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.
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra 2017 Central Europe Tour
November 11, 2017
On Saturday’s broadcast, we feature highlight recordings from the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra’s (CYSO) tour to Central Europe. In June 2017, the CYSO embarked on a tour across Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. On June 28, 2017, the orchestra performed in Dvorak Hall, Prague’s concert hall. The orchestra even performed Dvorak’s Carnival Overture, which was premiered in that ...
No Introductions: WFMT Fall Membership Drive
November 4, 2017
To support original programming like Introductions on WFMT and to give performance opportunities to young musicians in the Chicago area, please consider making a gift to WFMT by clicking here.
No Introductions: WFMT Fall Membership Drive
October 28, 2017
To support original programming like Introductions on WFMT and to give performance opportunities to young musicians in the Chicago area, please consider making a gift to WFMT by clicking here.
Manou Magdalena Chakravorty, 14, cello and EYSO Earl Clemens Wind Quintet
October 21, 2017
On Saturday’s broadcast, we feature 14-year-old cellist Manou Magdalena Chakravorty and the Earl Clemens Wind Quintet of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra. Manou Magdalena Chakravorty is a freshman at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. She started cello at the age of four with Karen Schulz-Harmon and now studies with Richard Hirschl and Oleksa Mycyk. Recently, Manou was a semi-finalist ...
REBROADCAST: Robert Sanders, 18, violin and David Caplan, 17, cello
October 14, 2017
On Saturday’s encore broadcast, we feature two recent graduates of Niles North High School in Skokie: 18 year old violinist Robert Sanders and 17 year old cellist David Caplan. Robert and David have known each other since middle school, and they have performed together for numerous years. Recently, Robert and David won the Gold Medal with their quartet, Quartet Bellezza ...
No Introductions: Lyric Opera of Chicago Operathon
October 7, 2017
WFMT will host Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Operathon to support the opera – thus, no Introductions. But join us next Saturday, October 14 for another edition of Introductions!
LIVE: Noah Chen, 13, cello
September 30, 2017
2017 Crain-Maling Foundation Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition Winners
September 23, 2017
On Saturday’s broadcast, we feature the winners of the 2017 Crain-Maling Foundation Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition. For decades, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra has held a competition in order to give the opportunity of a lifetime to a young musician: the ability to perform with the CSO. The competition rotates instrumentation every three years with strings, woodwinds/brass/percussion, and piano. This year ...
Mariachi Herencia de México: A Mexican Independence Day Celebration
September 16, 2017
On Saturday’s broadcast, we celebrate Mexican Independence Day with a program featuring Mariachi Herencia de México, a mariachi ensemble made up of pre-college students from Chicago’s immigrant barrios. The majority of the musicians in the ensemble are classically trained. The group’s debut album, Nuestra Herencia, released in May and hit #2 on iTunes’ Latin chart. The album is believed to be ...
Quartet Bellezza: 2017 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition Gold Medal
September 9, 2017
On Saturday’s broadcast, we feature Quartet Bellezza of Midwest Young Artists Conservatory in Highwood, Illinois. Quartet Bellezza was the winner of the Junior Gold Division of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in South Bend, Indiana, one of the most prestigious competitions in the country for young classical musicians. Their members include 15-year-old violinist Masha Lakisova, 18-year-old violinist Robert Sanders, ...
Kartoshka Quartet
September 2, 2017
On Saturday’s broadcast, we feature Kartoshka Quartet of Midwest Young Artists Conservatory (MYAC) in Highwood, Illinois. The members of the quartet include 16-year-old violinist Rachel Hsu, 17-year-old violinist Eleanor Goes, 18-year-old violist Sofiya Kyrylyuk, and 18-year-old cellist Julia Ilhardt. They are coached by Desirée Ruhstrat. Kartoshka Quartet was formed at MYAC in 2016 and has performed at numerous community events, ...
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert at Symphony Center
August 26, 2017
On Saturday’s broadcast, we feature highlights from the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra’s (CYSO) spring concert at Symphony Center in downtown Chicago. This concert concluded the orchestra’s 70th season. For more information about the CYSO, please click here.
Odysseus Trio
August 19, 2017
On Saturday’s broadcast, we feature the Odysseus Trio of Midwest Young Artists Conservatory in Highwood, Illinois. The members of Odysseus Trio include 15-year-old pianist Alice Zhang, 17-year-old violinist Anna Stenzel, and 17-year-old cellist Adam Lee, and they are coached by Lyudmila Lakisova. The trio competed in the semifinals of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, and they were also awarded ...
Chicago National Duo Piano Youth Competition
August 12, 2017
On Saturday’s broadcast, we feature junior and senior division finalists from the Chicago Duo Piano Youth Competition. The competition was held on Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, June 4 at Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston. For more information about the competition and the Music Institute of Chicago, please click here.
REBROADCAST: Astera String Quartet
August 5, 2017
On Saturday’s encore broadcast, we feature the Astera String Quartet of the Academy at the Music Institute of Chicago. To listen to this program again, please click here.
2017 Emilio del Rosario Piano Concerto Competition Finalists Part 2 of 2
July 29, 2017
On Saturday’s broadcast, we feature the second of two programs highlighting finalists from the 2017 Emilio del Rosario Piano Concerto Competition. This program features the finalists of the senior division. The final round of the competition took place at the Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building in downtown Chicago on Saturday, May 6. The competition honors the legacy of renowned ...
2017 Emilio del Rosario Piano Concerto Competition Finalists Part 1 of 2
July 22, 2017
On Saturday’s broadcast, we feature the first of two programs highlighting finalists from the 2017 Emilio del Rosario Piano Concerto Competition. This program features the junior division finalists. The final round of the competition took place at the Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building in downtown Chicago. The competition honors the legacy of renowned pianist and pedagogue Emilo del ...
Robert Sanders, 18, violin and David Caplan, 17, cello
July 15, 2017
On Saturday’s program, we feature two recent graduates of Niles North High School in Skokie: 18 year old violinist Robert Sanders and 17 year old cellist David Caplan. Robert and David have known each other since middle school, and they have performed together for numerous years. Recently, Robert and David won the Gold Medal with their quartet, Quartet Bellezza of ...
Tessa Vermeulen, 17, flute
July 8, 2017
On Saturday’s broadcast, we feature 17 year old flutist Tessa Vermeulen. Tessa is a senior at York Community High School in Elmhurst and has studied flute for 7 years. She currently studies flute with Hideko Amano. Tessa was a finalist at the Crain-Maling Foundation Chicago Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, and she was also awarded top prizes at the Walgreens National Concerto Competition, Senior Open Division ...
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and National Youth Choir of Scotland Independence Day 2016 Encore Broadcast
July 1, 2017
On Saturday’s program, we feature selections from the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) and the National Youth Choir of Scotland’s (NYCoS) July 4, 2016 performance at Millennium Park in downtown Chicago. In this encore broadcast, we feature patriotic music, as well as popular American and Scottish music. Christopher Bell, Artistic Director of the NYCoS, led the orchestra and choir. For more ...
Jeremy Liu, piano
September 12, 2026, 11:00 am
Jeremy Liu, 15, is a 10th grader at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville. He has been under the tutelage of Mrs. Sueanne Metz since the age of six. Jeremy is the 2025 winner of the Crain-Maling Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition. As a result, he had the honor of performing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra last fall. He also ...
