Since 1995, when I
joined the CLASSIC99 family, I made a promise to myself. I would like to
continue there, even on a night no one would think of working (Saturday night),
as long as I found the work personally rewarding, and found the work fun.
Thanks to John Clayton, who was my initial teacher, and Dennis Stortz, who did
official "air checks" with me, I became a happy camper. Support from folks like
Dick, Tom, Bob, as well as Jim and Ron, and never to leave out John Roberts,
these fifteen years have been both rewarding and fun. Who have I not yet
mentioned? The most important people of all, you, the listener. I will always
have lasting memories of the many listeners I've talked with, and so many on a
regular basis. And yes, you folks in Japan and Germany, who vote regularly via
Listener's Choice, the e-mails have been priceless. I also will remember the
personal reward working with teachers and students, producing High School
Classics.
A special memory to last me a lifetime? Yes, about ten years
ago, when I did a Friday Night Pops. At 6:30PM, a frantic student at SIU-E
called, telling me that a wedding was about to take place in the chapel, and
the music ensemble just cancelled. Can I help? Well, pulling Mendelssohn's
music from our large CD library, I was prepared. Were they? "Yes", I was told,
they had eight battery radios spaced around the chapel, each with a student to
"man" the controls. Just after the 6:50 Wallstreet Report, and giving the
students 5 seconds of silence to turn up the radios, Mendelssohn's wedding
march rolled. A half hour later, the mother of the bride, who flew in from
China, called to say thank you. That was priceless. "Oh", I asked, "will the
new couple do the traditional first dance at the reception?" Mom said maybe,
still no music ensemble. With all eight radios, again, I began the Friday Night
Pops with the waltz from the King and I. A half hour later, the bride, for
which English was a second language, called to say Thank You. Interactions like
this have made my experience at CLASSIC99 one that I will cherish and will
remember the rest of my life.
The interactions do not have to end, for
if any listeners would like to stay in touch, my university e-mail address is:
williamelliott34@webster.edu.
To all, I say Thank You for the wonderful fifteen years. |
 |
