Michael Hining

NMS Violin Faculty

Michael Hining began violin studies in Orlando, Florida at age nine. After winning the Florida Federation of Music Violin Solo Competition twice, he auditioned for and began studies Samuel Ashkenasi and violist Richard Young of The Vermeer Quartet. Michael had additional studies with Dorothy Delay, Arnold Steinhardt, Michael Tree, Nobuko Imai, and Shlomo Mintz. His love of chamber music has allowed Mr. Hining to perform with former NY Philharmonic principal cellist Carter Brey and violin legend Joseph Gingold.

Celebrating nearly 40 years of teaching this year, Mr. Hining’s students have placed in such competitions as the ASTA National Solo Competition, the Chicago Symphony Illinois Young Performer’s Competition, the Chicago Youth Symphony Concerto Competition, and the Tertis International Viola Competition. His students have been accepted to the Juilliard, Cleveland Institute, Eastman, and  Peabody conservatories and the Schools of Music at Indiana, Ann Arbor, Madison, and Boulder. An accredited Suzuki instructor, Michael enjoys his work with beginners, intermediate and advanced students and witnessing each student’s individual journey. 

Mr. Hining has conducted his studio chamber orchestra at the Sydney International Music Festival where they received the gold medal, the Carnegie Hall Youth Orchestra Festival, and Michelle Obama’s Classical Music Day at The White House in 2009. He currently conducts the upper school orchestra at the Francis W. Parker School in Lincoln Park. 

The recipient of numerous awards, Michael received the Otto Bloomfield Award at The Eastern Music Festival, the outstanding alumni award from NIU, the Suzuki Association Community Outreach Award, and the Illinois American String Teachers Association Studio Teacher of the Year in 2012.