December 2009

Dear Friend,

A listener in Tomahawk — a science teacher and amateur astronomer — took his radio outside for company, as he settled into a lawn chair at 4 AM to watch the recent meteor showers. He was listening to the Ideas Network, which airs the BBC during the overnight hours. He got absorbed in a story about American soldiers doing border control in Iraq. And then he heard his son, a soldier doing border control in Iraq, on the radio. When he told his wife, she said that he'd probably drifted off to sleep and dreamt about their son. When the day dawned, the listener called his regional WPR office. They did some investigating for him and were able to find the story. Sure enough their son had been interviewed by the BBC. I love these stories; they show how Wisconsin Public Radio keeps us connected, literally around the world, on a very personal level.

As befitting the holiday season and year's end, we have a big issue of RadioWaves this month. Find out about a new Ideas Network station for central Wisconsin, Carmen Jackson's retirement, shopping at NPR, lots of holiday music, book and CD recommendations from your favorite hosts and producers, the start of the Metropolitan Opera season, and events in your region.

Best wishes for a December full of family and cheer, and I'll see you in 2010,

Susannah Michaels
RadioWaves Editor

WPR Photo-of-the-Month

Jim Fleming, foreground, enjoys his last hour as Morning Classics host today,
December 3. His colleague and friend, Norman Gilliland, backs him up.
[Photo by Cynthia Schuster]

In this issue:

Staff interview – Carmen Jackson, producer
You can find it on the NPR website ... shopping
New station for central Wisconsin
Ideas Network notes
Music notes
Book and CD picks from WPR hosts and producers
Wisconsin Public Radio Association Board elections
Regional events and news
          Eau Claire area
          Green Bay area
          La Crosse area
          Madison area
          Milwaukee area
          Wausau area
Helpful links

Staff interview – Carmen Jackson, producer

When I first began listening to the Ideas Network, I remember hearing, "Thanks to Carmen Jackson for production" at the end of each hour. Who was this Carmen Jackson? I wondered. She seemed to do so much that she loomed large in my mind. I think I expected her to be an Amazon — larger than life. And while Carmen hails from the Amazon River basin (Peru), when I met her, I found that she is actually a petite person. Carmen retires at the end of December. I can hear your communal gasp. How is such a thing possible? Well, as sad as we are, we have to admit, after booking all those shows, she deserves her retirement. I couldn't let her go though without giving her one more assignment — an interview. To learn how Carmen came to the United States and how she has thought up so many talk show subjects over the years, click here.

You can find it on the NPR website ... shopping

Once again, December has rolled around, and once again, I can't help but point you to the NPR shop. There you will find calendars, radios, games, books, CDs, mugs, bags, hats ... whatever you, or the public radio fan on your gift list, could desire.

In other NPR news, Carl Kasell is retiring as a newscaster at the end of December. Thankfully, he will still be Peter Sagal's sidekick on Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me (Saturdays, 12 - 1 PM, Ideas Network stations), but he won't be waking up when most people are just getting to sleep, to do the hourly newscasts on Morning Edition. For the full story, click here.

New station for central Wisconsin

Funding for WHAA is almost finalized. Most of the funds have come from federal and foundation grants. However, we are still trying to raise $25,000 from listeners, which will be generously matched by a challenge grant from the Mead Witter Foundation of Wisconsin Rapids. For more information, including a map of the expected range of the station, or to contribute to this capital campaign and have your donation doubled, click here. We first applied for the license for WHAA in 1997, so when the station comes online in 2010, it will be the realization of a 13-year dream! Help us get the word out about this new station — tell a friend.

Ideas Network notes

It's that time of year again, time for a Capitol Steps "Politics Takes a Holiday" special. Tune in for the singing political satire of this group of ex-congressional staffers and others. Join the Capitol Steps as they ring in 2010 by roasting 2009 with their annual awards ceremony. All-new categories: “Most Delicious Animal to Cause a Flu Pandemic,” “Worst Reason to Be Invited for Beer at the White House,” “Best Award of a Nobel Peace Prize to Someone Currently Involved in Two Wars,” and “Loudest Town Hall Meeting.”

Music notes

Earlier this year at Carnegie Hall, the great American mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne celebrated her 75th birthday with a star-studded evening. The gala was co-hosted by Performance Today host Fred Child and the host of the Metropolitan Opera’s Saturday matinee broadcasts, Margaret Juntwait, and emceed on stage by Met stars Frederica von Stade and Samuel Ramey. Tune in to hear this broadcast that knits together performances and tributes by some of the world’s greatest singers.

Metropolitan Opera

A new Metropolitan Opera season begins on Saturday, December 12, and runs through early May of next year. You can hear opera on the NPR News & Classical Music Network, on the 24/7 HD Classical Music service, and either of these networks on the Internet. Upcoming operas are as follows:

December 12: Il Trittico, by Giacomo Puccini, begins at 11:30 AM
December 19: Les Contes d’Hoffmann by Jacques Offenbach, 12 PM
December 26: Elektra by Richard Strauss, 12 PM
January 2: Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck, 12 PM

Holiday music

There is a lot of holiday music scheduled for you. Here are just a few highlights, and check holiday music web page for the complete list.

Lessons and Carols
Sunday, December 13, 2 PM

Chanukah in Story and Song
Monday, December 14, 8 - 9 PM

Messiah with the Pittsburgh Symphony
Sunday, December 20, 12 - 2 PM

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Thursday, December 24, 9 - 11 AM

St. Olaf Christmas Festival
Thursday, December 24, 1 - 3 PM

A Christmas Carol with Jonathan Winters
Friday, December 25, 2 - 3 PM

New Year’s Day from Vienna
Friday, January 1, 10 AM - 12 PM 

Book and CD picks from WPR hosts and producers

Joy Cardin, host: 50 is the New Fifty: 10 Life Lessons for Women in Second Adulthood by Suzanne Braun Levine.

Cheryl Dring, music director: "Something new and exciting from a familiar name (she made her first recording when she was just 10!) — Sarah Chang played the Bruch Violin Concerto for her audition at Juilliard when she was just 6! She’ll turn 29 this month and now has a CD out, Bruch, Brahms: Violin Concertos. And for the person who’s building a classical library, what better idea than a complete set of all the Beethoven Symphonies, now available as a box set."

Jean Feraca, host of Here on Earth: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer.

Rob Ferrett, producer for the Joy Cardin show: Crow Planet: The Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness by Lyanda Lynn Haupt; But Wait...There's More! by Remy Stern; and The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement by W. Keith Campbell.

Jim Fleming, host: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford, a novel he read for Chapter a Day. And The Good Soldiers by David Finkel.

Norman Gilliland, host: Tar Sands: Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent by Andrew Nikiforuk. Norman says, "With a forceful conversational style backed by meticulous research, Nikiforuk reveals that much of the Midwest is now running on dirty oil from Alberta tar sands derived from the world’s largest energy project, which is having dire ecological consequences on the world’s third largest watershed."

Tom Martin-Erickson, Simply Folk host: "The Older I Get, the Better I Was" by Art Thieme. Says Tom, "This CD always entertains me. Art was an early inspiration and mentor for me and this CD is still fresh and significant."

Susannah Michaels, your RadioWaves editor: The Forever War by Dexter Filkins. Although this book is about a hard subject — Iraq — Filkins writes with such humanity that it is a pleasure to read. And In Defense of Food: an Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan. Pollan writes passionately and humorously about the seemingly simple idea of "eat food, not too much, mostly plants."

Jim Packard, producer for the Larry Meiller show: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski and Coop: a Year of Poultry, Pigs and Parenting by Michael Perry.

Cynthia Schuster, producer for the Joy Cardin show: The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Cynthia says, "Neil deGrasse Tyson is so enthusiastic about his work and about creating a scientifically literate culture. His enthusiasm is contagious, and I learn so much from reading his books and essays!"

Anne Strainchamps, producer and interviewer for To the Best of Our Knowledge: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, a historical novel about Thomas Cromwell. Anne says, "Gorgeous writing, great characters, and Tudor England has never seemed so real." And A Book of Silence by Sara Maitland, a memoir about Maitland's move from London to the countryside, where she explored the concept of silence, both for herself, and for others throughout history.

Wisconsin Public Radio Association Board elections

The Wisconsin Public Radio Association is now accepting applications for the WPRA Board of Directors, for the southeast, southcentral, west-central, northeast and central regions. Nominations will be accepted through December 31, 2009, and elections will be held in spring 2010. Board job descriptions and nomination instructions are available at the WPRA website.

Regional events and news

Eau Claire area

Join Wisconsin Public Radio for an overnight trip to see A Prairie Home Companion. In addition to seeing the live show, you will enjoy dinner, a visit to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, a stop at the Mall of America, and a night at the Hilton Garden Inn City Center, located in downtown St. Paul. The cost of the trip is $170 per person for a double occupancy room and $200 per person for a single occupancy room. There very few spots left, so reserve today. For more information or for reservations, call Wisconsin Public Radio in Eau Claire at 800-228-5615 or visit wpr.org/whwc.

Green Bay area

WPR is a sponsor of the The Packerland Theatre Organ Society, which presents their upcoming film "The Farmer's Wife." Packerland is a nonprofit organization that has negotiated with the Green Bay Film Society to partner and present silent films with organ and sometimes a small orchestra. More information at http://packerlandtos.tripod.com/.

"Mongol" at NEW World Cinema
Sunday and Monday, December 20 and 21, 7 PM, Fox Cinema Cafe, 400 3rd St., Menasha

WPR is a sponsor of the NEW World Cinema, which brings films from all over the world to northeast Wisconsin. On December 20 or 21, see "Mongol," a film from Kazakhstan, about the story of Genghis Khan and how events in his early life led him to become a legendary conqueror. The cost is $6, and the film has English subtitles. More information at http://www.foxcitiesmulticultural.org/.

Paula Poundstone
Saturday, January 16, 7:30 PM, Capitol Civic Center, 913 S. 8th St., Manitowoc

Paula Poundstone, frequent guest on Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me (Ideas Network, Saturdays, 12 PM), will be presenting her standup comedy routine at the Capitol Civic Center. Tickets are on sale now at the Civic Center box office at 920-683-2184, stop by the Civic Center, or buy them online.

La Crosse area

The La Crosse Symphony Orchestra is in the process of auditioning six finalists for the position of conductor and music director. Each of the six is guest-conducting one series of concerts during the 2009-2010 performance season. As part of its partnership with the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, Wisconsin Public Radio is hosting a series of conversations with each of the finalists. These interviews, in their entirety, are available online at http://wpr.org/regions/lax/; excerpts can be heard during 88.9 WLSU’s Arts & Entertainment Weekly (Friday, 8:30 AM) during the weeks prior to each concert performance.

Pump House concert series

WPR is co-sponsoring this season’s Pump House concert series. Please join us for these upcoming performances:

December 16 and 17 – String Ties Holiday Concert; local bluegrass with a holiday twist.
January 15 and 16 – Johnsmith; the Trempealeau-area folksinger/songwriter and recording artist returns for his annual winter concert.
Details on the La Crosse regional website: http://wpr.org/regions/lax/.

Madison area

Michael Feldman’s Whad’Ya Know? annual Office Holiday Party show!
Saturday, December 19, 9:30 AM - 12 PM, Mitchell Theatre in Vilas Hall on the UW-Madison campus

What better way to celebrate the season than with an office-party-potluck radio show? Join in the laughter of Whad’Ya Know? plus the fun of an eggnog-fueled holiday party. Tickets are on sale at 608-262-2201 or will be available day-of-show at Mitchell Theatre; $10 adults, $5 students and seniors.

"The Santaland Diaries" ticket giveaway

"The Santaland Diaries" is David Sedaris story about working as a Christmas elf at Macy's Department Store in New York City. To enter for your chance to win a pair of tickets to "The Santaland Diaries," produced by The Laboratory Theatre at Bartell Theatre (113 E. Mifflin St., Madison), send an email to madison_outreach@wpr.org with "Santaland Diaries" in the subject line. Drawings will be held on December 4 and 11, for performances through December 19. Limited to one entry per person.

Milwaukee area

Norman Gilliland will emcee the Racine Symphony Orchestra’s seasonal favorite "Home for the Holiday" pops concert, conducted by Andrew Massey. The Horlick Madrigal Singers begin the evening's pre-concert with a rousing welcome to the season. One hundred local high school voices from Lutheran, Park and Prairie choirs join the orchestra in continuing the annual holiday tradition. Everyone is invited to enjoy classic holiday music and to sing along with your favorite Christmas carols. Information and ticket sales are now online at racinesymphony.org and at 262.636.9285. In the spirit of holiday giving, please bring an item to donate to the Racine County Food Bank. They can especially use canned fruit, peanut butter, tuna fish, beef stew, canned meats, or canned pasta with meat.

Wausau area

Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra
Saturday, December 5, 7:30 PM and Sunday, December 6, 4:00 PM, Sentry Theater, Stevens Point

Join the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra for their holiday concert, featuring the Nutcracker Suite with ballet accompaniment by the Point Dance Ensemble and the Monteverdi Chorale with guest conductor James Carpenter. Enter for a chance to win tickets on our regional website: www.wpr.org/whrm.

Blind Boys of Alabama Christmas show
Thursday, December 17, 7:30 PM, Performing Arts Center, 1801 16th Street South, Wisconsin Rapids

Wisconsin Public Radio is a proud media sponsor of a performance by the Blind Boys of Alabama. This five-time Grammy-award Winning gospel group brings out the most spiritual aspects of mainstream music. Enter for a chance to win tickets on our regional website: www.wpr.org/whrm.

Helpful links