Meet Isabella Lippi: ESO Concertmaster Steps Into the Spotlight
Oct 23, 2026
Every week, Isabella Lippi leads the Elgin Symphony Orchestra from the concertmaster's chair. On Nov. 7 and 8, she steps out front as soloist in Dvořák's Romance for Violin and Orchestra and Saint-Saëns's dazzling showpiece, Introduction and Rondo capriccioso.
A Chicago native and longtime member of the ESO, Isabella is also in demand as a guest concertmaster with orchestras near and far. Ahead of Isabella Lippi & Mozart's Prague, we sat down with her to talk about the music, the moment she stands in front of her colleagues, and what makes the Elgin Symphony feel like family.
On the Music
What does being the ESO's longtime concertmaster mean to you?
"I feel really lucky to have this job. It's a great job, and I'm very proud to be a longtime member of this orchestra. Being concertmaster of the ESO, I receive calls from all over, and I have time to accept them. It's a really nice situation!"
What inspired you to choose the Dvořák Romance and the Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo capriccioso for this program?
"I'd been performing the Saint-Saëns in a program of romantic pieces, and most violinists play the Dvořák Romance, but it was a hole in my repertoire! I've only ever played these with piano, so I'm so excited to see how they feel with the full orchestra. I love the Dvořák. It's so lyrical, and I can easily get into the music. It's heartfelt, nostalgic, and there are so many different emotions in it that I can identify with and bring into my performance."
The two solo pieces are very different: the Dvořák is lyrical and sweet, and the Saint-Saëns is a fiery showstopper. How do you shift between those moods and characters in a single performance?
"In a regular symphonic work, we're used to moving within a few bars from super lyrical to super intense, so I'm used to that. Playing the slow, romantic piece and then the showstopper should feel pretty organic. If it were the other way around, starting with a showpiece that's fast with a quick pulse and then going into a slow romance, that might be a little tricky!"
What do you want the audience to listen for in these two pieces?
"Toward the end of the Dvořák, there is one section that is one of my absolute favorite parts. After the last tutti, it almost feels like the orchestra is floating into the clouds, and the violin soars into this part that feels like pure love. Then there's a little trouble, and you think: no, I'm going to succeed, I am going to win. And with the very last note, you've finally reached home and peace. That's what I am hoping to convey at the very end."
On the Orchestra and Its Audience
What is it like to step out of the concertmaster chair and stand in front of the colleagues you sit with every week?
"It's super fun. I started as a soloist, so it feels very natural. Every time I do it, I'm surprised at how welcoming my colleagues are. They're all rooting for you. I'm pretty focused internally when I'm playing, but I can feel the vibes from the audience; it can really inform your performance."
What makes the Elgin Symphony and its audience special to you?
"The ESO's whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Everyone has a great attitude. They're so positive and have so much integrity. It's been like that since I joined the symphony, when Bob Hanson was the conductor. We keep playing at a high level because we expect it from each other. And our audiences are so loyal. It's like a family, including the audience. It's safe to say that our new members also feel that energy, and they want to keep playing with us."
As a Chicago native, what does it mean to build a career here in the region where you grew up?
"I lived in L.A. for ten years, and every time I came home for the holidays, I could breathe a sigh of relief. I feel so comfortable in the Midwest. It's so good to see ESO members I used to watch play when I was a child!"
What has it been like working with Music Director Chad Goodman?
"His enthusiasm and integrity are so refreshing. He loves the music so much, you know he's going to put everything into it. With Chad, it's about the music."
What would you say to someone deciding whether to come hear the orchestra for the first time?
"Elgin Symphony is so worth the drive. The experience rivals what you'd get in Chicago, and you don't have to drive into the city! You're not there to see and be seen. You're there to see your friends and be part of something special. There is a great sense of community in Elgin. It's a great experience for people. It's such a nice feeling."
Hear Isabella Live
Isabella takes center stage at Isabella Lippi & Mozart's Prague, led by Music Director Chad Goodman, on Nov. 7 and 8 at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin.
On the program:
JONATHAN LESHNOFF | Score
DVOŘÁK | Romance for Violin and Orchestra
SAINT-SAËNS | Introduction and Rondo capriccioso
MOZART | Symphony No. 38, K. 504, "Prague"