Preserving A Tradition
Even before the official date, Harvard Radio existed, founded in 1941 as a component of The Harvard Crimson before a split in 1943 created "The Harvard Voice" or WHRV radio.
The station's most famous tradition--the "orgies" which highlight the music of one composer or subject over one to 10 days of Harvard reading period--began in 1943 before WHRB even existed.
The latest addition to the WHRB tradition is the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts, which WCRB, Boston's other classical music station, dropped last year. Aiese says the station has won over many new area listeners with the move.
"We've had this tradition of broadcasting excellence," he says. "We've got a really loyal audience, very interactive. They're listening to the radio as an activity, not just as background on their way to work. Quality really matters."