Classic 107 listeners will soon hear a fresh voice to start their weekday mornings.
It was officially announced last week that Simeon Rusnak, the longtime host of Morning Light, will be leaving the station to take on the role of Director of Classical Programming with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
Rusnak first came to Classic 107 in 2014 after graduating from the Desautels School of Music at the University of Manitoba. He’s held a variety of hosting roles at the station over the years, including hosting the afternoon show The Diamond Lane and various shows on the weekends.
“Coming to the station as a voice major doing an undergraduate degree, the amount of music that you are exposed to is second to none,” said Rusnak, reflecting on the years of introducing classical favourites as well as new musical discoveries.
Rusnak will continue to make those new discoveries in his new role with the symphony, but his background in Winnipeg’s classical music scene will ensure that he won’t be a stranger to us here. “I’ll miss the community, but I’m not really going anywhere,” he explained, but added, “I’ll miss listening to music with the audience, together.”
Rusnak also has fond reminiscences about the connections he’s made in the studio over the years with artists of all walks of life, from international superstars bringing their talents to the city to local students eager to share their love of music.
For Rusnak, a desire to learn more about the performers of all stripes and the melodies they share is what continues to drive him as he takes on this new job. “It’s a curiosity,” he elaborated. “It’s made me more curious about the music that we’re hearing, and also the music that we should be hearing. To me, you have to have a curiosity to be a listener. And I’ll take that anywhere – it's applicable to anything you’re doing.”
Rusnak's last broadcast will be on Friday, October 11.
A new light on the show
Classic 107 also announced that Nolan Kehler will be taking over the Morning Light microphone. The Altona-born, Winnipeg-based tenor and broadcaster is no stranger to Manitoba’s classical music fans, having performed on the stages with Manitoba Opera, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and the Little Opera Company of Winnipeg, as well as in choirs such as Dead of Winter and Canzona.
Kehler comes over from the CBC, where, among other duties, he held a weekly syndicated column dedicated to classical music selections. Kehler began his broadcasting career with Golden West in 2011, when he worked evening shifts at Classic 107’s sister station, CFAM 950 in Altona.
“This really does feel like coming home,” Kehler said. “I’m so excited to be sharing some of the most beautiful music ever written from all corners of the world.”
Kehler's singing career has taken him all over North America, performing in legendary halls from Montreal to Boston to San Francisco. And yet, he’s always drawn back to the incredible musical community that exists here in Manitoba.
“Manitoba as a whole punches so far above its weight when it comes to the musical scene,” Kehler observed. “From innovative musical collaborations that speak to issues like reconciliation and social justice to world-class performances of some of the most beloved classics, Winnipeg’s such a well-regarded hub for music of all genres.”
“It never gets old seeing the looks in people’s eyes who aren’t from here when they hear me talk about all the culture that is showcased in this city. I can’t wait to highlight all of that each morning on the air.”
The next chapter of Morning Light will begin on Tuesday, October 15. The show airs weekday mornings from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Listeners will also hear Kehler's voice on Classic 107’s noon-hour show Intermezzo during the week and on the choral music program White Light, which airs Sunday mornings starting at 6 a.m.