We all came to love classical music in different ways. Here are some of the musical first loves of our WFMT listeners, in their own words.

Music by Copland, Gershwin, and Grofé.

Wanderers, farewells, and sightseeing; people are always on the go. This week, Bill calls up, “A Little Traveling Music, Please” from the pens of Handel, Smetana, Duke Ellington, and more. Reflections from such travels infuse themselves into their works, as we will discover throughout the week. We will hear selections from Beethoven’s Les Adieux, Schubert’s Die Schöne Mullerin, and Haydn’s …

The exciting and innovative Eric Jacobsen makes his Grant Park Music Festival debut.

Music by Aaron Copland, Elliott Carter, and Charles Ives.

From concerts to screenings to festivals to parades, there’s always something happening in and around Chicago for LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

Gustavo Dudamel conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic and violinist Anne Akiko Meyers in two New York premieres by Gabriela Ortiz and Arturo Márquez plus a symphony by Aaron Copland.

Ludovic Morlot conducts Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite and the world premiere of a concerto written by and starring Timothy Higgins, the orchestra’s principal trombonist.

This LGBTQ Pride Month, WFMT honors the numerous LGBTQ artists and composers who have changed classical music for the better.

All weekend long, WFMT will be honoring Memorial Day in music. Check out these highlights that you won’t want to miss.

It’s been a strange, difficult year for the music world, which is all the more reason to celebrate musical excellence.

September is National Piano Month, so WFMT is sharing a supersized playlist – with one selection corresponding to each key on the keyboard.

Take this quiz to find out which dean of American music you’re most like! Are you sparse and minimal like Philip Glass? Or do you prefer the sis-boom-bah John Philip Sousa? Do you prefer Samuel Barber’s sonic landscapes of America, or Scott Joplin’s Ragtime portraits of American life?

“Music’s biggest night” is right around the corner, and the classical music community has a lot to look forward to at the 2020 Grammys.

The classical crossover has not always had the best reputation, but there’s no shortage of ambitious, energizing takes on genre-mixing. Composer and conductor Teddy Abrams, who collaborated with indie-rocker Jim James on a recent album, breaks down the perils and payoffs of the crossover.

From its premiere more than 75 years ago, this music and ballet continue to speak to the American soul. Dive into the score of Appalachian Spring with Bill McGlaughlin.

Summer is upon us! Whatever your plans, we have the perfect musical accompaniment: summery classical music selected by WFMT hosts and staff!

You made it; the frigid, blustery days of winter have finally passed, and spring is here! Here is some music that captures the season’s irrepressible spirit.

The eighty-fifth annual season opens June 12 and will run through August 17, with most performances taking place at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.

Enjoy this engaging two-part conversation between American composer Aaron Copland and John Calloway! This program of “John Calloway Interviews” aired on WFMT’s sister station, WTTW, on September 14, 1981. Copland discusses his introduction to music, his forays into composing Hollywood scores, his relationship with critics, and more in this hourlong interview.

While we all love the classics like the “Autumn” concerto from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” here are some works that are a little less… common to cozy up with this fall.

Fiesta celebrates the centenary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth with a look at the maestro’s love for Latin American music. 

As you fire up the grill, we have the perfect soundtrack for you: some of our favorite American works, from classics like Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue to modern masterpieces like John Adams’ City Noir.

Whether bosom buddies or esteemed colleagues, there’s no doubt that these composers enjoyed genuine friendships that would influence their personal and professional lives.

Net proceeds from the remaining ticket sales will benefit St. Sabina’s Strong Futures employment program, which currently serves 50 young people ages 17-26 by providing training, mentorship, and other services.