Robert Hanford is concertmaster of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and a member of the Rembrandt Chamber Players. He has also served as concertmaster of the Music of the Baroque, the Chicago Philharmonic, and Ars Viva. Previously, Mr. Hanford was the associate principal second violinist of the Minnesota Orchestra, a member of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and a member of Chicago's Grant Park Symphony. He has appeared as soloist on numerous occasions with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony and many other Midwestern orchestras. Mr. Hanford graduated with first prize from the Orpheus Conservatory in Athens, Greece. During the summers, he serves as concertmaster and violin instructor at the Birch Creek Music Festival in Wisconsin, participates in the Aspen Music Festival, and performs in the Roycroft Chamber Music Festival in New York.