WRTI

09/03/2026

Cassandra Wilson, whose deep, dark contralto and casual disregard for musical category made her one of the most arresting and influential jazz vocalists of the last 40 years, died on Wednesday in Jackson, Miss. She was 70.

Wilson, whose deep, dark contralto was one of the most distinctive voices in jazz, died on Wednesday in her hometown of Jackson, Miss.

09/01/2026

Rhonda Hamilton has spent nearly 50 years championing jazz—and she’s still going strong. Listen to our interview with the legendary broadcaster and 2026 NEA Jazz Master: https://www.wrti.org/podcast/late-set/2026-09-01/a-voice-for-jazz-with-rhonda-hamilton

08/28/2026

As National Make-A-Will Month comes to a close, consider the causes that matter most to you. Creating or updating your will is an opportunity to not only protect loved ones, but also reflect on the values and organizations that have shaped your life.

For many listeners, WRTI has been part of daily routines, memorable moments, and lifelong musical discovery. Your legacy gift can help ensure that classical music, jazz, and community connections continue to inspire listeners for years to come. Learn more about these truly impactful gifts.

Ensure a sound future for classical and jazz for future generations.

08/27/2026

Meet Gabriella Greenwood, a sophomore at Germantown Friends School and a talented young musician whose passion for music shines in our latest Young Artist Spotlight!

She is a soprano in the Germantown Friends High School Choir and has dedicated five years as a vocalist, guitarist, and bassist at the School of Rock in Philadelphia, demonstrating her commitment and passion for music.

Discover how her experience at the Wildflower Composers Festival this summer has shaped her music and inspired her creativity!

Meet 16-year-old Gabriella Greenwood, a soprano in the Germantown Friends High School Choir and a vocalist, guitarist, and bassist at the Philadelphia School of Rock.

08/26/2026

There have been so many amazing dog pictures sent in, and we wish we could get to them all. Thank you for sharing your pups with us!

Here's round 2 of our International Dog Day celebration. Take in the staggering awesomeness of these WRTI listeners, from Sebastian to Cuthbert, Crumpet, Fizzgig and Mally!

Are you and your 4-legged friends listening to WRTI today? We're celebrating our furry friends until 6pm: 90.1 FM, wrti.org and the WRTI app.

Pups shown here:
Sebastian is an active and inquisitive 2 year old who is not fond of the word “no.” He likes the morning program with John Scherch, and is fond of listening to his namesake Johann Sebastian Bach while “chilling” on the sofa after his early morning walk and breakfast in Philadelphia, PA.

Raney likes classical during the day and jazz at night. This pup walks in City Park in the morning listening to classical, and walks on the Lakefront at night listening to jazz. Raney is from New Orleans afterall.

After breakfast and some time outside, Gracie settles in the sun room, letting the morning unfold with John Scherch. Gracie perks up at dinnertime, when the kitchen is full of cooking aromas and swings to Nicole Sweeney’s curated tunes. Her days in Bryn Mawr, PA are full, music-filled and happy!

Besides his marches, Knight enjoys his pastorals, which remind him, as he lounges on his porch, bed or lap, of his long, adventurous walks, where he explores, nose to the ground, every nook and cranny of his town of Florence NJ.

Cuthbert, Crumpet, Fizzgig, and Mally: These four dogs listen to classical music on WRTI all day long, every day! Wherever people are in the house, WRTI is always playing, and if no one is home, WRTI is still on so they have something to listen to.

Sophie and Kyree spend their time in Quakertown, PA. WRTI soothes and calms these 6 year old pups!

08/26/2026

Happy International Dog Day! Thanks to all of the WRTI listeners who shared pictures and information about their dogs with us!

Tune in today, August 26 from 6am to 6pm, to hear our celebration of WRTI's loveable and scruffy listeners — from Alfie, to Finn, to Griffin and many others, woof!

Enjoy these pictures and profiles of our community of pups that listeners have shared. And tune in, it's going to be a fun day!

Pups featured here:
Griffin: He likes to listen to classical music in the sun room during his midday nap in Mechanicburg, PA.

Tilly is a 4 1/2 month old west highland terrier. She is extremely energetic and listens to WRTI Classical day and night. She enjoys tearing around the house during the march every morning at 7:15 in Lancaster, PA.

Bernie: He is quite attentive when I dance to jazz while he listens in Fort Washington, PA.

Maxx: WRTI is very calming to Maxx for anxious car rides around Berlin, NJ.

Alfie was found as a stray in downtown Philly. He now enjoys the soothing sounds of WRTI in Chestnut Hill, PA while he lounges around the house, in search of the perfect sun spot. He especially loves Vivaldi’s Four Seasons!

Isadora: When the Morning March turns on Isadora knows it's safe to hop in bed and help get her owner up. Her kisses and the music on WRTI start the days.

Woobin & Minky: On weekdays at work, they snooze on their mom's office desk while listening to WRTI in Bordentown, NJ. They enjoy classical and jazz equally, but Minky also has a surprising fondness for heavy metal!

Clark & Finn: They both enjoy the classical and jazz programming from Phoenixville, PA.

Lil: This Westie from Wynnewood, PA turned 7 on August 17th and loves listening to WRTI! With the music on she immediately settles down in her favorite comfy corner. WRTI plays all day long. Over 100 plants also enjoy the good vibes!

Araby is a 14-year-old retired certified therapy dog from Wilmington, DE. She brought happiness to hundreds of children through school and library “read to a dog” programs. ... She’s deaf now, but preferred WRTI’s classical music like her mom whom she would follow around the kitchen marching to the Sousalarm.

08/20/2026

Isata Kanneh-Mason speaks with our own Zev Kane on Prokofiev, process, and her musical family. Full video and interview here: https://www.wrti.org/arts-desk/2026-08-19/isata-kanneh-mason-on-prokofiev-process-and-her-musical-family

08/18/2026

SML is one of our era's most beguiling bands: a collective rooted in group improv, with a blend of loopy groove, staticky texture and shifting timbre. Three of the band's five members — bassist Anna Butterss, saxophonist Josh Johnson, and synthesist Jeremiah Chiu — join Julian Booker to talk about their commitment to shared discovery. (Link to listen in the comments).

08/15/2026

Join us to hear The Philadelphians perform Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 2, a new work by Iryna Aleksiychuk, and Sergei Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Pianist Haochen Zhang is soloist. Marin Alsop, the Philadelphia Orchestra's principal guest conductor, is at the podium. Your host is Melinda Whiting. Tune in Sunday, August 16 at 1 p.m. on WRTI 90.1 and Monday, August 17 at 7 p.m. on WRTI HD-2.

Join us on Sunday, August 16 at 1 p.m. on WRTI 90.1 and Monday, August 17 at 7 p.m. on WRTI HD-2 to hear a program featuring conductor Marin Alsop leading Schumann and a new work by Ukranian composer Iryna Aleksiychuk, and pianist Haochen Zhang playing Rachmaninoff.

08/14/2026

Deadline Extended!

In celebration of John Coltrane's 100th Birthday and his enduring connection to Philadelphia, the "Coltrane 100: Philly Community Project Grant" is investing directly in artists carrying Philadelphia's jazz tradition forward.

Whether you're ready to independently produce community programming or looking for cultural and production support to bring your vision to life, there are two grant tracks designed to meet you where you are:

Track A: Community Voice Grant
• Up to $2,500 to support 1-3 independently produced community projects.

Track B: Curated Series Grant
• Up to $4,500 to develop a 2-3 project series with guidance from an experienced curatorial advisor.

Projects will take place throughout Philadelphia between September 20 and November 6, 2026.

This $27,000 grant program is made possible through the partnership of Senator Vincent Hughes, Jazz Philadelphia, Creative Philadelphia, WRTI, and Ars Nova Workshop.

New Deadline: Monday, August 31, 2026 at 11:59 P.M.

If you're a Philadelphia jazz artist with a community project or series in mind, there's still time to apply.

Apply Now: https://bit.ly/4bzCiW7.