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Raised next to a farm in the woods of Connecticut, Alyssa Rodriguez came to Rochester in 2014 to work as an AmericCorps Volunteer Teacher. She earned her bachelor’s degree in music composition from Ithaca College in the Finger Lakes, where she began immersing herself in fiddle music and playing for dances. In 2015, Alyssa interned at WXXI Classical and fell in love with Classical radio.

Born in South Africa, James Aldrich-Moodie spent some of his childhood in Geneva, NY, and fondly remembers attending concerts at Eastman and with the RPO. He studied piano and flute, but remains strictly an amateur. A passionate lover of classical music, especially opera and vocal music, James hosted a radio show on WYBC as an undergraduate. Later, he wrote a dissertation about transformations in the worlds of opera and literature, and the connections between the two.

Marianne has been fortunate to be involved in four decades of WXXI’s multimedia services, first as radio operations director, then FM program manager, and since 1988 as a part-time music programmer and host. She joined WXXI radio when, like many public stations, its format was a mix of news, folk, jazz, classical and ethnic programming, much of it hosted by volunteers from the community. Gradually WXXI-FM evolved, first into a classical and news format, then into a full-time classical music service when news and jazz moved to AM 1370.

Peter DuBois served as Director of Music/Organist at Third Presbyterian Church in Rochester from 1991 to 2023. He currently holds the title Director of Music/Organist Emeritus at Third Church.

A native of Herndon, Virginia, Steve came to Rochester to earn his Ph.D. in Musicology at the Eastman School of Music. He has loved classical music and public media since his youth, and has worked for years to make classical music more accessible on social media.

Brenda Tremblay has served as weekday morning host on WXXI Classical since 2009.

Lara Downes is among the foremost American pianists of her generation, a trailblazer both on and off the stage, whose musical roadmap seeks inspiration from the legacies of history, family and collective memory. As a chart-topping recording artist, a powerfully charismatic performer, a curator and tastemaker, Downes is recognized as a cultural visionary on the national arts scene.

Cash was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He spoke to Fresh Air in 1997 about his career, from touring with Elvis to singing at prisons. He died in 2003.

Georgia O'Keeffe allowed reproductions of her paintings to be used for the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival from 1973 to 1992, meaning she provided artwork for the festival's posters and brochures for 20 years. The first use was with her permission in 1973 and continued until 1992, according to the festival's history.