View Post

Program Director David Polk shares his favorite musical memories from his 14 years at WFMT

By David Polk |

Share this Post

After nearly 14 years at WFMT, David Polk has decided to move on. During his time, he’s amassed a huge collection of music that he will always associate with the station. On his last day at WFMT, he wants to share with you just a few of the musical gems that he’ll be taking with him in spirit.

View Post

How LA’s Street Symphony is bringing music and social justice to Skid Row

By David Polk |

Share this Post

Violinist Vijay Gupta is as much an advocate as he is a musician – a powerful speaker on behalf of marginalized communities in this country, and especially for the Skid Row community of people experiencing homelessness in downtown Los Angeles.

View Post

President and CEO of League of American Orchestras on the state of American orchestras, need to diversify

By David Polk |

Share this Post

WFMT Program Director David Polk discussed efforts of orchestras in the U.S. to diversify, as well as the state of American orchestras more generally, with League of American Orchestras President and CEO Jesse Rosen

View Post

“Only beauty with a capital ‘B’ can save the world,” Riccardo Muti Reminds High Schoolers

By David Polk and Karina Kücking |

Share this Post

17 year-old Rebecca Vazquez said that hearing the Chicago Symphony Orchestra perform at Lane Tech College Prep High School, where she is a student, is a “a once in a lifetime opportunity.” The orchestra performed there on Wednesday, November 15, 2017, as part of its efforts to bring music to communities throughout Chicago.


View Post

Maestro Muti’s Most Memorable Chicago Moments

By Stephen Raskauskas, Hannah Edgar and David Polk |

Share this Post

Since Riccardo Muti became the CSO’s music director in 2010, Chicagoans have enjoyed many magical moments with the maestro.


View Post

VIDEO: Take a Spin Around Berlin, Music Capital of the World, with Carl Grapentine

By David Polk |

Share this Post

When Carl Grapentine, host of WFMT’s Morning Program, first visited Berlin in 1965 as a student he immediately felt at home.


View Post

CSO’s MusicNOW Announces 20th Anniversary Season: Vijay Iyer, Salonen, Evening-Length Theatrical Work

By Stephen Raskauskas, David Polk and Angelica Lasala |

Share this Post

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra recently announced the 2017-18 lineup for its acclaimed series MusicNOW, celebrating 20 years of bringing contemporary music to Chicago.


View Post

Composer Samuel Adams Explains How Schubert, J-Pop Inspired His First Work for the Chicago Symphony

By David Polk |

Share this Post

31-year-old composer Samuel Adams didn’t yet have specific ideas in mind when he began his three-year residency with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra two years ago. Rather, he developed them as he got to know members of the orchestra and music director Riccardo Muti. Eventually, he decided that he wanted to write something that would “explore every possible extreme of what …


View Post

Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association Reports Ticket Sales Up, Deficit Slightly Down

By David Polk |

Share this Post

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association announced the results from the 2015-2016 fiscal year at its Annual Meeting, which took place October 26, 2016 at Symphony Center. The organization posted a deficit of $1.1 million, though ticket sales for the CSO Main series hit record highs. The CSOA reported that overall ticket sales were down slightly to $22.2 million from last …


Tags
View Post

Riccardo Muti “Lifts Every Voice” at the Apostolic Church of God on Chicago’s South Side

By David Polk |

Share this Post

As soon as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra played the first four notes of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, an audience of over 3,000 at the Apostolic Church of God on Chicago’s South Side broke into applause.