Tom Allen - Weekdays 6 – 10 a.m.
With Tom Allen hosting the new Radio 2 morning show, we get the best of both worlds.
Having hosted Music & Co., Radio 2's existing morning show, for the last 10 years, Tom provides continuity and comfort to Radio 2's current listeners. His warm, friendly style also tests extremely well in focus groups of potential new listeners.
Tom has developed an image of a radio personality with broad musical knowledge and tastes. An accomplished trombonist, writer and broadcaster, for two and a half years (1991-1993) he hosted CBC Radio Two's Weekender from Halifax. In 1993, Tom was invited to host Fresh Air, the weekend morning show in Ontario and Quebec. His weekly stories were broadcast on Fresh Air, and nationally on This Morning. He has hosted Music & Co since 1998.
His first book, Toe Rubber Blues was published by Penguin in 1999. His second, Rolling Home - A Cross-Canada Railroad Memoir, was published in 2001, also by Penguin, and was the winner of the 2002 Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction. His latest book, The Gift of The Game, is about learning to play hockey and the role the game plays in the life of a hockey parent. It covers, among other things, Tom's adventures as right wing for The Vultures, the band of beer leaguers who seem to lose a great deal more games than they win, but manage to have a good time doing it. The Gift of The Game will be published by Random House in October.
One of his favourite musical memories is of joining 87 other trombonists on the first base-line at Fenway Park for the Boston Red Sox home opener in 1982. In 1987 he began touring with the Great Lakes Brass until he joined CBC Radio in Halifax.
Julie Nesrallah - Weekdays 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Convincing Julie Nesrallah to host Radio 2's new weekday classical show is a coup.
A highly accomplished mezzo-soprano, her impeccable singing and acting qualifications and high industry visibility provide the image and credentials the classical community will embrace.
She is regularly cast in principal roles by leading opera companies across North America and abroad. Roles have included Carmen (Carmen), Rosina (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), Suzuki (Madama Butterfly) and Anita (West Side Story).
Symphonic engagements for Miss Nesrallah have included performances with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Renowned ensembles include the St. Lawrence String Quartet, the Orford Wind Quintet and the Montreal Guitar Trio. She recorded and performed with the Molinari String Quartet in R. Murray Schafer's tour de force, Beauty and the Beast, which won the 2002/2003 Opus Prize for Record of the Year, Modern and Contemporary Category.
Miss Nesrallah has participated in many prestigious festivals including the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, the Macau Music Festival, the Vancouver Chamber Festival and Festival Vancouver. Miss Nesrallah is also part of a duo with classical guitarist, Daniel Bolshoy. The Nesrallah-Bolshoy Duo has performed across Canada, the United States and abroad. In 2003, they released their first CD, Espana.
Miss Nesrallah has been the recipient of many prestigious awards and grand prizes, including the Canada Council for the Arts Emerging Artist Award, the Brian Law Opera Award Grand Prize Winner, the Cercle des Cents Associes Grand Prize Winner and the Journees de la Musique Francaise Grand Prize Winner.
Rich Terfry (Buck 65)
- Weekdays 3 - 6 p.m.
If any one host can represent the excellence and diversity of Canada's emerging singers and songwriters, it is Rich Terfry.
Using the stage name Buck 65, he has won critical acclaim the world over the innovation and creativity in his music, seamlessly interweaving hip-hop, folk, electronica, country and blues into recordings that both educate and challenge while remaining accessible. It is a rare mix that only the most talented can achieve.
Rich was born in Mount Uniake, Nova Scotia, just outside of Halifax. His love affair with music began in the mid-1980's listening to Brave New Waves. Terfry's recording career began in 1993 with a cassette distributed by a small Halifax label, progressing through a diverse series of projects and eventually signing for worldwide distribution by Warner Music.
From 2003-2006, Terfry had a run of success at the JUNOs, nominated four times in three different categories and winning twice.
From his website: 'I'm a big music fan. I have a massive record collection. And there's no kind of music I'm not interested in. We all fall under the influence of artists we admire and respect. I'm no different. I worship Bambaataa, Townes Van Zandt, Leonard Cohen, Johnny Cash, Radiohead, Jacques Brel, Serge Gainsbourg, David Lynch and countless others. But I try as hard as I can to carve out my own place...'
Rich is a stunning addition to Radio 2's lineup.
Molly Johnson
- Saturday 6 - 10 a.m., Sunday 6 - 8 a.m.
Molly Johnson has earned her reputation as one of Canada's greatest voices... and now she'll be using that voice to entertain Radio 2 audiences on weekend mornings.
The child of a white mother and a black father, Johnson's story starts in the mid-60s when, as a young grade schooler, Ed Mirvish selected her to appear in Porgy and Bess at the Royal Alex Theatre. In time Porgy and Bess was followed by South Pacific, Finian's Rainbow and other now-classic musicals. The budding child star was soon enrolled the National Ballet School as she desired to become a choreographer.
Observing friends Shawn Jackson and Dominic Troiano perform, Molly was taken with the idea of writing songs and, while ballet school was cool, she began to think of herself as a potential songwriter.
She has entertained royalty during a private command performance aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia before the Prince and late Princess of Wales, as well as having performed for Nelson Mandela and Quincy Jones. She made history at the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, becoming the first Canadian female vocalist in the festival's 17-year-history to sell out a show on the mainstage.
Molly started the Kumbaya Foundation and Festival, raising awareness and funds for people living with HIV/AIDS, and she continues to work with countless other charitable organizations every year.
In 2007 she was honoured with becoming an Officer of The Order Of Canada.
Radio 2 is Canada's national music network.
The network's mandate is to bring together the musical diversity that makes up Canada.
If you're curious about music, if you're tired of formatted radio, if you like your station commercial free, Radio 2 is YOUR music network.
What makes Radio 2 distinct?
- Radio 2 is the only radio station in Canada that bring you live concerts every night of the week.
- Radio 2 is the only radio station in Canada that makes sure you can listen to those concerts any time you like.
- Radio 2 is the only radio station in Canada that brings you a wide range of music.
- Radio 2 is the only radio station in Canada that exceeds mandated Canadian content requirements because we think they're too LOW.
- Radio 2 is the only radio station in Canada that broadcasts to Canadians coast to coast.
Delhi 2 Dublin is an energetic collaboration between five established world music fusion artists, blending the traditional sounds of North India and Ireland.