Radio personality celebrates 40 years on air
RUBIES, which are thought to possess an eternal inner flame, are precious stones used to celebrate a 40th anniversary. A fitting stone for Rodney Trudgeon who, on September 1, celebrates 40 years in radio. Presently, a popular voice on Fine Music Radio (FMR), Trudgeon’s love for music burns like an eternal inner flame. A love and flame he freely shares on radio, in his pre-concert and pre-opera talks. When opportunity knocks he travels the world to hear great conductors conduct great orchestras. His latest venture being invited to hear the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra play, over five days, Beethoven’s nine symphonies.
“That experience must go down as one of the highlights in my musical life - a life fortunately packed with marvellous experiences. In Berlin, not only did I hear one of the world’s great orchestras, I saw the inimitable Sir Simon Rattle on the podium. Over and above hearing Beethoven’s nine symphonies played in a manner to delight Beethoven himself, I was able to urchase the CD’s released of these magical concerts. These I am playing at 10am every Friday morning, when I present Classical Choice on FMR”
His love for classical music began as a youngster, “I longed to learn to play but, as the eldest of four, there wasn’t spare money for music lessons, so when my grandmother gave me a wind-up gramophone and dozens of 78-inch records, I was in a seventh heaven.” Among the records were Gilbert and Sullivan, Mozart Overtures and Beethoven’s symphonies. That’s where Trudgeon’s life-long musical journey began.
Purchasing a flute with his first pay cheque in true Trudgeon style, four years later he was playing professionally with Durban’s Symphony Orchestra. From there Trudgeon immersed himself in everything he could relating to music. He joined a choir, an opera group and a chamber choir. And, in the hi-fi age immersed himself in sound. This, coupled with his music led him to the SABC where he worked as a sound engineer.
In 1976 Trudgeon joined the SABC in Joburg, some time later auditioning as a radio presenter “which to everyone’s surprise went well and I was sent to Durban for training. After spending four years as a junior announcer I returned to Joburg and was so fortunate that at that time the one and only Paddy O’Byrne was a presenter at the SABC. He became my mentor.”
In 2000 he moved to Classic FM where he “learnt to loosen up” after SABC’s formality. Five years later, at the invitation of FMR’s Station Manager Victoria Cawood, Trudgeon became programme manager and presenter of the 6am to 9am Classic Breakfast.
Drawing on memory, he interviews people from the arts and science worlds on Sunday 6pmto 7pm’s People of Note. His “off-thecuff” pre-concert talks where he demystifies musical passages of special interest to “listen out for” are the talk of the town.
Tune in Fridays, 10am to hear him present Beethoven’s symphonies recorded by one of the world’s finest orchestras: 101.3fm, 94.7fm, 97.1fm, 107.9fm, www.fmr.co.za)