Category Archives: Uncategorized

It’s our Birthday!

 

January 29th marks KMFA’s 42nd birthday!

Please join us in a celebration of this remarkable accomplishment: KMFA has been a member-supported, classical music, public radio station since its inception in 1967. 

(we're never too old for cupcakes)

As a longtime listener, I took this format for granted. I just assumed all cities offered this type of programming…. but now I know that it’s a rare treat, and that only 5 or 6 stations in the United States offer a commercial-free, all-classical broadcast.

The fact that Austin’s own station has persevered in this format for 42 years is incredibly unique.  And we do it because members like *you* show your support every year.

We just love our Birthday/Open House/Membership Drive… it’s a celebration of what this station provides, and a chance to visit with our members and volunteers who help make it all happen.

So come to our party!  We’ll be celebrating for 3 days, from Tuesday, Jan. 27th through Thursday, Jan. 28th.  We’ll have cake! And balloons! And of course, the famous limited-edition t-shirt (this year it’s “Bluebonnets and Beethoven”).

Thanks again for your support.  We hope to see you then!

~Alison Cowden, Office Manager

It’s the Festival of Carols!

Christmas composure

Our annual Festival of Carols started today… and it always surprises me how contemplative, serene, and joyfully evocative the selections are. It’s not just holiday music, it’s winter music.

KMFA’s primetime announcers (Jeffrey, Dianne, Rich, and Sara) all carefully select the playlists for their own shifts. The pieces range from 13th-century chants to playful Sondheim renditions. Instruments vary from bells to strings to choral voices. It’s such a wonderful reprieve from the canned commercial tracks we hear ad nauseum in grocery stores, shopping malls, and on television.

So, if you’re feeling a bit jaded by holiday overexposure, I recommend KMFA’s Festival of Carols, from Monday, Dec. 22nd through Thursday, Dec. 25th. It truly does bring comfort and joy.

~Alison Cowden, Office Manager

Upcoming LIVE broadcast: ALO’s Cinderella!

We are so thrilled about the upcoming Austin Lyric Opera event: Cinderella !

Cinderella!

KMFA is broadcasting the event *live* this Saturday night, and even though we’ve done a couple of live broadcasts this year, every event is uniquely exciting!

This morning we welcomed two guests on the air: Kevin Patterson (Director of the Austin Lyric Opera) and Lauren Rico (visiting from NYC, where she understudies for Margaret Juntwait at the Metropolitan Opera). They were so enthusiastic and insightful about Saturday’s upcoming performance that I went straight to the ALO website to read more about it: www.AustinLyricOpera.org.

KMFA’s Production Manager, Jeffrey Blair, and our Production Associate, Phil Pollack, coordinate preliminary preparations with the engineers at the Long Center, testing all kinds of broadcast equipment and Internet functionality. Tonight, after their regular workday is over, they’ll trek over to the dress rehearsal, plugging into microphone arrays and tweaking the broadcast sound quality. I don’t understand half the technical stuff that they work on, but we’re SO glad to have their help!

So, if you can’t attend this wonderful performance in person, be sure and tune in this Saturday evening at 7pm. Lauren Rico and our own Dianne Donovan will be hosting the “pre-game” interviews right there in The Long Center lobby… and we’ll be glued to our radios!

~posted by Alison @ KMFA 🙂

The last night in Paris!

KMFA’s La Belle France tour could not have ended on a better note. Stunning. Mesmerizing. Fantastique!

Saturday we were treated to the opening night of the Paris Ballet’s Les Enfants Du Paradise .  Immediately we were thrown in the world of Garance and her fickle heart’s choices of suitors.  At times it was difficult to tell where the ballet started and where it ended as several of the dancers/actors performed from the audience.  At intermission the dancers did a mini performance in the main hall of the Palais Garnier.  The building was entertaining in itself, dripping with gold and velvet ornaments from ceiling to floor.

After the splendid ballet performance (which I will never forget) we all walked across the street to the Cafe de la Paix and our tastebuds were treated to equally as appetising foods. 

It’s only been a day but already I miss Paris, the Louvre, the Ballet, cafe au lait, Dianne Donovan’s great explanations of the concerts, our tour guide James’s incredible wealth of knowledge, and most of all the 17 very cool and eclectic folks who signed up for KMFA’s first ever trip.

Au revoir (for now)!
Judy Watts

p.s. pictures to come soon.

Eliot Fisk in the KMFA Studios

Eliot Fisk

Eliot Fisk

Today Eliot Fisk stopped by KMFA to chat with me about his upcoming concert.  He was a delight to talk to, and his knowledge of music seemed boundless.  Being able to fill in the entire concert after Angel Romero had to cancel under doctor’s orders, is a real testament to the skill and depth that Eliot Fisk has.  In the interview he talks about some of the works that he will be performing as well as where he gets some of his musical and spiritual inspiration.

Mr. Fisk will perform Saturday, October 4th at the Northwest Hills United Methodist Church.  Tickets can be purchased through the Austin Classical Guitar Society  by calling 300-ACGS.

Visit the KMFA homepage: www.kmfa.org to check out the interview!

Jeffrey Blair, Announcer

Tarik O’Regan in the KMFA Studios

We always enjoy having visitors in the station, and earlier this week we had a special treat when British composer Tarik O’Regan dropped by to promote Conspirare’s new CD: Threshold of Night. (For any of you who haven’t listened to Threshold of Night yet, it’s a great CD and I highly recommend it.)

 

Tarik gave insight into one of his compositions Tal Vez Tenemos Tiempo, how his work has changed since moving to the U.S., and spoke about his work on an upcoming opera to be debuted in 2010.

 

Dianne Donovan chats with Tarik O'Regan

Dianne Donovan chats with Tarik O'Regan

 

For more information about Threshold of Night, visit: www.thresholdofnight.com

 

Judy Watts

Development Associate

Gearing up for the drive!

It’s that time of year again when students return to school, the leaves change color (if one is lucky enough to live where leaves actually change colors), and collegiate football is upon us.  Oh and don’t forget that very important membership drive at your favorite public radio station – KMFA!

Our Membership Director, Susannah Erler, works year round to ensure smooth membership drives.  It takes a lot of work behind the scenes as well as help from you. Whether it’s volunteering or donating – thank you for being there!

Each drive is so very different and special, and I can’t wait to see what this drive has in store for us.  Please make sure to tune in September 17th – 25th, contribute online, and walk in those donations.

Rich Upton

Rich Upton conducts a mini-drawing during the membership drive.

Thank you KMFA fans for keeping this station running!

Judy Watts

Development Associate | Webmaster