Saturdays at 11:00 am
Members of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras perform during a live broadcast of Introductions from Millennium Park. (Photo: Tipping Point Photography)
Hear talented pre-college classical musicians from the Chicago area
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 Introductions alumni pursue careers outside of music, some have gone on to study at some of the most prestigious music schools around the world and maintain careers as professional musicians.
LIVE | Ashley Kim, 16, piano
On Saturday’s live broadcast, we feature 16-year-old pianist Ashley Kim, a junior at New Trier High School. Ashley is a scholarship fellow at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Academy, a training center for advanced pre-college musicians. She studies piano with Northwestern Bienen School of Music Professor James Giles and Dr. Matt Hagle. She has performed in many renowned venues including ...
No Introductions | WFMT Fall Membership Drive
WFMT’s Fall Membership Drive takes place this morning! To support original programming like Introductions, please click here.
No Introductions | WFMT Fall Membership Drive
WFMT’s Fall Membership Drive takes place this morning! To support original programming like Introductions, please click here.
Encore Broadcast | Mia Wimbiscus, 15, cello
On Saturday’s live broadcast, we feature 15-year-old cellist Mia Wimbiscus, a sophomore at New Trier High School in Winnetka. Mia is a 4th year Merit Scholarship Fellow at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, a training center for gifted pre-college musicians. She began cello studies at age five with her mother. Since the age of nine, she has been a ...
Encore Broadcast | Hannah Lin, 18, violin
On Saturday’s encore broadcast, we feature 18-year-old violinist Hannah Lin of Rolling Meadows. She recently graduated from Fremd High School in Palatine and studies violin with Desirée Ruhstrat. In 2015 and 2017, Hannah won first place in the Chinese Fine Arts Society Competition and was the category winner of the Early Music division of the 2015 Walgreens National Concerto Competition, ...
Encore Broadcast | Nova String Quartet
On Saturday’s broadcast, we feature Nova String Quartet of the Academy at the Music Institute of Chicago. Nova was formed in the fall of 2018 and is comprised of violinists Irina Casasnovas and John Heo, violist Zechary Mo, and cellist Cameron Chiu. All four students are fellows at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, a pre-college training program for gifted ...
LIVE | Mia Wimbiscus, 15, cello
On Saturday’s live broadcast, we feature 15-year-old cellist Mia Wimbiscus, a sophomore at New Trier High School in Winnetka. Mia is a 4th year Merit Scholarship Fellow at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, a training center for gifted pre-college musicians. She began cello studies at age five with her mother. Since the age of nine, she has been a ...
LIVE | Youth Arts Showcase from Millennium Park!
Introductions celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2018 at the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events’ (DCASE) Youth Arts Showcase (YAS! Fest). This year, we return to YAS! Fest for a special live broadcast at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park! Celebrate Chicago’s young artists by attending in person or listening live on WFMT as we welcome a brass ensemble from ...
Masha Lakisova, 17, violin
On Saturday’s broadcast, we feature 17-year-old violinist Masha Lakisova of Vernon Hills. Masha studies violin at The Juilliard School’s Pre-College Division with Li Lin and Itzhak Perlman. She has had the privilege of performing in esteemed concert venues in the United States and around the world. Masha has appeared as a soloist with more than 20 orchestras worldwide such as ...
Nova String Quartet
On Saturday’s broadcast, we feature Nova String Quartet of the Academy at the Music Institute of Chicago. Nova was formed in the fall of 2018 and is comprised of violinists Irina Casasnovas and John Heo, violist Zechary Mo, and cellist Cameron Chiu. All four students are fellows at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, a pre-college training program for gifted ...
Parquarious Winds of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra
On Saturday’s broadcast, we feature the Parquarious Winds of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO). The quintet was formed in Fall 2018. In addition to playing on regular CYSO recitals, the group performed at a Chamber Showcase recital at PianoForte and performed with the Orion Ensemble. As representatives of the CYSO Ambassadors Program, the group gave performances at two Chicago ...
Encore Broadcast | Quartet Fiero
On Saturday’s encore broadcast, we feature Quartet Fiero of the Academy at the Music Institute of Chicago. Quartet Fiero is comprised of violinists Isabella Brown and Kaylin Liu; violist Elena Galentas; and cellist Alon Hayut. The quartet is coached by Rodolfo Vieira. Individually, their experience includes performances at prestigious venues around the world, many competition wins, and solo appearances with ...
Lydia Walquist, 18, flute and Robert Black, 18, tuba
On Saturday's broadcast, we feature two wind instruments: the flute and tuba!
Encore Broadcast | Hannah Lin, 18, violin
On Saturday’s encore broadcast, we feature 18-year-old violinist Hannah Lin of Rolling Meadows. She recently graduated from Fremd High School in Palatine and studies violin with Desirée Ruhstrat. In 2015 and 2017, Hannah won first place in the Chinese Fine Arts Society Competition and was the category winner of the Early Music division of the 2015 Walgreens National Concerto Competition, ...
Encore Broadcast | Ifetayo Ali-Landing, 16, cello
16-year-old cellist Ifetayo Ali-Landing of Chicago performed on Introductions last year when she was 15-years-old. On Saturday, July 27 at 7:30 pm, Ifetayo will make her Chicago Symphony Orchestra debut at the Ravinia Festival in a program called “Leonard Bernstein: Man for All Music.” Today, we feature Ifetayo’s 2018 Introductions performance in celebration of this achievement! Ifetayo began her musical ...
Encore Broadcast | Trio Domino
On Saturday’s encore broadcast, we feature Trio Domino of Midwest Young Artists Conservatory. For more information about this program, please click here.
Encore Broadcast | Rabia Brooke, 18, violin
We feature 18-year-old violinist Rabia Brooke of Chicago in this encore broadcast. Equally at home as a solo, chamber, and orchestral player, Rabia Brooke is an award-winning violinist whose performance experiences span a wide range of repertoire, styles, and collaborators. This season Rabia performs at the Aspen Music Festival, the Musicians Club of Women, and the Northwest Symphony Orchestra. Rabia ...
Hannah Lin, 18, violin
On Saturday’s broadcast, we feature 18-year-old violinist Hannah Lin of Rolling Meadows. She recently graduated from Fremd High School in Palatine and studies violin with Desirée Ruhstrat. In 2015 and 2017, Hannah won first place in the Chinese Fine Arts Society Competition and was the category winner of the Early Music division of the 2015 Walgreens National Concerto Competition, as ...
Trio Domino
On Saturday’s broadcast, we feature Trio Domino of Midwest Young Artists Conservatory in Highwood, Illinois. The members of the trio include 18-year-old violinist Daria Chudnovsky of Skokie (senior at Roycemore School), 16-year-old cellist Samuel Du of Palatine (sophomore at William Fremd High School), and 14-year-old pianist Myroslav Mykhailenko of Wood Dale (freshman at Fenton High School). The trio is coached ...
Xena Quartet
On Saturday’s broadcast, we feature the Xena String Quartet of the Academy at the Music Institute of Chicago. Xena is comprised of violinists and violists Claire Arias-Kim, Isabel Chen, and Noelle Naito; and cellist Camille Toubol. All four students are Fellows at the Academy, and the quartet is coached by Rodolfo Vieira. The quartet members have individually won local, regional, ...
