Matt Mantell

Matt Mantell was a professional violinist and violist who worked in and around Chicago for about 40 years. As a teen, he played with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and then Civic Orchestra. His reputation as a much sought-after violin and viola teacher grew, and many of his students went on to become successful performers or music educators themselves. After college, Matt began a long and successful career as a performer and teacher. He held the position of principal viola with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, Elgin Symphony Orchestra and Chicago Opera Theater; assistant principal viola with Chicago Sinfonietta, Joffrey Ballet, and Lake Forest Symphony, and he substituted with Chicago Symphony Orchesta, Grant Park Symphony, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Matt was an institution in the greater Chicago music community. Not only was he a fine musician, but he was warm-hearted, funny, and a welcoming presence at every gig. He got along with everyone, from conductors to colleagues to his adoring students. Matt was the consummate mentor to decades of students.