Chicago Sinfonietta’s CEO Blake-Anthony Johnson and principal oboist Ricardo Castañeda discussed how participating in classical music has shaped their lives and look back on past performance highlights.

We’re still soaring from our big day last week, when we welcomed some of Chicago’s leading artists to take part in a daylong celebration of WFMT and the music we’ve been presenting for the last 70 years!

How better to mark 70 years of WFMT than with a party!?

“I made a very concerted deal with myself that I wanted to take the instrument the route of improvisation in the idioms of American roots music, folk music, Americana, blues.”

As we look back on WFMT’s 70th birthday, we sit down with George Preston and Oliver Camacho to discuss the commemorative celebration and their plans to kickstart the next 70 years of WFMT.

Oliver Camacho’s expertise in classical music comes at all levels: a vocal performer with experience in broadcasting, arts administration, and programming.

Andi Lamoreaux will retire on October 1, 2021, a remarkable and virtually unprecedented 52 years after arriving at the station. We sat down with her to find out what the future holds.

Beyer talks to WFMT about her introduction to folk music at Chicago’s Symphony Center, formative memories of Steve Goodman and Studs Terkel, and what to expect as she takes the reins of ‘The Midnight Special.’

When this particular phone call came, it was usually trouble. What often followed was something like “I don’t believe there’s a ‘cough’ in Prokofiev. Love you madly! Goodnight.” Norman Pellegrini, WFMT’s illustrious program director of 43 years, was always listening — vigilant, protective of the station’s values, always blunt in his criticism, and usually right.

On October 20, 1977, the first Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert was presented in Chicago, inspired by Dame Myra Hess’ passion to make music accessible for all.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016 is WFMT’s 65th birthday! Morning host Carl Grapentine recalls “how WFMT did it” landed him his dream job.