Mordecai Lipshutz Retires

Come Wish Mordecai Farewell - Open to the Public Event

March 4, 2008

After more than 30 years as music host on WXXI’s Classical 91.5, veteran radio announcer Mordecai Lipshutz has announced his retirement from his full-time, on-air shift. Arguably, one of the most recognized voices on Rochester’s airwaves, Lipshutz joined Classical 91.5 in 1976 as a part-time announcer and became a full-time host in 1979. During his distinguished tenure he has been producer and host of Live From Hochstein, the longest running live broadcast concert series in Western New York; the annual RPO Holiday Pops Concerts; and his Night of Smiles New Year’s Eve show.

“Classical 91.5 afternoon listeners, and our staff, will miss a great friend with a vast knowledge of classical music,” said WXXI President Norm Silverstein. “But, Mordecai will always be part of the WXXI family, and you’ll see him at station events and can still expect to hear him from time to time on our air.”

Lipshutz was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA where his parents ran a printing company, which printed all the programs for the Philadelphia Orchestra. As a result of their business, Lipshutz was exposed to great music throughout his childhood. He earned a degree in acting at Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA. In 1975 he enrolled in the Printing Management program at Rochester Institute of Technology while working part-time at Classical 91.5. Brad Spear, a former WXXI Radio Operations Director responsible for hiring Lipshutz, recalls, “ I took a chance and hired this inexperienced guy who had a wonderful basso laugh and knew the music cold.” Shortly after being hired, Lipshutz decided he preferred radio to printing and joined Classical 91.5 as full-time music host.

In August 2006 Lipshutz celebrated his 30th anniversary at the station, and received a proclamation from the Monroe County Legislature in honor of his dedication to the arts and for bringing beautiful music to the Rochester community.

Listen to the tribute from Brenda Tremblay

Additional Audio:
On Tuesday, March 4, 2008, the retirement of long time Classical 91.5 host Mordecai Lipshutz was announced on WXXI-FM. Program Director Ruth Phinney chats with Mordecai about his life, what brought him to Rochester, his career at WXXI and some of his most memorable musical moments at the station and around Rochester.

Listen to Mordecai's Chat with Ruth

The Cleveland Orchestra

Tuesdays at 8 p.m.

Music Director Franz Welser-Möst presents a wide range of repertoire for the 2008 season. Highlights include symphonies by Beethoven, Brahms, Bruckner, Dvořák, Mahler, Mozart, and Tchaikovsky. Distinguished guest artists appearing with the Orchestra include Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Pierre Boulez, Radu Lupu, and Mitsuko Uchida.

For more information, visit www.clevelandorchestra.com.

Backstage Pass featuring RPO's Melissa Matson and Erik Behr

Friday, May 30 at 1 p.m.

Principal viola Melissa Matson and Principal oboe Erik Behr join host Julia Figueras in Studio E on the next Backstage Pass, airing Friday, May 30 at 1 p.m. on Classical 91.5/90.3/HD 91.5-1, for an up close and personal welcome and introduction to Rochester for the RPO’s new Principal oboist.

With the RPO since 1983, principal viola Melissa Matson is equally known as a versatile chamber musician and has performed with Chamber Music Rochester and the Skaneateles Festival. As a founding member of the Chester Quartet, Ms. Matson performed throughout the U.S. and won awards at the Munich and Portsmouth, England International String Quartet Competitions during her five-year tenure. Ms. Matson is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music – she studied with Martha Katz and was awarded the coveted Performer’s Certificate – and is now an Associate Professor at Eastman.

Backstage Pass is a live, hour-long radio series that is committed to highlighting performing artists– giving Classical 91.5/90.3 listeners the opportunity to hear local and visiting musicians performing live. The series is made possible in part by a grant from the Gouvernet Arts Fund at Rochester Area Community Foundation.

For more information, visit wxxi.org/radio/fm/bsp.html and www.rpo.org.

Lyric Opera of Chicago

Saturday, May 10 at 1:30 p.m.

Regarded as one of the top three U.S. opera companies, Chicago’s Lyric Opera presents eight operas this season, as WXXI continues its commitment to year-round opera. This season's featured operas are La traviata by Verdi, Doctor Atomic by Adams, The Barber of Seville by Rossini, Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky, Julius Caesar by Handel, La bohème by Puccini, Die Frau ohne Schatten by Strauss, and Falstaff by Verdi.

For more information, visit www.lyricopera.org.

Live from Hochstein

Wednesdays at 12:10 p.m.

Live from Hochstein is the longest running live broadcast concert series in Western New York. Each week you will hear performances by the finest artists from the Rochester area’s musical community, with programs ranging from soloists and chamber ensembles to large orchestras and choirs.

The broadcasts are free and open to the public "brown bag" concerts, where business people, teachers, families, musicians, and students can spend their lunch hour enjoying classical music performed by local artists.

For more information, visit wxxi.org/hochstein.

RPO Chats Podcast!

WXXI's Brenda Tremblay and RPO music director Christopher Seaman chat about each upcoming RPO concert.

Visit the podcast feed to listen or subscribe.

Read more about WXXI Podcasts.