Fiona Chisholm
Fiona is an active freelancer, soloist, and chamber musician across the Midwest and has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra; to name a few. She currently holds the Principal Horn position with the Racine Symphony Orchestra as well as Guest Principal Horn with the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra for their 2023-2024 season. She is one of the founding members and horn player for Lakeshore Brass, a Chicago based brass quintet. Fiona was a regular member with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago 2019-2021. She was named one of five finalists worldwide in the International Horn Society's Premier Soloist Competition that took place in San Francisco in 2011 where she placed 3rd. Fiona holds degrees from the University of Lethbridge (BMus) and DePaul University (MMus and PGCert).
Q & A
Where do you look for inspiration?
My colleagues, my mentors, and all of the high-level ensembles we have here in Chicago and across the globe.
What does music mean to you? Why is it important?
Music, for me, is life giving. It’s given me joy, lifelong friendships, and the ability to express myself in ways I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. Music is important because it’s a form of communication and expression that bypasses all languages.
Do you have any non-musical hobbies or passions? Do they affect your approach to music?
I love sampling as many of Chicago’s craft beers as I can. Hazy IPAs, specifically. Enjoying beer doesn’t necessarily have the most positive impact on my ability to make music, but there is a brief sweet spot where all the notes happen, they make sense, and I sound great. It all goes downhill after that, though.
What are your top 3 recommendations for a first-time Chicago visitor?
1. Go to Pequods and get a personal deep dish (that’s all you need). My go-to toppings are sausage and basil.
2. Spend the money and do some kind of tour downtown. The architecture boat tours are incredible, but I’ve personally never had as much fun on a tour as I did on a Chicago segway tour.
3. Catch a show with Lyric Opera or the Chicago Symphony!
If you could choose any other place in the world to live other than Chicago, where would you be?
I’d love to go back to my roots and experience living in my birth city, Edinburgh, Scotland.
What’s the hardest piece you’ve had to prepare with Lakeshore Brass?
Easily the most challenging piece I’ve had to prepare was Jan Bach’s Foliations. It’s a relentless, face-breaking, technically demanding, variation after variation tour de force. But, all that being said, it was incredibly satisfying to put together and present in concert.
How do you navigate creative differences or divergent musical interpretations within the ensemble?
The wonderful thing about the players in our group is that we approach everything we do in a collaborative manner. It’s a respectful environment where every voice is heard. We typically try things different ways, taking the time to talk about each option, and then deciding as a group from there.
What's your guilty pleasure music? What do you like about it that is different from what you typically perform?
My guilty pleasure is listening to Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas any time of year.
Do you have any specific pre-performance rituals or habits that help you get in the right mindset?
Not so much a pre-performance habit but rather a during-performance habit. I’ve been a glasses wearer since 7th Grade and they’ve always slid down my nose. At some point, I developed a habit while playing where I push up my glasses with my mouthpiece. It’s honestly become an involuntary movement and half the time I’m unaware that I’ve done it. I’d like to think keeping my glasses firmly on my nose keeps me in the right mindset to stay hyper-focused during performances and helps me see and read the music.
If you could have a superpower, but only for one day, what would it be and how would you use it?
Time travel. I’d go back and see who and what is responsible for the Oak Island treasure mystery.