WFCR Travel Programs: 2009

***Venice, Verona and Vicenza
with WFCR General Manager Martin Miller
June 25-July 3
produced for WFCR by Cross-Culture Journeys

***Santa Fe Opera Tour
with WFCR Classical Music Host John Montanari
August 10-14
produced for WFCR by Tours of Distinction

both itineraries online at: http://wfcr.org/WFCREVENTS/index.php

Two Clients Partner: Cross-Culture Journeys Develops Venice Biennale Tour for WFCR

WFCR/WNNZ presents
VENICE, VERONA, VICENZA
THE HISTORY AND ROMANCE OF THE VENETO
With WFCR General Manager Martin Miller
June 25 – July 3, 2009
9 days, 7 nights

WFCR General Manager Martin Miller and a small group of WFCR travellers head to Italy for an in-depth visit to the Italian region called the Veneto, between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea. Travel partner, Cross-Culture Journeys, has designed an itinerary that captures the essence of Italy's arts, history and cuisine. Welcome to the Veneto, or Venetia, and four of its cities, each a treasure trove of art and fine living. Venice, with its signature palaces, canals and squares is a focal point of contemporary arts this year during the Biennale exhibitions. Verona, home to Romeo and Juliet, has the world's largest opera stage in its 2,000-year-old-arena, where you’ll attend the sumptuous Zefferelli production of "Carmen".  Vicenza is graced with master architect Palladio's villas that still set the standard for elegance and harmony. Padua houses some of Giotto’s loveliest frescoes.

The itinerary and pricing information will soon be online at: http://wfcr.org/WFCREVENTS/venice.php

For a complete, in-depth itinerary, registration forms, and terms and conditions, contact Christopher Daly at WFCR, 413-545-3372 or csdaly@wfcr.org.

Grand Opening: WFCR in Springfield

It was a long time in coming, but worth the wait. WFCR held a ribbon cutting for its Springfield Broadcast Center, to be named in honor of local philanthropists Peggy and David Starr, on January 14. the new digs are in the broadcast studios of public TV station WGBY on Hampden Street in downtown.

I first worked on the Capitol Campaign back in 2000. The dream of WFCR at that point was a new tower (done), digital broadcasting (done), and a new station (now almost done in a different format than originally dreamed of).

It was nice to see some old friends and faces among the celebrants, and nice to see the Starrs step to the plate in helping to fund the new center.

WFCR Travel Program: 2009 Santa Fe Opera Tour

WFCR's 2009 Santa Fe Opera Tour
August 10-14, 2009
5 days / 4 nights
WFCR Host: John Montanari

For the 4th year, WFCR 's Travel Program is offering a summer trip to The Santa Fe Opera. We prepared this itinerary for WFCR with our travel partners, Ellen Gill CTC and Tours of Distinction.

WFCR will offer one trip as a Winter E-Pledge Prize on December 12-13. For details, see WFCR's website at www.wfcr.org

The tour highlights:

MON: 8/10/09

We depart Bradley International Airport at 7:40AM and arrive in Albuquerque at 1:35PM local time (via American Airlines with a connection in Dallas/Ft.Worth). A motor coach transfer to Santa Fe is provided. After check-in at our hotel, the La Fonda Hotel on the Plaza in Old Santa Fe, the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. An afternoon walking tour around historic Santa Fe Plaza is provided. We dine tonight at the La Plazuela Restaurant at La Fonda. (Those who wish can attend a performance of Gluck's "Alceste" at Santa Fe Opera at additional cost). Meals included: Dinner

TUE: 8/11/09

After a full breakfast at La Fonda, we travel to the Santa Fe Opera House for a private backstage tour of the state-of-the-art theatre, acclaimed for its architectural design. We'll meet the resident costume designers in the theatre's costume shop and see the design process for "La Traviata", "The Elixir of Love" and other Santa Fe productions. We'll lunch (on our own) at the Opera Cantina with members of the Santa Fe Opera's apprentice program. After lunch, we return to Santa Fe. The afternoon is at leisure for sightseeing on your own in Santa Fe or for relaxing at the hotel. After an early dinner at one of Santa Fe's unique restaurants, we attend a performance of Verdi’s “La Traviata” with Natalie Dessay. Overnight at the La Fonda Hotel. Meals included: Breakfast and dinner.
 
WED: 8/12/09

After a Full Breakfast at La Fonda Hotel, we tour the major sites of Santa Fe with a local guide. Stops include Loretto Chapel, The Palace of the Governors and the International Folk Art Museum. After lunch on your own, the afternoon is at leisure to explore the Museum Hill museums, Canyon Road galleries, and other attractions. Dinner tonight is at the Santa Fe Opera's Cantina. During dinner, we'll be treated to an "informance" prior to a performance of Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love”.
Overnight at The La Fonda Hotel. Meals included: Breakfast and dinner.
 
THU: 8/13/09

After a Full Breakfast at La Fonda Hotel, we depart Santa Fe for a full-day's visit to Taos with a local guide. We'll visit the Bandelier National Monument, site of the ancient Anasazi ruins; the Taos Pueblo and the Millicent Rogers Museum. Lunch on own. After some leisure time to explore Taos' distinctive shops and galleries, we'll have an early dinner at Doc Martin’s at the historic Taos Inn, before returning to Santa Fe. Overnight at The La Fonda Hotel. Meals included: Breakfast and dinner.
 
FRI: 8/14/09

After a Full Breakfast at La Fonda Hotel, we check out and head for Albuquerque with a stop enroute at the Sandia Mountain tramway. We'll travel to the top of Sandia Peak for dramatic vistas of New Mexico, including Albuquerque. We then travel to Albuquerque's Old Town for sightseeing, shopping, and lunch on one's own. We have an early afternoon check-in for our flight home. We depart Albuquerque at 3:45PM and arrive at Bradley International Airport at 12:45AM on Saturday, 8/15/09. Air is American Airlines via Dallas/Ft. Worth. Meals included: Breakfast.

Tour price includes: round-trip airfare between Hartford/Springfield and Albuquerque; airport transfers in New Mexico and all local transportation in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Taos; four nights accommodations at La Fonda in Santa Fe; 4 breakfasts, 4 dinners; orchestra seating for two opera performances at Santa Fe Opera; guide services, admissions as listed in itinerary; fulltime tour escort, and Tips/gratuities for local guides, skycaps, bellhops. A portion of the tour cost benefits the programs and services of WFCR and WNNZ.

Not included: lunches, alcoholic beverages, items of a person nature, travel insurance, tips for tour escort and bus driver; additional taxes and fuel surcharges, airline charges for checked baggage.

Prices:

Early Bird (when deposit is paid before March 31, 2009): $3,959.00 per person/double occupancy; $640.00 single supplement. Land only: approximately $300.00 per person less***

Regular: (after March 31, 2009): $4,259.00 per person/double occupancy; $640.00 single supplement. Land only: approximately $300.00 per person less***

Deposit ($500 per person) due to secure reservation. Balance payments due on or before June 5, 2009.

***Participants who choose this must make their own transfer arrangements to/from Albuquerque Airport and Santa Fe at their own expense.

For information on the WFCR Santa Fe Opera Tour: www.wfcr.org

WFCR Election Day Special. Capitol Steps Campaign and Suffering Tour.

ELECTION DAY SPECIAL. Good on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, November 4-6 ONLY

After you go to the polls, get $5.00 OFF on each ticket to:

88.5FM/WFCR and 640AM/WNNZ present
THE CAPITOL STEPS
2008 Campaign and Suffering Tour

Friday and Saturday, December 5-6, 2008 at 8PM
Chapin Auditorium, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA.

The Capitol Steps return for their 7th WFCR appearance.

South Hadley will be one of the first post-election whistle stops on the Capitol Steps 2008 Campaign and Suffering Tour. Be among the first audiences in the country to roast the new President-Elect with some song-and-dance, as 2008's most colorful campaign characters side-step and tap their way through global warming, the recession, foreclosures, and bank failures. Hum along as Caribou Barbie, Joe the Plumber, and others step into history, and as George W. Bush and Dick Cheney perform their grand finales before the American people.

For program information on The Capitol Steps, visit their website: www.capsteps.com.

Ticket Prices BEFORE WFCR Election Discount: (General Admission ). Producers Circle: $55.00 ( includes premium seating and post-performance cast-party), Orchestra: $37.50, Balconies: $32.00 and $27.00 are on sale at the University of Massachusetts Fine Arts Center Box-Office: 413-545-2511 or 800-999-UMASS and online at www.wfcr.org

The discount ticket information is at WFCR's website: www.wfcr.org

Offer good through November 6, 2008 only

Calendar Listings: Capitol Steps Return

DATELINE: June 27, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Mark G. Auerbach
Special Projects / WFCR
413-733-7095
marka@wfcr.org
mgauerbachpubrel@aol.com

*CALENDAR LISTINGS*

88.5FM/WFCR and 640AM/WNNZ present
THE CAPITOL STEPS
Musical Political Satire

Friday and Saturday, December 5-6, 2008 at 8PM
Chapin Auditorium, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA.

The Capitol Steps return for their 7th WFCR appearance in an all-new program, to be announced after the 2008 elections.

"A happy evening for those who yearn for the lighter side of the news and derive pleasure from seeing the mighty made ridiculous". Lawrence Van Gelder, The New York Times

"Their political satire brings chuckles...ravereviews...guffaws...and bipartisan grins all around. The satire hits the mark.” The Wall Street Journal

For program information on The Capitol Steps, visit their website: .

Tickets: (General Admission ). Producers Circle: $55.00 ( includes premium seating and post-performance cast-party), Orchestra: $37.50, Balconies: $32.00 and $27.00 are on sale at the University of Massachusetts Fine Arts Center Box-Office: 413-545-2511 or 800-999-UMASS and online at

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88.5FM WFCR, NPR News and Music for Western New England, is an affiliate of National Public Radio, American Public Media, and Public Radio International serving over 200,000 listeners in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York with regional news and information programming, and locally produced classical, jazz, Latino, and world music programming at 88.5FM, 101.1FM North Adams, 96.3 Williamstown, HD2 at 88.5FM, and on 640AM WNNZ. The University of Massachusetts is the license holder for 88.5FM WFCR, which operates with the advice and support of Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. For more information about 88.5FM WFCR's programs and services, call 413-545-0100 or visit our website at www.wfcr.org.

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WFCR Press Release: Augusten Burroughs Benefit

DATELINE: May 15, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Mark G. Auerbach
Special Projects / WFCR
413-733-7095
413-427-7352
marka@wfcr.org
mgauerbachpubrel@aol.com

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR AUGUSTEN BURROUGHS WILL DO A READING/BOOKSIGNING OF HIS NEW MEMOIR "A WOLF AT THE TABLE" TO BENEFIT PUBLIC RADIO STATION WFCR

Amherst, Massachusetts--88.5FM/WFCR and 640AM/WNNZ will present best-selling local author Augusten Burroughs, who will do a reading from and a booksigning of his newest memoir, "A Wolf At The Table" on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 7:30PM at Chapin Audiutorium, Mount Holyoke College,
Route 116, South Hadley, MA. Proceeds from the event will benefit the programs and services of 88.5FM/WFCR, NPR News and Music for Western New England and its AM broadcast service 640AM/WNNZ. Sponsorship support for the program is made possible by The Odyssey Bookstore, who will coordinate the book sales at the event, Jackson & Connor, Mount Holyoke College, and The Valley Advocate.

During his appearance for WFCR at Mount Holyoke College, Burroughs will read excerpts from "A Wolf At The Table", speak about the book, field audience questions, and sign copies of the book and the audio, which he narrates. Both the book in hardcover form and audio version, narrated by Burroughs with music by Ingrid Michaelson, Tegan Quin, Sea Wolf, and Patti Smith, will be available for sale at the event. Producers Circle ticketholders can meet the author at a pre-event reception in the New York Room at Chapin Auditorium.

"A Wolf At The Table", published by St. Martin's Press, is a prequel of sorts to Burroughs' first-best seller, "Running With Scissors", which told the story of Burrough's mother, her psychiatrist and a number of characters in the Northampton/Amherst area. "A Wolf At the Table" is Burroughs' recollections of his father, who had been a professor at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Burroughs' other books include: "Dry", "Magical Thinking" and "Possible Side Effects" (a work for which he did a WFCR reading and booksigning in 2006). "A Wolf At The Table" debuted at #2 on the New York Times Bestseller List. Augusten Burroughs' biography is available at his website: www.augusten.com.

Tickets (general admission) priced $30-$70 with a specially-priced copy of "A Wolf At The Table" and $10-$50 without the book, are available at the University of Massachusetts Fine Arts Center Box-Office, by phone (413-545-2511 or 800-999-UMASS) or online (www.wfcr.org). Producer's Circle tickets include premium seatings and a pre-event reception.

88.5FM WFCR, NPR News and Music for Western New England, is an affiliate of National Public Radio, American Public Media, and Public Radio International serving over 180,000 listeners in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and New Hampshire with regional news and information, and locally produced classical, jazz, and world music programming at 88.5FM, 101.1FM (Adams, MA), 96.3 (Williamstown, MA), 98.7FM (Great Barrington), 98.3FM (Lee), 93.9FM (Pittsfield/Lennox) on the FM band via HD Radio (TM) on 88.5FM WFCR HD2, and on 640AM WNNZ. The University of Massachusetts is the license holder for 88.5FM WFCR, which operates with the advice and support of Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. For more information about 88.5FM WFCR's programs and services, call 413-545-0100 or visit our website at www.wfcr.org. WFCR 88.5 FM Public Radio

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WFCR: Augusten Burroughs Calendar Listings

DATELINE: April 24, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Mark G. Auerbach
Special Projects / WFCR
413-733-7095
marka@wfcr.org
mgauerbachpubrel@aol.com

CALENDAR LISTINGS

WFCR presents
Augusten Burroughs
reading and booksigning of "A Wolf At the Table"
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 7:30PM
Chapin Auditorium, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA.

Augusten Burroughs is the best-selling author of "Running with Scissors", "Dry" and "Magical Thinking", all of which were New York Times bestsellers and are published around the world. His newest book, "A Wolf At The Table", is a memoir of his father. (St. Martin's Press. Release date: 4/29/08). Augusten has been named one of the 15 funniest people in America by Entertainment Weekly. He lives in New York City and Western Massachusetts.

Mr. Burroughs will do a reading, question-and-answer session and booksigning of his new book. Proceeds benefit the programs and services of WFCR and WNNZ.

For information on "A Wolf At the Table" and Augusten Burroughs: www.augusten.com

Sponsors: Jackson & Connor Jackson & Connor, Mount Holyoke College Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts, The Valley Advocate The Valley Advocate, and The Odyssey Bookshop The Odyssey Bookshop Independent Bookselling Since 1963  The Village Commons  South Hadley.

Tickets (general admission) priced $30-$70 with a copy of "A Wolf At the Table" and $10-$50 without the book, are available at the University of Massachusetts Fine Arts Center Box-Office, by phone (413-545-2511 or 800-999-UMASS) or online (www.wfcr.org). WFCR.org Producer's Circle tickets include premium seatings and a pre-event reception.

88.5FM WFCR, NPR News and Music for Western New England, is an affiliate of National Public Radio, American Public Media, and Public Radio International serving over 180,000 listeners in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and New Hampshire with regional news and information, and locally produced classical, jazz, and world music programming at 88.5FM, 101.1FM (Adams, MA), 96.3 (Williamstown, MA), 98.7FM (Great Barrington), 98.3FM (Lee), 93.9FM (Pittsfield/Lenox) on the FM band via HD Radio (TM) on 88.5FM WFCR HD2, and on 640AM WNNZ.  The University of Massachusetts is the license holder for 88.5FM WFCR, which operates with the advice and support of Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. For more information about 88.5FM WFCR's programs and services, call 413-545-0100 or visit our website at www.wfcr.org. WFCR 88.5 FM Public Radio

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