We feature four graduating seniors from CYSO’s flagship orchestra on viola, horn, tuba and violin. Chloe Cohen, Elyse Schlesinger, Kevin Harte and Clara Frantzen at their final Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras concert, May 18, 2025. (Photos: Ed Spinelli.) Chloe Cohen is a 17-year-old violist from Chicago and a senior at Lincoln Park High School. They began playing the viola at age six and currently study with Danny Lai of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Professor Helen Callus of Northwestern University. Chloe serves as principal violist of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra’s flagship Symphony Orchestra and Classical Orchestral Repertory Ensemble, and is joining the ensemble on tour in Spain this June and at Lollapalooza later this summer. In addition to their work as a performer, Chloe is passionate about community leadership, musical and otherwise. They tutor beginning orchestra students at their school and are the founder and president of Lincoln Park’s Trans Advocacy Club, creating space for LGBTQ+ voices and visibility. A committed student, Chloe is also an Illinois State Scholar. This fall, they will begin a dual degree at Northwestern University in Political Science and Viola Performance. Credit: Ashley Deran. Elyse Schlesinger is an 18-year-old horn player. A senior at William Fremd High School in Palatine, her finalist performance in the 2024 Crain-Maling Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition played on Introductions in April 2024. She was also a finalist in the Ocala Symphony’s Young Artist Concerto Competition in Florida, and won the Fremd Concerto Aria Competition. Her horn quartet is a finalist in both the Elmhurst Concerto Competition and the CYSO Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. Elyse has participated in the ILMEA District and All-State festivals, earning top chairs in both the Honors Band and Honors Orchestra. This summer, she will join the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA), touring East Asia. She is currently Co-Principal Horn of Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras and participates in CYSO’s chamber music program, performing in both brass and woodwind quintets. This fall, she will attend the New England Conservatory, studying horn with Rachel Childers. Credit: Mazeltography. Kevin Harte, 17 of Arlington Heights, is a senior at John Hersey High School. He started playing the tuba at the age of 10. He has performed with Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, District 214 Honors Orchestra, ILMEA All State Honors Band, and other top youth ensembles. He received an honorable mention in the 2024 Crain-Maling Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition. His teachers have included Josh Wirt, Professor of Tuba at Elmhurst University, and his current teacher Serena Voltz of Axiom Brass. When he is not playing low notes in the back row, he can usually be found watching sports with his dad or listening to the works of his favorite composer, Gustav Mahler. In the fall, Kevin will begin a Tuba Performance degree at Carnegie Mellon University with Craig Knox of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Clara Frantzen is a violinist, composer, and conductor from Oak Park. They study violin with Rachel Brown and conducting with Anthony Barrese. As a violinist, Clara plays in the CYSO Symphony Orchestra and CORE as Principal Second Violin. Last year, Clara also played alongside Civic Orchestra musicians for the Chicago Youth in Music Festival. This year, Clara won their high school’s concerto competition with Ravel’s Tzigane, and as a jazz violinist they won an Outstanding Soloist Award at the 2024 Purdue Jazz Festival. Clara was the assistant conductor for Korngold’s opera Die Kathrin at University of Chicago, and conducted a vocal and instrumental group in the 2022 Korngold in Song concert. As a composer, Clara studies under Jessie Montgomery through the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Composers Initiative, they won first place in the 2025 ILMEA Composition Competition for instrumental large ensemble. This fall, Clara will be attending Boston Conservatory as a violin major and studying under Sharan Leventhal. Other Class of 2025 CYSO players appearing as soloists on Introductions are: – David Roche, viola; Diego Dahle, cello and Sarah Morris, clarinet on June 7, 2025 – Henry Auxenfans, violin on June 14, 2025 – Zoe Strange, flute on July 26, 2025. Additionally, highlights from these players’ last CYSO concert will air on July 19, 2025. The post Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras Class of 2025 appeared first on WFMT.
