Classical Music Radio Station in DC

WGMS is a classical music radio station in Washington, D.C. The station is owned and operated by WTOP and broadcasts at 103.5 FM.

Introduction

Welcome to D.C.’s only classical music radio station! We pride ourselves on providing quality programming that educates and entertains our listeners.

We offer a wide range of classical music, from Bach to Beethoven to Brahms, as well as contemporary composers. We also feature interviews with prominent musicians, composers, and educators.

We hope you enjoy our station!

History of Classical Music in DC

Classical music has been a part of the Washington, D.C. radio scene since the early days of broadcasting. In 1922, station WRC (now known as WTOP) began airing classical music programming on Sunday mornings. WRC was the first radio station in the nation’s capital to offer regular classical music broadcasts.

Early days

Classical music has been a part of the fabric of Washington, DC, since the city’s earliest days. In 1761, when the British colonies were still governed by the king and queen of England, a group of gentlemen in Alexandria, Virginia (just across the Potomac River from DC) formed The Musical Fund Society. This organization helped support struggling musicians and also sponsored public concerts—the first known classical music concerts in DC!

The first professional orchestra in Washington was founded in 1831 by Johann Nepomuk Hummel, a famous composer and violinist who had studied under Ludwig van Beethoven. The new orchestra gave its first performance in February 1832 at Carusi’s Saloon on Pennsylvania Avenue (near where the White House stands today).

For most of the 19th century, though, classical music was not terribly popular in DC. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that Washington really began to develop a taste for orchestral music. In 1908, Walter Damrosch—conductor of New York’s Metropolitan Opera—brought his Orchestra to Washington for a series of concerts at Carnegie Hall (located just north of Dupont Circle). These concerts were so successful that Damrosch decided to move his Orchestra to DC permanently!

The golden age

Classical music in DC reached its peak during the golden age, which spanned from the 1900s to the 1950s. This was a time when the city’s classical music scene was dominated by European performers and composers. Many of the great classical music pieces we know today were first performed in DC during this time.

The golden age came to an end in the 1960s, as the city’s classical music scene shifted to focus on American performers and composers. However, the legacy of the golden age can still be heard in DC today, through the city’s many classical music radio stations and performance venues.

The modern era

The modern era of classical music in DC began in the late 1940s, when American composer Aaron Copland (1900-1990) came to the city to teach at Howard University. He was soon joined by other leading figures in the world of classical music, including Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), who became the music director of the New York Philharmonic in 1957. Together, these two composers helped to shape the sound of classical music in America and beyond.

In the 1960s and 1970s, a number of important classical music institutions were founded in DC, including the National Symphony Orchestra and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. These organizations helped to make DC a major center for classical music in the United States. Today, DC is home to many leading orchestras, opera companies, and other musical organizations.

Classical Music Radio Station in DC Today

Classical music has been a time-honored tradition for centuries and is widely loved by many people around the world. The popularity of classical music has led to the creation of many classical music radio stations, including one right here in DC.

WGMS

WGMS (103.5 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a classical music format. Licensed to Washington, D.C., the station is owned by Classical WETA. The WGMS studios and offices are on 26th Street in Northwest Washington, and the transmitter is atop American University in Tenleytown. On December 1, 2011, the station began stunting with a countdown to noon that day, when it switched to all-Christmas music as “The Nutcracker Station.” On December 26, 2011, at Noon, after stunting with all-Christmas music for 25 days, WGMS switched back to its classical format, branded as “The New 103.5 WGMS.”

WETA

WETA is a public broadcasting station in Washington, D.C., serving Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. WETA’s mission is to educate, entertain and enrich the lives of our viewers through exceptional programming. WETA produces and broadcasts programs of intellectual curiosity, cultural exploration and enrichment that inform, inspire and delight our viewers.

WMAL

WMAL is a classical music radio station in Washington, D.C.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our guide to the best classical music radio station in DC. We think you’ll agree that there’s something special about listening to classical music on the radio. It’s a great way to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

If you’re ever in DC, be sure to tune into WETA 90.9 FM. You won’t be disappointed!