WFMT staff having a ball during our first ever beach party (Mary Mazurek, engineer; David Polk, program director; Keegan Morris, Andrew Patner Fellow; Steve Ahlman, production assistant; Maggie Clennon Reberg, host; Joshua Sauvageau, chief engineer)
On Monday May 28, 2018, WFMT staff and listeners gathered at Theater on the Lake to celebrate Memorial Day, enjoying the beautiful weather and some great music at our first ever beach party. From 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, hosts Maggie Clennon Reberg and David Polk, WFMT's program director, treated everyone soaking up the sun with some of their favorite music to both honor those who have served our country for Memorial Day and celebrate the unofficial start of summer. We were delighted to start the morning with a live performance by plucked string player Brandon Acker, who shared selections on his baroque guitar. In the video below, Acker plays "Las Folias de España" by Gaspar Sanz.
Later in the day, we were joined by flutist Eugenia Moliner and harpist Marguerite Lynn Williams, who shared more live music by Chicago's lakefront. Check out photos from throughout the day below.
Could we have asked for a better beach day? Or a better view?
Hosts Maggie Clenon Reberg and David Polk think we should broadcast from the lakeside more often!
Brandon Acker warms up while warming up under the warm Chicago sun.
Maggie quizzes one listener: "Pasta, or Italian composer?"
Host Michael San Gabino plays "Name That Instrument" with folks who stopped by.
If music be the food of love... we've got you covered.
Throughout this special Memorial Day broadcast, we also remembered those who have served our country with on-air dedications from our listeners.
Eugenia Moliner and Marguerite Lynn Williams get ready to perform live on the air.
But first, Marguerite has to transport her harp...
Hearing them play under a grotto of trees was truly idyllic.
Maggie congratulates the artists. Engineer Mary Mazurek, in grey, is thrilled the Windy City wasn't *too* windy to broadcast live music from the lake.
Folks who were dog tired stopped by for a rest in our musical oasis.
Others stopped by to have a ball.
Thanks to everyone who made our day by joining us for our first WFMT beach party!
