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Thank you, Mark Antonelli

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When we ask Mark Antonelli to look back on his career, he seems amazed that it has been 37 years since he began working at CKUA. “I started in 1987 as a part-time librarian,” he says, “and after that I was a weekend operator. Weekend programming was taped in those days, so I was the audio operator, making sure the tapes played.”

Different stints in newscasting and other on-air roles led him to classical programming. “The first show was just an hour long, Saturdays at dinner-time,” he says. Now he’s been hosting classical programs on CKUA for more than 25 years, and is known most recently as the host of Saturday Breakfast, Sunday Breakfast, and Classic Examples.

Antonelli aims for programming with a light touch. “For me, it always had to do with the flow of the music. Not all people are listening intently. For some people, the music is in the background. So I wanted to be in the middle, between the background and the foreground.” And, he adds, “It has to have melody. We love to play the well-known stuff, but it’s also fun to present rare and unusual music.”

It’s an approach his audience clearly appreciated. Many listeners got in touch over the years to say that they enjoyed the program with their young children, or while they were working. One recurring comment in particular seems to have pleased Antonelli: “I always liked it when people said that they pulled into the driveway, and then kept listening to the end of the piece.”


Many of Mark Antonelli’s colleagues and listeners have thoughts to share on the occasion of his retirement. 

“When I first joined CKUA, Mark was the one who introduced me to the various aspects of the classical music section of the CKUA library. I enjoyed learning about presenting a classical music program from him, as well as the many times that we shared thoughts and stories together on the air during our CKUA fundraisers.” – Orest Soltykevych, host of Raising Voices

“Mark’s voice is synonymous with classical music in Alberta and beyond. His knowledge of the repertoire is second to none and he is always happy to share that knowledge and passion with his listeners in an engaging and accessible way. Mark has done so much to make classical music still relevant on the airwaves and I’ll always be grateful to him as a listener, colleague and friend!” – Aaron Au, host of Classical Connections and From Stage to Screen

“I was fortunate enough to meet Mark over a decade ago when I did my internship at CKUA and to live in the same apartment building as him for a time. He was every bit as compelling an orator in the laundry room as over the airwaves; NO ONE can say ‘Sir Neville Marriner conducting the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields’ quite as well as Mark Antonelli.” – Joe Hartfeil, host of Morningsong and co-host of On the Rise

“We send Mark our best wishes upon his retirement. His programs were always entertaining and educational.” – listeners Roland and Dolores Schech

“When I think of Mark Antonelli, I think of an all-round nice human. He was very supportive when I first came to CKUA with Roy’s Record Room, which used to air just before Classic Examples. Every time I put on my four-CD set of Nigel North playing Bach on the lute, I thank Mark for turning me on to Nigel as well as other stellar classical music.” – Roy Forbes, host of Roy’s Record Room

“I loved my hallway chats with Mark because he knew so much about so many different things. I first knew him as a Classical Music expert, but he is a knowledgeable fan of many genres and his giddy excitement about particular artists or songs was a delight. We also shared an appreciation for Dr. Who, particularly Daleks. Many times we’d pass each other and say ‘Exterminate!’. Mark was a huge hit with kids, many of whom would fall asleep to his show. One young fan came to Edmonton with his grandma, and he ‘loaned’ Mark one of his favourite little cars to keep in his office. I’ll miss Mark.” – Karen Howell, CKUA Events and Volunteer Coordinator

“It was five in the morning, my first fundraiser at CKUA. I had some contact with Mark Antonelli, chatting casually about movies and books; I knew he had a diverse array of interests, and so as I rolled up gingerly to his apartment in my car that fateful Saturday, Mark was waiting with his little thermos of coffee and as he plopped himself down in the passenger seat the first words that came out of this serious classical music aficionado were, ‘so, do you think it will be pancakes or eggs this morning?’ As a neophyte I bonded with Mark almost instantly. His sense of humour, professionalism and love of good food are unmatched!” – Tony King, host of Thoroughfare

“I am so gutted to hear of Mark’s retirement. His Classic Examples was the best—best show on CKUA, best classical radio show anywhere and best classical DJ period. Mark had a wide-ranging love and knowledge of all things classical: eras, geographical areas, instruments—he explored it all with us, his listeners. I’ll never forget how he introduced me to the music of Charles Camilleri, being Maltese on my mother’s side. Or the time that he played Bach’s organ transcription of the Adagio from Marcello’s Concerto for Oboe, while I was on my way to my evening organ practice, only to find the music in the book that I was working through! (Have since performed it many times myself.) Mark, Thank you, thank you and thanks again. I wish you all the best in your retirement. And I hope that you’ll still find a way to share your love of music with others. Take care.” – George Langley, Musician, Arranger, Composer

“With a career spanning roughly 40 years, Mark Antonelli is one of the ‘old guard’ of CKUA announcers. Professionally trained in broadcasting, with one of the silkiest voices on radio and from day one, an absolute pro in terms of offering up outstanding classical music programming. His music was always interesting and because he was such an enthusiast of classical music, he was always finding new and interesting repertoire that could literally stop you in your tracks when you heard it. Mark Antonelli was and is a ‘gem’ and his career at CKUA — taking over the mantle of hosts like Ted Murphy, Sev Sabourin, and Richard Moses — has been a similarly foundational one for CKUA’s classical programming and CKUA’s classical music audiences. I wish him nothing but well-earned relaxation and sunny days.” – Ken Regan, CKUA’s CEO from 1999 – 2017

“In 2015, David Ward was training a new wave of broadcasters to work as substitute hosts for CKUA. My training took the form of working as an overnight host for the station on weekends. That summer, Mark Antonelli scheduled some vacation time, and I was invited to host in his absence. In multiple ways, I learned my craft by emulating Mark’s approach to structuring and delivering a radio show. The opportunity for me to practice those techniques as Mark’s understudy for nearly a decade has been invaluable, and his insights continue to inform my subsequent work. Both as a listener and as a broadcaster, I can credit much of my knowledge and love of orchestral music to Mark Antonelli’s many years as CKUA’s classical expert. Best wishes, Mark. Thanks for everything.” – Oskar Zybart, host of Maestri, The Score, and In Our Neighbourhood

“Mark’s programs were a staple of the first year of our parenthood journey as we watched our baby grow from infant to toddler. His Saturday and Sunday Breakfast programs gave us a soothing uplift to start our weekend. We wish Mark a very happy retirement.” – listener Brendan Sigurdson

“Mark Antonelli has been the authoritative voice of classical music heard almost daily on CKUA for decades. Mark’s ability to share his passion for all things classical is what makes him such an excellent radio host; someone of his stature and knowledge is, in many ways, irreplaceable. Human connection and curation is the heartbeat of CKUA, and drives the connection and engagement of our community; Mark has demonstrated this for years. Thank you again to Mark Antonelli for his dedication and years of providing a soundtrack to classical fans of CKUA. He’s touched so many lives throughout the years, we’ll miss hearing his voice on CKUA.”  – Arianne Smith-Piquette, CKUA Content Director


For the moment, CKUA will continue with the programming under the umbrella of Intermission: A Newcomer To Old Music with Lark Clark, From Stage To Screen with Aaron Au, Morningsong with Joe Hartfeil, The Score and Maestri with Oskar Zybart.

CKUA is going to be unveiling a new programming schedule in the New Year. Stay tuned for some newer voices, and please do send your thoughts on our programming to feedback@ckua.com. We read every email that comes in.

We asked Mark Antonelli which pieces were most often requested during fundraisers, and he mentioned this one: Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major (Elvira Madigan) K. 467, II. Andante.

We’ll leave the last words to the man himself. Thank you so much for everything, Mark! You will be missed. 

“Hello, My friends. It’s been awhile. You may have heard that I’ve been on leave for the past year and a half. It’s true. I’ve been helping to take care of my mother, Marylu Walters, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The best way to describe the situation is ‘intense.’ As a result, I’ve made the difficult decision to retire a couple years early to continue caring for her at home.

Please know that during my years here at CKUA I’ve had the time of my life! Whether it was producing The Classical Album with Sev Sabourin and EMI Classics to celebrate CKUA’s 70th anniversary back in 1997; helping to rescue CKUA and bringing it back on air later that year; regaling you with the Hinterland tales of the Great Northern Tuba and the Ring Necked Clarinet; or hosting Classic Examples for more than 25 years, I’ve enjoyed our time together and hope you have, too. To all those who reached out by email, letter or phone call over the years, thank you! I enjoyed our conversations.

If I’ve helped grow your music collection just a little bit, I’ll consider my time well-spent! To paraphrase a certain diarist and traveler: One day I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all your beliefs and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine. Thank you so much for listening lo these many years. Take care. And goodbye for now.” – Mark Antonelli