WETA Classical launches HD and streaming channel, WETA Virtuoso

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Arlington, Virginia, September 16, 2025 – WETA, the flagship public media station in the Washington, D.C. region, has launched WETA Virtuoso, a new HD and streaming classical music channel. WETA Virtuoso is the latest offering from WETA Classical, the exclusive radio home for classical music in the Greater Washington area. 

WETA Virtuoso offers an expansive listening experience, featuring full-length recordings of a wide selection of classical works, from symphonies to chamber music. Created for individuals seeking a deep exploration of classical music, the channel offers programming that spans the entire landscape of the art form, from early vocal works to music created by living composers.

“WETA Virtuoso is designed for attentive listening, the kind where you settle in and put away distractions,” said Jim Allison, Vice President and General Manager of WETA Classical. “It’s for those moments when you want to hear Mahler's complete Ninth Symphony unfold over its full 80-minute arc or discover how a lesser-known composer from centuries ago influenced the music you know and love. We are excited to offer this new channel to our D.C.-area listeners.” 

WETA Virtuoso will be anchored by WETA Classical on-air hosts. In addition to morning, afternoon and overnight presentations of a wide range of classical music recordings, WETA Virtuoso also presents specialized programming, including: 

• Lunchtime Concerts from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday, showcasing live concert recordings from the finest orchestras in the U.S. and beyond. Listeners will hear full-length symphonic works from Chicago Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, and Los Angeles Philharmonic, among others. 

• Friday’s 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. lunchtime programming will feature Millennium of Music, from former WETA Classical afternoon and Around Town host Robert Aubry Davis. Millennium of Music is the longest running early music program in the world, exploring music from the thousand years before the birth of Bach. 

• Performance Today, airing weeknights from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., features exclusive live concert recordings, highlights from new album releases, and in-studio performances and interviews.

WETA Virtuoso is available to HD listeners at 90.9 HD3 in the Washington D.C. area, streaming at wetaclassical.org and on the WETA Classical app. 

ABOUT WETA CLASSICAL 

WETA Classical has consistently been among the highest rated classical stations in the country and currently ranks in the top ten of all stations in the Washington D.C. market. More than 300,000 weekly listeners tune in to WETA Classical 90.9 FM in Washington D.C., WGMS 89.1 FM in Hagerstown, MD, online via wetaclassical.org, and through the WETA Classical app. In addition to HD and online channels WETA VivaLaVoce and the new WETA Virtuoso, WETA Classical also provides immersive programming to help listeners explore classical music with the Classical Breakdown podcast and Take Note!, an online educational guide. WETA Classical hosts frequently conduct pre-performance discussions at concerts and cultural events throughout the region. Visit facebook.com/wetaclassical on Facebook or follow @wetaclassical on Instagram. 

ABOUT WETA 

WETA is the flagship public media station in the nation’s capital, providing outstanding content in service to television, radio and digital audiences in the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland. In addition to classical radio, WETA also provides local programming and digital content created to celebrate the people and history of the region. WETA offers five television channels: WETA PBS, WETA UK, WETA Metro, WETA World, and WETA PBS Kids. For streaming audiences, WETA+ is a free service offering on demand and live streaming of WETA and PBS programs. WETA is the second-largest producer of new content for public television in the United States, including public affairs programs PBS News Hour and Washington Week with The Atlantic and documentary films from Ken Burns and Henry Louis Gates, Jr. The organization’s public service websites provide resources surrounding mental health, child development, literacy, education and the brain. More information on WETA programs and services is available at weta.org. 

Sharon Percy Rockefeller is President and Chief Executive Officer of WETA. 

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