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March 5, 2025
At 18 years old, Joe Maiocco has achieved something few musicians ever get to do: He recently performed with the world-renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Maiocco is a first-year student studying bass trombone in Northwestern’s Bienen School of Music. But the trombone wasn’t even the first instrument he learned to play. He started as a vocalist in fourth grade and played the guitar. It wasn’t until middle school that he started to “dig into” the brass instrument.
“I went through the brass instrument family,” Maiocco said. “I played trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, French horn. I played all of them and within about a month and a half of picking up the trombone, I made the all-district band in middle school.”
Since arriving in Evanston last fall, Maiocco has been a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, a training ensemble for young musicians. Bienen professor and Chicago Symphony trombonist Michael Mulcahy took notice of Maiocco’s talent and offered him an unexpected — and life-changing — opportunity.
“When Professor Mulcahy first reached out to me, I really didn’t know what it was for,” Maiocco said. “It took maybe 10 minutes for reality to set in that he was asking me to play for the Chicago Symphony!”
There was little time to prepare and rehearse. The invitation came less than a month before the February concert. But that wasn’t the only surprise request.
“I thought I was going to be playing just one song,” Maiocco recalls. “About two weeks before the big day, I was asked if I could play the entire concert. I was totally up for the challenge.”
Despite the short notice, Maiocco said learning the music came relatively easily. The real thrill was the company he was keeping.
“It felt like any other performance, except for the fact that I looked to my right and left and saw the best players in the world sitting next to me.”
One unexpected concert highlight was the volume.
“The Chicago Symphony plays exceptionally loud,” he said. “In high school, I was always told to play softer. But this time, I got to just let loose and give it everything I had. I think it really worked.”
Looking back, Maiocco says he’s still in awe.
“I’m just so grateful. To share the stage with musicians of that caliber — especially this early in my career — it was unforgettable.”
