Henry Auxenfans

violin

Winner of first prize at the 2022 United States Marine Band Concerto Competition, violinist Henry Auxenfans is on the rise and is known for his virtuosic, poised, and sensational performances. At age of ten, he made his Carnegie Hall solo debut as a first prize winner of the American Protégé competition and his orchestra debut at age ten at Northwestern University’s Pick Staiger Hall.

At the age of 14, Auxenfans returned to perform at Carnegie Hall as a 1st prize winner of the New York International Artists Association Competition. That same year, his performance with the United States Marine Chamber Orchestra garnered him outstanding reviews. In addition, he has performed as a soloist with the Chicago Civic Orchestra, DuPage Symphony, Lakeview Symphony and Chicago Youth Symphony orchestras twice as their concerto competitions’ winners. In addition, Henry is the 2025, 2024 and 2023 YoungArts winner; 2024 Enkor International Competition Grand Prize winner; Arthur Grumiaux International Competition 2nd prize winner. In December of 2024, Auxenfans was the featured soloist in Classical Kids Live! Saint-Georges’ Sword and Bow recording album with Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. He has been invited by the Chicago Bulls to perform the National Anthem solo at the United Center for their 20,000 fans with his own arrangement three times.

In addition to solo appearances, he has served as Concertmaster of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra’s top-level symphony for the past five seasons. Highlights of the 2022~2024 seasons include playing extensive concertmaster solos of Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben (with a recording album with CYSO), Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks, Shostakovich Symphony no. 10, among others. Auxenfans is also an active and avid chamber musician, where you can find him performing with his trios, quartets and quintets at various venues, such as Gordon Park Arts Hall, Buntrock Hall, Ganz Hall, Curtis Hall, etc. Moreover, he is a recitalist and he has been invited to give hourly-length recitals throughout Chicagoland.

Other career highlights include being selected as a National Public Radio’s podcast “From The Top” Fellow, appearing on Show 419, as well as a featured artist in their Daily Joy segment several times. Auxenfans has also appeared multiple times at WFMT 98.7FM Introductions either with his brother Louis, a clarinetist & pianist, or as a soloist. Over the years, he has participated in masterclasses with Midori, Miriam Fried, Ani Kavafian, Anne Akiko Meyers, Paul Huang, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Peter Zazofsky, Nikki and Timothy Chooi, Daniel Stabrawa, Rachel Barton Pine and more. He currently studies with Robert Hanford, Concertmaster of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and previously with Frank Almond. His chamber coaches are Lawrence Neuman, Hsing-huei Huang, Qing Hou of CSO.

Currently, Auxenfans is a senior at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. Giving back to his communities is a top priority; he is the Founder and the President of the Music Ambassador Club, where he provides performing opportunities for high schoolers at senior homes, hospitals, and local schools, as well as inviting prominent musicians to speak. Outside of music, Henry is passionate about soccer, Formula 1 race, tennis, writing, and science research & experiments.

Henry Auxenfans performs on a 1730 Sanctus Seraphin violin, generously on loan to him by the Becker and Hooper Family foundations.

Photo credit: CYSO and United States Marine Band

Biography

Henry Auxenfans