Venezuelan Violinist Gabriela Lara Becomes Newest Member of Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association (CSOA) announces the appointment of Venezuelan violinist Gabriela Lara to the first violin section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), effective January 27, 2025. Lara was a rotating concertmaster of the CSO’s Civic Orchestra of Chicago from October 2022 to December 2023 and was the inaugural CSO Fellow, holding that position and performing with the CSO first in the 2022/23 Season. She continued in the program during the 2023/24 Season as the Michael and Kathleen Elliott Fellow before her appointment to the second violin section of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra where she is currently a member. Lara participated in the section violin audition process beginning with preliminary auditions in Spring 2024, winning the final audition in October 2024, and is the first CSO musician appointed by Zell Music Director Designate Klaus Mäkelä.
The CSO Fellowship program was introduced in the 2022/23 Season and is the latest initiative that assists early-career musicians from all backgrounds that have a demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion as they seek a career in classical-music performance. The CSO Fellowship program’s objective is to help musicians become better equipped to win auditions with top U.S. orchestras, including the CSO.
