Wednesdays at 12:15 pm
Live weekly concerts from some of the world’s most exciting emerging artists
Each week, WFMT shares live concerts from emerging artists from around the world. Produced by Classical Music Chicago, the series is named for pianist Myra Hess, who organized over 1500 free concerts for Londoners during World War II. Enjoy solo recitals and ensemble performances from some of classical music’s brightest rising talent, presenting thrilling repertoire across eras and instruments.
Han Chen, piano
Pianist Han Chen performs works by Igor Stravinsky and Nina C. Young, live from the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago. A fearless performer with seemingly limitless imagination and possessed with uncanny energy, GRAMMY Award-nominated pianist Han Chen plays scores old and new with rare rigor and insight. Mr. Chen’s 2026 GRAMMY nomination was in the Best Classical Instrumental Solo ...
Julia-Hyunji Lee, cello and Umi Garrett, piano
Cellist Julia-Hyunji Lee and pianist Umi Garrett perform works by Nadia Boulanger, Gabriel Fauré, Claude Debussy and Florence Price, live from the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago. Praised by the La Jolla Light for her “warmth” and “musical integrity”, 25 year old Korean-American cellist Julia-Hyunji Lee is passionate about creating authentic connections and relationships through her love of music. ...
Katia Sofia Waxman, clarinet and Ya-Ju Chuang, piano
Clarinetist Katia Sofia Waxman and pianist Ya-Ju Chuang perform works by Paul Jeanjean, Amanda Harberg, Jessie Montgomery and Joseph Horovitz, live from the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago. Chicago native Katia Sofia Waxman is a clarinetist and educator based in northern Michigan, where she maintains a studio of talented young players at Interlochen Arts Academy, the nation’s premier arts ...
Antonio Alessandri, piano
Pianist Antonio Alessandri performs works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Frédéric Chopin and Maurice Ravel, live from the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago. Born in Milan in 2006, Antonio Alessandri won First Prize at the Italian Finals of the Steinway Young Talents Competition at the age of eleven, subsequently representing Italy at the International Winners’ Concert held at the Laeiszhalle ...
ZaRiah Wind Quintet
ZaRiah Wind Quintet is flutist Benjamin Smith, oboist Jamison Hillian, clarinetist Katelyn Poetker, bassoonist AJ Neubert and horn player Oved Ric. They perform works by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Eugene Bozza, Valerie Coleman, Arturo Márquez and Jeff Scott, live from the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago. A world-class emerging ensemble, ZaRiah is a collaboration of multifaceted artists passionate about creating performances that ...
