Memories

The recent unification of two legacy classical music radio stations (KUSC and KDFC) into Classical California is an historic moment in the industry, but also a significant event in my own long career as a radio announcer. Yes, I have been doing this for a while. Since 1980, in fact, on a classical station in Kansas City called KXTR (Keeping Excellent Taste in Radio!). I'm a Bay Area native and I can remember listening to KDFC while I was at Cal. (I believed it would make me smarter.) I want to share with you some of the highlights of the past 45 years from the perspective of a radio host, announcer, disc jockey, whatever you want to call this crazy thing I do for a living.

Dianne Nicolini with Keith Lockhart and Kiri Te Kanawa in 1985.

Keith Lockhart: Keith was the morning host on KKHI in San Francisco, a commercial classical station where I got my start on Bay Area radio. (KKHI was in direct competition with KDFC back then.) He was incredibly kind and helpful to me as I found my way on the air. He drove a super cool 1930s Mercedes-Benz and took me to my first opera in it.

At age 81, David Gockley is honored with memorial plaque in 2024.

David Gockley and the San Francisco Opera: I was the voice of the SF Opera broadcasts for a few years in the early 2000’s and part of the gig was to interview the General Director about the season. David Gockley was the best kind of interview subject because he was always very forthcoming, including when it came to the various peccadillos of certain sopranos (I name no names).

Dianne and Rik Malone in the broadcast booth during a San Francisco Symphony Opening Night Gala Live Broadcast

Herbert Blomstedt, Michael Tilson Thomas, and the San Francisco Symphony: I was also the broadcast host of the SF Symphony concerts from 1988 until about 1998 (My KDFC buddy, Rik Malone took over for me and has been going strong ever since!) I saw every major classical soloist of the era live at Davies Symphony Hall. When I started, Herbert Blomstedt was Music Director (Bruckner and Elliott Carter) and when I wrapped, Michael Tilson Thomas was just a few years into his tenure (Mahler and Gershwin).

Dianne recording her shows from her daughter’s former bedroom

The Pandemic: This was a wild time for everyone. For us, it meant figuring out a way to broadcast from our homes. I had my set-up in my daughter Monica’s bedroom. This was when all of us from KDFC and KUSC were introduced to the concept of Zoom, and it was a lifeline. In addition to serious all-staff meetings, we got together on Zoom to play silly games and even have a semblance of a Christmas party!

The KDFC Team on September 1st “KDFC Day“ to celebrate the 75th anniversary

New Home: It was during the pandemic that our new KDFC studios were built. When our lease was up at Third and Howard, Bill Lueth came up with the great idea of piggybacking with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as they constructed a brand new building across from Davies Symphony Hall. We moved in about 4 years ago and I absolutely love being in the middle of everything. One of my favorite things is seeing all the brides as they enter SF’s grand City Hall (next door) to be married.

A new era begins for classical radio and I’m so happy to still be a part of it! Thanks for listening…

You can hear Dianne Nicolini weekdays, 3-5pm!