Blast from the Past: hear a familiar KMFA voice on Classical Guitar Alive this weekend!

Russell Sarre, Australian composer (and former host of KMFA)

If you’ve been listening to KMFA since the 1990s, you’ll remember an announcer named Russell Sarre. His distinctly Australian accent, coupled with an irrepressible sense of humor, made him a popular host on KMFA. The show he was most remembered for was “Mind Your Music,” co-starring David Ford. It was so successful, they even beat the famous NPR show “From the Top” one year for a national radio award!

Russell is a classical composer, and he and his family now live in Hamburg, Germany. Luckily for his Austin fans he was interviewed by Tony Morris (host of the popular show, Classical Guitar Alive) about the premiere of his most recent work: Lyric Suite for Guitar and String Quartet.

To hear the whole episode, tune in tonight at 9pm, and again on Sunday at 11am, on KMFA 89.5.

Here’s a quick preview:

~posted by Alison @ KMFA  :-)

KMFA wishes the Austin Symphony a Happy 100th Birthday!

On Tuesday, April 25th, 1911, the Austin Symphony Orchestra had its first performance, and KMFA celebrates this 100th Anniversary with a special program: A.S.O. 100!

When I listened to the interview portion, I was surprised to learn some interesting facts: I learned about the first-ever Drive-in Symphony Concert in the United States, as well as Monday night performances in the Coliseum after a weekend stockade show, and other “batty” and sublime moments.

On this program, KMFA’s Dianne Donovan visits with her guests: Maestro Peter Bay, Artistic Director and Conductor of the A.S.O.; Anthony Corroa, Executive Director of the A.S.O.; Joan Holtzman, Board Secretary, Charter Member of Women’s Symphony League, and de facto A.S.O. historian; and Eugene Gratovich, Associate Concertmaster (member of the A.S.O for 24 years), The Roy E. & Linda S. Bush Associate Concertmaster.

The show airs twice: Saturday, April 23rd, 9pm, Wednesday, April 27th, 8pm. If you missed the show, you can still hear the interview portion archived on our website.

~posted by Alison @ KMFA  ;-)

Opera singers from ALO’s “Flight” visit KMFA studios

On the KMFA program Classical Austin, host Dianne Donovan introduces us to some of the creative leadership behind some of our favorite Classically Austin arts events.

Last Wednesday, the spotlight was on Austin Lyric Opera’s upcoming performance of Flight. Joining Dianne in the KMFA studio were two performers, Mela Sarajane Dailey (as “Tina”) and Nick Zammit (as “refugee”), as well as the composer, Jonathan Dove. If you missed the episode, you can hear the interview portion here.

Mela Sarajane Dailey, Dianne Donovan, Jonathan Dove, and Nick Zammit.

It’s always exciting to meet the stars in person, but it’s very rare to meet the living, breathing composer! To hear him discuss his opera was a real treat.

~posted by Alison @ KMFA

Maestro Peter Bay kicks off the Spring Membership Drive!

OK, it’s the first day of our pledge drive, and Peter Bay is on the air making us laugh! He is a riot. He just dropped by to give us a hand as we raise funds to keep KMFA broadcasting commercial-free music in Central Texas.

Maestro Bay put out a challenge to listeners: Rich played the theme song to Star Trek, and Peter asked KMFA listeners to call in and tell him why we were playing that piece today. If someone guessed correctly, then he would donate $50 to the Pledge Drive…. can you guess the answer?

If you haven’t yet renewed your membership, or if you have considered becoming a new member,  then follow his example and help keep KMFA strong and on the air for another 44 years!

~posted by Alison @ KMFA

KMFA in the news

Last Friday, KVUE’s Martin Bartlett stopped by the radio station, with a specific question in mind: how are local public media stations coping with the threat of federal de-funding, now that the House of Representatives has passed a bill doing just that?

KMFA’s General Manager, Joan Kobayashi, spoke with Bartlett about the different needs of public radio stations, such as rural vs. metro stations, and university licensees compared to community licensees. You can see the resulting broadcast here:

~posted by Alison @ KMFA