Illinois Public Media

Music

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Prairie Performances: Music Beyond Worlds

 On this week's “Prairie Performances,” celebrate the excitement of the Artemis II mission as host Mel Miller brings the final frontier to the prairie frontier, exploring music inspired by the world beyond our own. This out-of-this-world program includes Richard Strauss’s "Also Sprach Zarathustra," excerpts from Joseph Haydn’s "Il Mundo della Luna," Gustav Holst’s "The Planets," and for more contemporary tastes, Hayden Mesnick’s "Drone Piece." 
IPM Newsroom
New season of Inspector Ricciardi
Atomic Age Cocktail Party
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The Music of Antonio Carlos Jobim (162)
Coming up on The Atomic Age Cocktail Party, the spotlight is on bossa nova great Antonio Carlos Jobim. We look at his vast catalog of standards and how artists of the…
Classic Mornings

Sixteens, Sextons, and Stetsons
It was just a guess.
Evening Concert

The Evening Concert on Illinois Classical
Music by Villa-Lobos, Franck, Lavista, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Salonen, Mozart, and others
News Local/State
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Behind The Mic: Education reporter Emily Hays loves connecting people through her stories
From covering school districts, politics, campus news, and more, Illinois Public Media reporter Emily Hays is a versatile journalist who loves keeping it local.
News Local/State
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Behind The Mic: Agriculture/Environmental reporter Abigail Bottar views her work as public service
Abigail Bottar joined Illinois Public Media in early March 2026 as our Agriculture/Environmental reporter after six years at Ideastream Public Media in Ohio.
News Local/State
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Behind The Mic: Illinois Student Newsroom editor Christine Herman leads the newest generation of public media reporters
Christine Herman initially joined IPM as a part-time producer. Now, she is the editor for the Illinois Student Newsroom, overseeing 15 to 20 U of I student reporters.
Prairie Fire

Prairie Fire: Season 3 - Episode 6 - March 2026
We introduce you to the art of Brian Dettmer, get a special performance from hip-hop duo Mother Nature, and visit with quilter Millie Sorrells, who shows us creativity has no…
News Local/State
woman looking at camera

Behind The Mic: Education reporter Emily Hays loves connecting people through her stories
From covering school districts, politics, campus news, and more, Illinois Public Media reporter Emily Hays is a versatile journalist who loves keeping it local.
State of Change

The state of the Illinois Prairie
State of Change 2025 looks at efforts to retain existing prairie in Illinois, as well as strategies to restore some areas to a more natural state.