“I was thirteen years old and on a definite budget: I took some of my paltry allowance and spent the princely sum of $1 on a record.”

Using his violin and virtuosic whistle, Andrew Bird genre-jumps from indie rock to jazz, and from folk to classical. Born in Lake Forest, Bird began learning classical violin from the Suzuki Method at the age of four and recalls, “My mom would have WFMT on all the time… My dad listened to Merle Haggard.”

This month, music director Andi Lamoreaux passed a remarkable milestone — 50 years with WFMT.

“Among the eminent broadcast journalists of his generation, Studs Terkel may well stand alone in his consistent compassion for lesbian and gay people and curiosity about their lives.” Here are just a few testaments to that compassion.

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

As Guerrero says, “In many ways, I am the poster child to show that music can…become a part of your life regardless of your background.”

Andrew Patner, WFMT’s late critic-at-large and music critic at the Chicago Sun-Times, passed away in 2015, but his characteristic wit and wisdom live on in his book, A Portrait in Four Movements: The Chicago Symphony under Barenboim, Boulez, Haitink, and Muti.

Studs Terkel, the gregarious, cigar-chomping oral historian, used to say of his birth that, “when the Titanic went down, I came up.”

Another fantastic trip with Earthbound Expeditions and WFMT!

Richard Strauss’s Elektra is challenging, dramatic, and very, very bloody. This thrilling, one-act opera is based on an ancient Greek myth: Elektra seeks her sweet revenge on her mother for murdering her father. Lyric Opera of Chicago’s intense production features WFMT host Maggie Clennon Reberg. Go behind the scenes at Lyric, and be astonished as Maggie transforms in hair and makeup!

Music’s Biggest Night not only as a member, but also as a nominee!

On February 10, some of the biggest names in the music industry convened at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles. R&B and soul singer Alicia Keys hosted the ceremony, as winners were announced in 30 fields and 84 categories. Here are the nominees and winners for the classical music categories.

Winter can be grueling, but music can warm and soothe. Here’s the music that helps WFMT get through the season.

WFMT has a new Vice President and General Manager, but it is someone you may recognize! George Preston, who will begin in this position March 1, 2019, returns to WFMT, where he served as the afternoon drive host from 2009 to 2013, and hosted and produced the internationally syndicated Lyric Opera of Chicago broadcasts. Sandra Cordova Micek, CEO of Window …

To close out out week of musical resolutions, let’s hear what some friends of WFMT — musicians, artists, authors, and more — intend to focus on in 2019.

My musical New year’s resolution: Listen More Mindfully Many of the most important and rewarding musical works demand our full attention and were written in and for far less harried times. In Chicago, in particular, we’re lucky to have access to live performances of great works year round, sometimes at low cost or even for free. It’s so easy to …

So far, we’ve heard musical resolutions from Dennis Moore and Maggie Clennon Reberg. Let’s hear what Robbie Ellis and Michael San Gabino have in store for 2019. Robbie Ellis, host It’s a common new year’s resolution to go see more live performances. I’m going to get more specific than that: I’m going to go see more performances of new music/contemporary classical/living …

Yesterday, host Dennis Moore shared four New Year’s resolutions to kick off 2019. Today, host Maggie Clennon Reberg shares an intention for the New Year! Happy New Year to my Friends in Music! Every year, I thank my lucky stars for living in a city so rich in cultural diversity and artistic excellence. My resolution is to expand my boundaries beyond the musical …

Over the next several days, we’ll share some New Years’ resolutions and goals from hosts and friends of WFMT. To start, let’s hear what Morning Show host Dennis Moore is planning to prioritize in 2019.  The turn of the year presents the perfect opportunity for reflection on one’s life. When it comes to music, and its place in your life, …

Chicagoans and visitors alike can now enjoy the sounds of the season with festive classical music selected by WFMT to accompany the holiday program for one of the city’s largest pieces of public art — Art on theMART.

Since beginning at WFMT in 1993, Mary has come to engineer for the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts, Live from WFMT, Impromptu, and more.

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

“I love being able to share music with your close friends… As I started playing in more competitions and festivals, I would think, ‘Who would be my dream team for a quartet?’”

Though Larry primarily features CDs on his program, over several decades his collection has evolved into over 5,000 recordings, including LPs and original 78RPM discs dating back to 1901.

On Saturday, September 22, 2018, WFMT’s Introductions, the weekly program that features the Chicago area’s finest pre-college musicians, celebrated its 10th anniversary with a live radio broadcast from Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park to kick off Chicago’s first Youth Arts Showcase (YAS! Fest). The fest was a highlight event of the 2018 Year of Creative Youth, a citywide celebration of Chicago’s young artists and the mentors who inspire them…