From April 14–17, Chicago Philharmonic’s inaugural Artist in Residence program launched with violinist Njioma Grevious at the helm, reaching over 500 students in just three days through a series of immersive outreach events across Chicago.
Grevious brought her technical excellence, warmth, and personal story to classrooms, rehearsal halls, and community centers, making a direct connection with young musicians and audiences alike.
This marked the first week of Njioma’s three-year residency with the Chicago Philharmonic—mark your calendar for her return on November 9, 2025!
About Njioma Grevious
Njioma Chinyere Grevious is a 2024 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient and a rising star in classical music.
A graduate of The Juilliard School, she was the 2023 Grand Prize winner of both the Concert Artists Guild and YCAT International Auditions. This season includes solo debuts at Carnegie Hall and Wigmore Hall, along with appearances with the National Symphony Orchestra, New Haven Symphony, and Chicago Philharmonic.
She is a founding member of the award-winning Abeo Quartet, performs regularly with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and is deeply committed to education, accessibility, and community engagement—values central to her role as Chicago Philharmonic’s inaugural Artist in Residence.
A Residency Centered on Community and Connection
At its core, the Artist in Residence program is about education—bringing meaningful, hands-on music experiences to students across the city.
📍 At Chicago Bulls College Prep, a Philharmonic Academy of Music Performance partner school, Njioma visited Ms. Breanna’s orchestra class to share her journey as a professional musician and introduce students to Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires—the piece she would perform later that week. She demonstrated how the music echoes Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, playing live excerpts and drawing musical connections between the two works.
The visit evolved into a mini masterclass, with students performing for her and receiving thoughtful, encouraging feedback. A few students even invited her to stay and play with them during their lunch period—and she did. They sat together and played one of the students’ favorite chamber pieces as a trio, simply enjoying the moment and the music.
📍 At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, Njioma led a transformative session with students picking up violins for the very first time. The club had recently acquired instruments but hadn’t introduced them to the kids—this moment marked the beginning of their music journey.
Njioma walked each child through the basics, turning nervousness into excitement and curiosity into joyful noise.
📍 Throughout the week, she also visited multiple CPS classrooms, tailoring her message to each age group. With elementary students, she introduced the violin as a tool for storytelling. With high schoolers, she spoke candidly about discipline, artistry, and her own path navigating the classical music world.
These personal, intentional moments are the foundation of the residency. The goal isn’t just to expose students to classical music—but to create a meaningful experience that could resonate well beyond the school day.
From Classrooms to the Concert Hall
The residency concluded on Thursday, April 17 with two impactful performances held at the Driehaus Museum’s Murphy Auditorium, highlighting the power of music to connect, inspire, and celebrate community.
That afternoon, over 350 students from five Chicago-area schools arrived for a special student performance of Njioma Grevious’ Artist in Residence showcase. For many in the audience, it was their first time hearing a live orchestra.
After the concert, students stayed behind to meet Njioma, ask questions, and even request autographs. In true Chicago Phil tradition—where musicians and staff sign our concert posters—we invited students to sign Njioma’s as well, transforming it into a joyful, collective keepsake of the day.
That evening, Njioma returned to the stage with Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Scott Speck and musicians of the Chicago Philharmonic chamber ensemble.
The concert began with a pre-show conversation between Scott and Njioma, followed by a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings and Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires (Winter and Summer). Her expressive, fiery playing received a standing ovation from the public audience.
Special thanks to Exelon for sending a fantastic team of volunteers to help support both events.
Looking Ahead
In addition to her outreach work, Njioma was featured on WGN Spotlight Chicago, where she spoke about her career, her vision for the residency, and the importance of equitable access to music education. The segment brought the program to audiences across the city and beyond.
“The Chicago Philharmonic was the first professional orchestra to give me my first professional opportunity, soloing with the orchestra back in 2021. And to be back here with this world-class orchestra, with Scott Speck conducting, and the incredible team at the Chicago Phil—they have an incredible vision for what music will be in the future.” — Njioma Grevious for WGN
This is just the beginning. Njioma returns November 9, 2025 for the next chapter of her residency.
Inspired? Support the Program!
The Artist in Residence program is generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Alzenia Project, Paul Kreider, and supporters like you.
Please consider making a gift to support Njioma’s return and the continued success of this transformative initiative.
📸 Photography by Kyle Dunleavy and Gizel Issa.
Got photos to share? Tag @chicagophilharmonic—we’d love to see your favorite moments!