1980-81--INTERIM
My files contained a letter
from Victor Ledin, KQED with a contribution to MUSIC NOTES--hurrah!. And
dated February l8, l982: "Articles of Incorporation for the ASSOCIATION
OF MUSIC PERSONNEL IN PUBLIC RADIO--AMPPR!! The files also contained a
letter from Caitriana Bolster who moved to Australia, and Katie Sloan who
moved to Petersburg, Alaska.
Josh was not able to continue
his post as Chairman and on July 23, 1981, a letter on new MPC letterhead
arrived from Mary Edwards, KWMU, St. Louis to announce the next conference.
1981--ST. LOUIS
The conference was held at the
Radisson Hotel. Registration was $80 and rooms were $34. Mary Edwards and
manager Rainer Steinhoff welcomed all of us at the opening dinner made
possible by Nonesuch.
Abram Chasins, a pioneer
in classical radio music, author, pianist, composer and teacher, spoke
on "Obstacles and Opportunities" facing us. We made a trip to the Powell
Symphony Hall for a concert by the St. Louis Symphony, with Leonard Slatkin,
conductor and Shlomo Mintz, soloist in Lalo--Symphonie espagnole (along
with the Pathetique).
Mike Morgan, KUMR, moderated
the Syndicator Panel comprised of Rhoda Marx, MPR; Elizabeth MacKay, National
Radio Theater of Chicago; John Stephenson, Parkway; Nancy Raine, Public
Radio Cooperative; Dennis Miller, Seaway; John Emery, WCRB and Jess Brodnax,
WFMT and Marty Schneider, WHIL, moderated the Record Panel, members being
Grace Patti, DG; David Town, London; Jill Kaufman, Nonesuch; Peter Clancy,
Philips; and Peter Elliott, RCA.
We spent two sessions with
David Giovannoni on "Audience Research" and two on "Producing a Concert
Broadcast" with Andy Berger, WNYC; Gail Eichenthal, KUSC; Don Glass, WFIU;
Barry Hufker, KWMU; Rhoda Marx, MPR and Michael Yaffe, National Association
of Schools of Music.
We discovered the wit of
Leonard Slatkin as he told stories like "God's First Symphony" (which we
all requested on tape). Because of pending incorporation as ASSOCIATION
OF MUSIC PERSONNEL IN PUBLIC RADIO, two business meetings were held, and
Ernie Sanchez was invited to help us through the maze of legal jargon.
The Mississippi River and
the Arch beckoned the tourists among us, and we visited many St. Louis
restaurants
Mordecai Lipschutz of WXXI,
Rochester was elected President for l982.
1982--ST. PAUL
Both the PRC and MPC found themselves
in the Twin Cities in l982. Our coordinator for the conference was Rhoda
Marx of MPR.
George Jellinek, WQXR and
host of The Vocal Scene, addressed the guests at the opening dinner. Following
was a BBC Forum to introduce the BBC Music Index--Leo Black, Christine
Hardwick and Guy Protheroe. And after that, a CBS Jazz Forum was presented
with Dr. George Butler, John Hunt, WBFO, and a new, young trumpeter named
Wynton Marsalis!
On the next day, three simultaneous
panels were Cary Smith, WUHY, on "The Effect of Budget Cuts on Music Programming;"
Mary Edwards, KWMU on "The Help and Hazards Presented by Satellite," and
Bob Goldfarb, EPRN/PRC on "Localism and Automation."
"Live from Landmark" offered
a noon hour broadcast with Neville Marriner and Pinchas Zukerman, live
on KSJN-FM. Andy Berger and Teresa Sterne, both of WNYC, led a forum on
20th-century music. John Hunt led the discussion on "What is a Good Jazz
Program?"
After dinner remarks were
made by Dr. Samuel Adler, Eastman School of Music, followed by a performance
by Ben Sidran, host of NPR's "Jazz Alive" with his trio. The following
day's after-luncheon remarks were by Dr. George Butler. That night we took
in a concert by Neville Marriner and the Minnesota Orchestra at Orchestra
Hall.
New jazz record representatives
were Debbie Dumas, Contemporary Records, L.A. and Ricky Schultz, Chick
Corea Productions, L.A.
It was a very busy conference
with more panels than ever before, especially more emphasis on jazz. But
no trip to St. Paul is complete without a visit to the World Theatre and
"A Prairie Home Companion," which we followed with a performance by Zuckerman
and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra in a Baroque Concert which featured
soprano, Ellie Ameling singing Gluck, Vivaldi and Handel.
Awards were given at this
MPC to Robert Conrad, WCLV, a commercial syndicator who never missed an
MPC, for "his continued years of friendship and support of the Music Personnel
Conference", and the first Distinguished Service Award went to Linda Clauder,
WHA.
AMPPR incorporation continued
to move at a "snail's pace". Mordecai continued as Chairman, Victor Ledin
was appointed MUSIC NOTES Editor and Board members included Peter Goldsmith,
WNED, treasurer; David Paisley, KSOZ; Lowell Dorman, WVIK; John Montanari,
WFCR; John Hunt, WBFO; Al Pryor, WBGO; and Mary Edwards, KWMU.
David and Lowell were appointed
to conduct a survey to help plan the l983 conference.
1983--CHICAGO
The conference (Oct. 26-30)
was co-sponsored by WBEZ, Carole Nolan, Manager and WFMT, Ray Nordstrand,
Manager, with emphasis on jazz. Coordination was provided by David Paiskey,
KSOZ; and Lowell Dorman, WVIK. We stayed at the Executive Houser where
rooms were $78 and registration $l25.
Prior to registration, we
had a chance to attend the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert at the Chicago
Public Library for a concert by Kees Kooper, vln, and Mary Louise Boehm,
pf. The opening reception at the Chicago Arts Club featured a harpsichord
recital by David Schrader. We had many options in Chicago including "La
Cenerentola" at the Lyric Opera, Itzhak Perlman and Samuel Sanders on the
same night, or the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
From the jazz world we welcomed
Lee Bash; Warrick Carter and Herb Wong from NAJE; Art Lange, John McDonough
and Chuck Suber, former editor of down beat and Bob Cohen, Dr. Jazz Productions.
WFMT's Norman Pellegrini, NPR's Fred Calland and Mitch Miller, joined the
"aesthetics" panel. WFMT's Jim Unrath and staff led a panel on "Remotes"
and another on "New Technology." There were over l4 panels--some kind of
record!
Ray Nordstrand offered his
personal guide to Chicago restaurants and several of us took him up on
his offer for Szechuan on Michigan Avenue. Chicago was fun, but expensive
the hotel was convenient, but the meeting rooms were crowded and smokey...the
Windy City lived up to its reputation.
Other outsiders attending
were Peter Clancy, Polygram; Claudia Dumitrescu, Moss Music; Rene Goiffon
and Robina Young, Harmonia Mundi; Susan Hicks, Canadian Music Center; Jill
Kaufman, Nonesuch; Karen Kieser, CBC; Susan Koscis, CBS; Bill Munger, Bag
Productions; Bill Parker, Intersound Records; Vincent Skrowronski, Eb-Sko
Productions and Gunnar Johansen, Artist Direct.
The new slate for 1983 was
David Paisley, KSOZ, President; Lowell Dorman, WVIK, Vice-President; Mary
Hoffman, WOSU, Secretary; Peter Goldsmith, WNED, Treasurer; Fritzie Silverman,
WQED; Katie Sloan, KFSK; John Hunt, WBFO; Victor Ledin, KQED and Joe Lowery,
WHRO. Mary Hoffman and John McGrody, WOSU were apponted Editors of MUSIC
NOTES and several issues did appear.
1984--ROCHESTER
The conference was held at the
Rochester Plaza Hotel, October 17-2l, and was coordinated by Marianne Carberry,
WXXI. Fancy brochures, including photos, invited us to this one! The opening
reception was at the International Museum of Photography at the George
Eastman House, with a recital by the New Arts Trio. Following the reception,
guests adjourned to "restaurant row" for dinner on their own. WFMT sponsored
the reception, but the next day we learned that Jess Broadnax had ended
his association with them and would not continue with us at the conference.
An "Early Bird" started us
off with the Victrola featuring Fred Calland, Victor Ledin and Tobias LeBoutillier
from Maine. "High Technologies", led by Nick Nash, Dean Boal and Linda
Clauder, informed the group on how changes in industry and technology would
affect them. Eastman visitors, Professors Warren Benson and Robert Morris,
and composer Barbara Kolb offered a "Composers'" forum. Joe Lowery, WHRO
and John Hunt, WBFO held forth on jazz. An "Early Music" panel featured
Michael Barone, MPR; Lonn Taylor, Smithsonian; Steve Ovitsky, Grant Park
Festival; Peter Storkersen, WBUR; Robina Young, Harmonia Mundi and Doug
Valleau, Continuum Magazine.
Touring the Eastman School
of Music was a "must" for folks like us. We heard the Rochester Philharmonic,
David Zinman, conducting and Itzhak Perlman in an all Russian program on
one night, and the Eastman-Rochester Wind Ensemble, Donald Hunsberger conducting
on another. They offered us a reception and also gave us a tour.
At another "Early Bird",
Tom Voegeli, MPR, introduced his new series "High Performance". Roland
Nadeau, host of "A Note to You" joined a panel on "Musicians or Broadcasters:
What are We?" And on aesthetics again were Madge Bruner, WJCT; Neil Currie,
Parkway; Tom Mowery, CBS; Tom Voegeli and Virginia Eskin, pianist. For
microphone techniques, we visited the Hochstein Music School. Due to the
loss of NPR PLUS, Jeff Feldmesser, NPR, Ellen Kraft, WGBH, Rhoda Marx,
APR, and Neil Currie discussed overnight services.
The conference was well organized,
thanks to Marianne and the WXXI staff...the countryside was beautiful and
the weather mild.
And, at this point, this
reporter left the MPC of AMPPR, and hopes that another currier will take
up the pen, (and that it's attached to a word processor!)
CODA
This seems like a good place
for me to end my reporting of 23 years of MPC history, l4 of which I have
personnally experienced. The most amazing fact is that it has managed to
survive--and actually seems to be flourishing today. The new directions,
e.g., incorporation, better organization and planning, and dealing with
new technologies should only improve the organization. Should it be so
organized? Some of us, like Myron Bennett and I, can find reasons for keeping
the old "floating crap game" floating. Can you really accomplish any more
with such a group? It's up to the new blood to find out.
Is it worth it for us "oldtimers"
to keep showing up, when many of the same problems we fought over are still
around? Yes, for me at least, it's important to go back to the well, and
this is the only well we have. This year, while I listened to yet another
argument I had heard many times before, an idea popped into my head for
something new I can do here at home. Would I have thought of it anyway?...perhaps.
But what a wonderful time and place to make that discovery.
I probably won't be attending
many more MPCs; others from our staff should now take my place. It's been
a great experience getting to know my colleagues--sharing and groaning
over mutual problems and getting around to parts of the country I would
never otherwise see, hearing orchestras and artists I would never have
heard "live", and having my theories and ideas challenged by my peers.
To me it's more like a class reunion, or a family reunion, than just a
meeting.
I dedicate this flawed effort
in MPC history to my former colleague and friend, Cliff Roberts, who was
WHA's Music Director for many years and one of the founders of the MPC.
Cliff taught me everything that one ought to learn about programming and
announcing. He had a beautiful baritone voice and used it impeccably. He
had a love and talent for both language and music which set a standard
for all of us here to strive to attain. Cliff died in July of l982, one
day before his 65th birthday. He had just finished his morning music announcer
shift and was in the record library when he collapsed. He went with his
boots on, as they say.
Since we don't have a "class
song" or a "motto", I'd like to share the following with you. Cliff was
also a perfectionist and didn't mind letting you know when you really blew
it. One phrase he used on me a lot (and after reading the above you will
probably understand why) was "Look it up, don't guess...and don't tell
me more than I want to know!"
Linda L. Clauder
November 1, 1984
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