Today it’s time for a curtain call for someone who has performed her job exceedingly well, but who has scrupulously avoided the limelight. Most of the time, those of us on the air receive the compliments for what you hear, but we are only a part of what goes into your listening experience on Classical 101.
For most of the last 30 years, Program Director, (not to mention my wife), Beverley Ervine has been the filter through which our music has run. For years, she has personally selected and overseen all of the music coming from our local studios, all while toiling tirelessly away from the spotlight.
She would deny this, but I, personally, have learned so much from her and would not be where I am today without her. Our many conversations about music and performance helped me better understand the programming, while her vision for what COULD be done spawned many special moments for listeners. One example is a huge special called Return to Camelot: Music in the Kennedy White House for the 40th anniversary of the assassination. It became a three-hour program with pianist Earl Wild recounting the amazing events of the inauguration and his performance there and Clara O’Dette spinning tales about being part of a White House performance of Mozart’s Magic Flute for the Kennedys and many dignitaries.
When David Weaver wrote the book Ruby Elzy: Black Diva of the Thirties, Beverley again saw the big picture of what COULD be. Out of her inspiration came a program recounting Ruby’s years at Ohio State University and the incredible effort it took to allow her voice to be heard.
Beverley never grew tired of discovering a young, up-and-coming musician, a new composer, or what she liked to call a little piece of "spice" in our music library to share with listeners.
I could go on and on, but you begin to see the enormous shoes to be filled by the next Program Director.
Amazingly, we met here, got married here, (literally!), and have worked together for 30+ years. They say if a married couple survives hanging wallpaper together, it’s an amazing feat. We did that AND came to work together.
Thank you, Beverley, for making this a great place to work…AND making me a better broadcaster.
