Left to right: Jessie Montgomery, Marilyn Gans, Sylvia Pine, Gloria Kravchenko, Clara Frantzen, Christopher Mertz, Malik Ali Muhammad. (Credit: Elliot Mandel.)
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Negaunee Music Institute and mentor Jessie Montgomery took six young composers and guided them through workshops of new pieces throughout the year. The Young Composers Initiative culminated in a concert featuring fellows of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago as performers.
Two of the composers have previously appeared on WFMT:
– Sylvia Pine performed as a violinist on Live from WFMT in May 2025;
– Clara Frantzen was featured in two Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras Introductions episodes: as a violinist and composer in July 2025 and as an interviewee about Lollapalooza in August 2025.
Playlist
Marilyn Gans: Fantasy for Piano and Strings
Marilyn Gans, piano; Kimberly Bill & Keshav Srinivasan, violins; Sava Velkoff*, viola; J Holzen*, cello; Nick DeLaurentis†, double bass
Malik Ali Muhammad: Prayer through Trial
Wiktoria Godawa, flute; Keshav Srinivasan & Kimberly Bill, violins; Mason Spencer*, viola; David Caplan, cello; Natalie Man†, harp
Sylvia Pine: War for wind quintet
Wiktoria Godawa, flute; Will Stevens‡, oboe; Elizabeth Kapitaniuk, clarinet; Mark Morris, horn; William George, bassoon
Gloria Kravchenko: Theme and Variations on a Ukrainian Folk Melody
Keshav Srinivasan & Kimberly Bill, violins; Mason Spencer*, viola; J Holzen*, cello
Christopher Mertz: Asylum
Christopher Mertz & Nick DeLaurentis†, double basses; Mark Morris, horn; Sava Velkoff, viola*; David Caplan, cello; Ahmed Alabaca, conductor
Clara Frantzen: American Theme
Sava Velkoff*, viola; Elizabeth Kapitaniuk, clarinet; Sean Whitworth, trumpet; Nick DeLaurentis†, double bass; Cameron Marquez*, percussion; Marissa Kerbel, piano; Ahmed Alabaca, conductor
* Civic Orchestra of Chicago Fellow
† Civic Orchestra of Chicago alum
‡ Negaunee Music Institute Arts Administration Fellow
