Stories

Musicians Protest in Harmony: Violin Vigils for Elijah McClain

As protests in the ongoing fight against systemic racism and police brutality continue, musicians are coming together to pay tribute and raise awareness after the death of fellow violinist, Elijah McClain.

Stephen Raskauskas | March 1, 2017

Why Chopin Composed Fewer Works for Piano and Orchestra Than You Can Count on Your Two Hands

Michael San Gabino | February 28, 2017

Meet the Real Star of “La La Land,” Academy Award-Winning Composer Justin Hurwitz

women composers caroline shaw Nkeiru Okoye unsuk chin

Stephen Raskauskas | February 28, 2017

10 Composers Changing Contemporary Classical Music (Who Also Happen to Be Women) [Playlist]

Anne-Sophie Mutter (Photo: Bastian Achard)

Grandmaster Flash, Mutter win 2019 Polar Music Prize

Associated Press | February 14, 2019

The award panel cited Grammy Award-winning Mutter for being “a musical phenomenon,” playing with “virtuosity and astonishing clarity.”

Hate Valentine’s Day? This Is the Playlist for You!

Keegan Morris | February 13, 2019

We can't blame you if you wish you could just skip Valentine's Day. As an antidote for the overpowering saccharine sentimentality of every February 14, we made this playlist of angry, downcast, and downright anti-romantic music.

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The Film Score: Music for Oscar Week 2017

Michael San Gabino | February 15, 2017

Chicago Tribune film critic Michael Phillips returns to WFMT to present Music for Oscar Week 2017 following the success of our month-long film score series in 2016 and Veterans Day special. Each day throughout Oscar week, Phillips shares music from movie musicals that have received or been nominated for Academy Awards. Starting with The Broadway Melody, the first motion picture ...

The 1 Concert That Inspired Riccardo Muti to Create the CSO’s African American Network

Stephen Raskauskas | February 15, 2017

Maestro Muti sat down with Sheila Jones, coordinator of the CSO's African American Network, years ago to ask, “How do we bring the African American community into Symphony Center?”

VIDEO: What New York City Ballet Choreographer Justin Peck Listens for When Picking Music for Dance