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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Encore broadcast | Miriam Kessler, 17, harp, piano, and composer

September 30, 2023, 11:00 am

Live, an unusual two-instrument recital: Miriam Kessler is an accomplished performer on harp and piano.

Trio Nuvola & Goya Piano Trio

October 7, 2023, 11:00 am

Today we’re featuring two piano trios from the Music Institute of Chicago Academy’s 2022-23 school year, in music of Beethoven, Esmail, Clarke, Mendelssohn and Shostakovich. Members of these groups have appeared on Introductions previously, or are set to: – Sameer Agrawal gave a live solo recital in December 2022 and has appeared as a member of different string quartets. – ...

LIVE | Amelia Zitoun, 17, cello

October 14, 2023, 11:00 am

Today is the first live recital of the new school year. Amelia Zitoun is in her fifth and final year in the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, commuting every Saturday from Shorewood, Wisconsin to Lake Forest, Illinois. She’s joined by pianist Liang-yu Wang in music of Alfredo Piatti, Nadia Boulanger, and Johannes Brahms. Amelia has previously appeared on Introductions in ...

Scaleno Trio & Luminos Piano Trio

October 21, 2023, 11:00 am

On Introductions, we feature two chamber trios from the Music Institute of Chicago Academy in movements by Mendelssohn, Dvořák, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. See also: pianist Ethan Zheng gave a solo piano recital on Introductions in March 2023.