Introductions

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.

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LIVE | Angelika Wang, 17, piano

October 12, 2024, 11:00 am

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.

No Introductions | WFMT Fall Membership Drive

October 19, 2024, 11:00 am

Donate to Classical WFMT so we can keep bringing you Introductions and other great programming. Call (773) 279-2100 or visit wfmt.com/donate.

No Introductions | WFMT Fall Membership Drive

October 26, 2024, 11:00 am

Donate to Classical WFMT so we can keep bringing you Introductions and other great programming. Call (773) 279-2100 or visit wfmt.com/donate.

LIVE | Lily Sullivan, 17, violin

November 2, 2024, 11:00 am

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.

Three Academy String Quartets

November 9, 2024, 11:00 am

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.

Katherine Schaufenbuel, 13, violin

November 16, 2024, 11:00 am

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.

LIVE | Gallwas Twins, 17, piano duet

November 23, 2024, 11:00 am

Joseph and Kenneth Gallwas of Elmhurst work together as a piano duet, studying at New Music School. They perform music of Mozart, Piazzolla, Guastavino and Bach on WFMT's Steinway.

Encore broadcast | Jeffery Tong, 16, cello

November 30, 2024, 11:00 am

Jeffery Tong of CYSO and Naperville North High School plays Saint-Saëns, Beethoven, Bach, Perkinson, and Nadia Boulanger; joined by pianist Liang-yu Wang.