Illinois Public Media

Music

John Phillip Sousa with a small marching band behind him

Prairie Performances: Celebrating Sousa at Illinois

 Celebrate the birthday of John Philip Sousa with this week’s Prairie Performances. Explore Sousa’s musical legacy on the University of Illinois campus through performances by the University Bands, featuring some of his most beloved marches, along with insights from Sousa Archives Director and Archivist Scott Schwartz. Tune in Thursday at 7 pm on Illinois Classical 90.9, or stream now.
IPM Newsroom
Crime and Punishment in America, from Executive Producers Ken Burns and Sam Pollard and directed by Lynn Novick, premieres Monday, November 16 at 7:00 PM Central
Illinois Classical
Illinois Classical 90.9

Your home for Classical and more in Central Illinois.
Prairie Performances
A black and white photograph of a man with a white beard and top hat standing in front of a marching band.

Sousa’s Illinois Legacy
In honor of the birthday of John Philip Sousa, this week’s Prairie Performances takes a look at Sousa’s musical legacy right here on the University of Illinois campus. You…
Dialogue
Eight local high school students co-host and help produce series on the issues shaping their lives

Illinois Soul, part of Illinois Public Media, Launches Dialogue: Next Gen, a New Video Podcast Made by Teens, for Teens
Eight local high school students co-host and help produce series on the issues shaping their lives.
The 21st Show
Celebrating a third term in Chicago: First Lady M.K. Pritzker, Gov. J. B Pritzker, Lt. Gov.-elect Christian Mitchell, and the governor's daughter, Teddi Pritzker.

The blue wave reaches Illinois. What do Democrats do with it?
Democrats won decisively across the country Tuesday, and Illinois was no exception. Gov. J.B. Pritzker won a third term, defeating Republican Darren Bailey for the second…
The 21st Show
a photo portrait of Lindsey Cormack, a white woman with brown hair wearing a back, V-neck top; and the cover of the book How to Raise a Citizen, which features a handful of small blue and yellow stars scattered across a beige background

Why it’s up to parents to raise informed citizens
Civic education is an essential part of democracy. But political scientist Lindsey Cormack argues American schools are not up to the task — which means parents have to take…
The 21st Show
a photo montage including Dickstein, a white man in a red sweater standing in front of a tree, and White, also a white man, posing in a suit and tie in front of a window; also in the graphic are the cover for the History This Week podcast (which is a black box with the gold

Why we’re still not done with Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln is often said to be the subject of more books than anyone except Jesus. So what's left to say about the 16th president?Plenty, according to Jonathan W. White,…
Prairie Fire

“Prairie Fire” wins two Mid-America Regional Emmy® Awards
Season three of WILL-TV's popular magazine show won two Mid-America Regional Emmy® Awards at the 2026 Mid-America EMMY Awards in Kansas City, MO.
Illinois Soul Blog

Election 2026 Voter Guide
From the Champaign County Clerk and Sheriff to U.S. Senate and House seats, several local and statewide races are on the ballot. Click here for everything you need to know.
State of Change

Small gestures to make a big difference in preserving our planet
We visit a zero-waste general store, a garden bringing a community together in a Chicago food desert, a program protecting pollinators, and advice to increase sustainability…