90.5 Classical

Your refuge during difficult times.

90.5 FM WKAR presents the world's best classical music, weekday mornings with Mark Schwitzgoebel and afternoons with Jody Knol, plus weekday evenings, weekend afternoons and every night through the night.

Meet the 90.5 Classical Hosts

Mark Schwitzgoebel 9am-1pm Weekdays Mark Schwitzgoebel has been a classical music host at 90.5 WKAR since 1986. He began his broadcasting career in the News Department at WKAR Radio in 1976 after graduating from Michigan State University. Mark's love of classical music was inspired at an early age by his father, who played violin, viola and cello.

Jody Knol 1pm-4pm Weekdays Jody Knol began announcing classical music on 90.5 WKAR while a student at MSU in 1982. After receiving his degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities--music, theater and political science--Jody worked as chief announcer for WMUK in Kalamazoo for two years before returning to WKAR to host the morning program in 1986. Trained as a singer, Jody combines his study of music and his stage experience to present the music he loves to listeners.

Also

	Bob Christiansen Christiansen grew up in the suburbs northwest of Chicago and has a degree in history from Northern Illinois University. His "secret life" as the evening man on the university radio station managed to lead him into a 35-year radio career.
	Mindy Ratner With years of broadcasting experience and a lengthy list of performing credits under her belt, Mindy Ratner infuses her weekend programs with her knowledge and deep roots in the classical music community. Her spare time is devoted to international travel; folk, ballroom, and contradancing; singing in the Minnesota Chorale; her two cats; and trying to stay ahead of the weeds in her garden.
	Valerie Kahler Valerie Kahler holds a degree in cello performance and is an accomplished pianist. She was classical host and music director at KNAU/Flasgstaff, Arizona, for more than a decade.

Scott Blankenship Scott Blankenship started his radio career in college when he began working as a volunteer at a local cable radio station, announcing alternative and new rock music. His love and appreciation of classical music began at public radio station KVNO in Omaha. In his spare time, Blankenship is an avid cyclist and amateur playwright with several produced scripts to his credit.

Ward Jacobson Ward Jacobson has enjoyed a radio career spanning over two decades as a morning show host and sportscaster. While still a college student in Nebraska, he began singing with the Abendmusik Chorus and took part in concert tours to venues as varied as England’s Lincoln Cathedral, the Vatican, Salzburg Cathedral, Auschwitz and Moscow. When not singing, he works to develop his guitar-strumming repertoire.

Gillian Martin Gillian Martin was a music major at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale when her first classical radio career began. Moving from volunteer to student worker to part-time announcer to Music Director at WSIU-FM, she spent six years on-air there before leaving to pursue a graduate degree in theater. After several years of working in theater and arts administration, Gillian got back into broadcasting in 2005. In her off hours, Gillian thoroughly enjoys a good sing-along, is passionate about nonprofit bookkeeping, and loves to hear smart people debate big questions.

Lynne Warfel Lynne Warfel returns to a 24-year radio career after a four-year hiatus. In this "Cavorts with Collies" period, she followed her lifelong passion for working with dogs as a trainer and behavior consultant. She started "Good Dog Productions", her in-home dog training business in 2006. Previous to The Dog Mutterer phase, she was one of MPR's first national hosts in 1995. She was also heard locally on Minnesota Public Radio from 1993-2005. While at MPR in her former incarnation, she hosted the Minnesota High School Music Listening Contest, Echoes of Christmas with the Dale Warland Singers, Sommerfest broadcasts, was a guest narrator with The SPCO and Minnesota Orchestra, and was a frequent guest host on The Morning Show with Dale Connelley and Jim Ed Poole.

Alison Young Young served as an assistant producer for KUHF-FM in Houston for "The Front Row" and was host for KUHF's "Sunday Afternoon Concert." She enjoyed a successful career as a concert flutist, performing as a guest with the Boston Symphony and with the Atlanta Symphony.Young began her broadcast life at Houston Public Radio answering phones during fundraising campaigns.