 | Violinist Daniel Kim warms up before performing at the 2011 Neale Silva Young Artists winner's recital in Madison. The recital can be heard this Sunday afternoon at 12:30 pm on WPR's News & Classical Music Service.
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WPR Wins "Station of the Year" and More
 | | From left to right: WPR Director Mike Crane, Reporter/Anchor Kristen Durst, Reporter Shemane Mills and New Director Michael Leland pose with awards from the WBA and Milwaukee Press Club |
This month, Wisconsin Public Radio reporters and producers were honored with awards from the Wisconsin Broadcaster's Association, the Milwaukee Press Club and the Catholic Academy for Communication Arts Professionals and more. These awards, from our peers and colleagues in the media, are a chance to take stock of our work and be assured that we are meeting and exceeding the highest standards in broadcasting.
We are especially proud of the honor - Radio Station of the Year - from the Milwaukee Press Club. WPR received awards for writing, local, statewide and investigative reporting among others. Our music, talk and regional programs were also recognized, as was the work of our students and interns. And our collaborative website, wisconsinvote.org, was honored as well.
The awards are a chance to celebrate, but not to rest on our laurels. As a listener, you experience the incredible dedication of our music, news and talk departments every day. We're committed to delivering the best news, talk, music and entertainment in Wisconsin. Thanks for your support, thanks for listening.
You can listen to all of the award-winning programs and see a complete list of honors on our website by clicking here.
(BTW, our colleagues at Wisconsin Public Television, and friends at the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, WUWM, WMVS and WYMS also received numerous honors. It was a great month for public media!)
Here on Earth Receives National Gabriel Award
 | | Here on Earth host Jean Feraca (right) poses with Reem Hilal, Inside Islam Blogger and Series Producer Saideh Jamshidi, Assistant Producer for Inside Islam and Here on Earth. |
We are also proud to announce that WPR's Here on Earth with Jean Feraca has won a prestigious 2010 Gabriel Award for "Muslims, Mosques, and American Identity," an episode of its ongoing series, Inside Islam: Dialogues and Debates. Issued by the Catholic Academy for Communication Arts Professionals, the Gabriel Award honors programming with a value-centered view of society and humanity that raises consciousness. The single most important criterion of a Gabriel program is its ability to uplift and nourish the human spirit. This is the second Gabriel Award for Here on Earth. Now in its third year, Inside Islam: Dialogues and Debates is a new-media initiative produced in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Global Studies Center with support from the Social Science Research Council that creates a public forum for positive and constructive sharing of knowledge about Islam. In 2009, the Inside Islam blog was also honored with a Brass Crescent Award. You can listen to the series, including the award-winning episode online. For more information about the series, visit www.insideislam.wisc.edu. |
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All Things Considered Turns 40 - The Wisconsin Connection
 This month, NPR's All Things Considered celebrated its 40th anniversary. For many listeners, the show and its hosts are a companion while they commute home, take their kids to soccer practice or prepare an evening meal. And, while a lot about the program has changed over the years, one thing that has remained consistent is the iconic theme song. But the song, which was composed by long-time Wisconsin Public Radio music director Don Voegeli, has some history.
Jack Mitchell, former director of Wisconsin Public Radio, was one of the first employees of NPR and the first producer of All Things Considered. According to Mitchell, the early show was rather rough around the edges. "[In 1971] the programming department was run as something of a commune, with no one in charge and everyone doing pretty much whatever interested them," he said. "I tried to give the program some structure and the staff specific assignments. I decided we needed co-hosts and installed Susan Stamberg and ultimately Bob Edwards in those roles," Mitchell added.
And what about that theme song? Tom Voegeli, Don Voegeli's son, recently recalled growing up in Madison and his father's work at Wisconsin Public Radio. "[Dad] was Music Director for many years, which had him, in addition to programming music, playing music for Wisconsin School of the Air productions, and live 'fill' music on piano and on the studio pipe organ at old Radio Hall," he said.
Mitchell continues the story, "WPR was the largest and most professional public radio organization in the country before NPR. [CPB] provided grant money for a National Center for Audio Experimentation, the salary for Don Voegeli and a synthesizer and multitrack recorder housed in what is now the director of radio's office in the sparkling new Vilas Hall. Don was to compose original music that public radio stations [around the country] could use without worrying about rights and royalties. On his own initiative, Don composed a theme and variations for All Things Considered, with little idea of what the program would be - which was not surprising since those of us in Washington had little idea of what it would be either." he said.
The iconic melody that we recognize today was initially used as the closing theme for the program. As the show began to find its legs, the closing theme became the main theme and has stayed there ever since. Not long after the fifth anniversary of the show, Mitchell moved to Madison and became WPR's director of radio. "For the fifth anniversary, the promotion department put on a nice little reception," he recalled. "At the end, the Voegeli closing theme played full up in the reception room and I and my wife teared up. It all seemed worth the struggle. I still feel that way when I hear it today," he concluded.
Tom Voegeli writes and produces for the public broadcasting series From the Top in Boston. And, he noted, his father wrote more than jingles. "He was an outstanding jazz pianist and wrote some wonderful jazz ballads. He wrote some wonderful serious music, too, but little of it remains. I have a copy of an amazing setting he did of the Prayer of St. Francis," he concluded.
You can hear historic variations on the the All Things Considered theme by visiting WFMU's (New Jersey) blog here.
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A New Ashland Station is in the Works
 | | The new station's signal will be 100 times stronger than the current station and reach communities around Chequamegon Bay. |
Wisconsin Public Radio's Ideas Network reaches throughout the state and connects individuals and families in a daily conversation about Wisconsin and the world. Every day, thousands of listeners ask questions and share their ideas about current events and community concerns.
Unfortunately, due to signal interference, not everyone in the Chequamegon Bay region has been part of the conversation. Fortunately, the Federal Communications Commission recently granted Wisconsin Public Radio permission to construct a new, full-powered, FM radio station in Ashland.
The new signal will extend broadcast coverage of the Ideas Network to the entire Chequamegon Bay area. Last year, a federal matching grant was secured for $255,000 - 75% of the cost of the project. It requires a local match of $85,000 which must be secured by the end of 2011.
Construction of WUWS 90.9 FM in Ashland will ensure a strong signal for the Ideas Network with its special mix of cultural enrichment, conversation, news, and information.
If you have questions about the project, please contact Ginger Alden, Director of Major Giving, at ginger.alden@wpr.org.
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Sneak Peaks at Upcoming Shows . . .
 Ideas Network
Talk About Issues That Matter to You
Monday May 23 at 3pm: Here on Earth: Inside Islam - Muslims, Mosques and American Identity. Hear a special rebroadcast of the Gabriel Award-winning episode Here on Earth's Inside Islam series.
Tuesday May 24 at 10am: Kathleen Dunn Show: Are We Alone in the Universe? According to Kathleen's guest, Marc Kaufman, science reporter for The Washington Post, we are not alone. Tune in to listen and ask questions of Kaufman, author of First Contact: Scientific Breakthroughs in the Hunt for Life Beyond Earth.
 News & Classical MusicUpcoming Live Broadcasts Saturday May 21 and 28 at 12:00pm: Madison Opera 2011 Season - Enjoy selected live recordings of the Madison Opera's 50th season. Full performances of the Marriage of Figaro on May 21 and La Traviata on May 28, with cast interviews and commentary. Sunday May 22 at 12:30pm: 2011 Neale Silva Winners' Recital - If you missed the concert in April, tune in for this live broadcast recording from the Memorial Union Theater in Madison. Hear stunning performances by some of Wisconsin's top young classical music artists. Thursday June 2 and Friday June 10 at 12:00pm: Final Forte Winners on Midday - Midday host Norman Gilliland welcomes winners of Madison Symphony Orchestra's Bolz Young Artist Competition and the Final Forte for conversation and live performances from WPR's Buck Studio in Madison. First place winner, pianist Ariela Bohrod will appear on June 2 and second place winner, violinist Leah Latorraca, will appear on June 10. |
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WPR Events Around Wisconsin
Meet Wisconsin Public Radio program hosts, producers and staff in and around Wisconsin at these upcoming events. For more updates on local events, performances and activities in your area, follow our regional links.
Eau Claire Area
Open Air Festival for the Arts, June 11 and 12 Join the Chippewa Valley's creative community as WPR sponsors two days of artist displays, live musical performances, and fresh food at the Fifth Annual Open Air Festival for the Arts June 11 and 12 at beautiful Phoenix Park in downtown Eau Claire. Guests can shop for great gifts and original art for home, garden or body on Saturday June 11 from 9 am - 5 pm and Sunday June 12 from 10 am - 3 pm. Information is available at ecoafa.org.
Find information about Eau Claire area events and more at: www.wpr.org/EauClaire.
La Crosse Area
Find information about La Crosse area events and more at: www.wpr.org/LaCrosse.
Madison Area
Henry Vilas Zoo 100th Anniversary Birthday Party, May 28 The Henry Vilas Zoo is turning one hundred and Wisconsin Public Radio is joining the party. Celebrate with us on Saturday May 28 from 10am to 3pm with an instrument petting zoo, educational animal talks, live music and more. Meet Leo Pold, the zoo's new African Lion cub at this fun, free community event. Thanks to the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra for their collaboration. The Madison Area Music Awards, June 4 Wisconsin Public Radio is proud to sponsor the MAMA's, the Madison Area Music Awards, Saturday June 4th at Overture Center's Capitol Theater. From country to classical, from hip hop to jazz, you'll find the region's newest and most beloved musicians on stage and in the audience. WPR Director Mike Crane is a presenter and you'll find WPR hosts and staff cheering in the crowds. East Side Summer Festivals Wisconsin Public Radio is sponsoring Madison's east side summer festivals, including Marquette Waterfront Festival (June 11-12), the Fete de Marquette (July 7-10), Orton Park Festival (August 25-28) and the Willy Street Fair (September 17-18). Look for WPR staff, the Simply Folk/RP's Pasta Dance tent as you celebrate the season with live music, local food and more.
Find more information about these and other Madison area events at: www.wpr.org/Madison.
Green Bay Area
Find information about Green Bay area events at: www.wpr.org/GreenBay.
Milwaukee Area
Find information about these and other Milwaukee area events at: www.wpr.org/Milwaukee.
Superior Area
Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know? Visits Bayfield's Big Top Chautauqua, July 8 Whad'Ya Know? WPR's popular comedy quiz show will be broadcast live from Big Top Chautauqua near Bayfield on Saturday, July 8th. This will be Michael Feldman's second trip to the Big Top Tent, but the first in this millennium. Ticket information for this show is available at www.bigtop.org or at 888-BIG-TENT.
Find information about Superior area events at: www.wpr.org/Superior.
Wausau Area
The Midwest Renewable Energy Association presents its 22nd Annual Energy Fair, June 17 - 19th in Custer, WI
WPR is again a proud sponsor of this clean energy and sustainable living fair at the Renew the Earth Institute, 7558 Deer Road in Custer. With over 275 exhibitors, 200 workshops, a clean energy car show, demonstrations and best of all, the Wisconsin Public Radio booth! The Energy Fair is the nation's longest running energy education event of its kind.
Find information about this and other Wausau area events at: www.wpr.org/central.
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Register Now for WPR's 'Big Top' Trip August 11 - 12
Wisconsin Public Radio will be hosting our annual trip to Big Top Chautauqua on August 11 and 12, 2011. Buses will depart from La Crosse and Green Bay and make stops in Eau Claire and Wausau, respectively. Entertainment for the trip includes a new original Big Top production entitled "Ladies of the Canyon." Lodging will be at the Ashland Lake Superior Lodge.
For more information, visit
www.wpr.org/eauclaire
or call 1-800-228-5615
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Simply Folk is now offering archived programs on WPR.org!
Simply Folk archives are available for two weeks following each show, with individual song data displayed during playback.
Visit http://wpr.org/simplyfolk/ to listen online.
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WPR's "World Perspectives" Captures International Voices in La Crosse
WPR's "World Perspectives" online collaboration with UW-La Crosse this month expanded its collection of international student audio essays with several new commentaries on home, culture and world issues.
Now in its third year, the initiative is part of WPR's commitment to assist UWL international students in their understanding of U.S. media, community issues, and the English language, and in turn share their perspectives on living abroad.
Learn more and listen to the student's essays online here. |
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