Born into the 21st century, Gen Z takes a new approach to everything by default. But how does this contrast against the long-established canon of music history? Meet 5 students whose devotion to their craft defies generational trends in WXXI’s latest series, In the Key of Z: Classical.

Click here to learn more about this digital first series and watch all the episodes.

Hot takes! Instrument redesigns! Composer March Madness! WXXI Classical Host, Steve Johnson pulls back the curtain and gets behind the scenes to discover what feeds the fire for these young musicians.

Erica Liu is a violinist who studies under Marcos Kreutzer at the Hochstein School. She started piano at the age of 5, and violin at the age of 6.

Helena Dixon, who studies under Kathy Kemp of the Hochstein School, loves the sound of the cello and the musical range it has.

Violinist Ashley Park has been playing her instrument for the last 10 years and believes the violin is another way to express emotion and describes it as “another voice.”

Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra member Benjamin Watson plays both the piano and French horn. A Classical music fan since he was an infant, rumor has it he was heard singing “Ode to Joy” in his crib.

Eastman Community Music School student Peyton Crony shares how she came to pick the viola as her instrument and performs Franz Anton Hoffmeister, Etude in A minor, a piece she admits, “always brings a smile to my face.”