Introductions | WFMT
WFMT Radio Network
Introductions is WFMT’s weekly Saturday morning program that features talented pre-college classical musicians in the Chicago area. Soloists and chamber ensembles perform live in WFMT’s Levin Performance Studio. Large ensembles, including orchestras, choirs, and bands, are recorded at their home venues and broadcast at later dates. The program also features youth music competition winners. While many students who appear on Introductions pursue other careers, some have gone on to study music at some of the most prestigious music schools around the world and pursue careers as professional musicians.
Location:
Chicago, IL
Networks:
WFMT Radio Network
Description:
Introductions is WFMT’s weekly Saturday morning program that features talented pre-college classical musicians in the Chicago area. Soloists and chamber ensembles perform live in WFMT’s Levin Performance Studio. Large ensembles, including orchestras, choirs, and bands, are recorded at their home venues and broadcast at later dates. The program also features youth music competition winners. While many students who appear on Introductions pursue other careers, some have gone on to study music at some of the most prestigious music schools around the world and pursue careers as professional musicians.
Twitter:
@WFMTclassical
Language:
English
Contact:
WFMT Radio Network 5400 N St. Louis Avenue Chicago, IL 60625-4698 (773) 279-2020
Email:
webmaster@wfmt.com
Episodes
2025 Crain-Maling Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition
5/10/2025
All four finalists of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's annual young artists concerto competition, including winner Jeremy Liu, 13 of Naperville, playing the Grieg Piano Concerto.
The post 2025 Crain-Maling Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:00:57:29
Leo Zupko, 17, violin
5/3/2025
Today we hear from violinist Leo Zupko. He performs concerto movements by Sibelius and Mozart, and finishes with music by his father Mischa Zupko, who also plays piano for the recital.
The post Leo Zupko, 17, violin appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:00:47:09
LIVE | Kevin Hernandez, 17, cello
4/26/2025
Today, a live cello recital from Kevin Hernandez, with music by Bach, Rachmaninoff and Cassadó, plus Kevin's father, Belford Hernandez.
The post LIVE | Kevin Hernandez, 17, cello appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:00:57:16
Jeffrey Wang, 17, piano
4/19/2025
Today is Jeffrey Wang, a piano student of Soo Young Lee. He plays Bach, Mozart, Ravel, Niedermaier and Chopin on the Fay & Daniel Levin Performance Studio Steinway.
The post Jeffrey Wang, 17, piano appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:00:45:24
LIVE | Edie Park, 15, piano
4/12/2025
Today we hear from Edie Park, a pianist and supporter of WFMT. She plays Scarlatti, Beethoven and Chopin before finishing her recital with the San Francisco-based composer Jean Ahn.
The post LIVE | Edie Park, 15, piano appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:00:40:59
Kashyap Prasad, 18, piano
3/22/2025
Kashyap is a student of Matthew Hagle at the Music Institute of Chicago and a senior at Lake Forest High School. He plays Beethoven, Chopin, Price and Scriabin.
The post Kashyap Prasad, 18, piano appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:00:41:48
Tristan Zhu, 18, violin
3/15/2025
We hear from Tristan Zhu, a senior at Walter Payton College Prep and the Music Institute of Chicago Academy. He joins pianist Milana Pavchinskaya as he plays music of Bach, Chaminade, Sibelius, and DBR.
The post Tristan Zhu, 18, violin appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:00:51:39
Eddie Zhou, 17, piano
3/8/2025
Today we hear from pianist Eddie Zhou, a high school senior and a student of Brenda Huang. He plays pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Scriabin, and Vine.
The post Eddie Zhou, 17, piano appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:00:46:10
Katherine Schaufenbuel, 13, violin
11/16/2024
Today we feature young violinist Katherine Schaufenbuel, a student of Grigory Kalinovsky of Indiana University. She plays Telemann, Mozart, Brahms, Wieniawski and Auerbach with pianist Lyudmila Lakisova.
The post Katherine Schaufenbuel, 13, violin appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:00:49:59
Three Academy String Quartets
11/9/2024
Today we hear from three string quartets formed at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy in the 2023-2024 school year. They play music by Haydn, Beethoven, Puccini, Grieg, Prokofiev and Ginastera.
The post Three Academy String Quartets appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:00:40:49
LIVE | Lily Sullivan, 17, violin
11/2/2024
Introductions comes back from the Fall Membership Drive to bring you Lily Sullivan, a senior at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy and a violin student of Grigory Kalinovsky of Indiana University. She plays Montgomery and Bach solo, plus Wieniawski with pianist Inah Chiu.
The post LIVE | Lily Sullivan, 17, violin appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:00:48:48
LIVE | Angelika Wang, 17, piano
10/12/2024
Today we feature Whitney Young High School senior Angelika Wang, a piano student of Brenda Huang. She plays music of Beethoven, Messiaen, Rachmaninoff and Bach-Busoni.
The post LIVE | Angelika Wang, 17, piano appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:00:38:13
Chloe Nam, 16, flute
9/28/2024
We revisit Chloe's Crain-Maling Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition finalist performance before a flute recital of Chaminade, Mozart, Rocherolle and CPE Bach with pianist Kay Kim.
The post Chloe Nam, 16, flute appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:00:45:12
LIVE | Jan Vargas Nedvetsky, 18, cello
9/14/2024
We welcome a return guest for the first live recital of the new school year: Jan Vargas Nedvetsky is in his final year at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, studying with Hans Jørgen Jensen. He and pianist Liang-yu Wang play Tchaikovsky, Locatelli, Weir and Beethoven.
The post LIVE | Jan Vargas Nedvetsky, 18, cello appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:00:48:16
Introductions Class of 2024
8/31/2024
A recap of 32 graduating seniors, some highlight performances, and where they're heading next.
The post Introductions Class of 2024 appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:00:47:33
LIVE | Xavier Miyazaki, 18, cello
8/17/2024
Today we hear a live recital from cellist Xavier Miyazaki, a student of Hans Jørgen Jensen of Northwestern University. He's joined by pianist Liang-yu Wang in music of Beethoven, Dall'Abaco, Schumann, Mayuzumi, and Popper.
The post LIVE | Xavier Miyazaki, 18, cello appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:00:39:19
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras Spring Concert
7/20/2024
Highlights from CYSO’s 2024 Spring Concert at Symphony Center – Allen Tinkham conducts music by Stacy Garrop, Richard Strauss and Igor Stravinsky.
The post Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras Spring Concert appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:00:48:50
Tyler Shaver, 18, composer & piano; Zachary Guo, 18, piano, organ & composer
6/29/2024
Today we feature two recent high school graduate composers. Tyler Shaver and Zachary Guo present their own works, performed by themselves and by others. Tyler Shaver, 18, is a student composer and pianist based in Chicago. He graduated from Saint Ignatius College Prep and is about to start a dual degree from Northwestern University in Music Composition and Philosophy. He ...
The post Tyler Shaver, 18, composer & piano; Zachary Guo, 18, piano, organ & composer appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:01:05:38
Serge Kalinovsky, 17, cello
6/8/2024
Today we're joined by Serge Kalinovsky, a resident of Indiana and a recent graduate of the Music Institute of Chicago Academy. He's joined by pianist Lyudmila Lakisova in music of Piatti, Debussy, Clara Schumann, Piazzolla, and Martinů.
The post Serge Kalinovsky, 17, cello appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:00:46:10
LIVE | Esme Arias-Kim, 18, violin
6/1/2024
We welcome a return guest, Esme Arias-Kim, who grew up in the Chicago area but has spent the last two years studying at the Colburn School in Los Angeles. She's joined by Milana Pavchinskaya in music of Bach, Brahms, Debussy, Price, Wieniawski, and Tchaikovsky.
The post LIVE | Esme Arias-Kim, 18, violin appeared first on WFMT.
Duration:00:53:38