Arts & Entertainment

Teen Violinist Serena Harnack Recognized for Victories, Talent

Serena Harnack, a Glen Ellyn resident and freshman at St. Francis High School in Wheaton is a young violinist who is already known in the area for her talent.

Glen Ellyn resident Serena Harnack is a freshman at St. Francis High School. At age 14, the violinist is already known in the area for her triumphs in one competition after another.

In a recent feature in in the Daily Herald, Harnack talked about her experience, the work she puts into perfecting her talent and her aspirations for the future.

According to the Herald, Harnack this year won Northern Illinois University's CSA Sinfonia Concerto Competition, the Young Artists Auditions for the DuPage Symphony Orchestra, took fourth in the Robert Stanger Young Artist Auditions for Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra and received honorable mention in the final round of the West Suburban Symphony's Solo Competition.

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She told the Herald, "I'm really emotional when I play. I feel really connected. I'm really speaking to the audience when I play."

In 2010, Patch talked with Harnack, who was then named a scholarship recipient of the Music Institute of Chicago Academy. Even at age 12, she had a full schedule of performances. 

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Harnack comes from a musical family. Her mom is a longtime piano teacher, musician and member of the 7DEEZ; a disco, funk, Motown tribute band that she plays in with her husband. Read the Q&A on Patch here.

Her next solo performance will be April 28 with the Fox Valley Orchestra at Aurora University, according to My Suburban Life.

Read the full Daily Herald feature here.

Related:

  • Glen Ellyn Student Musician Receives Music Institute Academy Special Merit Scholarship
  • Glen Ellyn Student Excels in Two National Music Competitions
  • Glen Ellyn Violin Student Places at 2011 Sejong Music Competition
  • Serena Harnack Shows Her Musical Talent at an Early Age
  • Violinist Serena Harnack

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