Featured Events

Charles Pikler joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as a violinist in 1978 and in 1986 was appointed principal violist by Sir Georg Solti. He also played in the Minnesota Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, and Rotterdam Philharmonic. 

He studied violin with Ben Ornstein, Bronislaw Gimpel, and Roman Totenberg and holds a degree in mathematics with high distinction from the University of Minnesota.

He has been featured as soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Kingsport Tennessee Symphony, Orchestra of the Pines in Nacogdoches, Texas,  National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, and National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra and served as concertmaster and soloist with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra under Dieter Kober. Other concertmaster positions include the Northbrook Symphony and  Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest.

As a chamber musician, he has been guest artist with the Daniel String Quartet, Vermeer Quartet, and Louisville String Quartet. In 1990, he performed Frank Beezhold’s Viola Concerto, composed for and dedicated to him, with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. He recorded chamber music of Easley Blackwood with the composer for Cedille Records and was soloist on Sewanee Symphony’s recording of Berlioz’s Harold in Italy, Victor Yampolsky conducting. In 1995 and 1996, he served as guest principal violist for the Boston Symphony. Charlie also performs at the Grand Teton Music Festival.

Charlie is on the faculty of Northwestern University and coaches violists with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and Midwest Young Artists. He is founder and director of I’Solisti, a select chamber orchestra at Midwest Young Artists.

Charles Pikler joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as a violinist in 1978 and in 1986 was appointed principal violist by Sir Georg Solti. He also played in the Minnesota Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, and Rotterdam Philharmonic. 

He studied violin with Ben Ornstein, Bronislaw Gimpel, and Roman Totenberg and holds a degree in mathematics with high distinction from the University of Minnesota.

He has been featured as soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Kingsport Tennessee Symphony, Orchestra of the Pines in Nacogdoches, Texas,  National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, and National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra and served as concertmaster and soloist with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra under Dieter Kober. Other concertmaster positions include the Northbrook Symphony and  Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest.

As a chamber musician, he has been guest artist with the Daniel String Quartet, Vermeer Quartet, and Louisville String Quartet. In 1990, he performed Frank Beezhold’s Viola Concerto, composed for and dedicated to him, with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. He recorded chamber music of Easley Blackwood with the composer for Cedille Records and was soloist on Sewanee Symphony’s recording of Berlioz’s Harold in Italy, Victor Yampolsky conducting. In 1995 and 1996, he served as guest principal violist for the Boston Symphony. Charlie also performs at the Grand Teton Music Festival.

Charlie is on the faculty of Northwestern University and coaches violists with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and Midwest Young Artists. He is founder and director of I’Solisti, a select chamber orchestra at Midwest Young Artists.

Public high schools from Berrien Springs, Brandywine, Buchanan, Bridgman, Coloma, Cassopolis, and Edwardsburg share their talents through art, band, choir, and drama performances. Over 375 students from the surrounding areas will come together for this showcase.