LAROB X WFMT

In October of 2021, LaRob K. Rafael joined the WFMT staff as the regular weekend morning host. He has worked with leadership and staff to help diversify the catalog of music, composers, and performers appreciated by Classical audiences.

In February of 2020, LaRob curated a month-long series highlighting Black composers and performers which garnered extremely positive feedback from WFMT’s community of listeners. He also curated programming alongside major projects at WFMT/WTTW including the PBS 2-part documentary “ The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song” and “Piano and Cello Music by Black Composers” featuring cellist, Ifetayo-Ali Landing, and pianist, Joshua Mhoon. He has written articles amplifying the impact of Black spirituality reaching from church choir lofts to jazz clubs.

LaRob interviews American Countertenor, Bejun Mehta, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mead Composers in Residence, Jessie Montgomery (current) and Missy Mazzoli (previous), and Mezzo-Soprano, Emily Fons

LaRob emphasizes historically excluded music to transform the predominantly White, European, male classical canon and can typically be heard on weekend mornings (Saturday and Sunday from 7 am to 12 pm CT) on Classical WFMT Chicago, 98.7 FM, HD-1, and the WFMT mobile app.