2021-22 Arts Council Grant: Nourishing Charlottesville’s Classical Community

July 28, 2022 Emilia Couture
A logo that makes the rotunda look like a musical instrument rests on top of the words "Charlottesville Classical"

The University of Virginia and surrounding community are rich with classical music listeners, artists, and performance organizations. As the only locally hosted classical music radio station in the region, WTJU is a proud hub for this community of music lovers. This past year, a grant from the UVA Arts Council made it possible for them to redouble efforts to nourish Charlottesville’s classical music community. 

This specific project aimed to promote classical music to young adults as a vibrant part of the cultural fabric of the University and greater Charlottesville community and support education of students in valuable skills in professional interviewing, recording, and multimedia content production.

Each week, WTJU produced five classical music radio modules that also aired during Classical Sunrise. These modules include: Opera Minute, Noteworthy Release, Composer Cameo, 60 Second Saga, and All Those Notes. They worked with Charlottesville Symphony, University Singers, UVA Music Library, and other UVA arts organizations to produce and air shows that highlight their talent and artistry that nourishes local culture. These modules were also published as podcasts through WTJU’s Virginia Audio Collective. As “radio” listening expands into the podcast space, they adapted to better reach on-demand audiences with this content. 

WTJU listeners in Charlottesville and beyond heard the stories of incredible and talented performers, creators, and scholars in their own words. In addition to enriching the culture of our community, WTJU’s on-air and online content also promoted UVA Music events and faculty. As the radio voice of UVA, WTJU’s classical programming connects community members to the arts and life of the University.

Impressive metrics demonstrated the wide reach and impact of this programming. There were over 400 website visits a month, as well as 1000+ on-air listeners a week. Additionally, student producers involved with this project have described their WTJU internships in very positive terms - highly valuable for skills development and high impact for their sense of community connection. Overall, this project strengthened the bridge between the University and surrounding community via engagement with classical music. 

The project was proposed by Nathan Moore, General Manager for WTJU Radio.

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About the UVA Arts Council: The Arts Council provides advocacy and support for current and increased programming in the arts at the University of Virginia. The Council supports projects that develop and strengthen the bonds of interest and participation among departments and programs across Grounds, fostering opportunities for creative innovation, learning, and engagement. Members of UVA’s Arts Council believe that a strong, robust arts community at UVA enriches the student experience, builds bridges in our larger community, and inspires leaders of the next generation. Check out all awarded grants here >

WorldView is a classical music radio show featuring composers from everywhere in the world - except Western Europe. Tune in to hear works by lesser-known artists such as Gabriela Montero and Bright Sheng, and widen your knowledge of classical music. Hinke Younger hosts each week’s episode of WorldView on Mondays at 9AM and again at 6PM on Charlottesvilleclassical.org.
Another show on Charlottesville Classical is The Silver Screen Soundtrack Hour, hosted by Ken Nail. Film music sets the mood and helps elicit the emotional responses that make a good movie a great movie. Each week on CharlottesvilleClassical.org, The Silver Screen Soundtrack Hour takes a listen to music from the wide world of film scores.