Home | Programs | Grant Park Music Festival | Barber Violin Concerto

Barber Violin Concerto

June 24, 2026, 6:30 pm

Violinist William Hagen

Kalena Bovell leads the Grant Park Orchestra in the wistful lyricism of Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto with acclaimed violinist Will Hagen. Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst opens the concert with a bang, and actors from Lookingglass Theatre Company bring to life Peter Boyer’s innovative multimedia work Ellis Island: The Dream of America.

Playlist

Jessie Montgomery: Starburst

Samuel Barber: Violin Concerto

Peter Boyer: Ellis Island: The Dream of America

Learn about sponsorship opportunities.

Meet the Host

Dave Schwan has been around music all his life and has worked in broadcasting for over 40 years. Dave joined WFMT in 2010, and he hosts a number of programs including live broadcasts from Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts and the Grant Park Music Festival. In addition, he is a program host for the internationally syndicated WFMT Jazz Network. Dave is also the Sunday morning news anchor at WGN radio. As an amateur musician, he has been involved in various instrumental and choral groups in Chicago, playing both classical and jazz music. A native of Highland, Indiana, Dave grew up listening to WFMT and attending concerts around the Chicago area. During his travels, he’s had the opportunity to attend concerts around the U.S. and in Europe.

Dame Myra Hess Concerts

Dame Myra Hess Concerts

Barber Violin Concerto

Playlist