Mina Zikri

Teaches at DePaul Community Music Division

Mina Zikri is a violinist, teacher, and conductor. He received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in violin as well as a Performer’s Certificate from DePaul University in Chicago. Zikri has been a standing member of Daniel Barenboim’s West Eastern Divan Orchestra since 1999. He has also been a member of the Northbrook Symphony since 2003, and is a former member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Additionally, Zikri is the music director, conductor, and founder of the Oistrach Symphony Orchestra. He is currently a faculty member of the DePaul University Community Music Division where he teaches violin and conducting. Mina’s past experiences include performing in prestigious halls such as Carnegie Hall (New York), Royal Albert Hall (London), and Victoria Hall (Geneva). Zikri has performed under the baton of various conductors such as Valery Gergiev, Christoph Eschenbach, Nemee Jarvi, Lorin Maazel, Pierre Boulez, and others. His past chamber music activities include playing the Mendelssohn Octet with Yo Yo Ma, Pinchas Zukerman, Jamie Lorado, and Cho Liang Lin. Zikri was one of twelve finalists of the 2007 Gustav Mahler International Conducting Competition in Bavaria, Germany, selected out of 223 candidates from more than 40 countries. He is currently principal second violin in the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra, and music director of the DePaul University Youth Orchestra. Zikri has recently been awarded a conducting fellowship from the American Academy of Conducting at the Aspen International Summer Music Festival of 2010, named out of more than 180 candidates.