Since her solo orchestral debut at age 15, Ilana Setapen has been flourishing as
a violinist with a powerful and original voice. She is hailed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as
a violinist with “a sparkling sound” and “the kind of control that puts an audience completely at
ease.” She is currently the First Associate Concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony
Orchestra.
In recent seasons, Setapen has had solo performances with the Milwaukee Symphony, Festival
City Symphony, and the Amarillo Symphony, among others. She also held the Assistant
Concertmaster position of the Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra in Chicago for 6 years and is
a favorite guest concertmaster with the Chicago Philharmonic. In recent summers, she has
performed at the Olympic Music Festival on Bainbridge Island and the Lakes Area Music
Festival in Brainerd, Minnesota. She is currently on the violin faculty at Chicago Summer Opera
and at the University of Michigan’s Center Stage Strings.
As a committed chamber musician, Setapen is in demand as a collaborator throughout the
Midwest. She performs frequently with Present Music. Her talent has led her to collaborations
with such distinguished artists as Ron Leonard, Lynn Harrell, Toby Appel, Cynthia Phelps,
Joseph Kalichstein, Robert DeMaine, Paul Coletti, the Fine Arts Quartet, David Geber, Joan
Tower, and Chris Thile. Solo and chamber music performances have brought her abroad to
China, France, Brazil, Holland, England, Monaco, and Italy.
Setapen grew up in Amarillo, Texas. Her father is a conductor and her first violin teacher was
her mother. She was a student of Robert Lipsett both at the University of Southern California
and at the Colburn Conservatory. She received her Master of Music Degree from the Juilliard
School as a student of Donald Weilerstein and Ronald Copes. She is also a dedicated educator
and has a thriving private studio. In her spare time, Setapen enjoys spending time with her
husband and their two sons and swing dancing.