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American violist Rebecca Miller is a dynamic and versatile musician, performing in solo, chamber, and orchestral settings across a variety of genres. She believes in the power of music and art to foster connections, build communities, and drive change. Based in Chicago, she maintains an active performing and teaching career, and seeks to expand the classical music audience by challenging the boundaries of the genre and by broadening access to live performance in oft-forgotten communities.
Rebecca is currently an associate member of the Chicago Civic Orchestra, and has performed frequently as a section player with symphony orchestras, appearing throughout the greater New England and Toronto areas with the Esprit Orchestra, Niagara Symphony, Symphony New Hampshire, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, and the New Bedford Symphony. She recently completed the National Academy Orchestra’s Mentorship Program in Ottawa, performing as part of the NAC Orchestra. She has extensive experience as a pit orchestra musician, playing in productions with San Diego’s Opera NEO, the Boston Opera Collaborative, MetroWest Opera, and Commonwealth Lyric Opera, and is enthusiastic about the power of combining music and narrative. In her experience as an orchestral musician, she has had the privilege of playing under the batons of several renowned conductors, including Sir Mark Elder, Riccardo Muti, Johannes Debus, Earl Lee, Benjamin Zander, Lidiya Yankovskaya, and Alexander Shelley, on such stages as Canada’s National Arts Centre, Boston Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall, National Sawdust, Uihlein Hall, and Koerner Hall. |
A passionate chamber musician, Rebecca has most recently played as a member of the Highwood Quartet, appearing at chamber music venues throughout the Toronto area and earning a top prize in the Glenn Gould School Chamber Music Competition. Rebecca has worked with members of the Takács, Ying, Ethel, and Lydian Quartets. She has also been a prizewinner in the Boston Conservatory’s Chamber Music and String Honors Competitions. Outside of the concert hall, she has been involved both as a performer and as an organizer with Shelter Music Boston, bringing chamber music to underserved audiences in shelters and rehabilitation facilities throughout New England.
In addition to her work as a chamber and orchestral musician, Rebecca is a dedicated advocate for music of the modern era, and devotes herself to the study and programming of new works, especially those written by historically underrepresented composers. She has premiered works by several young composers and performed in contemporary orchestras and chamber ensembles, most recently alongside cellist Anssi Kartunnen, violist Steven Dann, and composer Magnus Lindberg as part of Creative Dialogue France. She has also taken part in the 21C Festival and the NEXT Festival of Emerging Artists. In 2019, Rebecca toured alongside violinist & violist Laura Thompson, presenting a contemporary program of duo works, including two commissions, in Boston, New York City, and Milwaukee.
In addition to her work as a chamber and orchestral musician, Rebecca is a dedicated advocate for music of the modern era, and devotes herself to the study and programming of new works, especially those written by historically underrepresented composers. She has premiered works by several young composers and performed in contemporary orchestras and chamber ensembles, most recently alongside cellist Anssi Kartunnen, violist Steven Dann, and composer Magnus Lindberg as part of Creative Dialogue France. She has also taken part in the 21C Festival and the NEXT Festival of Emerging Artists. In 2019, Rebecca toured alongside violinist & violist Laura Thompson, presenting a contemporary program of duo works, including two commissions, in Boston, New York City, and Milwaukee.
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A native of Illinois, Rebecca began her musical studies at the age of 9 with the Illinois State University’s String Project. She is currently a student of Helen Callus, pursuing a Master’s Degree at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music as a recipient of the Eckstein Scholarship. She holds an Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School in Toronto, Ontario, where she studied with Steven Dann, and a B.M. in Viola Performance from the Boston Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts, where she graduated summa cum laude under the tutelage of Rictor Noren. She has had additional studies with Nicholas Cords and Lewis Rosove, and has played for such artists as Martin Outram, Carol Rodland, Roger Tapping, Peter Slowik, Steve Tenenbom, Karen Dreyfus, Marcus Thompson, Roger Myers, Juan-Miguel Hernandez, Peter Slowik, and Nadia Sirota. Festival appearances include Creative Dialogue France, the National Arts Centre Orchestra (NACO) Mentorship Program, the National Academy Orchestra, NEXT Festival of Emerging Artists, Green Mountain Chamber Music, and Credo-Oberlin Chamber Music.
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Rebecca is on faculty as a violin and viola teacher with the Music Institute of Chicago, and believes strongly in the power of music for students of all ages. Curiosity, self-discovery, and exploration are key parts of her teaching philosophy, and she strives to ensure that regardless of level or career path, each and every one of her students develops an appreciation for music, a desire to learn, and an understanding of their own strengths. Music is for everyone.
Rebecca is a proud member of the CFM/AFM Local 10-208, and has been a member of the AFM Local 149 (Toronto Musicians' Association). When not performing, she enjoys hiking, biking, strong coffee, and a good book.
Rebecca is a proud member of the CFM/AFM Local 10-208, and has been a member of the AFM Local 149 (Toronto Musicians' Association). When not performing, she enjoys hiking, biking, strong coffee, and a good book.