ABOUT

Based in Schaumburg, IL, MPO offers world-class orchestral training to beginning, intermediate, and advanced musicians in the Chicagoland area.

Midwest String Orchestra

Preparatory orchestra for beginners and intermediate-level string musicians. MSO introduces the foundation of orchestral training and importance of collaboration among musicians.

Midwest Philharmonic Orchestra

Symphony orchestra for intermediate and advanced strings, winds, and percussion students.

Repertoire is selected from a wide range of mature, high-level pieces that require personal attention and self-discipline in each musician.

Midwest Chamber Orchestra (Formerly "Core")

Chamber orchestra that includes the most advanced players of MPO. Performing pieces for symphonies of smaller scale, MCO focuses on individual preparedness and the clarity of the ensemble as a whole to produce the top quality of music-making possible as students.

About the MPO Program

Established in 2007, the Midwest Philharmonic Orchestra has rapidly grown from a small group in the suburbs to one of the region’s premier youth orchestras, attracting students from all over Chicagoland. The MPO now tours internationally every other year and hosts up to four concerts per season at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin, Illinois, where it calls home. Committed to diversity and accessibility of music education, the MPO is home to one of the lowest tuition costs among competing regional youth orchestras. As a result of the program’s attention to quality music-making and collaboration, alumni of the program have become global leaders in music education and performance. The orchestra has performed at numerous prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Zankel Hall in New York City, Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles, Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center in Chicago, Peoria Civic Center as part of the 2022 Illinois All-State Conference (IMEC), the TODAY Show in New York City, Detroit’s “Summer in the Park,” and overseas in Austria in the cities of Vienna, Salzburg, and Hallstatt. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the orchestra was scheduled to embark on their second international tour through Prague, Budapest, and Bratislava, and host its first concert in Downtown Chicago at the Chicago Cultural Center. The group regathered in its 2021-2022 Season “Reimagined, Reignited” and presented its first community pop concert sponsored by Northern Trust Bank, which was featured in the Chicago Tribune.

2019 American Prize in Orchestral Performance

2019 American Prize in Conducting

2021 Conductor of the Year, Illinois Council of Orchestras

2025 Youth Orchestra of the Year, Illinois Council of Orchestras

The Midwest Fine Arts Society is proudly sponsored by Northern Trust Bank, Elmhurst University, and the Midwest Conservatory of Music.

The Midwest Fine Arts Society is partially funded by the Illinois Arts Council Agency and

Cook County Arts under the Bureau of Economic Development.

Our Motto:

OUR ENSEMBLES

COLLABORATE – We believe music is most powerful when shared. Our students, of all ages and skill levels, come together not only to create meaningful music but also to form lasting friendships and lifelong memories.

INSPIRE – The joy and experiences gained through music-making spark inspiration that reaches far beyond the rehearsal room. Our students carry this passion forward, encouraging future generations to discover the transformative impact of youth music programs in their lives and communities.

ACHIEVE – At the core of our mission is helping young people realize their potential. By building an inclusive musical community rooted in collaboration and inspiration, our students develop the confidence and skills to achieve great things—both in music and in life.

Artistic Staff