Illinois Public Media

Feature Story

Review: “The Only Girl in the Orchestra”

 In honor of Women’s History Month, Clef Notes is reviewing The Only Girl in the Orchestra, winner of Best Documentary Short at this year's Academy Awards. The film paints an intimate portrait of double bassist Orin O’Brien, the first female full-time musician hired by the New York Philharmonic in 1966. Now 87 and recently retired, O'Brien reflects on her life and career and the fulfillment she has found playing “second fiddle.”
IPM Newsroom
The Future of Nature on PBS
Atomic Age Cocktail Party
Atomic Age logo with an illustration magician's top hat and wand with congas and maracas coming from it. Text reads

Magical Mambos (126)
This week, on The Atomic Age Cocktail Party, it’s Magical Mambos! Another deep dive into the wild and wonderful mambo music that came out during the height of the mambo…
Evening Concert
Schubert

Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Fiesta!, and “Classical Music”
Sunday night March 30 at 6:00 on the “Evening Concert” on W-I-L-L 90.9 FMHD1 you’ll hear Schubert’s D. 934 “Fantasy for Violin and Piano”…
Classic Mornings
classic morning logo bird

My Oh Meyer!
Here we go again!
The 21st Show
Demonstrators hold sticks attached to placards with that reads

For Muslim college students, Eid al-Fitr comes amid climate of fear
This weekend marks Eid al-Fitr — the end of Ramadan, a month in which observant Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. It's the second year in which Eid comes during a…
The 21st Show
a group of men in suits talk in the Oval Office of the White House

March 28, 2025: Sen. Duckworth calls for resignation over leak; Gov. Pritzker issues rare veto
This week in politics: in Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a rare veto, and lawmakers consider whether to lend more support to public defenders. Meanwhile in Washington,…
The 21st Show

March 28, 2025: Illinoisans working at the Veterans Hospital are on-again, off-again; and Urbana is expected to elect its first Black mayor
The weekly news roundup turns this week to Champaign-Urbana, where we hear about a fired-and-rehired worker at the VA, the man expected to be Urbana's first Black mayor,…
Prairie Fire

Mrs. Emily
Meet a Central Illinois fashion designer who specializes in skirts that fit a wide range of sizes and shapes, designed for comfort and versatility, allowing women to feel…
Mid-American Gardener

February 2025 Episodes
A short month has us pining to get our hands dirty and say goodbye to winter. While it may not be over yet, there are some things we can do to get ready for what is right…
State of Change

State of Change Examines Invasive Species
This year’s State of Change — Illinois Public Media’s annual environmental special hosted by Tinisha Spain — will focus on aquatic creatures,…