Dame Myra Hess Concerts

Wednesdays at 12:15 pm
Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts

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.

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Jonathan Leibovitz, clarinet and Matteo Generani, piano

November 4, 2026, 12:15 pm

Clarinetist Jonathan Leibovitz and pianist Matteo Generani perform works by Clara Schumann, Paul Ben-Haim and Carl Maria von Weber, live from the Seventeenth Church of Christ Scientist, Chicago. Jonathan Leibovitz is a multi award winning clarinetist. In 2022, he was a prize-winner at the Young Classical Artists Trust and Concert Artists Guild joint International Auditions and was named as Classic ...

Clayton Stephenson, piano

November 11, 2026, 12:15 pm

Pianist Clayton Stephenson performs works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Bill Evans and Sergei Prokofiev, live from the Seventeenth Church of Christ Scientist, Chicago. American pianist Clayton Stephenson’s love for music is immediately apparent in his joyous charisma onstage, expressive power, and natural ease at the instrument. Hailed for “extraordinary narrative and poetic gifts” and interpretations that are “fresh, incisive and ...

Mari Nagahara, cello and Motti Fang-Bentov, piano

November 18, 2026, 12:15 pm

Cellist Mari Nagahara and pianist Motti Fang-Bentov perform works by Nadia Boulanger, Michiko Toyama and Rebecca Clarke, live from the Seventeenth Church of Christ Scientist, Chicago. Japanese-American cellist Mari Nagahara has distinguished herself as a promising young talent. Trained and rooted in the Western classical music tradition, her work lives at the junction of collaboration, equity and innovation and seeks ...

No Hess Concert: Happy Thanksgiving!

November 25, 2026, 12:15 pm

The Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts will return on December 3rd, 2025, with a performance by clarinetist Anoush Pogossian and pianist Amber Ginmi Scherer.

Anoush Pogossian, clarinet and Amber Ginmi Scherer, piano

December 2, 2026, 12:15 pm

Clarinetist Anoush Pogossian and pianist Amber Ginmi Scherer perform works by Reena Esmail and Johannes Brahms, as well as a piece by Amy Beach arranged by Anoush Pogossian herself.

Karisa Chiu, violin and Umi Garrett, piano

December 9, 2026, 12:15 pm

Violinist Karisa Chiu and pianist Umi Garrett perform works by Leoš Janáček and arrangements by Fritz Kreisler of works by Felix Mendelssohn and Antonín Dvořák, live from the Seventeenth Church of Christ Scientist, Chicago.

No Dame Myra Hess Concert: Happy Holidays

December 16, 2026, 12:15 pm

The Dame Myra Hess Concerts will return on January 6th 2027.

No Dame Myra Hess Concert: Happy Holidays

December 23, 2026, 12:15 pm

The Dame Myra Hess Concerts will return on January 6th 2027.

No Dame Myra Hess Concert: Happy Holidays

December 30, 2026, 12:15 pm

The Dame Myra Hess Concerts will return on January 6th 2027.