The Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts | WFMT

Cellist Julia-Hyunji Lee and pianist Umi Garrett perform works by Robert Schumann, Nadia Boulanger, Ludwig van Beethoven 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. She is a prize winner of the Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition, recipient of the Mary Alice Cox Award, first prize at the FFMC competition, and finalist of the Barbash J.S. Bach International Competition. As a soloist she has performed with the Ocala Symphony, Alachua County Symphony, and University of Florida Chamber Orchestra. Julia has been presented in performances by the Music in the Vineyards Festival in Napa Valley, La Jolla Music Society SummerFest, Montage Music Society, Santa Fe College of Fine Arts, Core Memory Chamber Music, Dame Myre Hess Series, and Four Seasons…

Pianist Amiri Harewood performs works by George Walker and J.S. Bach live from the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago. Currently studying at the Royal College of Music on a full scholarship under the tutelage of Danny Driver, Amiri Harewood holds the Ann Driver Trust Scholarship, supported by the Victor Dandaleh Foundation. He previously studied at Trinity Music Academy under Richard Evans. Amiri regularly performs across the UK and abroad. Previous engagements include solo recitals at prestigious venues including Steinway Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Institut Francais, Bishopsgate’s Institute, the Royal Albert Hall (as part of the Steinway Young Artist series), and an appearance performing on BBC Radio London. His appearances abroad include recitals at the Conservatorio in Venice, and the Mozart Music Festival in Forli, Italy. Amiri has also had the privilege of working with renowned musicians including Inon Barnatan, Vanessa Latarche and Trio Shaham-Erez-Wallfisch. The post Amiri Harewood,…

Violinist Claire Bourg and pianist Kyle Orth perform works by W.A. Mozart, Maurice Ravel, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, live from the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago. Violinist Claire Bourg has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician at prestigious venues across the United States and Europe, including Carnegie Hall, Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, the Kimmel Center, and venues in Bremen, Warsaw, and Brussels. Notable performances include Mozart’s First Violin Concerto with the Camerata Bern in Hannover and participation in the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. Claire has earned acclaim in competitions, winning the 2021 Luminarts Fellowship, winning second prize in the 2020 Barbash J.S. Bach Competition, and prevailing at the New England Conservatory Competition. She has also had success in numerous competitions such as the Joachim, Singapore and Kreisler International Violin Competitions. A sought-after chamber musician, Claire has collaborated with distinguished artists like…

Cellist Jenny Bahk and pianist Linda Lee perform works by Lera Auerbach, Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms, live from the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago. Jenny Bahk is a 26-year-old cellist currently pursuing her Doctor of Music degree at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, studying with Brandon Vamos. She holds a Master of Music and a Master of Musical Arts degree from the Yale School of Music, where she was selected as part of Oneppo Chamber Series and the annual Chamber Music Competition, and served as principal cellist of the Yale Philharmonia. Jenny is also a graduate of The Juilliard School, where she was selected for the Honors Chamber Music program and the Juilliard Orchestra principal pool. As a chamber music enthusiast, Jenny has earned numerous awards. She was a finalist in the Music Academy of the West’s Duo Competition and was named Runner-up at WDAV’s Young Chamber Musicians Competition. Recently, as a member of the award-winning Amnis Piano Quartet, she received…

Pianist Hyerim Lee performs works by Frédéric Chopin, Grażyna Bacewicz, and Claude Debussy, live from the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago. Born in South Korea, Dr. Hyerim Lee is an accomplished pianist, chamber musician, and pedagogue. She is a prizewinner of numerous international competitions, including the OSAKA International Piano Competition, Ettlingen International Piano Competition, MTNA Young Artist Piano Competition, and American Protégé International Piano Competition. Most recently, she won First Prize at the Marquette Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. Dr. Lee has performed in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and Hill Auditorium, while also connecting with communities across Michigan through concerts and educational outreach, including a lecture recital and masterclass at Grand Valley State University and Northern Michigan University. Her international highlights include performances at the International Piano Festival of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), the…

Pianist Yeontaek Oh performs works by Clara Schumann & Robert Schumann, live from the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago. Praised by critics for the “millimeter precision of touch,” “full of contrasts and nuances,” “rare sensitivity and dazzling virtuosity,” “finesse of touch and technical mastery,” and the “brave administration of silence,” Yeontaek Oh began playing the piano at the age of five. He studied at Seoul National University, and New England Conservatory of Music, where he graduated with honors and was awarded the Gilbert Foundation Scholarship. After his studies in Boston, he pursued further study in Europe, completing his Konzertexamen at Hochschule für Musik Freiburg as a recipient of the DAAD and German Government Scholarship, and the Concertiste degree at École Normale de Musique de Paris on a full scholarship. He later earned his DMA at Manhattan School of Music with a teaching assistantship, completing a dissertation on piano pedagogy in relation to atonality and program…

Amnis Piano Quartet are violinist Minkyung Lee, violist Matthew McDowell, cellist Jenny Bahk and pianist Linda Lee. Their competition wins include bronze medal at the 50th Annual Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, third prize at the Premio Renzo Guibergia Prize Competition (IT), Grand Prize and Audience Prize at the Yellow Springs Chamber Competition, the Oneppo Series Chamber Competition. They were also finalists at the Coltman Competition and were selected as finalists for the Schoenfeld International String Competition (Harbin, China). The quartet has concertized across the United States and performed with major chamber artists including the Emerson String Quartet, as part of the Great Lakes Festival, where they were an ensemble-in-residence [Shouse Institute], and the Centrum Chamber Intensive, where they collaborated with members of the Dover String Quartet. They also have given performances as part of the Clark Chamber Series in Waterford, CT, and the Pelican Cove Chamber Series in Sarasota,…

Pianist Joshua Mhoon performs works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Maurice Ravel, Ernesto Lecuona, Ottorino Respighi and Alexander Scriabin, live from the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago. Mhoon began piano at age seven and advanced rapidly, demonstrating a rare combination of artistry, curiosity, and technical command. At just 15, he entered Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music to study with Dr. James Giles, Director of Musical Performance. He currently trains at The Juilliard School in New York City under the direction of Emanuel Ax, Yoheved Kaplinsky, and Julian Martin—three of today’s most celebrated pianists and pedagogues. His competition successes include top prizes at The DePaul National Concerto Competition, The Walgreens National Concerto Competition (Junior and Senior Divisions), and the Emilio del Rosario Concerto Competition. In 2023, he earned the Silver Medal at the inaugural Nina Simone Piano Competition—an accolade that launched a wave of high-profile performance…

Pianist Stephanie Tang performs works by Franz Schubert, Sofia Gubaidulina, Missy Mazzoli and Johannes Brahms, live from the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago. BBC Magazine Rising Star Stephanie Tang is a Chinese-American pianist with an active concert career in solo and chamber performance in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Europe. She has appeared in major international concert halls such as Carnegie Hall (New York), Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles), Sendai Concert Hall (Japan), Alte Oper (Frankfurt), Grafenegg Festival (Austria), TivoliVredenburg (Utrecht), Sony Auditorium (Madrid), Place Flagey (Brussels), Wigmore Hall, King’s Place, Barbican Centre (London), Banff Centre, and Koerner Hall (Toronto). An avid chamber musician, Stephanie has performed alongside and collaborated with Marc Danel, Alisa Weilerstein, Stefan Jackiw, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Nicholas Daniel, Michael Collins, John Adams, and Esa-Pekka Salonen. She has had the privilege of working closely with mentors such as Alfred…

Pianist Kacper Żaromski performs works by Karol Szymanowski and Frédéric Chopin, live from the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago. Kacper Żaromski was born in 1999. He is a native from Rymanow Zdrój in South Eastern Poland. He graduated with honors from the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Music School in Krosno, under the teaching of Mrs. Dorota Skibicka. He then proceeded to complete a five-year course of study with Professor Katarzyna Popowa Zydroń, after which he was awarded a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree with distinction from the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music. He is currently pursuing a Performance Diploma at Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts, under Professor Edward Auer. He is a prize winner of many Polish and international piano competitions: II Prize in International Chopin Piano Competition in Budapest (2016), VI Prize in 51st Polish National Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition (2022), I Prize in International Competition in Moscow (2016), I Prize in Leopold…