Press Releases
KMFA Program Producer Kathryn Mishell Wins Gracie AwardŽ
February 25, 2009 (Austin, TX) – American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) has announced the 2009 winners of the annual Gracie Awards®, and Classical 89.5, KMFA’s own Kathryn Mishell is among them! Ms. Mishell is a 2009 Gracie Award winner for her program Into the Light, produced from the studios of KMFA and broadcast every Sunday evening at 9pm.
“Women from Fanny Mendelssohn to Joan Tower, and many who are virtually unknown, have written significant music,” says Mishell. “The purpose of Into the Light is to let people know that this music exists and is worthy of their attention. I am immensely proud that this program has been recognized nationally by the American Women in Radio and Television with a Gracie Award!”
The Gracie Award promotes programming created for women, by women and about women, as well as individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the industry. Ms. Mishell won in the Outstanding Portrait/Biography category and will accept her award at the annual Gracies Luncheon on Thursday, June 4, 2009 at Tavern on the Green in New York City.
Ms. Mishell, a composer herself, began conceptualizing Into the Light in 1999. It was first broadcast on KMFA 89.5 in January of 2000. Now in its 10th year, the program recognizes that in order for the history of music to be properly understood, the achievements of women composers must be a part of our understanding of the musical past. Ending the imposed silence of women composers – bringing their music “into the light” – helps correct past omissions and empower all women.
KMFA’s General Manager Joan Kobayashi says, “KMFA is proud to be part of the production and broadcast of this important programming, and congratulates Ms. Mishell for receiving this well-deserved award.”
The Gracie Awards benefits the Foundation of American Women in Radio & Television, a chartiable non-profit. For more information about the Gracie Awards, please visit www.thegracies.org/. For more information about Kathryn Mishell and Into the Light, please visit www.intothelightradio.org
About Classical 89.5, KMFA: Classical 89.5 KMFA is a listener-supported community radio station, incorporated in 1967, relying on the majority of its funding from direct listener and business contributions. A non-commercial, all-classical format station serving an average of 90,000 listeners each week, KMFA features both local programming and nationally-distributed programming from Public Radio International, American Public Media and National Public Radio. For more information on KMFA, visit www.kmfa.org
