Category: Radio News

One of KRFC’s longest running programs is being retired by its host … according to this email that came across today.

Hello All:

I’m writing to announce that after 8 1/2 years on the air, Native Nations and I are leaving KRFC. Native Nations and I are going in a new direction, and I’m following the call. My last show was on Tuesday, September 6. I’ve enjoyed being a part of KRFC, from the beginning, when it was known as Public Radio For The Front Range, (I still have my PRFR T-shirt).

Over the years, there have been a lot of fun times, and there were some difficult, and sad ones. I will cherish those memories for the rest of my life.

I will miss some very special friends that I have made at KRFC, over the years, who will always remain dear to my heart, (you know who you are).  I wish KRFC great success in meeting its goals, with its new format.

In closing, I would like to say, “Thanks For The Memories.”

Sincerely,
Bo Johnson
Director, Native Nations Foundation

Over 400 musical instruments donated by listeners during Colorado Public Radio’s Annual Instrument Drive last spring begin making their way into the hands of students during this event marking the kickoff of the instrument distribution. Ultimately, about 1,000 of the instruments collected will be repaired and given to Colorado schools.

WHO:           Colorado Pubic Radio staff, students and teachers, repair-fund donors and others.
WHEN:         Saturday, August 20, 1-2 p.m.
WHERE:       Gates Concert Hall, Newman Center, University of Denver 2344 East Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO 80208

VISUALS: LOTS OF KIDS AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

About 400 repaired and refurbished instruments will be on display, each with tags identifying the recipient school / music program.  Students and teachers representing about two dozen of the 30-plus schools and music programs accepting instruments, loading them into their vehicles at end of the event.  Isaac Allen, 14, will play a brief violin solo. Isaac has been playing the violin since he was nine and made his public solo debut with the Boulder Youth Symphony at age 10.

BACKGROUND

Tripling expectations, more than 1,300 musical instruments were collected last March during the instrument drive.  To date, nearly 500 instruments have been repaired and refurbished by the Colorado Institute of Musical Instrument Technology (CIOMIT) of Castle Rock. Repairs on the remaining instruments continue. Ultimately, about 1,000 of instruments will end up in schools and music programs around the state for use by students.  Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation reviewed school applications and helped select the schools and music programs to receive instruments.

Instruments were collected at nine locations, including CPR, music stores around the Denver metro area and at the Grand Junction Symphony office.

Eleven cultural organizations helped publicize the instrument drive by including fliers in event programs, pre-concert announcements and emails to their followers.

Studying music in school has been shown to improve academic performance. It also has a positive effect on students’ self-discipline, self-esteem, as well as thinking and listening skills.

Colorado Public Radio is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides 24-hour, in-depth news and music to about 450,000 listeners each week (Source: Arbitron, Spring / Fall 2010). More than 90 percent of CPR’s funds come from the private support of listeners, businesses, and foundations.

Over 400 Musical Instruments Donated by Colorado Public Radio Listeners Being Distributed to More Than 30 Colorado Schools This Month

CENTENNIAL, Colo. – August 2, 2011 –

Over 400 instruments donated by listeners during the Colorado Public Radio (CPR) Annual Instrument Drive last spring will begin making their way into the hands of Colorado students this month.

The instruments will go to more than 30 schools and music programs around the state – including 20 schools and music programs in the Denver metro area and schools in Grand Junction, Vail, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Fort Collins, Loveland and elsewhere. Many of them will be presented to students and their teachers on August 20 at the University of Denver’s Newman Center.

Tripling expectations, more than 1,300 musical instruments were collected last March during the instrument drive. Eight-five percent of them were repairable, which means that more than 1,000 of the instruments collected ultimately will end up in schools around the state for use by students.

The instruments being delivered to schools this month have all been repaired and refurbished by the Colorado Institute of Musical Technology (CIOMIT) of Castle Rock and are ready for use. Repairs on the remaining instruments will be made in the coming months.

CPR worked with the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to review applications from schools throughout Colorado and place refurbished instruments in deserving school music programs around the state.

“This is one of the most gratifying activities I’ve ever been involved with,” said Steve Blatt, CPR’s director of community programs, who spearheaded the drive. “The public’s generosity was really overwhelming. And this wasn’t about people just cleaning out their attics. People donated instruments that have been in their families sometimes for generations. It’s a real acknowledgment on their part of the importance and value of music in kids’ lives.”

Research shows that children who participate in music demonstrate enhanced critical thinking, creative abilities and academic performance. A study from the 1999 College-Bound Seniors National Report shows that students who took music performance or appreciation classes scored higher on the SAT than students with no arts participation.

Schools and music programs that will receive instruments from this year’s instrument drive:

Denver Metro Area: Arvada K-8; Aurora Academy Charter School; Aurora Frontier K-8; Aurora West College Preparatory Academy; Casey Middle School, Boulder; City Strings, Denver; Denver School of the Arts; Denver Young Artists Orchestra; Eiber Elementary, Lakewood; Foster Elementary, Arvada; Gateway High School, Aurora; Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy, Denver; Lawrence Elementary, Arvada; Murphy Creek K-8, Aurora; Pinnacle Charter School, Federal Heights; Polton Elementary, Aurora; Prairie Middle School, Aurora; Slater Elementary, Lakewood; South Middle School, Aurora; Thornton Middle School.

Buena Vista: McGinnis Middle School.

Clifton: Mt. Garfield Middle School.

Colorado Springs: Griffith Children’s Center and Harrison High School.

Fort Collins: Lincoln Middle IB World School.

Grand Junction: Bookcliff Middle School and Grand Mesa Middle School.

Keenesburg: Weld Central High School.

Loveland: Conrad Ball Middle School.

Olathe: Olathe Middle and High School.

Pueblo: Freed Middle School.

Vail: First Notes.

The schools were selected based on the financial need of their students and the schools’ interest in promoting music education.

In addition to CIOMIT’s participation as repair partner for the drive and Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation’s help in reviewing school applications, a number of organizations and retail businesses across the state supported the Colorado Public Radio Annual Instrument Drive by announcing it at events or serving as drop-off locations: The Arvada Center, Boulder Philharmonic, The Colorado Symphony, Denver Philharmonic, Denver Young Artists Orchestra, Friends of Chamber Music, Musica Sacra Chamber Orchestra, Newman Center for the Performing Arts, Opera Colorado, Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, HB Woodsongs, Denver Folklore Center, Flesher-Hinton Music, Kolacny Music, The Music Box, Rockley Music Company, and Golden Music Center.