KPR announces new classical music director


LAWRENCE — Kansas Public Radio has a new director of classical music. 

Cordelia Brown, longtime “Evening Classical” host and listener favorite, has taken over for Michael Keelan, who brought exceptional music knowledge and helped pioneer KPR’s “Live Day” broadcasts during his four years at the station. His last day with KPR was Sept. 20.

Brown brings 40 years of experience in public radio to her new position. She began programming and announcing classical music in 1979, when Radio Kansas in Hutchinson first went on the air. She hosted KANU’s “Music by Candlelight” in the early 1980s before she left for classical KXTR-FM in Kansas City and later WITF TV/FM in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She returned to KANU in 1991 and has been hosting “Evening Classical” on Kansas Public Radio for several years. 

Brown’s lifelong passion for classical music is clear.

“Every good piece of classical music tells a story. I hope I can help KPR listeners find those stories or meanings within the pieces, which can vary so much depending on the person, the hearing or the performance. And above all, classical music is for everybody, regardless of how much you know or how good your stereo is. It’s just like books or movies or artwork; you just like what you like, and there’s always so much more you can discover.”

Classical music fans can now hear Brown every weekday morning from 9 a.m. until noon on KPR.

KPR, an 18-time winner of the KAB’s Station of the Year, licensed to the University of Kansas, broadcasts on 91.5 FM and 96.1 FM (KPR2) in Lawrence, 89.7 FM in Emporia, 91.3 FM in Olsburg-Junction City, 89.9 FM in Atchison, 90.3 FM in Chanute, and 99.5 FM and 97.9 FM (KPR2) in Manhattan. KPR can be heard online at kansaspublicradio.org, and KPR2, a news-talk programming stream, which can be heard on an HD receiver or on KPR’s website.

 

Wed, 10/02/2019

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Bobbi Washechek

Media Contacts

Bobbi Washechek

Kansas Public Radio

785-864-7853