Contract negotiations between Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) musicians and management have continued throughout the weekend to avoid a musicians’ strike, which would be the orchestra’s second in less than a decade. Last month, musicians voted to authorize a strike if a suitable three-year contract could not be reached by midnight this Sunday, March 10. According to a Chicago Federation of …

Many musicians dream of performing on the stage of Orchestra Hall with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The Crain-Maling Foundation Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition makes this dream come true for one young musician every year. On Saturday, February 23, four young musicians competed on that famous stage for the opportunity to perform with the CSO during the 2019-2020 season. …

Renée Baker’s interest in Baldwin began when she first heard recordings of his voice. “The person that I’d only accessed from books became quite real once I was able to actually hear and listen to him speak.” She notes.

Today, the musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra voted to authorize a strike if they cannot reach an agreement on a new contract with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association by March 10. In September 2018, CSO musicians agreed to a half-year extension when the previous three-year contract term ended. This extension period, which ends on March 10, was meant to give more …

It will mark Muti’s tenth-anniversary season as music director as well as the 250th birthday of Beethoven. Muti conducts all of Beethoven’s symphonies over the course of the season, culminating in the triumphant Symphony No. 9 in June 2020.

WFMT is proud to celebrate the Art Institute of Chicago’s 125th anniversary – here’s to 125 more years of great art!

On December 3, 1818, Illinois became the 21st state in the union. You might know about the Prairie State’s most famous resident, Abraham Lincoln, but did you know these 5 facts about Illinois music?

Few other star concert pianists can boast that they fought for — and helped win — their country’s independence.

“In 1970, I was many things, but not an experienced conductor,” admitted Daniel Barenboim, acknowledging that being selected to conduct the CSO at that time was therefore “an event of shattering importance.”

Corky Siegel is one of the world’s great blues harmonica players. He is also a composer, pianist, singer, bandleader, teacher, and author whose curiosity about classical music and American blues has inspired much of his distinguished half-century career.

CMPI will support promising young musicians from underrepresented backgrounds and low-income households in order to diversify the next generation of musicians.

Missy Mazzoli is a composer who is inspired by “weird stories,” and that’s a good thing. Her fascination with “humans who support, undermine, and love each other” has paved the way for opportunities in nearly every realm of the music industry. She is one of two women composers commissioned to write an opera for the Metropolitan Opera in New York …

Riccardo Muti, addressing the 10 thousand-plus crowd, remarked that “all 3 pieces connect the desire of freedom, libertà, liberty!”

From the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to Lyric Opera of Chicago and much more, the Teen Arts Pass is making it easier for young people to have access to Chicago’s many great cultural institutions.

Looking back on his many years experiencing great music in Chicago, Carl shares some of his very favorite performances.

Her works have been performed at the BBC Proms and by ensembles including the Sydney Symphony and the Minnesota Orchestra. She also performs as a pianist and electronic musician.

Yo-Yo Ma, the CSO’s creative consultant, learned about the decades-long commitment to social justice and outreach within the Faith Community of St. Sabina, and wanted to see how he could honor its work through music.

Samuel Adams and Elizabeth Ogonek shared 20 modern and contemporary works that have most inspired them in celebration of 20 years of CSO’s MusicNOW series.

Katia and Marielle sat down to share their passion for rarely-performed gems, their love of new music, and how living composers have helped them find the freedom that fuels their artistry.

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has announced that a concert featuring the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba with Esperanza Spalding, originally scheduled for February 9, 2019, has been cancelled.

In addition to performing with the CSO, Yerin Yang will also perform on Introductions, WFMT’s weekly Saturday morning showcase of the finest pre-college musicians in the Chicago area.

“The musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and I extend our condolences to the families of the victims of today’s tragedy.”

Today, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association announced programming for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Center Presents 2018/19 season.

WFMT host Kerry Frumkin has picked 5 of his favorite classical recordings. But it’s better to listen to them on vinyl.

Each day of the year, Lisa Flynn shares her favorite New Releases with music lovers around the world. Here are her 12 favorite classical recordings of 2017.