Since the sale of the former KFUO (aka Classic 99) to new owners back in 2010, there's been no local classical music programming on broadcast radio in St. Louis.
Today, classical music radio came back to the airwaves here in the form of a new station run by the Radio Arts Foundation, and it's bringing a bit of jazz with it.
Broadcasting on analog FM at 107.3; on HD radio at 96.3-HD2; and streaming online at rafstl.org, “The Classical Station" was created by the not-for-profit RAF specifically to fill the void left by the loss of KFUO. The new venture's staff even includes some veterans of KFUO, such as station manager Jim Connett and on-air personality Tom Sudholt.
However, RAF-STL also will be broadcasting some music that wasn't on KFUO's playlist. Early announcements of programming plans said there would be a regular “new music" program, devoted to contemporary composers, as well as a locally produced jazz show and other arts-oriented programming.
Although the station is now up and running, they've yet to post a program schedule online, so there aren't many more details available. However, StLJN can confirm that at least one part of that programming agenda already is set to happen, as radio personality Jason Church, who programs the local HD jazz station Hip 96.3 HD-3, has announced he'll also be hosting a weekly jazz program for RAF-STL.
Church's program The Jazz Collective will air from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday nights, beginning this Saturday, April 13.
According to the Facebook page that he's set up to help promote it, The Jazz Collective will “explore the roots of Jazz through the vast array of Straight-Ahead acts, from Miles Davis to Thelonious Monk, to Stan Kenton. We'll also explore the many branches of Jazz that have grown from those roots."
For more on the Radio Arts Foundation's programming schedule, you can check this page on their website.
Today, classical music radio came back to the airwaves here in the form of a new station run by the Radio Arts Foundation, and it's bringing a bit of jazz with it.
Broadcasting on analog FM at 107.3; on HD radio at 96.3-HD2; and streaming online at rafstl.org, “The Classical Station" was created by the not-for-profit RAF specifically to fill the void left by the loss of KFUO. The new venture's staff even includes some veterans of KFUO, such as station manager Jim Connett and on-air personality Tom Sudholt.
However, RAF-STL also will be broadcasting some music that wasn't on KFUO's playlist. Early announcements of programming plans said there would be a regular “new music" program, devoted to contemporary composers, as well as a locally produced jazz show and other arts-oriented programming.
Although the station is now up and running, they've yet to post a program schedule online, so there aren't many more details available. However, StLJN can confirm that at least one part of that programming agenda already is set to happen, as radio personality Jason Church, who programs the local HD jazz station Hip 96.3 HD-3, has announced he'll also be hosting a weekly jazz program for RAF-STL.
Church's program The Jazz Collective will air from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday nights, beginning this Saturday, April 13.
According to the Facebook page that he's set up to help promote it, The Jazz Collective will “explore the roots of Jazz through the vast array of Straight-Ahead acts, from Miles Davis to Thelonious Monk, to Stan Kenton. We'll also explore the many branches of Jazz that have grown from those roots."
For more on the Radio Arts Foundation's programming schedule, you can check this page on their website.
