Classical California Launches Notes from the Fires, a New Weekly Series Highlighting Resilience and Recovery After the Palisades and Eaton Fires

Listen to Notes from the Fires Here: 

https://www.kusc.org/tags/notes-from-the-fires 

 

Los Angeles, CA – Classical California, the nation’s largest listener-supported classical music public media network, announces the launch of Notes from the Fires—a new weekly series of short radio documentaries produced and hosted by veteran journalist John Rabe. The series is part of Classical California’s continued commitment to supporting fire-affected communities throughout Los Angeles County, building on recent wildfire relief initiatives like The Hollywood Bowl’s We ♥ LA live concert broadcast, an instrument drive with Mr Holland’s Opus Foundation, and a food aid partnership with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

Notes from the Fires follows musicians, composers, educators, and instrument makers whose lives and livelihoods were upended by the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires. Each 3-5 minute episode features one central story of loss and resilience, paired with a piece of music that connects to the interviewee’s journey. With decades of radio storytelling experience, Rabe shines a light on the often-unseen figures behind the music, what classical music means to them today, and the power of art to help communities rebuild.

"It is an honor to help tell the stories of classical musicians who have lost so much, and at the same time, it’s gratifying to be able to show how much working-class musicians are an integral part of Southern California,” said Rabe.

“Classical music has long been a source of comfort and connection,” said Classical California Program Director Kelsey McConnell. “This series reminds us how deeply music can get inside our heads and hearts, and how that relationship to music can carry us through even the most complicated moments.”

Notes from the Fires airs on Classical California Tuesdays at 11AM and 4PM, and is available to stream at ClassicalCalifornia.org.

 

Recent Episodes:

Episode 1: “Carrie Kennedy and Joel Pargman” (Aired March 11)

Violinists Carrie Kennedy and Joel Pargman lost their Altadena home in the Eaton fire. They share how they’ve begun the emotional and practical process of rebuilding their lives.

 

Episode 2: “Nina Evtuhov” (Aired March 18)

Session violinist Nina Evtuhov, whose credits include Frozen and Star Wars, lost her Palisades home in the January fires. She reflects on continuing her musical career after also having to rebuild from personal loss a decade earlier.

 

Episode 3: “Christopher Still” (Aired March 25)

LA Phil second trumpet Christopher Still recounts escaping his Altadena home with his family and dogs just minutes before the fire reached them. He also shares how he’s helping other musicians navigate crisis through his podcast Honesty Pill.

 

Episode 4: “Tesserae” (Aired March 31)

Baroque musicians Alex Opsahl and Ian Pritchard were overseas during the Eaton fire and lost their home, rare instruments, and four cats. With community support, they’ve found stability and continued performing, while keeping their children in school.

 

Episode 5: “Jeffrey Kahane” (Aired April 7) 

Jeffrey Kahane, pianist and former conductor of the LA Chamber Orchestra, sat down for a heartfelt conversation about how pieces he’s played for decades have new meaning to him now. 

Upcoming episodes will feature more voices from Southern California’s vibrant classical scene, and more stories about finding hope in music and community.

This series builds on Classical California’s broader wildfire response efforts, including a two-week instrument drive with The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation that brought in 134 instruments for students affected by the fires. The drive was powered by remarkable community generosity—like Rob and Dawn, who arrived on day one with two beautiful guitars, including a vintage, Austrian-built acoustic masterpiece. Or Barbara, a retired LA Unified music teacher, who filled her car with musical treasures: two violins, three bows, a flute, and a carbon fiber “outdoor” cello. As word spread, the donations accelerated—on day three alone, the team collected more instruments than during the entire first weekend. Donors also enjoyed an unexpected perk: the chance to meet Classical California hosts Jennifer Miller Hammel and Alan Chapman, with Alan even sampling a few of the instruments himself, much to everyone’s delight.

In addition to the instrument drive, Classical California’s winter membership campaign in partnership with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank helped provide over 76,000 meals to those in need. The network has also aired benefit performances from the San Francisco Symphony and LA Philharmonic, using music to amplify hope and healing. Most recently, Classical California hosted a live broadcast of the monumental We ♥ LA concert at the Hollywood Bowl—a free event for first responders and communities impacted by January’s wildfires—featuring Gustavo Dudamel conducting the LA Phil, performances of John Williams’ iconic scores, and a special set from Christina Aguilera.

 

About John Rabe: 

Known for his work on Off-Ramp at KPCC/LAist, Rabe has spent years exploring the people and places that define Southern California. John moved to LA in 2000 and lives in the foothills of Mt. Washington with his Irish terrier, Jackie.

 

About Classical California:

Classical California is America’s largest listener-supported public media organization for classical music, reaching 1.4 million monthly listeners worldwide. We are dedicated to making everyday life more harmonious. Classical California enriches lives and communities through our innovative on-air and in-person music experiences, making it accessible, entertaining, and relevant for audiences of all ages. Our broadcasts reach across California through eleven (11) radio transmitters, anchored in Los Angeles (91.5 FM) and San Francisco (90.3 FM) with additional signals in Santa Barbara (93.7 FM), San Luis Obispo (99.7 FM), Palm Springs (88.5 FM), Thousand Oaks (91.1 FM), the Tri-Valley region (89.9 FM), Silicon Valley (104.9 FM), Ukiah-Lakeport (92.5 FM), and Monterey (103.9 FM). Listeners can tune in through traditional radio, streaming on kusc.org and kdfc.com, smart speakers, and mobile apps. Classical California is licensed to the University of Southern California, one of the leading research universities in the nation, with a respected commitment to classical music, arts, and the community.

 

For more information, please contact:

Mikaela Duhs / ClassicalCaliforniaPR@shorefire.com