Stories

Joan Tower smiles, dressed in black, posing against a brick red stucco wall

The True Story (and Inspiring Women) Behind Joan Tower’s Iconic ‘Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman’

With its dedication to boundary-breaking women, Tower’s first piece is a liberal and spirited interpretation of a fanfare.

Associated PressMarch 13, 2020

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Charles Wuorinen dies at 81

Keegan MorrisMarch 11, 2020

Calculating Chopin: WFMT’s New Digital Series Demystifies Math and Music

Keegan MorrisMarch 11, 2020

Video: Pianist Evan Wong shares an all-Chopin Recital

Playlist: 7 Native American Musicians You Should Know

Adela SkowronskiNovember 24, 2021

Meet seven Indigenous American musicians spanning genres (hip hop, punk, rock) and states (Illinois, California, Arizona).

Chicago Classical Music Makes A Strong Showing at 2021 Grammy Nominations

Mary MazurekNovember 24, 2021

It's another great year for the city's classical music community with Chicago-born and based artists, producers, and engineers receiving recognition.

Playlists

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9 Works by Women Writers We Want to See Adapted into Operas

Anna GoldbeckMarch 9, 2020

We’re glad to see that in recent decades, more and more works by women writers have been given their due in the opera house. Here’s a look back at some of them, and a short list of works by women that we’re waiting to see operatically staged.

McCoy Tyner, iconic and influential jazz pianist, dies

Associated PressMarch 8, 2020

NEW YORK (AP) — McCoy Tyner, the groundbreaking and influential jazz pianist and the last surviving member of the John Coltrane Quartet, has died at age 81. Tyner’s family confirmed the death in a statement released on social media Friday. No more details were provided. Tyner was born in Philadelphia on Dec. 11, 1938. He eventually met Coltrane and joined ...

Playlist: 10 Trailblazing Composers You Should Know (…Who Also Happen to Be Women)

Lisa FlynnMarch 6, 2020

From medieval times to modernity, women have made important contributions to all aspects of music, including as composers.

Afternoon Music with Candice Agree