Thanks to a new partnership between radio stations WKAR in East Lansing and WRCJ in Detroit, classical music lovers in the capital region will have the opportunity to hear Detroit Symphony Orchestra concerts live, and listeners in Detroit can tune into concert performances from MSU’s College of Music.
“WKAR is thrilled about this new partnership between Michigan State University and WRCJ,” said Peter Whorf, WKAR radio station manager. “MSU College of Music performances represent some of the finest music making by renowned faculty and gifted student artists. And of course, having live broadcasts of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra will now bring world-class performances to thousands in the capital region.”
Detroit Symphony Orchestra Live will debut at 10:45 a.m. April 21 on 90.5 FM WKAR. The new monthly broadcast presents concert performances of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra live from Orchestra Hall. The debut concert will feature orchestral transcriptions by J.S. Bach, followed by two jazz inspired DSO firsts. Broadcasts go on hiatus after June 2 and return in the fall for a new season.
“We love to connect Michigan’s classical and jazz performers with wider audiences,” said Dave Devereaux, WRCJ station manager. “This collaboration is in tune with that mission and brings new musical experiences to our listeners.”
WRCJ and WKAR listeners will also have access to MSU in Concert, a new weekly hour of recorded concert performances featuring faculty artists, student ensembles and guests from around the world, captured in performance at Cook Recital Hall, Fairchild Theatre and Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall.
MSU in Concert will air at 3 p.m. Fridays and Sundays on 90.5 WKAR East Lansing beginning April 7 and at 9 a.m. Saturdays on 90.9 FM WRCJ Detroit beginning April 15.
“With our internationally acclaimed artist faculty and more than 500 talented and diverse students – 50 percent of whom come from Michigan, 30 percent from 36 states and 20 percent from 24 nations – we are delighted to share the power of music with a wider audience,” said James Forger, dean of the MSU College of Music.
The WKAR original, What’s New in Classical, will also feature new classical releases for listeners. Hosted weekly by Peter Whorf, the program will air at 9 a.m. Sundays on WRCJ Detroit beginning April 16.
Detroit Symphony Orchestra Live, MSU in Concert and What’s New in Classical will be available at wkar.org and wrcjfm.org during the scheduled times via each station’s live audio stream.