WFMT-FM (98.7) to Air Bienen School of Music Series Jan. 4 to Feb. 8

EVANSTON, Ill. --- For the fifth consecutive year, the Northwestern University Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music and WFMT-FM (98.7), Chicago's only classical music station, will broadcast a weekly Sunday afternoon radio series showcasing Northwestern music faculty, ensembles, distinguished alumni and guest artists in performance and conversation.

This winter's six-week "Music From Northwestern" series will air six hourlong shows each Sunday at 4 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST), from Jan. 4 through Feb. 8.

WFMT-FM program host and Northwestern University alumnus Kerry Frumkin will host the broadcasts. Richard Van Kleeck, director of concert activities for the Bienen School of Music, is co-producer of the Winter 2009 WFMT-FM radio broadcasts with Jesse McQuarters.

The Jan. 4 opening program will feature pre-recorded highlights from recent performances by Northwestern faculty members and student ensembles. Concert excerpt highlights will include the Northwestern University Symphonic Band, under the direction of Ryan T. Nelson, in "Fourth of July" by Morton Gould; the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, conducted by Mallory Thompson, in "Raise the Roof" by Michael Daugherty with faculty member She-E Wu as percussion soloist, plus movements from David Maslanka's "A Child's Garden of Dreams" narrated by Rives Collins, associate professor of theatre; the University singers, conducted by Amy G. Weller, in "The Last Words of David" by Randall Thompson with pianist Margaret Wilson; and the Alice Millar Chapel Choir, conducted by Stephen Alltop, in "John the Revelator," a traditional gospel song arranged by Paul Caldell and Sean Ivory.

The five remaining programs in the series -- to be broadcast Jan. 11, Jan. 18, Jan. 25, Feb. 1 and Feb. 8 -- will feature Northwestern's Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Percussion and Brass Ensembles, Jazz Orchestra, Opera program, Bienen School of Music faculty, and special guest artists including the Guarneri String Quartet and Jean Gimbel Lane Prize winner for Piano Performance, Stephen Hough. Musical highlights will be works by Rachmaninoff, Richard Danielpour, Mozart, Aaron Copland, Maurice Duruflé, Handel, Charles Ives and Vaughn Williams.
In addition to airing on WFMT-FM, the complete six-week series of 2009 programs, as well as those of the previous four seasons, will be available for "streaming on demand" by visiting the Pick-Staiger Concert Hall Web site at <www.pickstaiger.com>. For more information, call Pick-Staiger at (847) 491-5441.