Illinois Classical Presents a Series of Summer Specials
This summer, Illinois Classical is presenting a series of specials in place of The 21st Show’s slot on Friday evenings. Tune into 90.9FM Fridays at 6pm for specials that run the musical gamut courtesy of PRX, the Public Radio Exchange.
Celebrate Juneteenth with I am the Migration on June 19 and Pride Month with Proud to Be on June 26. Gear up for America’s 250th birthday with a string of programs devoted to American music, including Sing Democracy on July 3 and David Sanborn from Jazz and the American Spirit on July 31, marking the birthday of the late saxophonist, born July 30, 1945.
On July 10, we honor another influential figure’s birthday with Gustav Mahler: Turmoil & Triumph. Born July 7, 1860, Mahler faced great personal tragedy throughout his life, yet he overcame these setbacks to create some of the most life-affirming and soul-stirring music in the classical canon. In this special, you will hear historical commentary from biographers, authors, conductors, and Mahler himself alongside selections from his symphonies to gain insight into the art, agony, and achievement of this “man of genius,” as Sigmund Freud called him.
On July 17, dig into the life and work of another influential composer, Philip Glass, with Pulse & Repeat: Philip Glass in Film from The Soundtrack. Host Haley Taylor explores the hypnotic minimalism of Philip Glass through his film scores. “From the pulsating structure of Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters to the haunting presence of The Truman Show, The Hours, and Notes on a Scandal, Glass’s music doesn’t just accompany a film—it transforms it,” the show’s description reads. “With stories about his signature repetition, his unlikely on-screen cameo, and how his work resonates across genres and decades, this episode invites listeners to rethink what film scores can be. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to Glass’s work, prepare to hear time—and music—differently.”
On July 24, learn history through music with History in Music from Wind & Rhythm, a radio show dedicated to band music. Host David Lawrence takes listeners on a journey through important historical moments by way of the music that was written about it. Learn about one of the bloodiest battles of World War II through Aram Khachaturian’s The Battle of Stalingrad. Then, Philip Sparke’s The Saga of Haakon the Good teaches us about the campaigns of Haakon the Good to become the King of Norway in the 900s. Julie Giroux’s Culloden III then depicts the quashing of the Jacobite rising of 1745 by British forces during the Battle of Culloden.
For a full schedule of this summer’s specials, see below:
JUNE
6/12/26: Milestones: Kinda Blue
6/19/26: I am the Migration
6/26/26: Proud to Be
JULY
7/3/26: Sing Democracy
7/10/26: Gustav Mahler: Turmoil & Triumph
7/17/26: Pulse & Repeat: Philip Glass in Film from The Soundtrack
7/24/26: History in Music from Wind & Rhythm
7/31/26: David Sanborn from Jazz and the American Spirit
