Bill McGlaughlin, the Peabody-winning musician, composer, conductor, and founding host of the globally syndicated radio program Exploring Music, has died at 82. For over two decades, his broadcasts and warmth made classical music accessible to millions of listeners worldwide before his recent departure from the show.
The classical music community is mourning the loss of a broadcaster who reshaped how generations discovered and appreciated the art form. McGlaughlin’s death marks the end of a remarkable era in cultural radio, bridging the gap between complex orchestral works and curious listeners.
A Lifelong Devotion to Orchestral Music and Performance
McGlaughlin’s impact on classical music extended far beyond the microphone. A graduate of Temple University, he built an extensive background as a professional musician long before becoming a household voice on the airwaves. Early in his career, he performed as a trombonist with both the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony.
That foundational orchestral experience shaped his subsequent leadership roles across the United States. He served as music director for the Kansas City Symphony, the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, and the Tucson Symphony, while also leading the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra as conductor and regularly guest-conducting orchestras nationwide, according to hppr.org.
Alongside his conducting career, McGlaughlin composed original works rooted in personal relationships and tribute. His catalog includes Three Dreams and a Question: Choral Songs on E. E. Cummings, written in memory of pianist and composer Kevin Oldham; Aaron’s Horizons, a tribute to Aaron Copland; Walt Whitman’s Dream, scored for chorus and orchestra; and Surveying Lake Wobegon, composed alongside Garrison Keillor.
Building a Radio Legacy Through Exploring Music and Saint Paul Sunday
As a broadcaster, McGlaughlin became synonymous with musical discovery. He hosted Saint Paul Sunday from 1980 to 2007, a tenure that made it the most widely syndicated classical music radio program in the United States during its run, as noted by interlochenpublicradio.org. That work earned him both a Peabody Award and a Deems Taylor Award.
In 2003, McGlaughlin launched Exploring Music on WFMT in Chicago. Produced and distributed nationwide, the program was widely regarded as the heir apparent to Adventures in Good Music with Karl Haas. Weekday episodes walked audiences through classical music theme by theme, connecting composers, history, literature, and culture.
“Bill McGlaughlin’s artistry, curiosity, and generosity touched countless people throughout the classical music community.”
Roger Wight, WFMT’s Head of Programming & Operations, via High Plains Public Radio
WFMT President and CEO Sandra Cordova Micek emphasized that McGlaughlin’s warmth and depth of knowledge transformed the way generations of listeners experienced classical music. Jazz musician Karrin Allyson, sharing news of his passing in a social media post, wrote, It is with deep sorrow that I announce the passing of my beloved partner, Bill McGlaughlin. In this season of grief, I am grateful for your kindness, your prayers, and the privacy to honor a life deeply loved and forever remembered.
The Final Broadcasts and Future of the Program
McGlaughlin had recently announced his departure from Exploring Music after 22 years. The final week of episodes featuring McGlaughlin as host is scheduled to air starting August 17, 2026, centered on the theme Curse of the Ninth! Ninth Symphonies.
Following those commemorative broadcasts, the syndicated program will continue under new host Peter van de Graaff. While the microphone changes hands, the foundation McGlaughlin built over two decades of weekday broadcasts ensures his passion for making classical music approachable will resonate for years to come.
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