Wilfred Farquharson

Wilfred Farquharson is a 25-year-old violist from Atlanta, Georgia that is currently based in Chicago, Illinois. He enjoys a multi-faceted performance career as a studio, orchestral, and chamber musician. In addition, he also enjoys teaching violists and nurturing their, and other young musicians', love for music.

Wilfred currently serves as faculty at the Merit School of Music, is the violist of D-Composed Chicago and Crossing Borders Music, and is a mentor for the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative. Wilfred has performed with many orchestras in his career such as serving as principal violist of the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra during the 2022-2023 season, performing as a member of the Re-Collective and Matt Jones Orchestras, and as a substitute musician of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, and as guest Assistant Principal of the Augusta Symphony Orchestra.

Wilfred has recorded and performed for major artists such as John Legend, Arthur Verocai, Carlos Simon, Burna Boy, and Andra Day. In addition to this, he also serves on the advisory board of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s African American Network. As a Premier Young Artist award recipient, he got his bachelor’s degree from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, and he graduated from the University of Southern California with honors for his graduate degree.