Western Michigan University's School of Music has nearly 425 music majors, earning degrees in music education, music therapy, composition, jazz studies, and performance. At all hours you can hear the practice rooms resounding with rehearsals, see students pouring over scores in the hallways, conducting silent orchestras. WMU communications student Molly Rent went behind the scenes to produce this story, a look at three performers who came together during this time of intense study and learning. Click here to listen to Molly's report (or go to the Audio Archive on our "Listen" page).

Molly Rent is a communications student at WMU and promotions director for WIDR.

The three members of Trio Aparición are clarinetist Patricia Billings, basoonist SaMona Bryant, and pianist Monica Washington.

Listen to the trio perform Mendelssohn's Concert Piece #1.

Listen to the trio playing Piazzola's "Oblivion."

These four remarkable young women collaborated in creating and producing this feature which provides a fresh, personal perspective on student life today.

(To download any of these audio files, right-click on the link and select "Save As.")

The world marks Holocaust Memorial Day on May 2. On this solemn occasion, WMUK will present the special program "Music of Remembrance: Brundibar." Hosted by Mina Miller, the program tells the story of the children’s opera "Brundibar" and the Terezin concentration camp. Join us for this poignant performance documentary, Friday, May 2, at 3 p.m.

Kalamazoo’s All Ears Theatre presents a new swashbuckler this month with Robert Weir’s "Neptune's Sacrifice" - a mystery set aboard the H.M.S. Victory Rose. Tune in for "Neptune's Sacrifice," Saturday, May 31, at 1 p.m.

"My America 2008" gathers and shares stories of ordinary Americans and showcases how election issues affect them. Hosted by Tavis Smiley, the special series profiles subjects who are selected from the submissions of average, everyday individuals and families throughout the country.

"My America 2008" gets to the heart of the most pressing issues facing Americans today: war in Iraq, terrorism and national security, the economy, health care, education, energy, immigration and more. Each program explores and humanizes these topics through profiles of people who live the issue and through conversations with a diversity of Americans who dedicate their working lives to making a difference. All programs conclude with a commentary by a younger American voting in his or her first presidential election. By giving the final word to the next generation, "My America 2008" leaves listeners with a powerful sense of the importance of these issues to those who will inherit the country.

The program Web site - myamerica2008.com - invites listeners to add their voices and votes: to share their experiences, help select topics for additional programs and offer home-grown solutions for consideration by the next administration.

I trust the inherent wisdom of the American people. Ours is a government of, by, and for the people, and now, with the internet, the media must also be of, by and for the people. It's time for us in the media to become the listeners, and to create new ways for the people to connect and talk about things that really matter.
- Tavis Smiley

"My America 2008" will air on WMUK radio Friday afternoons at 3 p.m. leading up to the fall election.