desert island what 3 pieces of music would you bring with you?

Brahms 4th Symphony

Schumann "Dichterliebe"

Mozart Clarinet Quintet

(but then I snuck in Schoenberg "Varklärte Nacht", all the Bartók string quartets, Beethoven "Eroica", Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet, the Bach Passions, Mendelssohn Octet, and D’Angelo’s entire discography as stowaways!!!!! There - now it’s a playlist.)

When you’re not practicing the violin, what do you like to do?

These days, I like to explore everything Chicago has to offer with my husband and 4-year-old extremely opinionated “poogle” (beagle/poodle), Daisy. I also enjoy Facetime-ing with my two adorable Aussie nephews, hitting up new galleries, coffee shops, and restaurants with friends, cooking, reading, writing, traveling, trying not to spend too much time scrolling on social media, and passively keeping up with sports (mostly the Minnesota Twins, Green Bay Packers, and Badger everything, but coming around to Chicago sports).