Vince Tillona

Vince is the host of Drop the Needle, The Classical Station’s program devoted to vinyl recordings. In December 2024, Vince interviewed for the station’s Volunteer Announcer’s Training Program. As he was leaving the interview, Vince noticed hundreds of record albums piled in the station’s outer offices, so he asked Tara Lynn, “What’s the plan for all these records?” “Well,” said Tara, “We’re thinking about having a show that features vinyl, but we’ll need to go through our recordings and it’s a huge job.” Vince’s eyes lit up. It turns out he and several friends have extremely large collections. He was familiar with a great many of the records in the room. Vince offered to organize the albums and help the station prepare for Drop the Needle.

After a couple of days of sorting, Tara asked Vince if he’d like to host the new program. He gladly accepted the challenge and began curating and cataloging the collection. A few weeks and 24,000 records later, the station’s vinyl library was ready and Drop the Needle became a reality.

Vince is a retired financial services technology, operations, and project manager. He’s a lifelong opera and classical music lover, having attended Metropolitan Opera and New York Philharmonic performances for more years than he’ll admit. He also studied trumpet with the principal players of both orchestras during college. Vince has taught opera appreciation for several years at libraries and adult/senior education centers in the New York metropolitan area. He is a musician, teacher, opera lover, audiophile, avid reader, animal lover, and golfer.

Vince continues to play Taps as a volunteer with Bugles Across America, a group dedicated to having a live Taps player at the memorial services of US veterans. He and his wife enjoy attending the North Carolina Symphony as often as possible.

Now Playing

Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

Composed by

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Performed by

Brendel/London Symphony/Abbado

Label

Philips

Catalog Number

412

Today's Playlist

6:41pm Prelude from Suite Bergamasque

Composed by

Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Performed by

Empire Brass

6:46pm Music selected by the announcer

7:01pm Symphony No. 094 in G, "Surprise"

Composed by

Josef Haydn (1732-1809)

Performed by

Vienna Philharmonic/Bernstein

7:27pm String Quintet in C, K. 515

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Berthaud/Quatuor Voce

8:00pm Symphony No. 5 in E flat, Op. 82

Composed by

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

Performed by

Berlin Philharmonic/Karajan

8:32pm Symphony No. 8 in F, Op. 93

Composed by

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Performed by

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Haitink

9:00pm Overture to The Italian Girl in Algiers

Composed by

Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)

Performed by

National Academy of St. Cecilia/Chung

9:09pm Concerto in A flat for Two Pianos

Composed by

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Performed by

A. & J. Paratore/R.I.A.S. Symphony/Lajovic

9:45pm Ballet des Plaisirs

Composed by

Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687)

Performed by

Aradia Baroque Ensemble/Mallon

10:00pm Reverie

Composed by

Claude Debussy, trans. Allen

Performed by

Nancy Allen

10:06pm Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30

Composed by

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)

Performed by

Argerich/Berlin RSO/Chailly

10:47pm In Bohemia

Composed by

Mily Balakirev (1837-1910)

Performed by

USSR Symphony/Svetlanov

11:00pm Piano Sonata No. 10 in C, K. 330

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Yundi Li

11:20pm Serenade in D minor for Winds, Op. 44

Composed by

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)

Performed by

Orchestra of Beethoven Hall, Bonn/Davies

11:47pm Music selected by the announcer