The founding host of nightly Exploring Music series was also music director of the Eugene Symphony
The KWAX staff and our listeners remember Bill McLaughlin, the Peabody Award-winning musician, educator, composer, conductor, and broadcaster, who died July 21 at age 82.
The founding host of Exploring Music, an internationally syndicated radio series heard on KWAX weeknights at 7 p.m., leaves behind an extraordinary legacy that transformed how generations of listeners discover and appreciate classical music.
The series has been heard on KWAX since its inception in 2003. McLaughlin also had a personal connection to Eugene audiences as music director of the Eugene Symphony Orchestra from 1981-1985.
As host of Exploring Music, McLaughlin guided audiences through the world of classical music one theme at a time, weaving together composers, history, literature, cultures, and great works into engaging weekly journeys that welcomed seasoned enthusiasts and first-time listeners alike.
A trombonist with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony, McLaughlin served as music director of the Kansas City Symphony, the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, and the Tucson Symphony in addition to his time in Eugene.
As longtime host of Saint Paul Sunday, another beloved radio program heard on KWAX, McGlaughlin received both the Peabody Award and the Deems Taylor Award, and he became a familiar presence on numerous radio and television programs dedicated to making classical music accessible to broad audiences. For more about McLaughlin's legacy, see the WFMT tribute.
On KWAX, Exploring Music continues with repeat episodes. Beginning August 24, Peter van de Graaff takes over hosting duties.