Probably best known as the Detroit area's beloved classical music connoisseur, Dr. David Wagner has earned an international reputation as musician, teacher, expert and author. Wagner, whose vast music knowledge and wry sense of humor are familiar to classical music fans from his 17 years at WQRS-FM in Detroit, is now program director and music host for 90.9 FM.

Upon reflection of his most recent career move, Dr. Wagner said 'I have been involved in many endeavors over the years. WRCJ is, by far, the most exciting. I am a product of Detroit Public Schools myself, and to be given the opportunity to work with the schools in such a profound way is thrilling. We're going to do great things for the community and for Detroit Public Schools.' Dave's blog on all things relating to the Pipe Organ (Diapason Dave) can be found HERE.

And now...5 questions we posed to Dr. Dave!

How did you first become interested in classical music?

You won't believe this, but I started listening to classical music on the radio.  I got my first "fm only radio", a Motorola table radio in 1962.  It became my constant companion and there were a lot of stations at that time playing classical music and jazz.  It was quite an education, and as the commercial says "all you have to do is listen.........."

You're on-air at 6AM. Have you always been a morning person?

When the alarm goes off at 4am each morning I'm NEVER a morning person, but I am totally awake in about five minutes.  Yes, I've always liked being up in the morning, but I must admit that waking up when birds are still asleep is pushing it a little. However, I do get to be on the radio, so getting up early goes with the territory.  Plus, I start with one of my world famous "nucleur" cups of coffee, which is the stuff of legend here at the radio station and the blend of which is a closely guarded government secret due to National Security concerns.

Any favorite memories of people you've met or experiences you've had related to classical music?

Well, there are many, but I think one of my favorites was having a hamburger with Aaron Copland at the cafeteria at the State of Michigan building when he was in Detroit to record an interview at the old WQRS.  After the interview he wanted to get something to eat and we went to the cafeteria in the basement of the building.  I just kept thinking  "I’m eating a hamburger with AARON COPLAND............................."

It has been a privilege to meet so many great artists and musicians in the course of my work, both in and out of the arts.  Broadcasting allows you entrée into a world of some very interesting and talented people.

What is your favorite style of music?

Being an organist, I have a special interest in Baroque music and in the music of Bach.  I also have a great interest in medieval music and in 21st century music, both tonal and non-tonal.  Plus, I love jazz.  One can never have enough music of any kind.  Again, ".............all you have to do is listen.........."

Tell us one thing that listeners might not expect to learn about you.

I've been told that I have the perfect face for radio...........
The morning show is great fun to do except for all of those wardrobe changes that I have to do.................
We always use a side entrance at the radio station to avoid the paparazzi............
My other career has been unemployment.............
 

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

As the long-running host of The Listening Room® on public radio, Chris Felcyn engaged listeners with his eclectic choice of music and his casual, but always informative, comments on the music. While always on the lookout for the unusual (such as Rufus Harley, jazz bagpipist) Felcyn is a serious music lover who believes that music is best presented on the radio accompanied by insight and context, often allowing listeners to hear even familiar works in a new light.

For a tasty treat, listen for the 'Midday Entreé' where Chris serves up a musical selection accompanied by a special recipe. Chris' blog on the Well-Tempered Wireless can be found HERE.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For nine years, Jack Goggin hosted the overnight show and the popular 'Film Classics' weekly program on Detroit's WQRS-FM, enlightening his audiences with his almost encyclopedia knowledge of film scores and classical music.

Jack has also served as a host or lecturer for many organizations, including Royal Oak School District, Michigan Opera Theater, Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Birmingham Concert Band. Mr. Goggin holds a Bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Missouri, where he was a National Merit Scholar. Listen to Jack's show 'Film Classics' every Sunday at 6 p.m.

And now...5 questions and answers about Jack!

1) How did you first become interested in classical music?

Back in the 60's Quaker had a promotion for their Puffed Rice cereal using Tchaikovsky's "1812" Overture as the musical background and touting the slogan that it was "the cereal that's shot from guns."  For four boxtops and 39 cents to cover postage and handling, they'd send you a recording of the "1812" Overture, and that's what I did, even though I didn't particularly like the cereal and it took me a while to eat that much.  Several weeks later I got my package. It was a small record, about the size of a 45, but actually played at 331/3--so you had to turn it over to hear the whole Overture.  I really enjoyed it--and I've been listening to classical music (and buying recordings) ever since.

2)My favorite movie and why?

A hard question to answer, but if I had to limit it to just one, I think I'd say "The Sea Hawk," with Errol Flynn.  Since I was very small, I've always been a fan of swashbucklers and period films--and this one is close to perfect in almost all respects:  direction, script, design, acting and editing.  I would imagine that Erich Wolfgang Korngold's magnificent musical score also had a powerful subconscious effect on me the first time I saw it, even though I doubt I knew who he was until I was in college. Not too many films that I loved 45 years ago still seem as good to me now as they did then, but this one does.

3)Favorite memories relating to classical music in Detroit?

There are quite a few--but when you boil them all down to a common denominator, it's the times I've been able to spend with the many wonderful people of this area who share a common interest in classical music--on the air at the old WQRS--then helping folks find recordings at Harmony House Classical--and most recently, experiences working here at WRCJ, being present at the creation of a new radio home for the music we love, a happy opportunity truly appreciated because while it was a long time in coming, we never gave up hope.

4)Favorite style of music?

Late romantic and early 20th century orchestral. (Which perhaps explains why I like movie scores so much!)

5) One thing that listeners may not expect to learn about me?

My favorite television program of all time is "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."  No kidding.
 

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bill McGlaughlin has been everything in music, from educator, performer, conductor, and music director, to broadcast host and his most challenging career of all, that of composer. Bill McGlaughlin, broadcaster, conductor, composer, and host of PRI's St. Paul Sunday for the past 22 years.

Valerie Kahler came to the Classical 24 team after more than a decade as a classical host and music director at KNAU in Flagstaff, Ariz. She holds a degree in cello performance and plays piano in self-defense, but feels most at home in front of a microphone—as your companion for an evening of classical music, or singing classic tunes in a club.

John Zech got started in broadcasting as a news anchor at his high school’s closed-circuit television station (KRUD). While in school at St. Olaf College, his love of classical music earned him his first “real” radio experience at WCAL-FM. After a dozen years doing virtually everything there was to do at a small public radio station, John crossed over into the private sector, producing and voicing an audio reading program for a major educational publisher, managing multilingual translation projects for an international communications firm, and generally learning what it’s like to work for a living. Having seen the light, John returned to radio in 1992. He spends much of his time working to improve his tennis ranking in the USTA Northern Section, composing limericks and trying to give himself an ironclad leave from a three-rail billiard shot.

Mindy Ratner began her career in public broadcasting following her graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, working first for the local public television station and then for Wisconsin Public Radio. She moved on to stations in Cincinnati and Philadelphia before joining Minnesota Public Radio in 1983. In 1998 and '99, Ratner took a leave of absence to work as a music host and producer for China Radio International in Beijing. Her spare time is devoted to international travel; folk, ballroom and contradancing; singing in the Minnesota Chorale; her two cats, and trying to stay ahead of the weeds in her garden.

A founding voice of Classical 24, Bob Christiansen has managed to combine his knowledge of classical music and history with a sharp wit and a talent for foreign languages into a 38-year radio career. While studying the ramifications of the “Time of Troubles” on the Grand Duchy of Moscow, he led a secret life as the evening man on the Northern Illinois University radio station. He teamed with Bill Morelock in 1987 to create the nationally syndicated Bob and Bill.