Eleanor Bartsch
Praised for her “clarion tone and technical aplomb” (Chicago Classical Review), Eleanor Bartsch is a member of the first violin section of the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra. Bartsch is also first violinist of the beloved Chicago-based Kontras String Quartet, with whom she has toured the US and Europe, released two albums and frequently appeared on classical WFMT Chicago 98.7.
A passionate music educator and advocate, she joined the faculty as Professor of Violin and Head of Strings at Elmhurst in 2023. Previously, she was an artist in residence and chamber coach at Western Michigan University. She has given masterclasses and clinics at University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Chicago (School of Music and Booth School of Business), University of California-San Diego, University of Oregon School of Music and Dance and many others. Additionally, she has taught hundreds of music learners of all ages for 15+ years as a private instructor, chamber and orchestral coach, masterclass clinician, pre-concert lecturer and through participation in many meaningful community engagement initiatives.
Prior to her appointment at the Lyric Opera, Bartsch was concertmaster of the Dubuque Symphony and associate concertmaster of the Elgin Symphony. As a soloist, she has performed with many regional Midwest orchestras, including the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Dubuque Symphony, Elgin Symphony, Chicago Philharmonic, and many others. She has appeared as a frequent guest in the nation’s top orchestras, chamber festivals and concert series nationwide, including the Grant Park Festival Orchestra, Music of the Baroque, Milwaukee, Nashville and Cincinnati Symphonies, Minnesota Orchestra, Aspen Music Festival and serving as guest concertmaster of the Chicago Philharmonic, Chicago Opera Theater Orchestra, Toledo Symphony and Joffrey Ballet orchestra.
Originally from St. Paul, MN, Bartsch did her schooling at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a Paul Collins Distinguished Graduate Fellow studying violin performance with David Perry and business entrepreneurship. She returns to Madison each summer as co-founder and violinist of the Willy Street Chamber Players summer music festival, which is now in its eleventh season.