Violinist Hilary Hahn Withdraws from Upcoming Concerts

The GRAMMY Award winner has canceled her September concerts with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra due to injury

Violinist Hilary Hahn has withdrawn from her upcoming concerts with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) due to a double pinched nerve that she encountered earlier this summer — in July 2024, she had withdrawn from all of her concerts up until September 8, 2024. 

Having recently completed her artist residency with the CSO, she was set to perform Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto on September 19–20 with the orchestra and conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada.

The American violinist Benjamin Beilman will be stepping in for Hahn for both concerts. Other works on the program will include Tilson Thomas’ Agnegram,  Bernstein’s Overture to West Side Story (arr. Peress), Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet, and Ginastera’s Four Dances from Estancia. 

Beilman is currently on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music and has performed with conductors including Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Cristian Măcelaru, Lahav Shani, and Ryan Bancroft. He performs with the c.1820 ex-Balaković F. X. Tourte bow and the 1740 “Ysaÿe” Guarneri del Gesù, generously on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation.

Until she returns to the stage, Hahn has been advised to take a break from performing to facilitate her recovery process. 

“I’m so sorry to have to withdraw from my September 19 and 20 concerts with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra,” Hahn posted on Facebook. “While my condition has been steadily improving, progress with these kinds of injuries is very gradual and getting back on stage too quickly can reset the recovery clock. In the meantime I want to say thank you again to all of my friends and fans for all of your support over the past few months. I’m looking forward to joining you all again when I’m fully recovered!”

Our best wishes to Hilary Hahn for a swift and speedy recovery!