Public Television for Western New England

Message from the General Manager

Rus Peotter, WGBY General ManagerDespite being the middle of winter, this is an especially busy time at WGBY. Of course between daily productions of Connecting Point, preparing broadcasts of As Schools Match Wits and fundraising production, almost any time is busy. But since mid-January our production team has been hosting choral groups from around the region to perform works from their repertoires for WGBY's second season of Together In Song. Over several weeks of tapings, more than a thousand of your neighbors (and friends) will be sharing their passion for singing with you, with audiences across western New England and thanks to the internet, the world.

By almost any measure, Together In Song was our most popular local program of 2011. And I'm mentioning it here, not only to promote it, but because in many ways it is symbolic of what public media is all about. I know you're enjoying Season 2 of Downton Abbey, but WGBY and other public TV and radio stations do more than distribute exciting national content. We exist to share those things that define us as a community—the ideas, the passions and in this case, the accomplishment of making music together with little more than the tools we were born with and the desire to work together for a common purpose. When you see all the talent and commitment we have so close at hand, I know you'll be impressed and inspired.

This season of Together In Song will debut March 10th with performance programs featuring groups from the five categories (Children, High School, College, Small and Large Adult Ensembles). The performances will all be posted online as well so that you can help our advisors and judges choose who will be invited to our Festival which will be broadcast live April 21st and 22nd from the Paramount Theatre in downtown Springfield.

Finally, as this series could not exist without the commitment of the singers, WGBY cannot exist without yours. I hope that makes you feel even better when you see someone you know on Together In Song.

 

Russell Peotter, signature
Russell J. Peotter
General Manager