Senior News
March, 2001
Vol. 20. No.  3

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

A unique ensemble: Classical music hosts span the globe and the centuries

ASA: Local executives to present at national conference

Grandparents:New CR program serves those raising grandchildren

Northcoast music treasures: Dixieland Jazz Festival celebrates its 11th year, but that's not all

A cornucopia of music: Leon Berliner had to create his audience

Caregiver:Family Support Series planned

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A unique ensemble
Classical music hosts span the globe and the centuries
by Martin Anderson

KHSU Classical Hosts are all colleagues, even though they rarely run into one another at the studio. From left are Cindy Graebner, Walter Natzler, Richard Stanewick, Ben Tankersley, Felicia Oldfather, Ed Campbell, Ton Van Wageningen and Jean Wellington. Not pictured: Bill Lemley. Photo by Barbara Clark

Every weekday morning from 10 a.m. to noon and twice each Sunday, KHSU 90-FM offers a symphony of music that spans multiple centuries, continents and themes. Our volunteer staff includes a team of nine classical hosts who share their wide breadth of musical expertise and passion.

Our weekday series begins with Walter Natzler's Classic Monday Morning Experience. Walter began classical piano in Austria at age seven. He then spent 18 years in Amster-dam, where he started playing jazz. His radio career was born when a couple of tapes he'd made for a friend were broadcast on Dutch airwaves. He has hosted both classical and jazz programs. Walter likes to be spontaneous in planning his programs, leaning towards recordings from the KHSU library that haven't been played in a while. He admits to having "a weak spot for Viennese waltzes." Walter is also the voice of KHSU's Community Calendar, hosts some Saturday morning programming, and provides engineering for Sunday KHSU programs Conversations and Volunteer Voices.

Tuesday's host, Ed Campbell, is also a jazz musician, a drummer for 30 years who is well respected among both jazz audiences and musicians. After studying music theory and composition in college, Ed hosted radio drama and orchestral music programs in Alaska before joining KHSU 13 years ago. Ed's always had a preference for 20th century compositions and a dedication to offering music with which listeners may not be familiar. He says his programs used to feature more experimental music and have since evolved into works that may be more accessible to his audience. Ed is a wine retailer for Libation in downtown Arcata.

Bill Lemley got his radio start with Morse code during WWII. His work with KHSU began with classical, but he also hosted a popular big band show. Bill cites having seen more than 20 major big bands in the '40s as one of his greatest thrills. Bill plans Wednesday's Midweek Classical a month ahead of time, diligently spending half a day arranging and rearranging as he listens to each choice. Bill organizes each program around a different theme, such as a particular composer or instrument. He leans more towards chamber ensembles than large orchestras and prefers French composers.

Jean Wellington follows Bill at 11 a.m. Wednesday with A World of Music, often featuring 20th century and orchestral pieces. Jean began listening to classical music on the radio at age four, later taking a radio production class in high school. With the help of an extensive home reference library and music collection, Jean creates a series following a pattern he calls "VCIPT," for Variety, Composer, Instrument, Performer, and Theme. Each week he focuses on one of these categories.

Thursdays at 10 a.m. Richard Stanewick hosts Illuminations. Richard began hosting the program in 1987 after retiring from an extensive career as a university librarian, including HSU's. He has listened to classical music since birth-it was the only music in his childhood home on the old Victrola. Richard spends roughly six hours each week preparing his programs. He creates the programs around a variety of themes, ranging from African-American composers during the Kwanzaa season to various geographic regions including Latin America. Illuminations often focuses on lesser-known composers.

Thursday's host Ton Van Wageningen has roots in the Netherlands, having grown up with Dutch radio until moving to Canada in 1974. He came to KHSU to help counter congressional threats to public radio in the mid-'90s and now hosts Music For All Occasions Thursday mornings at 11 a.m. His program's name suggests his diverse style-one that ranges from baroque to improvisational. Ton is dedicated to contemporary works that he feels don't get enough recognition.

Ben Tankersley also grew up with classical on the Victrola, and received a college scholarship for his skills playing piano and singing. He found Arcata after deciding on three criteria for a hometown: a university, a Unitarian Universalist congregation and a National Public Radio (NPR) station. Ben has been hosting A Musical Offering since 1985 and begins each program with Bach before progressing from baroque through the Romantic eras to more contemporary selections. His broad tastes in music embrace many sounds, but the common requirement is that the music has to say something.

KHSU listeners have the pleasure of greeting the sun each Sunday morning between 6 and 8 a.m. with Felicia Oldfather's Dawn Concert. Conscious of her listeners' waking states well before they are, she begins her program with quiet, gentle selections. She often focuses on vocal and chamber music and likes to share a series of works over a succession of weeks. Felicia is also an accompanist for HSU's Music Department, the Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and is part of a local trio. While she admits she must limit her Saturday nights somewhat, Felicia says her early morning rise for her dedicated audience each Sunday is well worth it.

Cynthia Graebner's passion lies in the more traditional definition of "early music"-that of pre-18th century Europe. Her expertise shows each Sunday in Pastime With Good Company from 6-8 p.m. Each edition draws from featured pieces, historical events, and an extensive database of her past 12+ years of programs. Her interests in history and folk music - rather than classical - drew her to early music. Enthusiasts such as Cynthia, a self-labeled "nonconventional listener," have created a strong revival in authentic reproductions of this art form. Cynthia is an accomplished musician herself and also lectures at HSU on the history of early music.

The diverse symphony of sounds offered by KHSU's volunteer classical hosts each week is a testament to their collective talent and years of passion for this enduring and vital art form. We are grateful to each of them for their tremendous contribution to KHSU and the North Coast.

Martin Anderson is KHSU's underwriting coordinator and prepared this article for the newsletter, KHSU Views.