Local Wheaton College students and residents were treated to a special performance, webcast around the world, on Monday by the world renowned violinist Yi-Jia Susanne Hou accompanied by the globally acclaimed Camerata Chicago chamber orchestra, which is conducted by Wheaton’s own Maestro Drostan Hall. Hall also directs the Hall School of Music in Wheaton.

Hou, who is widely recognized as one of the greatest violinists of the 21st century, played an equally famous instrument – a Cremona violin circa 1735 on extended loan from Clement and Karen Arrison through the generous efforts of The Stradivari Society of Chicago.

Born in Shanghai, Hou held a full scholarship throughout her years at the prestigious Julliard School in New York where she received her Bachelor of Music and has traveled the world, touring in Canada, Europe, the United States and Asia. Hou has also appeared on PBS and NBC’s top morning program Today.
Founded in 2003 by conductor Drostan Hall, Camerata Chicago is firmly established as one of the finest chamber orchestras on the world stage and has performed frequently on WFMT radio station as well as for well-known concert venues such as the Art Institute of Chicago, The Murphy Auditorium, The Harris Theater, Chicago Cultural Center, Northeastern Illinois University, St. James Cathedral and North Park University. In the summer of 2013 Camerata Chicago is slated to begin a major European Tour.

Hou was in Chicago this weekend to perform in a benefit concert for The National Museum of Health + Medicine Chicago. The free Wheaton College concert was underwritten by the Wheaton-based Buonacorsi Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports the arts and sciences The Foundation supports a number of ongoing programs in the sciences, arts and technology, all national or international in scope including The National Museum of Health + Medicine Chicago.