It’s been a tough stretch for local public radio and its loyal listeners. The fight to preserve funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ended – at least for now – on Friday, when Republican members of Congress, with only a few holdouts, approved President Trump’s rescission of $1.1 billion in CPB funding.
So how did Durango’s two public radio stations respond? With class – and with a big party.
KSUT Executive Director Tami Graham and KDUR Station Manager Bryant Liggett shared the stage at KSUT’s 20th annual Party in the Park, headlined by Los Lobos and attended by more than 1,700 fans of live music and public radio. “We aren’t going anywhere,” they told the crowd.
“That moment was an important reflection of how well our community stands in solidarity during difficult times,” Graham said this week. Then, Durango did what Durango does best – danced, played, and gathered to show support for public radio.
Since Friday, KSUT has received 125 new donations totaling between $15,000 and $20,000. It’s a far cry from the $330,000 KSUT will lose starting in October (KDUR will lose $130,000) due to CPB funding cuts, but it’s a start. Further support is welcome – and needed. To donate, visit KSUT.org and KDUR.org.
While KSUT pauses on the Four Corners Folk Festival over Labor Day Weekend, plenty of other musical offerings remain before summer ends.
Music in the Mountains is now in the final stretch of its 39th season, which runs through August 3. This year marks a new era under artistic director Vadim Gluzman, an internationally renowned Israeli violinist who succeeds longtime conductor Guillermo Figueroa. Gluzman has performed with the Berlin and London Philharmonics, the Boston and Chicago Symphonies, Orchestre de Paris, and many others.
Angie Beach, the festival’s executive director, said she’s thrilled for what’s ahead: “People just need to come see – and hear – for themselves.”
Although tonight’s Dinner & Family concert is sold out, there are plenty of tickets available for two full orchestra performances:
- Sunday, July 27: Daniel Raiskin, 2025 Conductor-in-Residence, leads the orchestra with Demarre McGill on flute, performing Vasks, Mozart, and Shostakovich.
- Friday, Aug. 1: Raiskin returns to conduct Schnittke, Schumann, and Brahms.
To purchase tickets, learn about and sign up for information on all the happenings, including the festival’s incredible educational programs, visit musicinthemountains.com.
More summer sounds:
- Powerhouse Community Concert Series continues Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. through Aug. 6. On July 23, La La Bones performs to benefit Community Connections.
- Concert Hall @ The Park offers three more Thursday concerts. On July 24, catch Afrosonics at 5:30 p.m.
- Fox Fire Farms in Ignacio hosts live music every Friday through October 3. This Friday, July 25, features Black Velvet.
Support public radio. Celebrate local musicians. And enjoy the music while it’s hot.
