Wednesdays at 12:15 pm
From the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago, hear weekly live concerts.
Each week, WFMT goes live to the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago 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 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.
Vermeer Quartet and Arianna String Quartet [Rebroadcast]
May 27, 2020
This is a rebroadcast from October 18, 2017. The combined forces of the Vermeer and Arianna String Quartets present a single work on today’s program, the Mendelssohn Octet in E-flat Major, Op.20 to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts. Vermeer Quartet Shmuel Ashkenasi, violin; Mathias Tacke, violin; Richard Young, viola; Nicole Johnson, cello Arianna String ...
Kamil Tokarski [Rebroadcast]
May 20, 2020
This is a rebroadcast from November 13, 2019. Polish pianist Kamil Tokarski joins us under the Tiffany dome with music of Scarlatti, Chopin, and Albéniz for this Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert broadcast. Dr. Kamil Tokarski is a distinguished pianist with rich musical experiences throughout Europe, the United States, and Asia. Kamil Tokarski has appeared in solo recitals in Poland, Switzerland, ...
Trio Celeste [Rebroadcast]
May 13, 2020
Hailed as “a first-class ensemble” (Orange County Register), “unfailingly stylish” (The Strad), “technically dazzling” (Long Beach Gazette), “flawless” (New York Concert Review) and “the epitome of what chamber musicians should be” (Palm Beach Daily News), Trio Céleste has firmly established itself as one of the most dynamic chamber music ensembles on the classical music scene today. Recent highlights include recital ...
Dynasty Battles [Rebroadcast]
May 6, 2020
An encore broadcast from August 15, 2018. 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 levels. He has been featured together with soprano Marietta Simpson, in the ...
Cheng² Duo [Rebroadcast]
April 29, 2020
This is an encore broadcast from May 15, 2019. Captivating audiences and critics alike, the “brilliant” (The Times, UK) and “truly exhilarating” (The WholeNote, Canada) Cheng² Duo (pronounced Cheng Squared Duo) distinguishes itself with its uncompromising musical integrity, undeniable chemistry, and unparalleled communication with its listeners. The Chinese-Canadian brother-and-sister duo is formed by 22-year-old cellist Bryan Cheng, recent laureate of the prestigious Paulo International ...
Robert Chen and Benjamin Loeb [Rebroadcast]
April 22, 2020
Robert Chen has been concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1999. During his years as concertmaster, he has been featured as soloist with Riccardo Muti, Daniel Barenboim and Pierre Boulez, among others. He gave the CSO premiere of György Ligeti’s Violin Concerto, Elliott Carter’s Violin Concerto and Witold Lutoslawski’s Chain Two, as well as the world premiere of Augusta ...
Avalon String Quartet [Rebroadcast]
April 15, 2020
This is a rebroadcast of the Avalon String Quartet recorded live in performance from Preston Bradley Hall of the Chicago Cultural Center. Blaise Magnière, violin Marie Wang, violin Anthony Devroye, viola Cheng-Hou Lee, cello The Avalon has performed in major venues including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the 92nd St Y, Merkin Hall, and Bargemusic in New York; the Library ...
Neave Trio [Rebroadcast]
April 8, 2020
This is a rebroadcast from July 25, 2018 of the Neave Trio’s live Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Broadcast. Mikhail Veselov, cello Anna Williams, violin Eri Nakamura, piano 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 ...
Chicago Harp Quartet [Rebroadcast]
April 1, 2020
This is a rebroadcast from September 12, 2018 of the Chicago Harp Quartet, recorded live from Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center. Marguerite Lynn Williams Julie Spring Catherine Yom Litaker Emily Granger Founded in 2012, the Chicago Harp Quartet has established itself as the leading harp ensemble in the United States. The Quartet brings its signature mix of ...
Diderot String Quartet with Harry Bicket [Rebroadcast]
March 25, 2020
This is a rebroadcast from March 13, 2019. Diderot String Quartet—named after the eighteenth-century French philosopher and Boccherini enthusiast Denis Diderot—brings a fresh approach to works of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Diderot came together in 2012 after having first met at Oberlin Conservatory and The Juilliard School. The four musicians share a background in historical performance and a passion ...
Sam Boutris and Hilda Huang [Rebroadcast]
March 18, 2020
This is a rebroadcast from October 30, 2019. Clarinetist Sam Boutris and pianist Hilda Huang present a program of Mozart, Ravel, Pierné, Cahuzac, Bassi, and Schumann. Clarinetist Sam Boutris’ nuanced and genuine performances balance artistic originality with elegant interpretations that engage both audiences and critics alike. He regularly performs as a concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber musician, collaborating with an eminent ...
Evan Wong
March 11, 2020
Taiwanese American Pianist Evan Wong presents an all Chopin program on this Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert broadcast. Taiwanese American Pianist Evan Wong has appeared in recitals and concerts throughout North America, Europe and Asia in venues such as Carnegie’s Weill Hall and Merkin Hall in New York, Jordan Hall and John Hancock Hall in Boston, Taichung Opera House and ...
Elise Blatchford and Jacob Coleman
March 4, 2020
Flutist Elise Blatchford and pianist Jacob Coleman present a program of Darius Milhaud, William Grant Still, and Sergei Prokofiev for this Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Broadcast. Praised by the Cleveland Plain Dealer for her “superb command of color and nuance,” Elise Blatchford is the Associate Professor of Flute at the University of Memphis Scheidt School of Music. A chamber ...
Paul Dwyer and Daniel Schlosberg
February 26, 2020
German-American cellist Paul Dwyer was born in Munster, Indiana, but spent the most formative years of his life (according to Freud) in Vienna, where he decided to play the double bass, but was told he’s too small. At age eight his family moved to Munich, where Paul spent most of his time playing soccer, running subversive school newspapers and transcribing ...
Taek Gi Lee
February 19, 2020
Taek Gi Lee, from Seoul, entered the Curtis Institute of Music in 2018 and studies piano with Robert McDonald. All students at Curtis receive merit-based, full-tuition scholarships, and Mr. Lee is the Yvonne K. Druian Fellow. Mr. Lee gave his recital debut at age 13 on the Kumho Prodigy Concert Series. He went on to win prizes at several international ...
Mayta Lerttamrab
February 12, 2020
Thai-Chinese-American pianist presents two works on this program by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Moritz Moszkowski for this Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert broadcast. Pianist-Architect Mayta Liu Lerttamrab has taken a unique path in his musical endeavors. The Thai-Chinese-American pianist has one of the most diverse backgrounds comparing to other musicians around the world. Known for his intense and passionate interpretations in ...
Mitya Nilov | Web Exclusive
February 5, 2020
Dynamic winner of the 2018 Concert Artists Guild International Competition will be featured on the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert in this WFMT Facebook Live Exclusive. One of the most dynamic percussionists of his generation, Mitya Nilov is a winner of the 2018 Concert Artists Guild International Competition. The depth, sincerity and sensitivity of his distinctive musical voice have empowered ...
Danbi Um and Kuang-Hao Huang
January 29, 2020
Violinist Danbi Um and collaborative pianist Kuang-Hao Huang present a program of Korngold, Block, Saint-Saëns, and Ravel for this Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert broadcast. Praised by The Strad as an “utterly dazzling” artist, with “a marvelous show of superb technique” and “mesmerizing grace” (New York Classical Review), violinist Danbi Um captivates audiences with her virtuosity, individual sound, and interpretive ...
Christopher Goodpasture
January 22, 2020
Pianist Christopher Goodpasture presents a program of Beethoven, Liszt, and Debussy. Praised by the Dallas Morning News for his “rhetorical grandeur, romantic warmth, and surefire technique”, Christopher Goodpasture has established himself as a musician of refined style. The Toronto Concert Review described his playing as a “rare combination of strength, energy and sublime musical sensitivity…matched by a heavenly sense of ...
Stephen Kim and Ilya Friedberg
January 15, 2020
Violinist Stephen Kim, 3rd Prize winner at the 2019 Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition, 3rd Prize at the 2018 Premio Paganini International Violin Competition, and 2nd Prize at the 2016 Sendai International Violin Competition Stephen Kim joins us with collaborative pianist Ilya Friedberg with works of Chausson and Brahms. Violinist Stephen Kim has presented in venues across North America, Europe, and Asia, ...
Blue Violet Duo
January 26, 2022
The Blue Violet Duo (Kate Carter, violin & Louise Chan, piano) performs music by Gwyneth Walker, Florence Price, and William Grant Still.
Geneva Lewis and Sahun Sam Hong
February 2, 2022
New Zealand-born violinist and 2021 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient Geneva Lewis is joined by pianist Sahun Sam Hong for a live recital of French music for this Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert. They perform works by Milhaud, L. Boulanger, Tailleferre, Fauré, and Debussy.
Zheyu (Crystal) Jiang
February 9, 2022
Concerto competition winner Zheyu “Crystal” Jiang presents a piano recital with works by Chen Yi, Claude Debussy, and Franz Schubert.
Katherine Beck and Chris Reynolds
February 23, 2022
Referred to as a “balmy-voiced mezzo-soprano” by the Boston Globe, Ryan Opera Center members Katherine Beck and collaborative pianist Chris Reynolds present works of Haydn, Rossini, H. L. Adams, Price, and Sondheim for this Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert.
