2026 is the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence! Composer Karen LeFrak was commissioned to write a piece for the occasion. Christa Grix tells us more about the work "American Promise".

2026 is the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence! Here is a little feature from Christa Grix about Revolutionary Era American composer William Billings.

Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival starts this weekend. Paul Watkins takes a bow as artistic director of the festival...

90.9 WRCJ’s film host Haley Taylor interviews actor, producer, screenwriter and director Bruce Campbell. Bruce has a new movie “Ernie and Emma” which will debut at the Redford Theatre on Friday, June 5, 2026 at 8 p.m. They talk about the new movie, independent filmmaking, and Bruce’s long career in cult cinema — from “The Evil Dead” to today.

Renowned bassist Marion Hayden will return to The Station at Michigan Central with the Grammy-nominated band Straight Ahead for a special Mother’s Day edition of Fridays at The Station, on May 8, 2026.

The Detroit-born Hayden was the first artist to perform at the first-ever Fridays at The Station event, in April 2025. She has performed and recorded with a number of leading musicians from the 1980s onwards and is considered one of the best acoustical bassists in the country. She began performing at age 15 under the tutelage of master trumpeter Marcus Belgrave and saxophonist Wendell Harrison. She would go on to perform with legends such as Regina Carter, Nancy Wilson, Lionel Hampton and George Benson. She also received the Kresge Eminent Artist Award in 2025, and is widely recognized as an advocate for the preservation of the cultural and artistic legacy of jazz.

She is a co-founder of the Grammy-nominated ensemble Straight Ahead—the first all-woman jazz ensemble signed to Atlantic Records. Over the years, members of the band have shared the concert stage with a who’s-who of the music world, including Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, George Duke, Stanley Clark, the Yellowjackets and Dianne Reeves.

“Straight Ahead will present a celebration of women as creatives, composers, arrangers and conceptualists,” Hayden said. “The band will open a musical conversation, engaging the audience in themes of womanhood, power and intentionally creating a space where women are uplifted.”

Featuring Hayden on bass, Alina Morr on keys, Gayelynn McKinney on drums, Ingrid Racine on trumpet and the vocal stylings of Kymberli Wright. Widely recognized for their eclectic and soulful approach to creating music, the Straight Ahead sound ranges comfortably from jazz, to Latin music and jazzy hip-hop.

90.9 WRCJ's Dave Wagner speaks with organist Fred Hohman who is playing a free concert on Sunday April 26, 2026 at 4pm at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit, MI.

Grammy®-nominated harpist Yolanda Kondonassis has released the new album "Terra Infirma" just ahead of Earth Day. In this interview, our very own harpist Christa Grix speaks with Yolanda about the album which includes world premiere recordings of major new works by acclaimed composer Reena Esmail. The album also includes violinist Vijay Gupta, the Interlochen Center for the Arts Orchestra and Chorus, conductor Andrew Grams and choral director Carter Smith.

Lisa DiChiera talks with Dave Wagner about opera in Detroit. It began with her father, Dr. David DiChiera presenting "Overture to Opera" which grew into the Detroit Opera company, their theatre in Downtown Detroit and their 30th anniversary.

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Classical Roots concert comes to 90.9 FM Friday morning at 10:40.

WRCJ's Cecelia Sharpe speaks with conductor Thomas Wilkins about the DSO's Classical Roots tradition and music by Black composers on concert stages everywhere...

The A2SO brings you an extra special Valentines Day concert this Saturday - and an exciting second half to the 2025-26 season. Peter speaks with A2SO Executive Director Sarah Calderini about this weekend's concert with violinist Danny Koo and Music Director Earl Lee.