In the first of our WFMT Staff Spotlight series, we share a playlist from Tim Russell, the Vice President of Community Engagement at WFMT and WTTW.

From Cuba to Argentina, Uruguay to Mexico, Latin America has had no shortage of phenomenal composers. And while we are huge fans of Piazzolla and Villa-Lobos, we also love these lesser-known composers — and we think you will, too!

Chicago’s history is inextricably tied to fire. Here’s some music that takes inspiration from flames.

Imagine sitting in a concert hall, the orchestra comes on stage, lights dim, and the sounds of a… celery root accompanied by a pumpkin and onion fills the room. The Vegetable Orchestra performs on instruments made from vegetables — that’s exactly right: eat and listen to your veggies! July 31st is Uncommon Musical Instrument day, so we’re celebrating all the …

We all love Sousa, Gershwin, and Copland. But what about the new(er) entrants to the canon of American classical composers? This Independence Day, we’ve compiled a playlist of just some of the vanguard voices redefining what American classical music sounds like.