Mike Grittani, NRO 2014 alumnus and pictured here with Yo-Yo Ma, is entering his second (of two) seasons as a cellist with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the training ensemble of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The Civic Orchestra of Chicago aims to prepare young musicians for a full-time career in orchestral playing, and Mike’s past year as a member of the cello section has been nothing short of stellar. Mike states, “It is amazing sharing the space and receiving coaching from Symphony musicians, as well as working with famous artists such as Yo-Yo Ma and Riccardo Muti.”
Mr. Grittani continues, “Before my first season with the Civic in 2014, I was fortunate enough to attend NRO. The level of playing at NRO undoubtedly helped prime me for the Civic Orchestra, especially in preparing difficult music to a high standard in a short period of time. On a personal level, I cherish the musical experiences and the friendships I formed at NRO, which were life changing. I will look back fondly on my time in Breckenridge, and I hope to channel the inspiration from that summer through the rest of my musical life. Thank you, NRO!”