Show: Young Artists Showcase

Title: Ravinia Steans Music Institute Part 2

[music]

Alexa Smith: Hello, I'm Alexa Smith. Tonight, more performances by musicians from the Ravinia Steans Institute on this edition of the McGraw Family's Young Artists Showcase.

[music]

Now in its 47th year, the Young Artists Showcase is generously underwritten by the Harold W. McGraw Jr Family Foundation. Tonight, we're in our second week of performances from the Ravinia Steans Music Institute. The institute was founded in 1988 to honor Lois M Steans. Since then, it has become a world-renowned incubator for emerging classical pianists, string players, vocalists and jazz musicians, offering an unparalleled environment to sharpen their collaborative skills and elevate their artistry to new heights. Tonight, we'll hear from the strings and piano fellows in the program, starting with the Beethoven Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Opus 1, Number 1. You'll hear fellows Luna de Mol on violin, Elena Ariza on cello and Victoria Wong on piano.

[MUSIC - Beethoven: Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Opus 1, Number 1]

[applause]

Alexa Smith: You heard Steans Institute fellows Luna de Mol on violin, Elena Ariza on cello and Victoria Wong on piano. They played the Beethoven Piano Trio in E flat major, Opus 1, number 1. This performance took place at Bennett Gordon Hall during the summer of 2024. You're listening to the McGraw Family's Young Artists Showcase on WQXR. I'm Alexa Smith and today we're featuring music from the Ravinia Steans Institute. It's time for a quick break now. Then I'll be back with more performances by the talented 2024 fellows here on the McGraw Family's Young Artists Showcase.

Welcome back. I'm Alexis Smith. Today we have fellows from the piano and strings program at the Ravinia Steans Institute. Performances took place in the summer of 2024 at Bennett Gordon Hall. Each summer, the Ravinia Steans Institute opens its doors to young artists in three areas, jazz piano and strings, and singers. Acceptance is highly competitive, limited to just 65 fellows each summer across all programs. The program is committed to cultivating a collaborative environment so artists can grow and thrive.

Led by artistic director Midori, the program for piano and strings concentrates on interpretation of classical sonata and chamber repertoire. The fellows join the program for five immersive weeks with rehearsals, coaching and a masterclass roster of the world's finest musicians and pedagogues. Notable alumni include Yujia Wong, Jeremy Denk and the Omer Quartet. Next, music from Schubert with Rondo in B Minor. We'll hear from fellows Anatol Toth on violin and Victoria Wong on piano.

[MUSIC - Schubert: Rondo in B Minor]

[applause]

Alexa Smith: That was Anatol Toth on violin and Victoria Wong on piano. You heard the Schubert Rondo in B Minor with fellows from the Steans Institute of Music at the Ravinia Festival. That's all for this week's edition of the McGraw Family's Young Artists Showcase, which is generously underwritten on WQXR by The Harold W McGraw, Jr Family Foundation. Here's Terry McGraw with more.

Terry McGraw: When my father, Harold W McGraw, Jr started the Young Artists Showcase in January of 1978, he hoped it would encourage young musicians and alert the rest of us to their remarkable accomplishments. What I don't think he foresaw is that our WQXR program would continue to flourish because the longest such underwritten series in American radio history. I'm proud to be a part of this legacy and I'm proud to be here with you.

Alexa Smith: Thank you, Terry. Many thanks to WQXR program producer Laura Boiman. A big thank you to artistic director of the program for piano and strings, Midori and Steans Institute director, Alejandra Valerino Boyer. Our generous personal program underwriter is the Harold W McGraw, Jr Family Foundation. I'm Alexa Smith. Good night.

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