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Employment Opportunities
WCPE, The Classical Station, announces several employment opportunities which include Classical Music Announcer, Assistant Music Librarian, Traffic Assistant, Technical Assistant, Business and Underwriting Director, Electrical Engineer, Promotions Coordinator and Accountant. Both full time and part time positions are available. Applicants may apply for multiple positions, which are open until October 25th. Retirees and Senior Citizens are encouraged to apply. Detailed job descriptions and details on how to apply are available on our Employment Page. WCPE is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

This Week At The Classical Station

by Rob Kennedy

Sunday, October 13, 2019

This evening on Preview! violinist Gordan Nikolitch, cellist Tim Hugh and pianist Lars Vogt join forces to perform music of Beethoven. Dan McHugh speaks with Mark Fountain and Brenda Bruce of the upcoming Paderewski Festival, and Jim Waddelow of the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra, about festival events. And we'll sample new releases from cellist Ofra Harnoy and pianist Jae-Hyuck Cho. See What's Playing for a detailed playlist.

Preview! -- the best in new classical recordings and arts news each Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. Eastern. Tell your smart speaker to play WCPE.

Photo: Ofra Harnoy/MGAM

This week Wavelengths includes music by American composer Cliff Eidelman and Chinese-born French composer Qigang Chen, along with film music by the late Icelandic composer Johann Johannson. See What's Playing for a detailed playlist.

Wavelengths brings you the best in contemporary classical music Sunday evenings at 9 p.m. Eastern.

Photo: Cliff Eidelman/ClassicFM

This evening Karina Canellakis is our guest on the October edition of My Life In Music. Maestra Canellakis is the Chief Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and the Principal Guest Conductor of the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra. Earlier this year Ms. Canellakis conducted the First Night of the Proms and the Nobel Prize Concert. Join Rob Kennedy for My Life In Music this afternoon at 5 p.m. Eastern.

Photo: Mathias Bothor

This morning Great Sacred Music features music sung by Currende, the Compline Choir of Saint Mark's Cathedral, Seattle, and the South German Radio Choir. Also on the playlist is choral music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Richard Proulx, and Louis Spohr. See What's Playing for a detailed playlist. Email Rob Kennedy to be added to Great Sacred Music's mailing list and to receive an annotated copy of the playlist which he emails on Saturday afternoons at 5 p.m.

Great Sacred Music. Beautiful choral and organ music. Every Sunday morning. 8 until 11 eastern. Right after Sing For Joy. With Rob Kennedy.

Stained glass window depicting a Station of the Cross in Trier Dom/Pixabay

On October 13 we observe the birthday of Dutch composer Peter Gijsbert van Anrooij, or, as he is better known, Peter van Anrooy (1879-1954). van Anrooy studied in Dresden and Moscow. His best-known composition is "Piet Hein Rhapsodie voor symfonieorkest."

Photo: Wikipedia.org

Saturday, October 12, 2019

From the steppes of central Asia to the Grand Canyon, come along with The Classical Station on a stunning musical journey. We’ll float along the blue Danube and down the Moldau and the Mississippi rivers, climb the Appalachian mountains and cross the Scottish Highlands.

Close your eyes during Armchair Travelers Weekend Friday evening through Sunday and let the music take you away. And don't forget to request your favorite piece of music on the Saturday Evening Request Program. Do it online by clicking Music Request in the top right corner of our website.

Photo: Donskoy Nature Park, Ilovlya, Russia, on Wikipedia.org

Can you be an angel? We still need angels for our Fall 2019 Membership Drive which will begin in a few weeks. The point of our membership drives is to encourage listeners to become supporting members of The Classical Station. Did you know that Angels help us achieve that objective? Well, yes, they do and have done so for many years. Our Angels are amazing listeners who will match your gift to encourage you to support this unique classical music radio station which you enjoy so much.

The way it works is very simple. For example, a listener in Virginia commits $600 to the membership drive. She tells us that she will match 5 contributions of $10 per month. So, once her angel match is met and 5 new members have become Sustaining Members at $10 per month, The Classical Station garners $600 from our Angel and another $600 from the 5 listeners who have become Sustaining Members at the $10 per month level.

Do you want to be an Angel during our Fall 2019 Membership Drive? Here's how to make that happen: call us anytime and tell the member of staff who answers that you want to be an Angel with your gift of $300 or more. 800-556-5178.

You can also become an Angel by making your gift of $300 or more online via our secure server. Simply put "This is an Angel Match!" in the Comments Box.

Remember: you can call the station anytime. 24/7. A live member of staff will take your call and help you with your pledge and any questions you have. Thank you for being an Angel and encouraging other listeners to support The Classical Station!

On October 12 we observe the birthdays of English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958), English-Canadian composer and organist Healey Willan (1880-1968), Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007), and Dutch early music specialist Ton Koopman (1944-). Some critics consider Ralph Vaughan Williams as one of the greatest composers England has ever produced. Dr. Willan was organist and choirmaster of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Toronto from 1921-1968. He wrote over 800 compositions in a variety of forms. Luciano Pavarotti had two divas whose recommendations and help gave the young tenor's career its start. Joan Sutherland and Mirella Freni were both powerful influences. And who can forget how easily the great tenor entertained audiences worldwide with classical crossover performances and those amazing Three Tenors concerts with Plácido Domingo and José Carreras. Ton Koopman founded the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and the Amsterdam Baroque Choir in 1992. HAppy 75th birthday, Maestro.

Photos: Wikipedia.org

Friday, October 11, 2019

Have you seen our Thank You Gifts? Jane O'Connor has assembled a collection of Thank You gifts for every giving level. Want to give $5 per month? Then let us say "Thank you!" with a writing pen or a car magnet. The baseball cap can be yours for a onetime gift of $100 or $8.33 per month as a Sustaining Member. We have tee shirts, mugs, a WCPE 40th Anniversary Clock, grocery bags, insulated coolers, and much more. And, of course, William Woltz, our Music Director, has selected some very fine CDs for you as well. Thank you so much for supporting the classical music you enjoy here on The Classical Station!

Photo: WCPE Photo Services

On October 11 we observe the birthdays of Canadian-American composer Robert Nathaniel Dett (1882-1943) and American violinist Rachel Barton Pine (1974-). While Dett was born in Drummondville, Ontario, and, indeed, was buried there, he spent most of his professional life in the United States. He studied with Arthur Foote at Harvard and with Nadia Boulanger at Fountainbleau. Robert Nathaniel Dett was active as a composer, choral conductor, professor and organist. Having made her debut with the Chicago Symphony at the age of 10, Rachel Barton Pine has played with most of the world's major orchestras and made over 30 recordings.

Photo: R. Nathaniel Dett/Wikipedia.org; Rachel Barton Pine/Lisa Marie Mazzucco

Thursday, October 10, 2019

A melancholy Danish prince reacts badly to the quick marriage of his mother to the brother of his murdered father. Join host Bob Chapman for Ambroise Thomas' Hamlet this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on the WCPE Opera House.

The curtain goes up at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on 89.7 FM in Central North Carolina, streaming everywhere on our apps and online. Don't forget that you can hear and watch most of the operas which we play on Opera House on our YouTube channel.

Photo: Sarah Bernhardt as Hamlet, with Yorick's skull by James Lafayette/Wikipedia.org

Are you a Sustaining member of The Classical Station? If you are, thank you! You are enjoying convenient, automatic, ongoing monthly contributions which you can change or stop at any time! Becoming a Sustaining Member is an easy way to increase the power of your support and put more of your dollars into the great classical music you depend on.

As a Sustaining Member, you will:

* Enjoy uninterrupted membership status at The Classical Station.

* Save us money spent on postage, paper and administrative costs.

* Utilize an eco-friendly payment option which allows us to cut down on renewal mailings.

* Provide The Classical Station with a steady and reliable stream of income which allows us to plan for a sustainable future.

Here's how a Sustaining Membership works: Your monthly contribution is deducted automatically from the account of your choice on the same day each month until you tell us to stop. You can make changes or cancel your Sustaining Membership at any time.

To Become a Sustaining Member, visit our Donation Page. Or call 800-556-5178 anytime. A member of staff will be happy to take down your information and instructions, as well answer any questions you may have. Don't forget to take a Thank You Gift or designate 10% of your Sustaining Membership to the Education Fund if you prefer. Thank you for being a Sustaining Member!

Conversations with Musicians

The interviews which air every Sunday evening at 7 p.m. on Preview! offer fascinating glimpses into the life and work of classical musicians. But in case you couldn't listen to those interviews with staff announcers Dan McHugh, Rob Kennedy and Bob Chapman, not to worry. We have most of these interviews saved for your listening pleasure on a page we call Conversations. Chats with Joyce DiDonato, Fred Scott, Olivier Latry, Sir Stephen Cleobury, Gernot Wolfgang, Ilan Eshkeri, Barnaby Smith, Jennifer Higdon, and many more musicians are ready for you to download and enjoy! You can also find these conversations on our app.

Photo: Simon Pauly

On October 10 we observe the birthdays of German composer Johann Ludwig Krebs (1713-1786), American composer Paul Creston (1906-1985), American conductor Chris Walden (1966-), and Israeli-Russian-British pianist Evgeny Kissin (1971-). Herr Krebs studied with Johann Sebastian Bach. Paul Creston was a largely self-taught composer whose music was popular in the 40s and 50s. He taught several notable musicians including John Corigliano. German-born Chris Walden is a classically trained musician who has over forty film and TV show scores to his credit. Evgeny Kissin is widely considered to be one of the great pianists of his generation. He has appeared as soloist with most of the world's major orchestras.

Photos: Wikipedia.org

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

We are delighted to announce that our General Manager, Deborah Proctor, is one of the recipients of the Carolina Award for 2019. Here is the announcement released earlier this week by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

"In the early 1970s, Deborah Proctor and four classmates at N.C. State University built a 12,500-watt transmitter by hand and connected it to a makeshift studio in a house five miles from campus - and WCPE, the Triangle's classical music station, was born. Today WCPE reaches audiences throughout North Carolina, across the country and around the world via satellite and online streaming. In addition to earning numerous awards for its programming, WCPE and Deborah Proctor, its general manager, have received recognition for their commitment to public service. Proctor's advocacy on behalf of local and independent broadcasting has been a hallmark of her leadership at the station. During her tenure, she successfully sued the FCC for the right to transmit WCPE on FM at full power, equalizing the rules between public and commercial radio. She has worked throughout her career to promote and help small, independent and public broadcasters remain viable in the era of online broadcasting. Her tireless efforts have introduced countless North Carolinians to the joy of classical music and leveled the playing field for public radio stations nationwide."

As Deborah reminds her staff constantly, none of this could have happened without your support. We are so very proud to be listener-supported and volunteer-powered. Thank you for your support.

On October 9 we observe the birthdays of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) and French composer Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921). One of the greatest composers of operas, Signor Verdi wrote 28 of them. Apparently, he was intimately involved with every detail of these productions as well. If a musical form existed, chances are that Saint-Saëns wrote in it. He even wrote a film score in 1908.

Photos: Wikipedia.org

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Join Nick Robinson during As You Like It for a special ticket giveaway! This week we'll be offering two pairs of tickets to two different performances. The first pair of tickets will be for the performance of the Ciompi Quartet presented by Duke University Music. This performance features the works of three composers who shaped modern music: Debussy, Takemitsu, and Stravinsky on October 12th at Duke University in the Nelson Music Room. The second pair of tickets will be for Vox Luminis's The Bach Dynasty Concert on October 18th presented by Duke Performances in Duke University Chapel. Listen between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9th, for a chance to win a pair of tickets to this fine concert.

Update at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, OCtober 9: the winners are: Vox Luminis Concert - Eddie from Durham. Ciompi Quartet Concert - Jeff from Durham

On October 8 we observe the birthdays of German composer Heinrich Schutz (1585-1672) and French composer Louis Vierne (1870-1937). Herr Schutz studied with Giovanni Gabrieli in Venice. He is widely considered to be the most important German composer before Johann Sebastian Bach. Monsieur Vierne was the Titular Organist of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris from 1900 until 1937. During a tour of the U.S., he played the Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia as well as the smaller Wanamaker organ in New York City.

Photos: Wikipedia.org

Monday, October 7, 2019

This evening Monday Night at the Symphony shines the spotlight on the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Hear music of Ludwig Beethoven, Richard Strauss and Pyotr Tchaikovsky, in performances led by André Previn, Lorin Maazel, and the orchestra's current music director Manfred Honeck. See What's Playing for details.

You can enjoy the concert beginning at 8 p.m. on 89.7 FM in Central North Carolina and streaming everywhere online and on our apps.

Photo: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Photo: Mathias Bothor

On October 7 we observe the birthdays of American conductor and cellist Alfred Wallenstein (1898-1983), Swiss conductor Charles Dutoit (1936-), English trumpeter Alison Balsom (1978-), Chinese pianist Li Yundi (1982-), and Chinese-American cellist Yo-Yo Ma (1955-). Maestro Wallenstein was director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 1943-1956. He also pioneered classical music radio broadcasts back in the 1930s. Maestro Dutoit was conductor of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra from 1977-2002. He has conducted most of the world's major orchestras over the course of his long professional career. Besides being a brilliant trumpet player, Alison Balsom enjoys a multi-faceted career as an arranger, producer, and music educator. Li Yundi or Yundi, as he is known, is the youngest pianist to win the International Frédéric Chopin Piano Competition which he accomplished in 2000 at the age of 18. Yo-Yo Ma is a graduate of the Juilliard School and Harvard University. He has made over ninety recordings and won eighteen Grammy Awards.

Photos: Wikipedia.org


Meet The Announcer Ever wonder what your favorite voice looks like? That's George Douglas, host of Renaissance Fare above. More about our announcers at Meet The Announcer.	Quarter Notes Members of The Classical Station receive Quarter Notes which is chock full of information about our programming.

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