Wednesdays at 12:15 pm
From the Chicago Cultural Center, hear weekly live concerts.
Each week WFMT goes live to the Chicago Cultural Center for concerts with emerging artists from around the world, produced by the International Music Foundation. Some shows offer solo recitals while others feature ensembles. The concerts take place beneath the world’s largest Tiffany-domed ceiling, part of a landmark building that originally housed the Chicago Public Library. The Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts are named for British pianist Myra Hess who organized some 1,700 free lunchtime concerts for Londoners during World War II, in the years of nightly air raids.
Parry Karp and Jeffrey Sykes
December 12, 2018
Cellist Parry Karp with pianist Jeffrey Sykes present works of Karol Szymanowski and Rebecca Clarke under the Tiffany glass dome for this Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert broadcast. Cellist Parry Karp is Artist-in Residence and Professor of Chamber Music and Cello, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he is director of the string chamber music program. He has been cellist ...
Kate Flum and Beilin Han
December 5, 2018
Flutist Kathryn Flum along with collaborative pianist Beilin Han present a program with music by Georges Hüe, Eugène Bozza, Gabriel Fauré, Joseph Schwantner, and Aaron Copland live on this Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert from the Chicago Cultural Center. Flutist Kathryn Flum “wins the heart of her audience” (VisionTimes, China) with appearances hailed as “breathtaking” (PBS), “performed with just ...
Sophia Bacelar and Noreen Polera
November 28, 2018
Cellist Sophia Bacelar and pianist Noreen Cassidy-Polera join us under the Tiffany glass dome with music of Saint-Saëns and Rachmaninoff. Cuban-Chinese-American cellist Sophia Bacelar is quickly gaining recognition as one of classical music’s young rising stars. Recent seasons saw her debuts as soloist at renowned venues such as The Berliner Philharmonie and The Tonhalle Zürich, a series of six concerts broadcast by ...
Hannah White
November 21, 2018
Violinist Hannah White and pianist Matthew Hagle join us in live performance on this Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert broadcast. Violinist Hannah White has performed extensively throughout the United States including Carnegie Hall. Hannah has been described by The New York Times as, “terrific… expressive… enthusiastic ” by NY Concert Review as, “phenomenal…blaze… commanded … perfect”, an d Cleveland.com as “clinched…razor-sharp… bright”. ...
Dominic Cheli
November 14, 2018
Pianist Dominic Cheli performs live on the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert broadcast from Preston Bradley Hall. Applauded by MusicWeb International for his “splendid playing…great skill and technical prowess,” pianist Dominic Cheli is First Prize winner of the 2017 Concert Artists Guild Competition. Earlier in 2017, Naxos released his debut CD, and he won the Music Academy of the West ...
Tzu-Yin Huang
November 7, 2018
Pianist Tzu-Yin Huang joins us in live performance under the Tiffany glass dome of the Chicago Cultural Center for this Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert broadcast. Tzu-Yin Huang began playing the piano at the age four in Taiwan. After many years of study, including an undergraduate degree from National Taiwan Normal University, she won the school concerto competition and the YAMAHA ...
Callisto Quartet
October 24, 2018
2018 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition grand prize winners the Callisto Quartet join us with a program of Schubert and Mozart. Grand prize winners of the 2018 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the Callisto Quartet was formed in 2016 at the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) and brings together four dedicated and passionate musicians who share a love for chamber ...
Jonathan Wintringham
October 17, 2018
Saxophonist Jonathan Wintringham and pianist Anthony Padilla perform works by Giulio Caching, Takashi Yoshimatsu, Jules Demersseman, Maurice Ravel, Robert Bariller, and Astor Piazzolla live on this Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert broadcast live from the Chicago Cultural Center. “A major force in the saxophone world,” (American Record Guide) internationally acclaimed saxophonist and recording artist Jonathan Wintringham has been described as “absolutely stunning…nothing short of a virtuoso” (‘The Sax’ Magazine, Japan), and “a saxophonist of ...
De Maeyer – Kende Duo
October 10, 2018
Belgian violinist Jolente De Maeyer and pianist Nikolaas Kende make up the De Maeyer – Kende Duo. On this program, they perform works Lera Auerbach and Ludwig van Beethoven live from Preston Bradley Hall of the Chicago Cultural Center. One of the leading Belgian violinists, Jolente De Maeyer, has brought her virtuosity and passionate interpretations to diverse global audiences. She is recognized ...
YuEun Kim
October 3, 2018
South Korean born violinist YuEun Kim is joined by collaborative pianist EunAe Lee, also from South Korea, present a program of Beethoven and Ravel on this Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Broadcast from the Chicago Cultural Center. Having earned her Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in violin performance from the Seoul National University, YuEun Kim graduated from her Artist Diploma, as a ...
Donald Sinta Quartet
September 26, 2018
2018 Fischoff Competition Gold Medal recipients, the Donald Sinta Quartet, appear once again on the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Broadcasts. The bring with them a variety of music including an arrangement of a Ludwig van Beethoven string quartet by Dan Graser as well as works written for saxophone quartet by Chris Hass, David Biedenbender, and Marc Mellits for this performance. The Donald Sinta Quartet, ...
Soojung Hong
September 19, 2018
South Korean born pianist Soojung Hong joins us with a program featuring works by Franz Liszt, Nikolai Meitner, and Nikolai Kapustin for this live Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Broadcast live from the Chicago Cultural Center. Soojung Hong was born in South Korea and graduated from Deokwon Arts High School in Seoul. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in piano performance ...
Chicago Harp Quartet
September 12, 2018
The dynamic Chicago Harp Quartet performs works arranged for as well as written for this unique combination. Works include pieces by Luigi Boccherini, Enrique Granados, Alfredo Rolando Ortiz, and Bernard Andrès, with arrangements by Carlos Salzedo and quartet member Marguerite Lynn Williams.
Riana Anthony and Jonathan Fournel
September 5, 2018
For today’s Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Broadcast, we are joined by cellist Riana Anthony and pianist Jonathan Fournel. Their program includes works by Beethoven and Franck performed under the striking Tiffany glass dome of the Chicago Cultural Center. Visit the WFMT Facebook page to see a live video broadcast of the performance. Riana Anthony began playing the cello at the ...
Duo Ephelia
August 29, 2018
Clarinetist Amy Gloverand and pianist Milena Zhivotovskaya make up the New York based Duo Ephelia. On this program, they present works of Claude Debussy, Milena Zhivotovskaya, and Francis Poulenc. Duo Ephelia, a New York based clarinet and piano team, is dedicated to performing topic-centered recitals that are artful, entertaining, and informative. This approach led to a debut recital at the Klavierhaus, NYC ...
Katinka Kleijn and Sebastian Huydts
August 22, 2018
Under the Tiffany glass dome of Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago Symphony Orchestra cellist Katinka Kleijn and pianist Sebastian Huydts present a live performance of works by Ludwig van Beethoven and Manuel de Falla for this Dame Myra Hess Memorial concert. Chicago Symphony Orchestra member Katinka Kleijn performs across the fields of classical, experimental, contemporary, and ...
Dynasty Battles
August 15, 2018
Pianist Dynasty Battles presents a program of Beethoven and Scriabin on this live Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert broadcast. Hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dynasty Battles is a visionary concert pianist with a unique approach to his blend of music. Battles, a favorite performer of the W. Russell Johnson Music Guild, has won a variety of accolades on regional and national ...
Anita Graef and Patrick Godon
August 8, 2018
Soloist, chamber musician, and the CCM-CSO Diversity Fellow for University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and the Cincinnati Orchestra, cellist Anita Graef appears with pianist and artistic director of the International Chamber Artists, Patrick Godon. Their program includes works of Robert Schumann and Richard Strauss performed live from the Chicago Cultural Center for this Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert. A ...
Florin Parvulescu and Samantha Cho
August 1, 2018
Romanian-born violinist and conductor Florin Parvulescu and pianist Samantha Cho present a recital with works of Beethoven and Debussy. This performance was live from Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center for this Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert on WFMT. Florin Parvulescu was born in 1971 in Bucharest, Romania. He started playing the violin at the age of six ...
Neave Trio
July 25, 2018
The Neave Trio, Anna Williams, Violin; Mikhail Veselov, Cello; and Eri Nakamura, Piano; returns to perform pieces by Debussy and Piazzolla live from the Chicago Cultural Center. Since forming in 2010, Neave Trio – violinist Anna Williams, cellist Mikhail Veselov, and pianist Eri Nakamura – has earned enormous praise for its engaging, cutting-edge performances. WQXR explains, “‘Neave’ is actually a Gaelic name meaning ‘bright’ ...
Merz Trio
December 19, 2018
The Merz Trio presents works of Brahms, Schubert, and Charlotte Bray live on this Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert. Merz Trio Lee Dionne, piano Brigid Coleridge, violin Julia Yang, cello Merz Trio was formed in 2017 and has quickly gained a standing as a unique and award-winning ensemble. Recipients of the First Prize and Audience Prize at the 2018 Chesapeake ...
Oliver Herbert and Xiaohui Yang
January 9, 2019
Cellist Oliver Herbert and pianist Xiaohui Yang present a program of Janáček and Fauré live from Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center. Oliver Herbert, from San Francisco, entered the Curtis Institute of Music in 2015 and studies cello with Carter Brey, principal cello of the New York Philharmonic, and Peter Wiley, former cellist of the Guarneri Quartet. All ...