WFMT Celebrates 75 Years of Extraordinary Classical Music on December 13, 2026

Chicago’s classical radio station WFMT will commemorate its landmark 75th anniversary with a day-long celebration at WFMT – WFMT at 75 – on 98.7FM, the WFMT app, and wfmt.com on Sunday, December 13. This festive day of music will include live performances, interviews and greetings from special guests, and notable recordings from WFMT’s Fay And Daniel Levin Performance Studio, culminating in an intimate concert featuring acclaimed mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, live from the Renée Crown Public Media Center in Chicago.

In 1951, Rita and Bernie Jacobs acquired a small Chicago radio station with a vision of sharing their love of classical music and the arts. As the story is told, the couple pawned their car and luggage to help finance the venture, and the station made its on-air debut on December 13, 1951. Studs Terkel joined WFMT in 1952, beginning a celebrated 45-year association with the station. Future film director and comedian Mike Nichols was also among WFMT’s early personalities, becoming the original host of The Midnight Special when the program debuted in 1953. Over the decades, WFMT has grown from a local radio station into an internationally accessible source of classical music, sharing performances by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Ravinia Festival, Music of the Baroque, Chicago Sinfonietta, Lyric Opera of Chicago, the New York Philharmonic, and other leading orchestras and arts organizations.

WFMT has also earned a reputation for innovation in broadcasting technology and sound quality. Over the decades, the station has been at the forefront of advances in audio broadcasting, from early experiments with Dolby noise reduction and four-channel (quadraphonic) sound to pioneering satellite transmissions of live performances. In 1982, WFMT made broadcasting history when it became what was believed to be the first radio station in the world to air music from a compact disc, marking another milestone in the station’s longstanding commitment to high-quality sound.

The day of music on December 13 will feature live performances from the WFMT studios including pianist Marta Aznavoorian, saxophonist Julian Velasco, cellist Alexander Hersh, and young performers from WFMT’s long-running Introductions series. Listeners will also enjoy artist interviews and anniversary greetings from some of WFMT’s closest friends and partners, and archival recordings from the Fay and Daniel Levin Performance Studio. At 3:00 pm, WFMT will present a live concert event featuring acclaimed mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges with pianist Hugh Russell and hosted by WFMT’s Lisa Flynn, Tickets for the concert event are available at wfmt.com/events.

“For 75 years, WFMT has been an essential part of Chicago’s cultural life, connecting generations of listeners with extraordinary music and the artists who bring it to life,” said WFMT President & CEO Sandra Cordova Micek. “This milestone is an opportunity to celebrate the people, performances, and partnerships that have shaped the station, while looking ahead to the next chapter of WFMT’s remarkable story.”

“WFMT has always been more than a radio station that plays classical music. It reflects the spirit of Chicago’s vibrant classical music community,” said WFMT Head of Programming and Operations Roger Wight. “As we honor 75 years, I’m proud of the station’s extraordinary legacy and excited to build on that foundation as we shape WFMT’s future.”

WFMT is one of the world’s most respected classical music radio stations, accessible via broadcast at 98.7FM, streaming live at wfmt.com, and on the WFMT app. Recognized for trusted hosted programming, immersive live performances and concerts, strong partnerships with community organizations and championing young, local musicians and access to the arts, WFMT spotlights inspiring music, musicians, and musical performances from Chicago and around the world including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, Lyric Opera of Chicago, the New York Philharmonic, and many more. Connect with WFMT on Facebook and X.