As the largest section of the orchestra, sitting front and centre of the stage performing memorable melodies, it’s easy for violinists to steal the limelight. Ask any violinist why there are so many ...

Composers have been writing music for the group of instruments we call an orchestra for the last four centuries. Endlessly adaptable and always evolving, an orchestra can be made up of 20 players or ...

Of the four instruments represented in a modern symphony orchestra string section — violin, viola, cello and contrabass — the cello is the most versatile. In a traditional ensemble context, whether ...

The word “symphony” is ultimately from Greek “symphonia,” concord of sounds, harmony, a meld of “syn-,” together (as in synchronize, synthesis) and “phōnẽ,” sound (as in phonetics, telephone). The ...

Conductor Klaus Mäkelä, right, and pianist Yunchan Lim during a concert with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on Dec. 18, 2025.

While rising through male-dominated orchestras decades ago, cellist Winifred Mayes wore flat-heeled shoes to blind auditions in which screens hid musicians’ identities from judges. She reasoned that ...

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) - An elegant sound fills the Faith Presbyterian Church, from the violins’ vibrant sounds to the cellos’ deep, velvety tones. It’s a talented group of musicians who make up ...