Michael Tilson Thomas Passes at Age 81
The acclaimed conductor, composer, and pianist was a leading figure in classical music, known for championing the art form through performance, education, and broadcasting.
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Women’s History Month 2025: Music & Arts Celebrations Across Chicago
This March, celebrate the creativity and influence of women artists across music and beyond in these performances and events across Chicago.
Women’s History Month Highlights on WFMT
March music highlights to honor Women's History Month.
New Releases Feb. 25: Mysticism, Unusual Early Sounds, and Joy
This week's releases run the gamut of human experiences, with an emphasis on mysticism and spirituality, joy, and summer.
Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas says brain tumor has returned
Thomas is conducting the New World Symphony in late March and April, then the San Francisco Symphony on April 26 in a belated 80th birthday celebration.
Met ’25-’26 Season: Bates, Frank, Saariaho, & 3 New Productions
Plus beloved titles from Puccini, Mozart, Verdi, and more.
Elgin Symphony ’25-’26: Enduring Classics, Notable Soloists, and New Works
Guest artists include cellist Oliver Herbert, violinist Geneva Lewis, and pianist Orion Weiss.
Semifinalists Named for Cedille’s Chicago-Focused Emerging Artist Competition
Open to early-career Chicago-based and Chicago-born classical musicians, the grand prize is a contract for a debut solo album worth almost $75k.
New Releases Feb. 18: Bach, Strauss, Goodyear, and More
Plus, delve into explorations of lieder, Romantic piano rep, and contemporary compositions by Richard Rodney Bennett and more.
Trump has purged the Kennedy Center’s board, which in turn made him its chair – why does that matter?
No U.S. president has served as a member of the Kennedy Center board before, let alone its chair.
Breaking Boundaries: The Genre-Defying Legacies of Black Musicians
These musicians didn’t just navigate the classical and jazz realms… they transcended and redefined them.



















