MCCC's WWFM Launches 'Kids on Keys,' Focusing on Local Young Pianists

Mercer County Community College's (MCCC) WWFM the Classical Network announces the launch of "Kids on Keys," a new monthly broadcast series spotlighting some of the best young piano talent in the radio station's immediate broadcast region of Central and Southern New Jersey.

Hosted by pianist, composer, critic and author Jed Distler, The Classical Network's artist-in-Residence, the program will air on the first Saturday of each month at 1 p.m. beginning July 1. Each "Kids on Keys" program will feature performances given by young artists in recital at the Lawrenceville, N.J. location of Jacobs Music Company, which is the program's sponsor, and other regional venues.

"The range of talent among these young pianists impresses me as much as their obvious love for music, their dedication to the piano, and their capacity for hard work," Distler said. "Each deserves to be heard, and, to that end, 'Kids on Keys' showcases their artistry and their future potential."

"We consider it to be our responsibility to carry on our company's long tradition of sponsoring recitals, master classes, young artist competitions, teaching and technical seminars, and other events aimed at musical enrichment," said Bob Rinaldi, senior vice president of Jacobs Music. "We are extremely happy to partner with The Classical Network in recognizing the talents and dedication of the remarkable young pianists who will be showcased on 'Kids on Keys.' It is truly our honor and pleasure to do so."

Jacobs Music takes a leading role in the region's musical community, providing instruments and technical services for internationally renowned artists and music institutions such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Curtis Institute of Music, Princeton University, The College of New Jersey, Rowan University, Stockton University, Westminster Choir College and countless others, supporting schools and individuals involved in musical performance and education.

Called "a witty, genial and adventurous pianist and composer" by The New York Times, Jed Distler hosts "Between the Keys" on The Classical Network and "Piano Excursions" on WWFM's JazzOn2. He serves as artistic director of ComposersCollaborative, Inc., a New York-based organization responsible for 30 years-worth of innovative programs and new music events, such as a record-breaking outdoor 175 keyboard performance, plus more than 150 world premieres. Distler's work is available on the Bridge, Nonesuch, New World, Point, Decca and Musical Concepts labels. As a Steinway artist, Distler has been recording a wide range of repertoire for the Steinway Spirio High Definition Player Piano.

The Classical Network, operating from MCCC's West Windsor Campus, is a full-time classical music network serving central and southern New Jersey, Philadelphia, eastern Pennsylvania and portions of Delaware and Maryland, as well as reaching listeners in Colorado via satellite and around the world through streaming on wwfm.org. In the fall of 2008, the station launched JazzOn2, a 24-hour jazz station available on its HD channel 2 and JazzOn2.org. The station was the recipient of the 2014 ASCAP Foundation Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Radio Broadcast Award and has been named one of the Top College Radio Stations for the past two years by BestColleges.com. More information is available at (609) 587-8989 or info@wwfm.org.

Pictured: New York City-based composer and artist Jed Distler, artist-in-residence and the host of the show "Between the Keys" on WWFM The Classical Network, launches a new program in July focusing on young pianists in the region entitled "Kids on Keys."

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