John Gerson (Concertmaster) is in his ninth season with the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest. After growing up in Naperville IL., he attended the Indiana University School of Music, graduating with his Bachelor of Music and a Performer Diploma in Violin Performance. He recently performed for seven seasons with the Fort Wayne (IN) Philharmonic Orchestra serving as Assistant Principal Second Violinist and Section Violinist. He has also performed with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra, the National Repertory Orchestra and the Chicago Chamber Orchestra. Along with his performing, John also works at Bein & Fushi where he sells fine string instruments and bows. His violin instructors include Henryk Kowalski, David Taylor and Drew Lecher. John is also an experienced private instructor and taught at Olivet Nazarene University as an Adjunct Professor of Violin. (Matthew Tolzmann, Photographer)
The Symphony of Oak Park River Forest 