Listeners will notice a new voice on Morning Light this week on Classic 107.
Nolan Kehler will be taking over the Morning Light microphone after long-time host Simeon Rusnak announced he was pursuing a new opportunity with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
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.