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.
American Composer Highlights
July 6, 2024
For the holiday weekend, Introductions looks back at some of the most notable performances of American music from the past year.
Tyler Shaver, 18, composer & piano; Zachary Guo, 18, piano, organ & composer
June 29, 2024
Today we feature two recent high school graduate composers. Tyler Shaver and Zachary Guo present their own works, performed by themselves and by others. Tyler Shaver, 18, is a student composer and pianist based in Chicago. He graduated from Saint Ignatius College Prep and is about to start a dual degree from Northwestern University in Music Composition and Philosophy. He ...
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras Class of 2024
June 22, 2024
Today we hear from four graduating seniors from Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, representing four different instruments of the orchestra.
Encore broadcast | Isabel Edgcomb, 18, flute & Anna Edgcomb, 18, oboe
June 15, 2024
We’re featuring twin sisters on Introductions today: Isabel and Anna Edgcomb are joined by pianist Lyudmila Lakisova in music of Telemann, Kalliwoda, Liebermann, Poulenc, Taffanel and Cimarosa.
Serge Kalinovsky, 17, cello
June 8, 2024
Today we're joined by Serge Kalinovsky, a resident of Indiana and a recent graduate of the Music Institute of Chicago Academy. He's joined by pianist Lyudmila Lakisova in music of Piatti, Debussy, Clara Schumann, Piazzolla, and Martinů.
LIVE | Esme Arias-Kim, 18, violin
June 1, 2024
We welcome a return guest, Esme Arias-Kim, who grew up in the Chicago area but has spent the last two years studying at the Colburn School in Los Angeles. She's joined by Milana Pavchinskaya in music of Bach, Brahms, Debussy, Price, Wieniawski, and Tchaikovsky.
Lucien Quartet & Trio Callisto
May 25, 2024
We hear one group each from Midwest Young Artists Conservatory and the Music Institute of Chicago Academy in music of Shostakovich, Mendelssohn, Haydn, Brahms and Babadjanian.
Hayden Joyce, 17, horn & Fabrizio Milcent, 18, bassoon
May 18, 2024
Two seniors and principal players from Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, playing instruments that aren't often featured on Introductions.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Highlights
May 11, 2024
To mark Asian-American and Pacific Island Heritage Month, Introductions features young performers in music with Indian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean influences.
Encore broadcast | Simon Updegraff, 16, cello
May 4, 2024
Cellist Simon Updegraff presents Elgar's Cello Concerto, followed by works of Bach and Bloch; a cello suite of Chad "Sir Wick" Hughes, and Monti's Csárdás.
Jeffery Tong, 16, cello
April 27, 2024
Jeffery Tong of CYSO and Naperville North High School plays Saint-Saëns, Beethoven, Bach, Perkinson, and Nadia Boulanger; joined by pianist Liang-yu Wang.
2024 Crain-Maling Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition
April 20, 2024
This morning we hear from all three finalists in the 2024 Crain-Maling Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition, including the winner, steelpan soloist Jaden Teague-Núñez, with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.
No Introductions | WFMT Spring Membership Drive
April 13, 2024
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 Spring Membership Drive
April 6, 2024
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 | Zarin Mehta, 16, piano and composer
March 30, 2024
Return guest Zarin Mehta presents premieres of his own music and Augusta Read Thomas's, plus pieces by Bach, Beethoven, and Lyapunov.
LIVE | Kené Obiaya, 17, piano
March 23, 2024
Chicago-raised pianist Kené Obiaya is an alum of the Hyde Park Suzuki Institute and is now a high school senior at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. He presents music of Chopin, Bach, Still and Brahms. Kené Obiaya is 17 years old and began taking piano lessons at age 3. Kené currently attends Interlochen Arts Academy where he studies piano with ...
LIVE | Anna Huelke, 18, flute
March 16, 2024
Anna Huelke is a Principal Flute in Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, and she brings selections highlighting her Czech heritage. She's joined by pianist Kay Kim and fellow CYSO flute Destina Sarussi.
Encore broadcast | Joseph Kim, 15, guitar and Samuel Kim, 17, piano
March 9, 2024
Two brothers appear, both as soloists and as a duo.
Women’s History Month Highlights
March 2, 2024
An annual fixture for the start of Women’s History Month: performances of female composers’ works by young local musicians.
Encore broadcast | Noah Kim, 17, piano
February 24, 2024
The 2022 Crain-Maling Foundation CSO Young Artist Competition winner Noah Kim plays Bach, Mozart, Schumann and Kapustin.
Encore broadcast | Clara Zhang, 16, piano
July 11, 2026, 11:00 am
We hear once again from pianist Clara Zhang, playing Bach and Chopin. This episode first aired on February 17, 2024. More details and the podcast are available at the original episode page.
