Friends of WILL Membership Magazine December 2021

December 2021

Friends of WILL Membership Magazine

Membership Hotline: 800-898-1065 WILL AM-FM-TV: 217-333-7300 Campbell Hall 300 N. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801-2316

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Friends of WILL Membership Magazine

Editor/Art Designer: Sarah Whittington

Art Director:

Kurt Bielema

Printed by Premier Print Group.

Printed with SOY INK on RECYCLED, RECYCLABLE paper.

RADIO

90.9 FM: A mix of classical music and NPR information programs, including local news. (Also with live streaming on will.illinois.edu.) See pages 4-5.

101.1 FM and 90.9 FM HD2: Locally produced music programs and classical music from C24. (101.1 is available in the Champaign-Urbana area.) See page 6.

580 AM: News and information, NPR, BBC, news, agriculture, talk shows. (Also heard on 90.9 FM HD3 with live streaming on will.illinois.edu.) See page 7.

TELEVISION

WILL-HD All your favorite PBS and local programming, in high definition when available. 12.1; Contact your cable or satellite provider for channel information. See pages 9-16.

WILL Kids 24/7 Around the clock, award-winning children's programming. 12.2; also available on Comcast and Mediacom.

WILL Create Cooking, travel, gardening and home improvement, arts and crafts. 12.3; also available on Comcast and Mediacom. See page 8.

WILL World PBS documentaries, news and public affairs. 12.3; also available on Comcast and Mediacom. See page 8.

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December 2021 Volume XLIX, Number 6

I know 2021 was another challenging year for many of us, so I hope Illinois Public Media offered you important information and an opportunity for entertainment when you wanted a break. I'm incredibly proud of the work our team put in to provide you engaging local content. Before looking forward to a historic year for us in 2022, I thought I'd take a moment to reflect on some of what we achieved in 2021: ? The official launch of our Illinois Student Newsroom at IPM, in partnership with the College of Media at Illinois; ? The debut of State of Change, our new yearly environmental TV special; ? The 21st hitting its stride with Brian Mackey's first full year as host and its expansion to airing on six Illinois NPR stations; ? Award-winning locally produced news reporting that aired nationally on NPR and PBS; ? The additions of Jazz Night in America and the upcoming local show Atomic Age Cocktail Party to our FM lineup; ? Another great year of amazing content from PBS, including the debut of the hit series All Creatures Great and Small; ? Another outstanding season of both Mid-American Gardener and Classical: BTS; and ? Our Education Department celebrated local 2021 Early Childhood Champions. If you appreciated this and everything else we accomplished together, I hope you'll consider making a year-end gift of support. We've included an envelope inside this issue, or you can go to . If you are currently able, please consider investing in Illinois Public Media for our 100th anniversary year. We have so many great things planned in the next twelve months, including big events, new local shows, and great memories to share.

Moss Bresnahan, Executive Director Twitter: @MossILMedia

COVER STORY

Atomic Age Cocktail Party joins the airwaves

Starting January 1, Illinois Public Media will debut its new local FM radio show, Atomic Age Cocktail Party. Hosted by Jason Croft, longtime digital media production manager and local host of NPR's Here & Now, the new show will celebrate the golden age of the hi-fi and beyond!

"The music itself goes by a lot of names: Lounge, Space Age Bachelor Pad Music, music of the Rat Pack era, easy listening, orchestrated pop, cocktail music, exotica, and many others. It's basically popular musical from the middle part of the 20th century," said Croft, who will also serve as show producer. He previously hosted a show similar to this on WEFT, community radio in Champaign. "I've been listening to, collecting, and programming this music for the last two decades. And I'm still learning and exploring more about it every day. It continues to fascinate me," Croft said.

The series gives Illinois Public Media the opportunity to reach out to fans of another classic genre. "We already have had such huge success with our in-house produced Classic Mornings, Classics of the Phonograph, and Classically Black radio shows. Atomic Age Cocktail Party will now expand our definition of `classic' to the crooners: Frank Sinatra, Julie London, Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Mel Torm?, Jack Jones, Anita O'Day, Eartha Kitt, and so many more," said Moss Bresnahan, executive director of Illinois Public Media.

Each week, the show's theme will bring together music from Great American Songbook, Broadway musicals, classic movies, and other familiar standards, while also providing listeners information and context about the songs and the people who performed them. In the month of January, the program will cover songs about traveling, cocktails, bongo music, the lyrics of Johnny Mercer, and a show where they "name names."

p Jason Croft, local host of NPR's Here & Now, will produce and host the new Atomic Age Cocktail Party on WILL-FM.

Ringing in the New Year in style, Atomic Age Cocktail Party will premiere at 11 pm on Saturday, January 1, with an encore on Sunday night at 10 pm on WILL-FM 90.9. These two weekend spots will serve as the show's regular timeslots. The program will also be available on-demand on the WILL website, so folks can listen anytime they like. "I know not everyone is part of the nightcap crowd, that's why we're offering the show on-demand, so they can have a cocktail hour whenever they like," said Croft.

There will also be fun extras connected to the program online at will.illinois.edu/ atomicagecocktailparty including in-depth essays on the music and cocktail suggestions based on the themes of each program. Visit our back cover for a special Atomic Age Cocktail Party drink recipe.

"I hope the show will give new listeners an easy entry point into the music, while still being relevant to long-time fans of the genre," said Croft. "With the timelessness of this music and renewed interest in vinyl collecting, I think I'm creating something that people are going to really enjoy."

PATTERNS DECEMBER 2021 1

UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

The Nutcracker

continues

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is a re-imagination of the classic Nutcracker story, featuring the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and narrated by Alan Cumming (right). Conceived by John Mauceri (above), this new work is a re-imagination of Tchaikovsky's holiday favorite, The Nutcracker. Based on E.T.A. Hoffmann's 1816 book, Alan Cumming recounts the origin story of how a prince got put into a nutcracker. Unlike the ballet, we also learn what happens when the young girl grows up, having saved the prince, and what they are doing today! Music from Tchaikovsky's lesser-known works, as well as from The Nutcracker ballet, underscore this epic and heroic tale--one that has never been told before on television! This holiday special airs at 8 pm Tuesday, December 14.

Kick off our 100th anniversary celebration with Rick Steves

On Thursday, January 20 at 7pm, we will kick off our WILL 100th Anniversary with a special virtual event featuring travel guru Rick Steves. This will be an exclusive event for Friends of WILL. Stay tuned for more information.

2 PATTERNS DECEMBER 2021

t Host Sarah Edwards speaks with John-Paul Buzard and Fred Bahr of Buzard Pipe Organs.

q Dr. Ollie Watts Davis.

Classical: BTS returns for holiday special

Illinois Public Media's Emmy-nominated series Classical:BTS returns December 23 with an encore holiday edition. Cellist Nomin Zolzaya, harpist Julia Kay Jamieson, and singer and composer Dr. Ollie Watts Davis perform in our studio and speak with host Sarah Edwards about the changes in their careers since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. JohnPaul Buzard and Fred Bahr of Buzard Pipe Organs also join us in the studio. Bahr performs holiday hymns on the beautiful organ at the Second Presbyterian Church in Bloomington.

"We've wanted to get performers back in our studio space for many months," says Senior Producer and Director Sarah Edwards. "Inviting a few of the musicians we've featured in both our Classical:BTS and American Portrait series is the perfect way to celebrate getting back to business in the studio and the start of our 100th anniversary year."

Tune in for this special holiday edition of Classical:BTS at 7 pm and 10 pm Thursday December 23rd.

Stream all of Shavonne's Year right now

Throughout this fall, each Sunday night we followed along as Shavonne Cole--a Media and Cinema Studies major in the College of Media at Illinois--documented her junior year (Aug. 2020-May 2021) amid COVID lockdown. We got a glimpse into what it was like for Shavonne, and other college students like her, trying to navigate classes, jobs and life during a pandemic. From attending classes virtually, to working and living on campus, to celebrating holidays and birthdays, Shavonne shared a slice of her life with us as part of American Portrait | Central Illinois. You can now stream all ten episodes of Shavonne's Year, edited together in one easy to find package, on the PBS Video App.

PATTERNS DECEMBER 2021 3

W E E K D AY S

6 am

NPR Morning Edition with Steve Inskeep, Noel King, Rachel Martin, and A Mart?nez

9 am

Classic Mornings with Vic Di Geronimo Join Vic for music and companionship and make each morning a classic morning!

Noon

Afternoon Classics NPR News Headlines at 12:01, 1:01, and 3:01.

5 pm

NPR All Things Considered with Ailsa Chang, Audie Cornish, Mary Louise Kelly, and Ari Shapiro

6 pm Monday-Thursday

The 21st with Brian Mackey

7 pm

The Evening Concert Great performances from the great concert venues. Also on Sundays from 7-9. Listings are subject to change.

Monday: The New York Philharmonic This Week 12/6 Mahler Symphonies 1 and 4

Mahler: Symphony No. 1 Mahler: Symphony No. 4 Reri Grist, soprano 12/13 Zweden Conducts Copland and Beethoven Anna Clyne: Within Her Arms Copland: Quiet City Ryan Roberts, English horn Christopher Martin, trumpet Walker: Antifonys for Chamber Orchestra Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 Daniil Trifonov, piano 12/20 Rilling Conducts Handel's Messiah Handel: Messiah Annette Dasch, soprano Daniel Taylor, countertenor James Taylor, tenor Shenyang, bass-baritone Gachinger Kantorei Stuttgart 12/27 To Be Announced

Tuesday: Chicago Symphony Orchestra 12/7 S?nderg?rd & Gavrylyuk

Sibelius: Nocturne and Ballade from King Christian II Suite, Op. 27 Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in Bb min. Alexander Gavrylyuk, piano Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 1 in D Minor Mendelssohn: Overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61

12/14 Salonen & Barenboim Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Haydn Schoenberg: Transfigured Night, Op. 4 Wagner: Good Friday Spell from Parsifal Corigliano: Symphony No. 1 John Sharp, cello Stephen Hough, piano

12/21 A Paul Winter Solstice Celebration and Jonathan Winters' A Christmas Carol

12/28 Heras-Casado & Trpceski Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Major Simon Trpceski, piano Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 1 in G Minor

Wednesday: Carnegie Hall Live! (10th Anniversary Season)

12/1 French Ravel: Piano Concerto in G Major Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano Berlioz: Death of Cleopatra Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe

12/8 Folk Based Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat Major Marc-Andr? Hamelin, piano Tetzlaff-Tetzlaff-Vogt Trio Dvo?k: Piano Trio No. 4 "Dumky"

12/15 All-Beethoven Orchestre R?volutionnaire et Romantique Symphony No. 8 Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73 Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano

12/22 St. Olaf Christmas Festival 12/29 National Youth Orchestra of the USA

Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D Strauss: Alpensinfonie, Op. 64

Thursday: Los Angeles Philharmonic 12/2 Salonen and Widman

Weill: Violin Concerto Hindemith: Symphony: Mathis der Maler 12/9 Mehta and Bronfman Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 Brahms: Symphony No. 2 12/16 Grazinyt-Tyla and Grimaud Conductor: Mirga Grazinyt-Tyla H?l?ne Grimaud, piano Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violin Ravel: Valses nobles et sentimentales Debussy: La mer Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto 12/23 A Chanticleer Christmas and Welcome Christmas 12/30 Tilson Thomas and Trifonov Tilson Thomas: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6, "Path?tique"

Friday:

Prairie Performances December performances will be announced.

9 pm

Night Music Andrea Blain, Scott Blankenship, and Steve Seel keep you company through the night and into the morning. NPR News Headlines at 9:01.

4 PATTERNS DECEMBER 2021

WILL-FM 90.9 and HD1 streaming at will.illinois.edu

S AT U R D AY S

Holiday programming may affect the regular schedule

7 am

NPR Weekend Edition with Scott Simon

9 am

Classics By Request Submit requests to Vincent Trauth at classreq@illinois.edu or leave a message at 217-265-5064.

11 am

Classics of the Phonograph John Frayne's weekly exploration of memorable recordings from the 20th century.

12/4 Eugene Ormandy: Reissues of his recordings

12/11 Tchaikovsky: the Nutcracker Ballet on Records

12/18 Handel: Famous "Messiah" Recordings 12/25 Bach: Christmas Oratorio

Noon

Afternoon at the Opera The Met Opera Live season begins

12/4

Eurydice (Matthew Aucoin). Yannick N?zetS?guin cond., with Erin Morley (Eurydice), Joshua Hopkins (Orpheus), Nathan Berg (Father), Barry Banks (Hades), and the Met Opera Ensemble.

12/11 Tosca (Puccini). Yannick N?zet-S?guin, cond., with Sondra Radvanowsky (Tosca), Brian Jagde (Cavaradossi), Evgeny Nikitin (Scarpia), and the Met Opera Ensemble.

12/18 The Magic Flute (In English). Jane Glover, cond., with Matthew Polenzani (Tamino), Hera Hyesang Park (Pamina), Rolando Villazon (Papageno), Morris Robinson (Sarastro), and the Met Opera Ensemble.

12/25 Aida at the Met (Verdi): Highlights from great Met Aida broadcasts in celebration of the 90th anniversary of Met broadcasts and the 150th anniversary of Aida.

4 pm

NPR All Things Considered with Michel Martin

5 pm

Performance Today Weekend Host Fred Child presents a two-hour weekly program that features classical music in concert from American Public Media studios and sites across the nation and around the world, as well as classical music news, interviews and features. [Also Sundays at 2 pm]

7 pm

The Midnight Special Marilyn Rea Beyer offers listeners a lively potpourri of folk, Celtic and bluegrass, show and novelty tunes, and hilarious comedy routines.

9 pm

American Parlor Songbook JP Houston and Julie Van Dusen feature clever songs, charming stories, and hilarious sketches every week. NPR News Headlines at 9:01.

10 pm

Jazz Night In America with Christian McBride

11 pm

Classics All Night

S U N D AY S

7 am

NPR Weekend Edition

9 am

Sunday Baroque Hosted by Suzanne Bona. NPR News Headlines at 9:01 and 10:01.

1 pm

The Record Shelf

2 pm

Performance Today Weekend

4 pm

NPR All Things Considered with Michel Martin

5 pm

Classical Music

u The Met Opera returns for a new season with Erin Morley in the starring role of Eurydice at 12 pm Saturday, December 4.

PATTERNS DECEMBER 2021 5

101.1 and 90.9-HD2

W E E K D AY S

6?9 am Classical Music 9 am?noon Classic Mornings

with Vic Di Geronimo Join Vic for music and companionship and make each morning a classic morning!

Noon?overnight Classical Music

Friday 7-9 pm Prairie Performances

Roger Cooper presents regional concerts from the WILL listening area.

S AT U R D AY S 7?9 am Classical Music

9?11 am Classics by Request

Vincent Trauth plays requests at this time each Saturday. Submit requests at classreq@illinois.edu or leave a message at 217-265-5064.

11 am?noon Classics of the Phonograph

John Frayne's weekly exploration of memorable recordings from the 20th century. See page 5 for listings.

Noon?overnight Classical Music

S U N D AY S All day Classical Music

7-8 pm

The Evening Concert Sunday: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center 12/5 Hanukkah Lights 2021 12/12 From Paris

L. Boulanger: Trois Morceaux for Piano Wu Han, piano Fran?aix: L'heure du berger for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, and Piano Tara Helen O'Connor, flute Stephen Taylor, oboe Sebastian Manz, clarinet Peter Kolkay, bassoon Radovan Vlatkovic, horn Michael Brown, piano Stravinsky: Petrushka for Piano, Four Hands Lucille Chung, piano I Alessio Bax, piano II 12/19 A Choral Christmas With Stile Antico 12/26 A Soulful Christmas

8-9 pm

The Evening Concert Fiesta! With Elbio Barilari 12/5 Orquesta Sinf?nica del Estado de M?xico

Founded by conductor Enrique B?tiz in 1971 the Symphony Orchestra of the State of Mexico is one of the most important orchestras in the world. Host Elbio Barilari will pick some of his favorite Latin American compositions recorded by the distinguished orchestra. 12/12 Latin American Saxophone Though it is not the most prominent instrument in classical music, many Latin American composers have shown their love for the saxophone, including Heitor Villa-Lobos, Paquito D'Rivera, and Roberto Sierra. 12/19 Gaudete! Early Music for the Christmas Season 12/26 Latin American Christmas Carols A selection of villancicos or Christmas carols from Spain and Latin America is featured on this Christmas themed program from Fiesta. Join us for music that spans several centuries and a great diversity of influences and traditions.

9 pm

Jazz Night In America with Christian McBride

10 pm

Harmonia Angela Mariani presents Baroque and early music.

NPR News Headlines at 10:01.

11 pm

The Romantic Hours Music, poetry and romance with Mona Golabek.

midnight

Classical Music

Programs on WILL Radio are partially sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

6 PATTERNS DECEMBER 2021

t At 8 pm Monday, December 13, composer Anna Clyne's work "Within Her Arms" is performed by the New York Philharmonic .

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