OFE Presents a Brief Conversation with KHOL's Executive Director

Summary

Opera For Everyone Episode Summary

Episode Title: OFE Presents a Brief Conversation with KHOL's Executive Director
Release Date: June 16, 2024
Hosts: Pat Wright (Opera for Everyone) and Emily Cohen (Executive Director of KHOL)

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1. Introduction and Relationship between Opera for Everyone and KHOL

The episode opens with Pat Wright, the host of Opera for Everyone, introducing Emily Cohen, the Executive Director of KHOL, Jackson, Wyoming’s home radio station for the podcast. Pat emphasizes the long-standing relationship between the show and KHOL, highlighting KHOL as "opera for everyone's home."

Pat Wright [00:09]: "This is a moment to really focus on the home radio station for Opera for Everyone."

Emily reciprocates the appreciation, acknowledging the collaborative efforts that have sustained the partnership over the years.

Emily Cohen [00:34]: "Thanks for having me. And thanks for being on our airwaves for so many years."

2. History and Growth of KHOL

Pat reflects on the inception of Opera for Everyone in the summer of 2017, noting its growth over nearly eight years. Emily shares insights into KHOL’s unique programming approach, which has allowed the podcast to reach a global audience.

Pat Wright [00:38]: "Yeah, the show started in 2017 quite some time ago, so that was the summer of 2017, and now we're almost eight years in."

Emily Cohen [00:41]: "Khol is opera for everyone's home. And we feel really lucky to have this pretty unique programming because it's a way for our programming to reach listeners all over the world."

3. Global Reach and Listener Engagement

The discussion turns to the podcast’s impressive global footprint, with listeners spanning over 60 countries. Pat shares heartwarming anecdotes about listeners discovering the show through KHOL and connecting with the broader opera community.

Pat Wright [00:59]: "I was just looking at some of the stats on the podcast, and over 60 countries. We have listeners in over 60 countries."

Emily Cohen [01:30]: "We do get quite a few fan letters for you that we always forward on."

4. Shared Passion for Opera between Host and Emily Cohen

Pat recalls a previous episode where Emily participated as a supernumerary in "L'italiana in El Gira," underscoring their shared passion for opera. This camaraderie strengthens the bond between the show and KHOL.

Pat Wright [01:51]: "you were wonderful talking about your work as a supernumerary."

Emily Cohen [02:06]: "That was so fun to do. ...a great Rossini opera."

5. Content Programming: Balancing Favorites and Discoveries

Pat and Emily delve into the programming philosophy of Opera for Everyone, which seeks to balance beloved classics with lesser-known gems. This approach ensures a rich and varied listening experience, fostering both nostalgia and discovery among listeners.

Pat Wright [02:15]: "we do so many different composers on Opera For Everyone. I'm always trying to strike the balance between the old favorites and new discoveries."

Emily Cohen [02:37]: "That really aligns with khol's programming of music discovery. Always trying to introduce audiences to new things, spark conversation, challenge our understanding of the world."

6. Upcoming Shows and Opera Discovery

A highlight of the episode is Pat's excitement about an upcoming show featuring Donizetti’s "Zoraida di Granata," his first successful opera. Emily commends Pat’s dedication to uncovering and sharing rare operatic works, likening it to a "treasure hunt."

Pat Wright [02:50]: "my upcoming Any Moment show on Opera for Everyone is going to be a Donizetti opera. ... I have discovered I was lucky enough to get a CD of Zoraida di Granata."

Emily Cohen [03:19]: "you've been doing this for seven years now and you're still discovering new operas. ... that's remarkable."

Pat elaborates on the extensive research and collection of opera CDs that fuel the show's continual exploration of diverse operatic repertoire.

Pat Wright [03:33]: "It's such a fun treasure hunt to do to find these CDs, to find the librettos. ... I have more CDs of operas I haven't yet done than ones I have done."

7. Supporting the Station and Conclusion

In the concluding segment, both hosts emphasize the importance of supporting KHOL to sustain the Opera for Everyone podcast. They provide actionable steps for listeners to contribute, reinforcing the symbiotic relationship between the show and its home station.

Emily Cohen [03:58]: "We are so grateful to have you on Khol every Sunday morning from 9 to 11am Mountain time here in Wyoming."

Pat Wright [04:20]: "The way to support it is to support our home station Khol. ... go to 891khol.org donate."

Emily Cohen [04:57]: "Once again, that is 891khol.org donate thanks everyone."

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Key Takeaways:

• Long-Term Partnership: Opera for Everyone has been collaboratively supported by KHOL since its inception in 2017, fostering a unique and expansive reach.
• Global Impact: The podcast enjoys a diverse international audience, with listeners in over 60 countries.
• Diverse Programming: A strategic blend of classic and obscure operas keeps content fresh and engaging, aligning with KHOL’s mission of music discovery.
• Passion for Opera: Both hosts share a deep enthusiasm for opera, driving the show's continuous exploration and presentation of varied operatic works.
• Community Support: Listener contributions to KHOL are vital for sustaining the podcast, ensuring its accessibility and growth.

This episode provides an insightful look into the collaborative efforts that make Opera for Everyone a beloved and enduring presence in the global opera community. Through shared passion and mutual support, Pat Wright and Emily Cohen highlight the importance of community radio in making opera accessible and enjoyable for all.

Transcript

[A]

This is Pat Wright of Opera for Everyone, and you all have heard me say KHOL any number of times when you listen to the episodes of Opera for Everyone. But this is a moment to really focus on the home radio station for Opera for Everyone. And I'm here today with executive director of khol, Emily Cohen. Emily, thank you for speaking with me about beloved khol.

[B]

Thanks for having me. And thanks for being on our airwaves for so many years.

[A]

Yeah, the show started in 2017 quite.

[B]

Some time ago, so that was the summer of 2017, and now we're almost eight years in, and Khol is opera for everyone's home. And we feel really lucky to have this pretty unique programming because it's a way for our programming to reach listeners all over the world.

[A]

Yeah, I was just looking at some of the stats on the podcast, and over 60 countries. We have listeners in over 60 countries. It's reached quite a number of people. And one of the things that I've been so gratified by are when I get emails from you where people have found me through khol. They've listened on the podcast, but then they know it's related to this wonderful radio station in Jackson, Wyoming. And I hear from people from all over the globe about why they like Opera for Everyone.

[B]

Yeah, it is always quite a delight. And we do get quite a few fan letters for you that we always forward on. Your show, I have to say, holds a special place for me as well, because you were one of the first people that I met when I started here five years ago at the station, and I have a background in opera, too, so there's a couple of commonalities there.

[A]

Yes. And for those of you listeners who think maybe Emily's voice sounds familiar or this story sounds familiar, episode 113, L'italiana in El Giri. You were wonderful talking about your work as a supernumerary.

[B]

That was so fun to do. We did that a couple months ago, I guess it was last fall at this point, and talked about a great Rossini opera.

[A]

Yeah, we do so many different composers on Opera For Everyone. I'm always trying to strike the balance between the old favorites and new discoveries, which might be very old operas, but new discoveries that maybe listeners don't know as well, and they aren't always the ones that they see their local opera companies producing. So it's a little bit of both kind of opera.

[B]

And I think that really aligns with khol's programming of music discovery. Always trying to introduce audiences to new things, spark conversation, challenge our understanding of the world.

[A]

Yes. And to be very specific about it, my upcoming Any Moment show on Opera for Everyone is going to be a Donizetti opera. Donizetti is a well known name, but he's known for a handful of operas. Lucia del Amomamor, Don Pasquale, the Elixir of Love. But I have discovered I was lucky enough to get a CD of Zoraida di Granata. It's his first successful opera. So it's a real treat. And I love that KHOL supports opera for everyone.

[B]

It's amazing also though, you've been doing this for seven years now and you're still discovering new operas. I know there's always new operas being written, but to go back hundreds of years and still be discovering new work, that's remarkable.

[A]

It's such a fun treasure hunt to do to find these CDs, to find the librettos. I need a certain amount of material to be able to produce a show and do the research on it. But yeah, there's a lot out there. I have this enormous collection of opera CDs that I've developed over these years and honestly, I have more CDs of operas I haven't yet done than ones I have done. So we're not going to run out of operas to talk about anytime soon.

[B]

Remarkable. Well, we are so grateful to have you on Khol every Sunday morning from 9 to 11am Mountain time here in Wyoming. And if folks want more of this programming or want to support Opera for Everyone's home station, please Visit our website at 891khol.org yes please.

[A]

I've had lots of people say how can I support Opera for everyone? And honestly, the way to support it is to support our home station Khol. So go to 891khol.org donate and you can do it as a monthly, you can do it as a one time. But it really makes a difference supporting this music. And honestly, you all have computers, you can go to 891khol and listen to it anytime at all. If you've been a visitor to the Jackson, Wyoming area or if you've never been at all, check it out. It is a remarkable community radio station.

[B]

Yeah. Thank you. And once again, that is 891k chol.org donate thanks everyone.