Norman Gilliland has degrees in English and Broadcasting. He began hosting classical music broadcasts in the mid-1970s and joined Wisconsin Public Radio in 1983. He's the producer and host of a weekday classical music program, and co-host, with Stephanie Elkins, of Midday Classics.
The subjects of his non-musical productions range from "Back from the Shadows Again: A Firesign Theater Retrospective" to "Children's Pictures at an Exhibition: Art from Chernobyl." Since 1990 he has been the narrator for the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra's popular summer series, Concerts on the Square.
Gilliland also co-produces and hosts, with Professor Emily Auerbach, the University of the Air series. Since 1989 he has hosted Wisconsin Public Radio's popular Old-Time Radio Night and produces the classical music biographical modules Grace Notes.
In 1999, his novel "Sand Mansions" was selected and read by Karl Schmidt on WPR's Chapter A Day.He appears in the 2006 Oscar-winning documentary On a Note of Triumph and has developed a partnership between WPR and University Theatre for the sake of bringing young dramatic talent to radio.
