Played in Oregon 
Wins Top Honors for 2005 Production

The judges' panel has awarded Played in Oregon the 2005 Fine Arts Radio International® Awards Grand Prize in the radio producers' contest for outstanding achievement in classical music education in a radio program airing in 2005.

Produced by Robert McBride at All Classical 89.9, KBPS/Portland, Oregon, the one-hour program series celebrates the classical music scene in Oregon, sometimes featuring a new Oregon-bred CD or a local composer. It was the later, a riveting interview with area composer David Schiff on the occasion of Mr. Schiff's 60th birthday, that so impressed the judges. Far from a dry discussion, the interview weaved musical excerpts throughout that made the hour fascinating radio.

The annual Fine Arts Radio International® Awards contest recognizes radio programs or radio series containing a substantial amount of classical music education. Entries need not to be instructional in nature, but the educational component cannot not be incidental to the overall tone of the program or series. Check out our Classical Music Education Clearinghouse page for valuable links to programs and educational supplements.

Fine Arts Radio International Lifetime Achievement Awards (for music education) have been bestowed on Karl Haas (2000), Peter Schickele (2001), Martin Bookspan (2002), Leonard Slatkin (2003) and Bill McGlaughlin (2004).

The newest award, the 2006 Karl Haas Prize for Music Education has been award to Christopher O'Riley, host of From the Top.

In 2005, Classcial Kids, produced by The Children's Group, a Canadian-based producer of children's audio and video materials, was the honoree.