Classical music station WCLV celebrates 60 years on the air

On this day, 60 years ago, the classical musical station WCLV made its on-air debut. 

It's a significant milestone for the station, especially as many other classical music stations have left the airwaves. But WCLV, co-founded by the legendary Robert Conrad, has consistently brought listeners engaging classical programming from Cleveland Orchestra performances, to featuring other local acts such as Apollo's Fire, the Canton Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland Institute of Music's Opera Theater. 

Around a decade ago, WCLV became part of Ideastream Public Media, and as of this March, moved from its previous frequency of 104.9 on the radio to 90.3, which has a wider listening area across Northeast Ohio. 

This hour on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll start by talking to WCLV Program Director Bill O'Connell, a longtime host on the station about the evolving history of WCLV, and how the staff plans to commemorate the anniversary.

Later this hour, we'll meet the winners of this year's Cleveland Arts Prize. 

And, we preview tonight's Inside the Bricks Sound of Ideas Community Tour event, the first one that we've held in person since the pandemic began. 

-Bill O'Connell, WCLV Program Director, Ideastream Public Media
-Justin Glanville, Senior Producer, Ideastream Public Media 
-Carrie Wise, Deputy Editor, Arts & Culture, Ideastream Public Media
-Aseelah Shareef, Cleveland Arts Prize Board Chair 
-H. Scott Westover, Cleveland Arts Prize Jury Committee Chair