Seth Pae

A multi-instrumentalist and composer, Seth Pae is a prominent member of Chicago’s vibrant music and arts scene. As a violist, he holds full time positions with Chicago Sinfonietta as Assistant Principal, and with chamber music collective, D-Composed. His guest appearances in recent seasons have included Grant Park Music Festival, Music of The Baroque, Elgin Symphony, and Gateways Music Festival.

Behind the piano, you may find Seth Music Directing a comedy show, or singing your favorite songs in a piano bar! He is currently the understudy MD for Green Company at the Second City, and works with a variety of comedy and musical improv troupes. He can also be heard singing both solo and “dueling pianos” shows at venues such as Sluggers or the Zebra Lounge.

Seth is excited to announce a new commission for piano and orchestra. Blues, Ballads, Bebop (working title) is an homage to the music and life of Miles Davis in what would be his 100th year. Chicago Sinfonietta will give the world premiere of this work in May of 2026. His string quartet arrangements as well as selections from his album of meditation music for solo viola will be included in D-Composed programming during the 2025-2026 season.

Seth collaborates with artists from a variety of disciplines across a multitude of genres including spoken word artists, vocalists, dancers, visual artists, rappers, songwriters, and even a hammered dulcimer player! As an artist Seth aims to “keep it interesting,” and keep redefining what a musician ‘is,’ and ‘does.’

Seth holds degrees in Viola Performance from Baldwin Wallace University (BM ’13), and DePaul University (MM ’15, Artist’s Diploma ’17) 

His previous teachers include Lembi Veskimets of the Cleveland Orchestra, Louise Zeitlin, Rami Solomonow, Anthony Devroye, Rose Armbrust-Griffin, and Wei-Ting Quo.

Seth was a Grant Park Music Festival String Fellow in 2018.