Sarah Wejman, 17, viola

A viola recital today on Introductions: Sarah Wejman is a high school senior and student of Desirée Ruhstrat. She presents music of JS Bach, H. Leslie Adams, Max Reger and Ernest Bloch, with pianist Liang-yu Wang. Thanks to Delmark Records for hosting this recording session. Sarah Wejman is a senior at New Trier High School, and has played viola since fourth grade. She currently studies with Desirée Ruhstrat, a professor at Northwestern University. She is the principal violist of the New Trier Symphony and Chamber Orchestras. Sarah has been a member of the Midwest Young Artist Conservatory (MYAC) Orchestra for four years, and is the principal violist of the Symphony Orchestra. In addition, she was accepted into the Illinois Music Education Association’s regional and state conferences for the last three years. She received first place in the Walgreens Concerto Competition MYAC Senior Division Early Music Category, and second place in the Society of American Musicians Intermediate Viola Division. Sarah also enjoys volunteering through music. Last, she coordinated a virtual music video for the In Crescendo Project, in which students of Desirée Ruhstrat partnered with young Colombian music students. She also has performed several times for the residents of the Merion Senior Living Community in Evanston during the pandemic. This fall, she will be attending Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, studying music education, and The Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Aside from music, Sarah enjoys fencing, tutoring, and spending time with family and friends.

Om Podcasten

Introductions is WFMT’s weekly Saturday morning program that features talented pre-college classical musicians in the Chicago area. Soloists and chamber ensembles perform live in WFMT’s Levin Performance Studio. Large ensembles, including orchestras, choirs, and bands, are recorded at their home venues and broadcast at later dates. The program also features youth music competition winners. While many students who appear on Introductions pursue other careers, some have gone on to study music at some of the most prestigious music schools around the world and pursue careers as professional musicians.