Performers

Violinist NAOMI CULP, also a member of the Kaia String Quartet, has performed extensively throughout the United States, Russia, China, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia. She was awarded first prize in the National Fine Arts Festival Competition in Washington, D.C. in 2003. Naomi was also invited to perform Schubert’s Cello Quintet with Yo-Yo Ma for Chicago Symphony’s Citizen Musician’s Week at the Fortnightly Club of Chicago. Outside the classical world, Naomi enjoys collaborating with other ensembles and artists in jazz, independent rock, folk, and world music projects.

Violinist MAYA SHIRAISHI left her native Japan to attend Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts, where she received an Artist Diploma under the guidance of Jasmine Lin, Grammy-nominated violinist of the Chicago Chamber Musicians and Formosa Quartet, and studied chamber music under Shmuel Ashkenasi, founding violinist of the Vermeer Quartet. As a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, she collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma and played under conductors such as Ricardo Muti, Carlos Miguel Prieto, and Sir Andrew Davis.

Since returning to his hometown in 2008 to join the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, violist BENJAMIN WEBER has performed chamber and orchestral music across the region. He serves as Principal Viola with the Rockford Symphony and Assistant Principal with the Illinois Philharmonic. In the past, he’s performed with the Rochester Philharmonic, New World Symphony, Elgin Symphony, Madison Symphony, New Millennium Orchestra, Access Contemporary Music and the Palomar Ensemble. In September of 2013, he appeared with the Kontras Quartet and the Kruger Brothers with Steve Martin on the Late Show with David Letterman. He is on faculty at the Merit School of Music, and has a small private studio.