Annual Report
2023

Nurturing a love of classical music for all

Table of Contents
Letter from the President / 1
Community Engagement and Events / 2Partnerships / 6
Talent Development Program / 7
Special Programming / 8
Digital Highlights / 9
Technology / 10
Climate Change and Classical California KUSC / 11
Classical California KUSC Sponsorship / 12
Membership Support / 13
USC Radio Group Board of Councilors / 14
Classical California KUSC Major Gifts / 15
Classical California KUSC Leadership / 16
Classical California KUSC Hosts / 18
Fiscal Year 2023 Overview / 19

Letter from the President
Classical California KUSC strives to nurture a love of classical music,
inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds to make it an enduring part oftheir lives. In a myriad of ways, the past fiscal year saw the station exploringever new ways of advancing this mission. Your support made it all possible.
On the airwaves, on social media, and on our website, we went the extra
mile to promote the region’s cultural institutions large and small, serving as a
megaphone for Southern California’s sprawling arts ecosystem. This role wasof particular significance in the fall of 2021 as performing arts organizations
faced the considerable challenge of fully re-opening following pandemicrelated closures and cutbacks.
As ever, our burgeoning community engagement work focused on introducing classical music to children
and families who may not otherwise have access to this life-enhancing art form we all love. In February
we commemorated Black History Month with a new school initiative: I Believe, the brainchild of pianist
Lara Downes, Classical California resident artist and evening host. The interactive student assembly andconcert took place at Watts Learning Center Charter Middle School, with Lara and student musicians
introducing more than 400 kids to works by long-neglected Black composers.
After a long, pandemic-necessitated pause, we relaunched Classical California KUSC Kids Discovery Day,
our popular children’s music festival. We were thrilled to be back at the beautiful Bowers Museum in Santa
Ana, delighting thousands of children and their families with interactive musical activities and wall-to-wall
performances by local groups.
Ever mindful of the desire to diversify our music offerings and broaden our reach, we launched ClassicalCalifornia KUSC’s first stream devoted to classical music composed, performed, or conducted by musiciansfrom Latin America and the Spanish-speaking world. Nuestra Música is hosted on separate Spanish andEnglish channels by Brisa Siegel, a graduate of our highly successful talent development program.
None of these achievements would have been possible without your own passion for the music, and yourinvestment in Classical California KUSC’s future.

Classical California KUSC
1149 S. Hill Street
Suite H100
Los Angeles, California 90015
KUSC.orgClassical California KUSC Annual Report FY23

There are challenges ahead: public radio stations around the country are still reeling from the double
whammy of the pandemic, which altered listening patterns and shrunk charitable giving. As a result, forthe past three years we’ve seen a slight decrease in the number of Classical California KUSC member
supporters. The great news is that our revenue remains robust thanks to your enduring commitment to allthat Classical California KUSC does to enhance the lives of Southern Californians and listeners around theworld. Thank you again for partnering with us to spread a love of classical music and the arts for all…for
generations to come.

James A. Muhammad
President
Classical California
Classical California KUSC Annual Report FY23 / p.1

Community Engagement and Events

I Believe at Watts Learning Center, credos (left); Lara Downes with Thornton School of Music cellist, Quenton Blache

I Believe
Classical Kids Discovery Day at The Bowers Museum, Orange County

A Commitment to Local Arts

In the fall of 2021, as arts organizations throughout Southern California resumed
activities and welcomed back concertgoers with open arms, Classical California
KUSC served as a powerful megaphone to promote their events and performances.
We also amplified their offerings on the air, presenting recorded concerts by the Los
Angeles Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony and more.
For the first time since the pandemic, we reveled in the return of Classical California
KUSC Kids Discovery Day (KDD), an annual children’s music festival that is a joyous
and educational celebration of music, dance, and the visual arts. Held at cultural
locales across the region, the family-friendly event is a wonderful opportunity forkids to step into the world of live classical music in a fun and approachable way.
In December 2022, KDD took place at The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, wheremore than two thousand children and their families enjoyed listening to kid-friendly
classical music performances and took part in interactive musical activities with
our amazing arts partners like Pacific Chorale, Orange County Youth Symphony,
Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, Backhaus Dance, and the Orange County
School of the Arts among others. Classical California KUSC’s Be a Classical DJ
booth was a particular highlight, where hosts helped kids try out the mic, read
scripts, and record on tape. Some kids were even featured on the air! It was a day
filled with music and fun for everyone.
Classical California KUSC Annual Report FY23 / p.2

Classical California KUSC celebrated Black History Month with the launch of a new
public school initiative, I Believe. Designed by Classical California’s resident artist
and evening radio host, Lara Downes, I Believe encourages kids to change theirperceptions and open their ears to the wonders of classical music. The interactive
student assembly was held at Watts Learning Center Charter Middle School, andintroduced more than 400 students to works by Margaret Bonds, Florence Price, andBillie Holiday—composers long-neglected in the concert hall. A grand piano was
graciously donated by YAMAHA for the event.
James Muhammad, President of Classical California, says: “The I Believe projectillustrates the level of passion Lara has for creating a brighter future for this world.
During times of uncertainty, she brings light to the students through the medium ofmusic. Inspired by Bonds’ composition, ‘Credo,’ Lara designed a lesson plan forclassroom teachers to use prior to the event. Students were also encouraged to create
their own credos, or ‘I Believe’ statements, detailing what matters to them.” Notes
Lara: “Seeing the impact Margaret Bonds made with her music inspired me to start thisnational initiative asking young people to leave their marks in the classical world andthe world in general. They can be the people to inspire the next generation.”
Some student credos were read by their middle school authors at the assembly;
others were displayed in the auditorium where the assembly took place. Special
guest USC student Shandela Contreras—a fast-rising LA poet and an alum of USC’s
Neighborhood Academic Initiative—read her “I Believe” poem at the assembly.

Classical California KUSC Annual Report FY23 / p.3

Community Engagement and Events
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

In April, Classical California KUSC hosted a stage at the Los Angeles Times Festivalof Books, a free community event that attracts approximately 150,000 people to the
University of Southern California (USC) campus each spring. Thousands of listeners
from across Southern California stopped by the Classical California KUSC booth tomeet our hosts and staff, including Brisa Siegel (Nuestra Música). Siegel emceed live
musical performances by Los Angeles Opera singers and Los Angeles County HighSchool for the Arts (LACHSA) on the USC Friends and Neighbors Stage. Kids got to“Be a DJ,” with Classical California’s Alan Chapman, Suraj Partha, Jennifer Miller
Hammel, and Brian Lauritzen serving as on-air tutors. They also got to learn about
the Anatomy of a Violin with Metzler Violin Shop.

Music on the Brain event with performances by USC Thornton School of Music students

Your Brain on MusicDid you know music can have a dramatic impact on your brain? It can shape the way
we think, act, and even how we connect with others. In June, Classical California
KUSC collaborated with USC’s Brain and Creativity Institute to present a panel
discussion on how learning music accelerates brain development and how music has
the power to heal and enhance well-being across our lifespans. The panel, facilitatedby Classical California KUSC’s Gail Eichenthal, featured some of the world’s leading
researchers in the fast-changing field of neuroscience, including professors Beatriz
Ilari, Assal Habibi, USC Vice Provost for the Arts Josh Kun, and the world-renowned
Institute founder/director, Antonio Damasio. The panel discussion was followed by achamber music concert featuring students from the USC Thornton School of Music.
A video of this event can be seen on our Classical California YouTube channel,
youtube.com/@ClassicalCalifornia
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

Classical California KUSC Annual Report FY23 / p.4

Classical California KUSC Annual Report FY23 / p.5

Partnerships
Community Arts Partners

At Classical California KUSC, our strategy for community partnership and engagement
is ever-expanding. Our initiatives focus on introducing classical music to youth
who have a limited exposure to the performing arts, while spreading a love ofclassical music for all. We also bank on our reach across the airwaves, as well as ourappearances at public events, to act as a “megaphone” and promote arts organizations
that may not have the resources to tell their stories to a broad audience. As you readthrough this report, you will learn more about a few of our FY23 community partnershiphighlights, and see that we strive to embrace audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
Importantly, Classical California strives to expand the reach of classical music, building
new audiences and perhaps even inspiring the classical musicians of the future.

Talent Development Program
Building Future Talent: Host Trainees

Classical California KUSC believes training
the next generation of knowledgeable andcompanionable hosts will play a key role innurturing a love of classical music for ourlisteners, and help immeasurably in our quest toconnect more people to the joys of the art form.
Now in its third year, Building Future Talent is atalent development program that trains the next
generation of radio hosts, digital content providers,and producers. Paid trainees learn the ropes ofclassical hosting and storytelling while working
with our team of veteran Classical California hosts
and producers. Alumni of the program have joined
our full-time staff, creating a distinctive presenceon our airwaves. One of the first Building Future
Talent trainees, Brisa Siegel, was recognized byCurrent as a Current “Rising Star” of 2023, andwas a major force behind the creation of ClassicalCalifornia KUSC’s Nuestra Música stream. 2023
trainee Solomon Reynolds will host a brand new
weekly feature: Saturday Morning CarTunes,
in FY24. This fun and funky 5-minute offering
will introduce children and families en routeto their Saturday activities to various musicalinstruments. Multi-faceted artist Suraj Partha, anactor, musician, and writer, is heard regularly on
the Classical California KUSC airwaves. He has
also written and hosted some of our most popular
videos and blogs.

Photos left to right:
Hosts in Training
Solomon Reynolds,
Suraj Partha andBrisa Siegel

Classical California KUSC Annual Report FY23 / p.6

Classical California KUSC Annual Report FY23 / p.7

Special Programming

Digital Highlights

FY23 was rich with special programming at KUSC. Our popular specials over the
past year included Love At First Listen, a warm and sentimental week in May during
which our listeners shared the pieces that made them fall in love with classical music.
Highlights of Sounds of the Season—a two-week holiday celebration in December—included the launch of our first holiday playlist and virtual fireplace on YouTube, acelebration of Hanukkah with Lara Downes on her Evening Show, and a 10-day special
with Downes as she counted down her ten favorite albums of 2022.

Lara Downes

In honor of Black History Month, Downes hosted Crossings, twohours of music from Black composers whose inspirations andinnovations helped define our American sound—from Scott Joplin
and Florence Price to Wynton Marsalis and Jon Batiste. Later inthe month—and in partnership with LA Opera—Classical California
presented the radio premiere of LA Opera’s groundbreaking opera,
Omar. The month of May is Asian American and Pacific Islander
Heritage Month. To commemorate the occasion, host Suraj Partha
introduced Friendship and Harmony, a 2-hour special celebrating
Asian and Pacific Americans in classical music and featuring artists
such as Yo-Yo Ma and the Silkroad Ensemble, Mahani Teave,
and Reena Esmail. As summer was poised to begin, we aired
Let Freedom Ring, a commemoration of Juneteenth hosted by
Lara Downes. This 3-hour program of music by Black composers
reflected on freedom and celebrated the limitless power of creative
expression.

Finally, host Maggie Clennon Reberg explored the vast
contributions of the LGBTQ+ community to the world of classicalmusic, from early music to the great Romantics, to contemporary
Suraj Partha
artists with strong ties to the GoldenState. Glitter and Be Golden: A California Celebrationof Pride highlighted works by Tobias Picker, Jennifer
Higdon and Michael Tilson Thomas; ensembles led by
Marin Alsop and Craig Hella Johnson; and performancesby harpist Emmanuel Ceysson, soprano Patricia Racetteand pianist Sarah Davis Buechner. A glowing celebrationof Pride, California-style, on Classical California!

Classical California and NPR collaborated on anotherseason of Amplify, a video series hosted by Lara Downes.
This series of deeply personal conversations with visionary
Black musicians “amplifies” those shaping the future ofclassical music. Guests have included composer, singer,
and instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens, soprano Julia
Bullock, and violinist Randall Goosby.

Alternate streams added in 2022|23 included Classical California Ultimate Playlist,
which featured our listeners’ 250 favorite pieces streamed back-to-back; the relaunchof our beloved holiday stream, A Classical California Christmas; and ClassicalCalifornia at the Movies, a celebration of favorite movie music in the lead-up to the
Academy Awards, plus exclusive interviews with the year’s nominees for Best Original
Score. We also launched Nuestra Música, Classical California’s first stream devoted
exclusively to classical music composed, performed, or conducted by musicians from
Latin America and the Spanish-speaking world—with versions hosted 24/7 by Brisa
Siegel in both English and Spanish.

Maggie Clennon Reberg

Classical California KUSC Annual Report FY23 / p.8

Classical California KUSC Annual Report FY23 / p.9

Technology

Climate Change and Classical California KUSC

At the heart of Classical California KUSC’s mission is making classical music accessible
to a large and diverse audience. To expand its listener base and engage audiencesin the digital realm, Classical California KUSC explores digital innovations such as
content creation platforms like TikTok and YouTube, as well as themed web streams
with a primary goal of evolving from a successful public radio station to a multi-platform
classical music content provider.
Digital advances made in FY23 will provide us with greater flexibility moving forward toutilize innovative approaches to music programming. Among our greatest achievements:
adopting new technologies to increase listenership, improve our broader understandingof listener preferences, and provide tailored listener experiences.

Streaming: Monthly Reach (CUME)
KDFC

KUSC

Side Streams

Combined

500,000

Throughout the year, 1.3 million listeners enjoyed over 6.5 million hours of digital musicdelivered through our streaming platforms.

400,000

While our engineering and operations staff worked throughout the year to streamline
and modernize our software infrastructure, they were simultaneously challenged bymother nature. The rapid effects of climate change paired with facilities not used tosevere weather led to massive efforts to repair and maintain some of our most criticalfacility sites. Throughout the winter and into the spring, prolonged winter storms sent
flurries and floods across the region. Classical California KUSC’s main transmitter site,
Mount Harvard, was covered in snow and ice and inaccessible for weeks, left to run on
generator power alone.

300,000

200,000

100,000

0Jul. 2022

Oct. 2022

Jan. 2023

Apr. 2023
MonthJul. 2023

Damage at Gibraltar Peak in Santa Barbara included mudslides, washed-out roads, aswell as downed power and communication lines, requiring months of workarounds andrepair to maintain service.
Classical California KUSC’s backup transmitter location for Mount Harvard on Lookout
Mountain in the Hollywood Hills experienced roof and water damage after heavyseasonal rains, requiring emergency repairs. Rest assured that behind the scenes, ourstalwart engineers are always hard at work maintaining and improving our state-of-theart sound in the face of ongoing logistical challenges!

Classical California KUSC Annual Report FY23 / p.10

Classical California KUSC Annual Report FY23 / p.11

Membership Support

Classical California KUSC Sponsorship
FY23 was a restorative season for the Classical California KUSC Sponsorship team.
A sense of things returning to the “new normal” included the return of many of ourlongest tenured support partners in the arts community, and the ability to develop longterm strategies and plans without interruption.
Through it all, Classical California KUSC Sponsorship’s passionate commitment to ourdual objectives was steadfast: Providing creative input, value, and a measurable returnon investment for our partners in the arts community and the corporate sector, while
generating revenue to fund our own programming and community efforts.
1. Classical California KUSC KIDS Discovery Day in December of 2022 at
Santa Ana’s Bowers Museum was sponsored and underwritten in part by ourfriends at SOUTH COAST PLAZA.

Membership support makes up 83% of the revenue received by Classical California KUSC. We
could not exist without this level of commitment from our supporters. While we experienced a slightdecrease in membership from FY20 to FY23, our revenue in FY23 remained strong. Over 34,000
members made a financial commitment during FY23, sustaining our mission to champion the powerof classical music. Our plan during FY24 is to increase membership—including new members—
through direct mail, and on-air and digital techniques. As a listener-supported station, ClassicalCalifornia KUSC remains committed to producing classical music programming that inspires andchallenges our audience. We would not exist without this level of commitment from its supporters.
Thank you!
FY23 Classical California KUSC Members and Revenue
42,000$7,000,000

2. Classical California KUSC continued its unrivaled partnership with the LA
PHILHARMONIC throughout the four seasons, with summer at The Hollywood
Bowl and a spectacular concert season at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

36,000$6,000,000

30,000$5,000,000

3. VIKING CRUISES set sail with Classical California KUSC’s The Great Escapefor its fourth year as exclusive sponsor.

24,000$4,000,000

18,000$3,000,000

12,000$2,000,000

6,000$1,000,000

4. Classical California KUSC’s At The Movies flexed its Oscar influence during
awards season by celebrating the best in cinema and original scores.
For information about customized partnerships and sponsorship opportunities, pleasecontact Classical California KUSC’s Tim McClellan at tmcclellan@kusc.org.

FY19

FY20

FY21

FY22

Members

DonorsFY23$0

FY23 Classical California KUSC Sustainers and Revenue
20,000$2,500,000

16,000$2,000,000

12,000$1,500,000

8,000$1,000,000

4,000$500,000FY19Classical California KUSC Annual Report FY23 / p.12

FY20

FY21

FY22

Members

DonorsFY23$0Classical California KUSC Annual Report FY23 / p.13

Classical California KUSC Major Gifts
We celebrate our Leadership Circle members for their annual giving tosupport our vision of nurturing a love of classical music for all. We gratefully
acknowledge this rapidly growing list of members for their relentless support
from June 2022 to July 2023.
LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
President’s Gold($25,000 + )Anonymous (3)		
The Colburn Foundation*Louise G. Garland 		Valerie and Hans Imhof
The Norman and Sadie Lee Foundation* Stanley Lintner 		Jason Subotky and Anne Akiko Meyers
The Flora L. Thornton Foundation
Lee and Deborah Walcott		President’s Circle($10,000 - $24,999)
Anonymous (8)Curtis N. Browne
Nancy E. Barton Foundation
Gary and Shuko Clouse
Andy Edmonds
Robert and Cynthia Hall
Carole Innes Ownes
Allen Katz and Robert Cooper
Linda and Bill Krantz
Heather MacDonald
Christine Mankofsky
The Negaunee Foundation

The K.T. & E.L. Norris Foundation
The Ruby Family Foundation
Dr. Jack and Anitra Sheen
Dr. Daniel Temianka
Composer’s Circle($5,000 - $9,999)
Anonymous (31)		
Gretchen E. Alkema 		
Eve Bernstein		Dennis and Patricia Burke
Ana and Robert Cook		
Jacqueline Eldridge		Arthur J. Geoffrion and Herman H.
Hamer Memorial Fund 		
Barry Graynor		Thomas C. Hudnut 		
Judith and Howard Jelinek
Lillian Lovelace 		M. Susan Montgomery 		Elaine and Carl Neuss		
Janet Petersen		Susan Rice		Michelle Rohè		
Anne-Marie Stephens 		
Douglass M. Stewart, Jr.
Bea and Dennis Volper 		
Shan Wang		

Classical California KUSC Annual Report FY23 / p.14

WHH Foundation 		
Ramona R. Whitney 		Anna and Edward Yeung 		Producer’s Circle($2,500 - $4,999)
Anonymous (124)
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Abeles
Bonnie Bee Bailey-Jones
Karen and George Bayz
Linda and David Bush
Norman E. Dufort
In memory of Diane K. Gordon
Teresa Gordon
Mr. Barry A. Graynor
Dr. Cornelia Haag-MolkentellerCharlotte Hughes and Christopher Combs
Lynda Jarman
Linda Kristenson
Katharina and Thierry Leduc
Alan and Abby Myerson
Jean L. Oppenheimer
Jane C. Parks
Anne Breck Peterson
Edward Platt
Peggy and Peter Preuss
Anne and Ernest Prokopovych
Susan F. RicePeter Rutenberg
Alexander A. and Mariette Sawchuk
Dena and Irv Schechter
Claire and Dr. Charlie Shaeffer
Shanbrom Family Fund
Robert and Kerry Shuman
The Simon-Strauss Foundation
Sharon Stevenson
Max Stolz, Jr.
Terry Tegnazian and Scott Whittle
Karen and William Timberlake
Robert D. Voit
Shan Wang
Timothy P. Whalen
Susan WhiteDavid and Michele Wilson
Meredith Jackson and Jan Voboril
Legacy Society
Anonymous (72)
Dr. Barbara Ackermann, LCSWCarleen Anderson
Jerry and Barbara Andes
Dr. Roman Anshin, M.D.
Sonia Appell
Jim and Nancy Bailey
Christopher D. Baker
Charles N. Baron
Terry S. Bateman
Benla C. Bennett
Herbert M. Berk
Lillian Berman Goldfarb
Martin Bray and Scott Henderson

William J. Bryan
Jeremiah and Raun Burnham
Dr. Leland S. Burns
Dr. Owen G. Clayton
Nancy Coleman-Frank
Edward and Lisa Cook
Dr. Allen J. Curtis
Caroline S. DeMar
Fantasia Fairchild
Theresa and Jeff Ferguson*Robert S. Field
Jeanette Fraser
David F. Freedman
Robin Friedheim
Dr. and Mrs. E. Peter Gabor
Peggy Garvey
Robert L. Glasser
Deborah Goetzman
Meredith Goodwin
Donald P. Gould
David Grant
Tom Greene
Heinz Hanau
Rod and Nancy Harvey
Robert S. Helfman
Vera J. Hirtz
Terrence Joseph Hughes
Len and Trudy Kapner
Steven Katz
*Doris H. Keniry*Nick J. Labedz
Donald & Sharon Lafler*Morton Lampert

Dr. Peter B. Landecker
Jocelyn Lee
Dennis and Kathleen Lees
William Earl Lentz
Adolph Maier
Hon. Nora Manella
Alison Manheim
Susan J. MarksJames Michaelis
Les Modie
Maury and Barbara Mortensen
John R. Oden and Mark Dizik
Craig Percy and Silvia Berg
Ernest and Anne Prokopovych
James Pykonen
Suzanne Robinson
In Memory of Charles Simon Sarkas*Ronald and Barbara Schonfeld
Matej Sherko and Anthony Rosello
Lynette Sim
June Smith
Max Stolz, Jr.
Evelyn Stone*Joseph and Linda Svehla
Craig and Junior Vickers
Carol Ann Walker Trust
Carole E. Walker
Ramona R. Whitney
Jon Harvey and Joemy Wilson
Dr. Robert and Mrs. Nadyne Zafran*Deceased

Classical California KUSC Annual Report FY23 / p.15

Classical California KUSC Senior LeadershipJames A. Muhammad
President,
USC Radio Group

Minnie Prince
Chief Philanthropic
and Community
Development Officer

Bill Lueth
President, ClassicalCalifornia KDFC
Vice President,
Sponsorship andMarketingJustin Collard
Chief Technology
OfficerMark Steinmetz
Vice President,
Content

Daniel Sy
Senior Business
OfficerClassical California KUSC Annual Report FY23 / p.16

Classical California KUSC Board of Councilors
The Board of Councilors represents the interests of the listeners and the community
at large by acting as a liaison between Classical California KUSC and the community,
offering advice regarding strategy for USC Radio and helping with fundraising efforts.
Frank Cruz
Corey Field
Sam Garrison
Gary Clouse
Mieko Hatano
Cynthia Hersey

Valerie Imhoff
Chuck Jones
Natalie Klein
John Osterweis
Frederica von Stade
Lee Walcott

Classical California KUSC Annual Report FY23 / p.17

Classical California KUSC Hosts

Fiscal Year 2023 Overview
4% 2%
9%
11%

Alan Chapman

Brian Lauritzen

Brisa Siegel

17%

17%

Dianne Nicolini

83%

53%
4%

Jeff Freymann

Jennifer Miller Hammel

John Van Driel

Lara Downes

Development

Development

Underwriting/Sponsorship

Underwriting/Sponsorship

Government Funding

Operations

Other

Content/Engineering
Administration

Rich Capparela

Rik Malone

Robin Pressman

Classical California KUSC
Operating Revenue

Classical California KUSC
Operating Expenses

Development..........................$10,860,746
Underwriting/Sponsorship.......$1,374,521
Government Funding...................$464,891
Other........................................... $328,582

Operations................................$1,623,079
Development ...........................$1,615,001
Underwriting/Sponsorship..........$409,066
Content/Engineering................$5,132,949
Administration............................ $902,257

TOTAL.....$13,028,740

Solomon Reynolds

Suraj Partha

Classical California KUSC Annual Report FY23 / p.18

TOTAL.....$9,682,352

Classical California KUSC’s most recent independent auditor’s report conducted byPricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited can be found on our website:		
https://www.kusc.org/culture/our-mission/audited-financials/				Classical California KUSC Annual Report FY23 / p.19

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