Long Bio
For over 20 years, versatile violist, Seth Pae has been highlighting the beauty and redefining the functionality of the most important string instrument, the viola. Unconstrained by a single genre, his projects and collaborations range from appearances with prestigious symphony orchestras and cutting-edge chamber ensembles to full scale rock and roll productions and hip hop recording studio work.
Seth is highly sought after as an orchestral musician. He performs regularly with an impressive list of orchestras in the Midwest, including the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, The New Philharmonic, and the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra. He’s previously performed with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the South Bend Symphony, and the Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra.
Seth held the Freeman Fellowship with the Chicago Sinfonietta from 2018-2020. He was the Project Inclusion Fellow with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra in 2018, and member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago from 2016-2018.
Outside of the concert hall, Seth frequently collaborates with prominent Chicago artists and creators on a colorful plethora of projects. He’s worked with composer Adrian Dunn on both his ‘Hopera,’ and RIZE Orchestra projects. He’s done studio work with the Matt Jones Orchestra, appearing on tracks for artists including John Legend, Karen Souza and Masego. He’s made regular appearances in Sadie Wood’s Residents Orchestrate Project. He recently appeared in Alexandria Hill’s “In My Feelings,” and can be heard on the soundtrack to the film, Honk for Jesus composed by Marcus Norris.
As a chamber musician and soloist, Seth seeks to perform music from a diverse representation of composers. He actively seeks out living composers to collaborate with and perform their works. He’s recently appeared with the Crossing Borders String Quartet, and 5th House Ensemble, both ensembles with missions of performing adventurous and creative repertoire. As a Chicago Sinfonietta Project Inclusion Fellow, his string quartet performed 15-20 shows per season, showcasing music by Black composers. Included in this programming was Seth’s arrangement, Three Spirituals for String Quartet.
In 2020 he was partnered with composer Joel Ponce through the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music to perform a world premiere of Shaping for Solo Viola. His longtime best friend, and musical colleague, Cassandra Kaczor has written multiple works for Pae including A Chicago Vignette for Millenials, and a personal favorite of Seth’s: Secondhand Smoke. He works with Rachel Barton Pine’s Music by Black Composers foundation, cataloguing string quartets written by Black composers.
Originally from Cleveland, Seth is still in touch with his inner rocker. He performed in The Hideout’s most recent rendition of their annual concert, The Make-Out Party, and is excited for future renditions of that show. He actively seeks collaboration with singer-songwriters, eager to add viola to their songs. Past collaborations include John Weston of Sklut and Weston, Cassandra Kaczor, Josh Chicone, and Jeffery Thomas.
Seth is highly sought after as an orchestral musician. He performs regularly with an impressive list of orchestras in the Midwest, including the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, The New Philharmonic, and the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra. He’s previously performed with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the South Bend Symphony, and the Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra.
Seth held the Freeman Fellowship with the Chicago Sinfonietta from 2018-2020. He was the Project Inclusion Fellow with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra in 2018, and member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago from 2016-2018.
Outside of the concert hall, Seth frequently collaborates with prominent Chicago artists and creators on a colorful plethora of projects. He’s worked with composer Adrian Dunn on both his ‘Hopera,’ and RIZE Orchestra projects. He’s done studio work with the Matt Jones Orchestra, appearing on tracks for artists including John Legend, Karen Souza and Masego. He’s made regular appearances in Sadie Wood’s Residents Orchestrate Project. He recently appeared in Alexandria Hill’s “In My Feelings,” and can be heard on the soundtrack to the film, Honk for Jesus composed by Marcus Norris.
As a chamber musician and soloist, Seth seeks to perform music from a diverse representation of composers. He actively seeks out living composers to collaborate with and perform their works. He’s recently appeared with the Crossing Borders String Quartet, and 5th House Ensemble, both ensembles with missions of performing adventurous and creative repertoire. As a Chicago Sinfonietta Project Inclusion Fellow, his string quartet performed 15-20 shows per season, showcasing music by Black composers. Included in this programming was Seth’s arrangement, Three Spirituals for String Quartet.
In 2020 he was partnered with composer Joel Ponce through the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music to perform a world premiere of Shaping for Solo Viola. His longtime best friend, and musical colleague, Cassandra Kaczor has written multiple works for Pae including A Chicago Vignette for Millenials, and a personal favorite of Seth’s: Secondhand Smoke. He works with Rachel Barton Pine’s Music by Black Composers foundation, cataloguing string quartets written by Black composers.
Originally from Cleveland, Seth is still in touch with his inner rocker. He performed in The Hideout’s most recent rendition of their annual concert, The Make-Out Party, and is excited for future renditions of that show. He actively seeks collaboration with singer-songwriters, eager to add viola to their songs. Past collaborations include John Weston of Sklut and Weston, Cassandra Kaczor, Josh Chicone, and Jeffery Thomas.
