Charles Pikler

Violinist and violist, he launched his career as a violinist with the Minnesota Orchestra in 1971, later becoming a member of the Cleveland Orchestra (1974 to 1976) and the Rotterdam Philharmonic (1976 to 1978). He joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1978, and in 1986 was named principal violist. He retired from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 2017, but remains an active educator. He also holds a degree in mathematics.