Young People's Concerts

Our Young People's Concerts bring the excitement and joy of classical music to school-aged children all around Chicago in unexpected and inventive ways.

Classical Music Chicago's

Young People's Concerts

We are pleased to offer Young People’s Concerts both as a field trip to a selection of our weekly Dame Myra Hess Concerts and as in-school performances designed just for K–8 classrooms. Each program provides students with an inspiring introduction to live classical music.

Learn more about each option below.

FREE FIELD TRIP OPPORTUNITY
Bring Your Students to the 
Dame Myra Hess Concerts

These concerts will introduce your students to the beauty of live classical music, performed by extraordinary young professional musicians from around the world. Concerts take place on Wednesdays from 12:15–1:00 pm at Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago (55 E. Wacker Drive).

Your students will attend alongside our regular audience, giving them the unique experience of being part of a live public concert.

2026 Hess Performance Dates
Learn more about each musician below.

  • January 28, 2026 - Joshua Mhoon, piano
  • February 11, 2026 - Nois Saxophone Quartet
  • March 11, 2026 - Vinola Trio (Clarinet, Violin, Piano)
  • April 15, 2026 - Julia Lee, cello
  • May 27, 2026 - Tyler Martin, flute

How it works:

  • Reserve your group’s space for one of the dates above.
  • You’ll receive information about the repertoire before each concert.
  • Simply arrive with your students and enjoy an unforgettable musical experience!
Request a field trip to a Hess Concert

IN-SCHOOL CLASSICAL MUSIC 
Concerts Brought Directly to Your School

CMC brings the excitement of live music right into the classroom with our Young People’s Concerts! This free program offers performances to K-8 CPS schools and those with underserved populations. Interactive and engaging, this program introduces students to a wide variety of music and musical concepts. Teachers can apply for performances to come to their schools.

Available Ensembles and Programs:
Learn more about each ensemble below.

  • 5th Wave Collective · Wind Quintet featuring works by women composers
  • Axiom Brass · Brass Quintet
  • Black Moon Trio · Violin, Horn, Piano Trio
  • Kaia Quartet · String Quartet featuring works by Latin composers

How it works:

  • How: Submit a request for a performance at your school.

  • When: Ongoing throughout the academic year.

  • Where: Takes place in schools and central locations.

  • Cost: Free

Request a performance for your school

Young People's Concerts 2025/26  

IN-SCHOOL 
ROSTER OF MUSICIANS


5th Wave Collective

The 5th Wave Wind Quintet is excited to send you on a musical adventure through the lens of music by Women composers. This program includes music by women from all over the world and from every era of recorded history including music that will have you dancing, singing and everything in between. This program explores the concepts of teamwork, cooperation, communication, emotions and tempos.


Axiom Brass

"Let’s Make Music!" is a multicultural, educational music program designed to introduce students to the fascinating and diverse world of classical music. During this cultural journey, students learn the basic principles of how to buzz their lips and produce sounds on a brass instrument.
Through interactive games such as “Find the Beat,” “Where is the Melody,” “Who is Playing,” and “Musical Chairs,” students also learn to identify melody, rhythm, and harmony—and understand how these elements coexist within a piece of music.


Black Moon Trio

The history of music is nearly as long and complicated as the history of humanity itself. In this engaging 50-minute, interactive workshop, Black Moon Trio takes audiences on a dynamic journey through the major eras of music, from the ancient and mysterious origins of Prehistoric music to the groundbreaking compositions of the Contemporary. This performance covers key musical eras, including Prehistoric, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Folk, Jazz, and Contemporary, providing a well-rounded exploration of compositional evolution over centuries and reflecting the broader cultural, social, and technological changes that have shaped the ways in which we write and listen to music.


Kaia Quartet

"A Trip Around the World" is a program with musical excerpts, narration, audience interaction and question and answer. This presentation shows different styles of music and ways music was used in different countries and cultures and has many interactive elements. The objective of this program is to expose students to many different styles and purposes of music from around the world. The music includes in this program comes from Japan, Argentina and Uruguay, Italy, Russia, Brazil, USA, Israel, and Austria. 



Young People's Concerts 2025/26  

FIELD TRIP HESS CONCERT
ROSTER OF MUSICIANS


Joshua Mhoon, piano
Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Born and raised in Chicago, pianist Joshua Mhoon has already made an international name for himself, performing in concert halls across Europe, Asia, and the U.S. He has appeared on national television, shared the stage with world-renowned artists, and is currently studying at The Juilliard School with legendary pianist Emanuel Ax. His roots in both classical and Black American music (jazz, gospel, R&B, and more) give his performances a special vitality and connection.


~Nois Saxophone Quartet
Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Chicago’s own ~Nois Saxophone Quartet is turning heads in the classical world. Known for their adventurous spirit and “fiendishly good” performances (Chicago Tribune), they have premiered over 100 new works and taken top prizes at national chamber music competitions. Their concerts are lively, fun, and inspiring—showcasing how versatile and exciting the saxophone can be.


Vinola Trio (clarinet, violin, piano)
Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Formed at Indiana University, the Vinola Trio brings together violin, clarinet, and piano in fresh and dynamic ways. Their programs highlight both classical favorites and works by contemporary composers, including women and underrepresented voices. Winners of multiple national chamber music competitions, they are passionate about bringing music into schools, libraries, and community spaces.


Julia Lee, cello
Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Praised for her “warmth” and “musical integrity,” Korean-American cellist Julia Lee has performed in major venues such as Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center and festivals across the country. A Juilliard graduate, she is equally devoted to community work, sharing music with hospitals, memory-care programs, and underserved schools. Her artistry and passion for connecting with audiences make her a wonderful role model for students.


Tyler Martin, flute
Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Flutist Tyler Martin is a member of the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and has performed with major U.S. symphonies. A winner of numerous competitions, he is also dedicated to performing new music, collaborating with composers to bring fresh sounds to the stage. His appearances on national radio and music festivals show the broad reach of his artistry and energy.



December 14, 2023 - CROSSING BORDERS

Crossing Borders Music builds unique and engaging musical experiences for people of all ages. It is one of the quartet's core values. In addition to demonstrating the rich history of the string quartet's repertoire, recent educational programs have been designed to explore topics such as non-verbal communication skills, diversity in Western Classical music, and American history.

RSVP

May 16, 2024 - KAIA STRING QUARTET

KAIA String Quartet is a Chicago-based ensemble specializing in the rich and colorful music of Latin America. In this presentation we will take students on a “musical trip around the world” introducing them to music of different cultures and countries and the instruments of the string quartet. Students will become familiar with musical terms like the beat, composer, and range as well as hear examples of how composers portray stories, feelings and ideas through their music.

RSVP

“Whether it's a trip to the Chicago Cultural Center or an in-school concert, I've made the CMC concert series an instrumental part of my Music curriculum.”

- Mark Coulter, Ted Lenart Regional Gifted Center - CPS

Thank you to our supporters

Young People’s Concerts is made possible through the generosity of the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation and contributions from individual donors.

Upcoming Performances

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Concerts for Well-being

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