Introductions | WFMT

2025 CSO Young Composers Initiative

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Negaunee Music Institute and mentor Jessie Montgomery took six young composers and guided them through workshops of new pieces throughout the year. The Young Composers Initiative culminated in a concert featuring fellows of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago as performers. Two of the composers have previously appeared on WFMT: – Sylvia Pine performed as a violinist on Live from WFMT in May 2025 [https://www.wfmt.com/2025/05/12/rachel-barton-pine-violin-and-sylvia-pine-violin-with-matthew-hagle-piano/]; – Clara Frantzen was featured in two Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras Introductions episodes: as a violinist and composer in July 2025 [https://www.wfmt.com/2025/07/12/chicago-youth-symphony-orchestras-class-of-2025/] and as an interviewee about Lollapalooza in August 2025 [https://www.wfmt.com/2025/08/23/chicago-youth-symphony-orchestras-at-lollapalooza/]. The post 2025 CSO Young Composers Initiative [https://www.wfmt.com/2025/10/04/2025-cso-young-composers-initiative/] appeared first on WFMT [https://www.wfmt.com].

LIVE | Elle Cho, 16, violin

Today we hear from 16-year-old violinist Elle Cho. She plays Bach, Beach and Tchaikovsky with pianist Milana Pavchinskaya. Elle Cho began violin studies at the age of three and is a Fellow at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, a training center for advanced pre-college musicians. As a winner of the DePaul Concerto Competition, she made her solo debut at age eight with the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago. Since then, Elle has been a prizewinner in numerous competitions and was awarded the prestigious Anthony Quinn Foundation Scholarship in recognition of her artistic excellence. She has performed in masterclasses with leading artists including Martin Beaver, Midori, Ani Kavafian, Rachel Barton Pine, Boris Garlitsky, Yair Kless, James Ehnes, Vadim Gluzman, and Ilya Kaler. Elle has also participated in renowned summer festivals such as the Aspen Music Festival, the Bowdoin International Music Festival, the Heifetz International Music Institute, the Encore Chamber Music Institute, Musica Mundi, Mozarteum Summer Masterclasses, and the Menton Summer Festival. A dedicated chamber musician, Elle is a member of Quartet Meraviglia, which was awarded Bronze Medal at the 2024 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the 2024 St. Paul String Quartet Competition, and the Grand Prize at the Chicago National Chamber Music Competition. She currently studies violin with Almita Vamos. The post LIVE | Elle Cho, 16, violin [https://www.wfmt.com/2025/09/20/live-elle-cho-16-violin/] appeared first on WFMT [https://www.wfmt.com].

Porphyrion String Quartet and The Hemingway Quartet

This week, two string quartets from the Music Institute of Chicago Academy play Haas, Dvořák, Brahms, Prokofiev, and a double helping of C major Haydn. Some players have previously appeared on Introductions: – Mingshi Xia and Simon Updegraff played with Trioscuro in September 2024 [https://www.wfmt.com/2024/09/21/the-purple-hippopotami-and-trioscuro/] – Simon Updegraff additionally did a live solo recital in November 2023 [https://www.wfmt.com/2023/11/11/live-simon-updegraff-16-cello/] – Lucy Wu has been broadcast in previous Academy chamber groups in November 2024 [https://www.wfmt.com/2024/11/09/three-academy-string-quartets/] and in November 2024 [https://www.wfmt.com/2023/10/21/scaleno-trio-luminos-piano-trio/>in October 2023 – Sasha Varchenko and Elle Choo appeared with previous Academy quartets

Introductions Class of 2025

Our annual Labor Day-weekend recap of 27 graduating seniors, some highlight performances, and where they’re heading next. The post Introductions Class of 2025 [https://www.wfmt.com/2025/08/31/introductions-class-of-2025/] appeared first on WFMT [https://www.wfmt.com].

Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras at Lollapalooza

On Saturday August 2, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras [https://cyso.org/] had a primetime spot at Lollapalooza [https://www.lollapalooza.com/] in Grant Park, the opportunity to play for its biggest audience in history. Robbie Ellis was there and talked to the players and those who made it happen. More from WFMT: Adela Skowronski’s story CYSO Makes History at Lollapalooza [https://www.wfmt.com/2025/08/05/cyso-makes-history-at-lollapalooza/]. More from CYSO: Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra Selected for 2025 Lollapalooza Lineup [https://cyso.org/blog/chicago-youth-symphony-orchestra-selected-for-2025-lollapalooza-lineup/]. This episode contains interviews with Introductions alumni Angelika Wang [https://www.wfmt.com/2024/10/12/live-angelika-wang-17-piano/], Kevin Harte [https://www.wfmt.com/2025/07/12/chicago-youth-symphony-orchestras-class-of-2025/], Clara Frantzen [https://www.wfmt.com/2025/07/12/chicago-youth-symphony-orchestras-class-of-2025/], Chloe Nam [https://www.wfmt.com/2024/09/28/chloe-nam-16-flute/], Zachary Guo [https://www.wfmt.com/2024/06/29/tyler-shaver-18-composer-zachary-guo-18-piano-organ-composer/], and Chloe Cohen [https://www.wfmt.com/2025/07/12/chicago-youth-symphony-orchestras-class-of-2025/]. Also interviewed is trumpeter Bennett King, who is booked to appear on Introductions on December 6, 2025. Other voices in the episode belong to composer Jonathan Bailey Holland [https://www.jonathanbaileyholland.com/] and CYSO staff: Program Manager Reanna Panlilio, Director of String Ensembles Daniella Valdez, Executive Director Jennie Oh Brown, and Music Director Allen Tinkham. The post Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras at Lollapalooza [https://www.wfmt.com/2025/08/23/chicago-youth-symphony-orchestras-at-lollapalooza/] appeared first on WFMT [https://www.wfmt.com].