Ravinia 2026 Issue 3

It was way back in elementary school when Wanye Williams, now 20, was rst introduced to Reach Teach Play, experiencing the joy of music-making every time a teaching artist from Ravinia’s Music Discovery Program visited his classroom. From there, he couldn’t be stopped: he joined Reach Teach Play’s Sistema Ravinia orchestra program; was admitted into the prestigious Percussion Scholarship Program (PSP) run by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; and he later became a member of the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative, an organization that supports gi ed young musicians from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in classical music. Four years at e Chicago High School for the Arts followed, and now he’s on a full scholarship to the Peabody Institute of e Johns Hopkins University, pursuing a degree in Jazz Percussion. Joking that he much preferred playing video games and running around outside with his siblings when he was younger, Wanye said that as he grew older, he had a new focus: someday performing on the Ravinia Pavilion stage. And he did just that in 2025, joining the CSO and his PSP mentors at the annual Gala to play Ital Losa by Emmanuel Séjourné for a packed house. Such opportunities to shine are what keep him going. “You start growing, and once you start growing you get performance opportunities,” he shared of his passion for practice. “ e applause a er every performance is very heartwarming – it makes you want to just keep going and going. You want that same sensation as much as possible.” MEET PERCUSSIONIST WANYEWILLIAMS AUGUST 17, 2022 MAY 5, 2018 MAY 21, 2022 “I grew up in this place. I’m thankful for all the inspirational moments Ravinia has brought to me, all the support Ravinia has provided me.” —Wanye Williams Learn more about Reach Teach Play: RAVINIA.ORG • RAVINIAMAGAZINE 33