THE STORY: August 2026

SUMMER II SEMESTER: JUNE 28th - AUGUST 22nd

Fall Enrollment Information
Welcome New Faculty
Student and Alumni Achievements & Faculty Summer Updates
Academic Year 2026-27 Calendar

Fall Enrollment Open!

We are pleased to welcome our students back for Fall 2026.

The Fall Semester will begin Sunday, August 23 and continue through Saturday, December 19.

As we prepare for the new semester, now is the time to secure your enrollment and finalize your lesson schedule. Please speak with your teacher regarding your preferred lesson day, lesson length, and time.

We look forward to welcoming our students back for another semester of focused study, artistic growth, and musical achievement.

If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact us at join@newmusicschool.com.

We look forward to seeing you this fall.

Welcome - Clarissa Bevilacqua

We are honored to welcome internationally acclaimed violinist Clarissa Bevilacqua to our faculty and are thrilled for our students to learn from her artistry, passion, and world-class experience!

Violinist Clarissa Bevilacqua has built an impressive international career as a soloist, recording artist, and artistic director. She has performed as a soloist with orchestras including the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, and Münchener Symphoniker, performing at renowned venues around the world including Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées Paris, Isarphilharmonie Munich, and Victoria Hall Geneva.

Winner of the International Mozart Competition Salzburg, Clarissa is also the founder and Artistic Director of @dynamikfest_salzburg and @dynamikfest_chicago, a transatlantic festival dedicated to promoting and supporting under 30 excellence in classical music. Her debut album, Mozartiana, was released by @berlinclassicsmusic in 2026.

An avid and enthusiastic learner, she earned her Bachelor of Music at the age of sixteen, graduating summa cum laude. She went on to complete three master's degrees in violin performance at the Mozarteum University Salzburg with Pierre Amoyal and the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" Berlin with Antje Weithaas.

Welcome to the New Music School family, Clarissa—we cannot wait for our students to be inspired by your artistry and mentorship.

Start Your Journey with Clarissa

Practice with Clarissa

Take your practicing next level with individualized practice sessions led by Clarissa.

Practice sessions are designed to help all students build effective practice habits, strengthen problem-solving skills, and develop greater confidence and independence in their musical growth. Clarissa will provide personalized guidance tailored to each student’s needs, helping them maximize the progress they make between weekly lessons. Open to all New Music string students.

These 30-minute sessions are an excellent supplement to private lessons for students looking to practice more efficiently, stay motivated, and accelerate their musical development.

Sign up to practice with Clarissa HERE.

Mentorship Program 2026/7

Clarissa’s Mentorship Program is an opportunity designed for select New Music School students.

Students accepted into the program will receive five private in-person mentorship sessions with Clarissa, group classes and practice sessions during her visits to New Music School throughout the 2026–2027 academic year.  This mentorship program offers students the opportunity to refine their artistry, prepare for performance opportunities and work alongside fellow mentees learning practice strategies, and musicianship. Together, these experiences help students build confidence, strengthen their skills, and grow as thoughtful, independent musicians.

Enrollment is very limited, if you are interested in joining the mentorship program, please inquire HERE.

Student and Alumni Achievements

Constantine Wang (13), student of Winston Choi and coached by Sean Bennett, had an active summer. Constantine performed in Carnegie-Weill Recital Hall as one of the winners of the Junior Category of the American Protégé International Piano & Strings Competition 2026.  Additionally, he performed three concerts in Spain as the winner of the GOLD HANDS of the Carles and Sofia Piano Competition.

Daniel Razminia @danielrazminia (16) student of Jeffery Panko and Mary Sauer, participated in the Colburn Tone Base Piano Seminar and The Jacobs School of Music Summer Piano Academy, and is one of the 12 finalists in the Toronto International Piano Compeition (intermediate category) to be held August 16.

Felix Calegari (16), student of Scott Ramsay spent his summer at Interlochen Summer Arts camp for Musical Theater and recently Played Squidward in The U-High Theatre at the University of Chicago Laboratory School's production of SPONGBOB SQUAREPANTS the Musical.

Mika Matsuyama (17) student of Jeffery Panko and Mary Sauer, participated in the Oberlin Piano Festival and will attend the Todi International Music Masters Piano Festival in Todi, Italy where she will perform the first movement of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 with orchestra.

Former NMS student Jacob Simon is part of the cast of Aurora, IL Paramount Theater’s upcoming productions of MEAN GIRLS and JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT along with playing Link in HAIRSPRAY with Music Theater Works in Wilmette, IL as part of their 2026-27 seasons.

NMS alumni pianist Zarin Mehta completed his freshman year at Harvard University, attended the prestigious Rebecca Penny Piano Festival and performed a solo recital August 1st as part of the Summer Music at Bethel concert series in Elmhurst, IL.

NMS alumni pianist Joe Gallwas also participated in the Rebecca Penny Piano Festival, the Duo Piano Master Classes with his brother (and fellow NMS Alumni) Ken Gallwas at Bienen School of Music, and was accepted to compete in the NTD 8th International Piano Competition in New York City in September.

NMS alum cellist Kevin Hernandez completed his first year at Oberlin Conservatory, participated ithe Orford Musique Academy in Québec, Canada and will play a recital August 7th at 7:00pm with Artist Faculty pianist Jeffrey Panko as part of the Summer Music at Bethel concert series in Elmhurst, IL.

Faculty Summer Updates

Piano faculty Anila Aliu enjoyed an extraordinary summer filled with international performances, adjudication, and teaching. In May, she won First Prize in the North Shore Music Club (NSMC) Competition in Chicago and performed at their Winner's Concert. She then traveled to Malaysia for the Asia Pacific International Arts Festival, where she gave four concerts, adjudicated the competition, and conducted masterclasses and chamber music performances. Her summer tour continued across Asia and Europe, featuring a successful debut recital in Singapore at Cristofori Concert Hall, followed by her London debut recital at Mathias Concert Hall on June 19th. Most recently, Anila was honored with the prestigious Artist Prize at the Volterra Arts Festival in Italy, where she gave a headline performance at the historic open-air Teatro Romano in Tuscany.

Piano artist faculty Winston Choi enjoyed a busy summer of performing, teaching, and adjudicating. In June, he performed 6 concerts at the Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival. In July, he was a guest artist at the Indiana University Piano Academy, where he presented a solo recital and masterclass, and served as a judge for the Professional Division of the Chicago International Music Competition. He then traveled to the Netherlands to join the faculty of the Cortona Sessions for New Music. At the festival, he coached students in solo, chamber music, and ensemble repertoire, while also performing in a wide range of solo and collaborative concerts.

Guitar Faculty Casey Nielson along with guitarist Fareed Haque recorded a four movement suite Elegy For Love Lost by local composer Richard Manners at the Rax Trax Studio in Chicago for an upcoming album release. Here’s a sneak peak of the piece from a performance early this summer at the Musical Offering in Evanston. Additionally, Casey’s jazz trio The Lint Trio performed at Chicago's newest chamber music venue, The CheckOut performing Casey’s original composition Tree Ornaments.

NMS Voice artist faculty Scott Ramsay returned to Italy in his 4th year as Artistic Director for the Musica Nelle Marche summer festival, an immersive summer program in the heart of Italy, blending world-class music training with rich cultural discovery.

Steinway Artist and piano artist faculty Wenting Shi spent a busy summer in China, with concerts, masterclasses, lectures, album signing events, and publishing work across several cities. Her program 境·界 — Between East and West framed the repertoire within a broader humanistic context, drawing connections across music, literature, visual art, theater, and philosophy. She also completed her independent Chinese translation of Interpreting Mozart, now in preparation for publication with Shanghai Educational Publishing House.

Stings artist faculty Minghuan Xu spent the summer immersed in two distinctive musical communities. In June, she performed at the Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival, appearing in a variety of chamber music concerts held in theaters, wineries, and other venues throughout the region. In July, she joined the violin faculty of the Cortona Sessions for New Music in the Netherlands, an intensive program devoted to collaboration between emerging composers and performers. There, she coached young musicians, performed contemporary repertoire, and helped bring newly composed works to life in solo, chamber, and ensemble settings.

Fall 2026 Calendar

• August 23: Fall Semester Begins

• September 13: Theory starts; Performance Class 4pm

• October 11: Performance Class 4pm

• October 25: Halloween Recitals 12pm - 4pm; Halloween Adult Performance 6pm

• November 8: Performance Class 4pm

• November 15: NMS Departmental Recitals 11am - 5pm

  FALL BREAK: Monday Nov. 23 - Sunday Nov. 29th

• November 39: Fall Lessons resume

• December 4: Champagne Showcase 7pm

• December 5: Juries - Strings and Voice

• December 6: Juries - Woodwind and Piano

• December 11: Showcase Recital 6:30pm

  
  The full NMS Academic Calendar is available here.