Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Appoints New Artistic Director

Violinist Abi Fayette will step into the role, joining her sister and cellist Madeline Fayette in the ensemble

Violinist Abi Fayette will succeed outgoing Artistic Director Jim Wilson at The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. The ensemble is largely self-governed and always appoints artistic directors from within its ranks.

The youngest of four musical children, Abi Fayette entered The Juilliard School's pre-college program early in her studies and learned from Shirley Givens — alongside Ann Setzer, Kyung-Wha Chung, and Joseph Silverstein. She then went on to study at the Curtis Institute of Music with Ida Kavafian and the New England Conservatory with Soovin Kim.

She returned to Curtis during the 2019/20 season, where she served as a Community Artist Fellow in the Philadelphia School District. Alongside her position in the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, she is also a member of the Catalyst Quartet.

Another recent appointment in Orpheus's cello section is Fayette's older sister, Madeline Fayette — who has performed with the Fair Trade Chamber Music Society, New York Classical Players, the Metropolis Ensemble and with innovative genre-defying groups Cantata Profana and Ensemble Échappé.

She made her solo debut in the Lincoln Center, at age fourteen, where she appeared with the Juilliard Pre-College Symphony.

Madeline Fayette has recently held a two-year fellowship in Ensemble Connect, a program run by Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute in partnership with the NYC Department of Education. The program supplements high-level instrumental training with experience in teaching, community engagement, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership.