In Thursday’s (12/23) Chicago Tribune, Hannah Edgar writes, “On Dec. 10, classical station 98.7 WFMT announced that Peter van de Graaff would take over its long-running program ‘Exploring Music’ from its founding host, the conductor and composer Bill McGlaughlin, next year. McGlaughlin worked for the station on yearly contracts since he was hired to host ‘Exploring Music’ in 2003…. McGlaughlin’s present contract expires on Dec. 31…. McGlaughlin claims the terms of his departure were not mutual. He says WFMT management first approached him with a transition plan in the summer, but says the station offered no feedback or rationale for the change…. McGlaughlin additionally claims he is negotiating a copyright disagreement regarding the program’s theme music, which he composed. A WFMT spokesperson declined to comment on those claims…. McGlaughlin, 82, is also a composer, former orchestral trombonist and conductor, leading the Kansas City Symphony as its music director from 1986 to 1998…. Genially erudite, ‘Exploring Music’ episodes hinge on a subject or composer, with McGlaughlin sometimes demonstrating concepts at the piano…. His successor van de Graaff assumes host duties on March 30, 2026. Van de Graaff is a longtime WFMT fixture … since 1989 … He is also a professional bass-baritone … and has performed with the Chicago, Utah and Houston symphonies, among others…. The station announced [WFMT veterans] Jan Weller and Kristina Lynn as its new weekday and weekend morning hosts, respectively.”
