KDFC Midday Host, Oakland's own Dianne Nicolini, was the subject of a recent profile in the Alameda Newspaper Group, including the Oakland Tribune, Tri-Valley Herald and InsideBayArea.com


Radio host pipes her own classical sauce
By Dave Newhouse

DIANNE NICOLINI is so down-to-earth, she eats homemade -peanut butter and jelly sandwiches while bringing Mozart and Mendelssohn into our homes...Her friendly personality comes across to her loyal listeners, who phone her off mic and talk to her as if she's their neighbor across the fence.

"I'll talk about my kids on the air," Nicolini said, "so it's like a family affair, an interesting relationship. You don't really know the callers, but you do know them, and they feel like they know you."

And just so her listeners are fully aware, she prefers chunky peanut butter with berry jelly.

Nicolini, 49, grew up in Oakland, took piano lessons for 11 years, went to University of California, Berkeley, did graduate work at Missouri and has bachelor's and master's degrees in Advertisement theater. But instead of becoming the next Glenn Close, she already had Brahms in her blood.

While her husband, Dr. James Hanson, currently the director of the intensive care unit at Children's Hospital Oakland, attended medical school in Kansas City, she got a job at a classical station, KXTR. That was in 1980.

"The only skills I brought," she recalled "were that I had a vague knowledge of classical music and I spoke French."

It was a start, regardless. Returning to the Bay Area, she worked at KKHI from 1983-95 before moving over to KDFC 12 years ago.

"We have expanded the audience for classical music by making it more acceptable," she said. "The audience is bigger than it has been, but it's not an ivory tower thing. It's great music."

KDFC received the Marconi Award as "Classical Station of the Year" in 1992, 2003 and 2005, presented by the National Association of Broadcasters.

A popular perception is that classical music is for older folks, while the younger crowd prefers hip-hop and rap.

"Our listeners are younger and younger," said Nicolini, without saying how young. "We have that syndicated (weekend) show, 'From The Top,' a showcase for young musicians. You just get a feeling that our listeners are all over the map, from older listeners to college kids."

A popular part of Nicolini's program is the "Island of Sanity," where the symphonic selections are more soothing. If she could take three compositions to her own island, which ones would she choose?

"Oh, my gosh, how cruel," she said. "That would be so hard. I like Ravel a lot. I'd probably take a Beethoven symphony; I do like the 5th and the 7th. Can I take an opera? OK, then, 'La Boheme.'

"But those are my choices for today. Ask me tomorrow and it might be a completely different thing."