Marty Wimmer
BTPM Classical Midday Host/ProducerMarty Wimmer has been part of the BTPM team since 1995, bringing his passion for music, broadcasting, and storytelling to a variety of roles. He’s midday host on BTPM Classical, a frequent anchor on BTPM PBS television programming, creator & host of the “Born On This Day” composer profile series on BTPM’s YouTube channel, co-host of “Approachable Classics” with Steve Cichon on BTPM NPR, producer of "Live On Stage,” and coordinator of the BTPM Classical Blog.
Marty is a retired public school music teacher who brings a lifetime of musical experience to BTPM Classical. He graduated from Syracuse University and The University at Buffalo. His piano professor at SU studied with Claudio Arrau, who studied with Martin Krause, who studied with Franz Liszt, who studied with Carl Czerny, who studied with Beethoven, who studied with Haydn – quite a musical lineage!
As a composer, Marty won First Prize in the 2010 UUMN Competition and was a finalist in the 2007 Ithaca College Competition. His publisher is Imagine Music Publishing. Local performances include the Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus, The Chromatic Club of Buffalo, Vocalis, Freudig Singers, Cheektowaga Community Chorus, and Buffalo Niagara Youth Chorus. Recent national and international performances include The Young Naperville Singers, Sine Nomine Chorus, Denver, The University of Jordan Choir, Amman, and most recently the Mississippi All-State Honors Choir. His choral work, “Through Music” is a competition piece in the current NYSSMA manual.
Marty grew up near Syracuse, NY. His great-uncle was legendary world welterweight and middleweight boxing champion Carmen Basilio and his cousin is former world welterweight boxing champion Billy Backus. When Marty’s fingers weren’t on the keyboard, they were inside boxing gloves. He says the piano hurt more.
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I’ve always felt such a personal connection to Schubert’s “Unfinished.” There’s something beautiful about music that leaves us wondering what comes next. It has two magnificent movements – then silence. What happened? -
Explore the lore of classical music with Marty Wimmer in this BTPM Classical blog. -
It’s just one note. How hard can it be? Ah, easier said than done on the horn – the instrument formerly known as the “French horn,” but I digress. We’ll get to that another day. -
Have you ever seen the classic films The Curse of Frankenstein starring Christopher Lee, and The Curse of the Black Pearl starring Johnny Depp? Great titles – the kind that promise mystery, danger, and a good story. Well, I think it’s time for another one. -
Taking a closer look at the curious details behind the sounds, traditions, and people that make classical music extraordinary. -
The Oxford Dictionary of Music claims that the term "virtuoso " is from Italian and means “exceptional performer.” By the late 18th century, it changed. -
Whether you're listening over the air or streaming online, BTPM Classical provides a living, breathing sense of flow, discovery, context, and community that goes beyond anything a personal playlist can offer. -
There’s one thing I learned quickly when I started teaching music appreciation at the college level: if I want students to open their minds to “my music,” classical music, then I need to open my mind to “their music” first. BTPM Classical host Marty Wimmer reflects in this Classical Blog. -
BTPM Classical loves March too, not only for basketball, but for birthdays! -
Do you remember your elementary school music teacher’s name? What was it? I’ll never forget mine. BTPM Classical Host Marty Wimmer reflects on his school piano memories.
