FMR - Key Persons
Brian Gardner is a Chartered Accountant who also has a Master's Degree in Education. His financial acumen, coupled with his background as an educator make him a much-valued board member. Since Brian's retirement in 2000 he has kept busy. For six years he was a board member for Hope Prison Ministry. Since 2022 he has been a treasurer for both FMR and the Parkhaven Home for the Aged. Brian volunteers at the SA Riding for the Disabled. Brian has been happily married for 60 years. He has three children, seven grandchildren and is looking forward to being a great-grandfather.
Chris Nicklin has worked most of his professional life in the broadcast media. Starting out at the SABC as a journalist, he went on to work in radio and television for the BBC in London. While on a posting back in South Africa for the BBC, Chris accepted the job as national news editor of the newly-founded e.tv. He then branched out into documentary production at e.tv, directing and producing numerous films, which were broadcast locally and internationally. In recent years, he has pursued his other great passion - beekeeping - and now works as a commercial beekeeper.
Job Titles:
- Member of the FINE MUSIC RADIO TEAM
- Traffic and Marketing Manager
Debbie studied dancing, singing and acting and then taught dancing in the industry from 2000 to 2014. She was one of the choreographers for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2013 Opening Ceremony and also choreographed for corporate functions. She completed a graphic design course and is also a keen photographer. Every year Debbie stage manages Dancers Love Dogs, a dance show which raises money for mass sterilisation of animals in underprivileged communities. After studying the violin at school and, with her love for Classical music, it was a great fit to work for Cape Town's only classical music radio station.
Job Titles:
- Member of the FINE MUSIC RADIO TEAM
- Station Manager
In a previous life Eon worked in TV and radio. He managed PR and advertising companies and commercial radio stations, and led the original team to start Classic FM (SA). He also raced cars and flew aerobatic aircraft, helicopters, and airliners. After retiring as an airline Captain, Eon became a volunteer presenter at FMR. It seemed a logical choice - after all, he'd been a FMR member for many years and listened to the station at all hours while driving to and from the airport. Not being one to slow down, station manager at FMR was the next logical (if unplanned) step.
François du Toit is acknowledged as one of South Africa's leading concert pianists and musicians. He is an Associate Professor of Piano and Head of Practical Studies at the University of Cape Town. During his period of study, he distinguished himself in several international competitions. He has over 40 concertos in his repertoire, ranging from Bach to Scharwenka and has performed the concerto premieres of many South African composers. François recorded all five Beethoven piano concertos with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Victor Yampolsky. In 2017 he received the Creative Works Award from UCT.
Gavin started his working career in publishing sales and soon moved to media sales at a leading commercial media group. During his time there he successfully sold inventory for all media platforms and engaged with multiple clients from different industries. Gavin is a sporty person and enjoys most sports. His move to FMR has been seamless and enjoyable. "It is a privilege to be a brand ambassador of this unique station and I am looking forward to being of service to our clients."
Ida began her career as a teacher. She then owned, with her husband, two successful businesses and progressed into the arena of procurement and finances. She obtained her BA and HDE from Pretoria University and a diploma in Financial Management and Investments from UNISA. She started at FMR in October 2014 and also does financials for two churches. Happily married, Ida's husband is a predikant and she plays the organ and piano at their church. She has three daughters and a grandson. She likes reading, music and animals.
James Grace has been described by local media as a "South African icon" and is one of South Africa's leading concert artists, having appeared with all the major South African orchestras and at the national arts festival. He studied at the Royal College of Music in London where upon graduating he received the Tagore Gold Medal, an annual award presented to the most outstanding student. James is currently Head of Classical Guitar Studies at the University of Cape Town's College of Music. James' seventh solo studio album Andaluza - Music of Spain III received the SAMA for Best Classical Album 2019.
Jean-Pierre (JP) Mohd graduated with a diploma in Sound Technology and Production from the Cape Audio College in 2022. After a short internship at Fine Music Radio he was invited to join the team on a permanent basis. JP believes in the vital role music plays in our lives, "Music doesn't discriminate and can be thought of as a language that is universally understood, communicating feelings from joyfulness to sorrow. It is a great pleasure to work in an environment where we get to connect and bring people together every day through the wonder of music."
Johann Francois Vos has practised as an attorney since 1975. He has been a member of FMR for over 20 years, and has been Chairman of the Board for the last eight years. Johann studied music at school, playing the piano until matric. For the last 30 years he has sponsored the Johann Vos Piano Competition at Hugo Lambrechts. Community orientated, he is also chairman of Stikland's Hospital. Johann's ethos is clear: "It's up to all of us to make a difference by giving back to the community, the country and the continent."
Kent Stephens has practiced in the architectural profession since 2002. He has a deep passion for music, which was cultivated from a young age by family and later nurtured and developed by the New Apostolic Church. As an oboist and chorister, he has performed with various groups. Later in his musical journey Kent was appointed chorus master and toured successfully with both the choir and orchestra locally and internationally. Highlights include conducting Mozart's Requiem with the Berlin Symphoniker in 2015 and preparing the chorus for Beethoven's 9th Symphony which was performed at the Cape Town City Hall in 2016.
Lynn Reid Jacobs matriculated from Herschel Girls School, graduated from Barkley House and taught at Diocesan College Pre - Prep. Over the years, she was involved in volunteer fundraising event, raising substantial sums for charities in the Western Cape. In 1988, Lynn was appointed to the Herschel Council on which she served for 22 years, the last eight years of which, she was the first woman chairman. For 30 years she ran an interior decorating business. Lynn is a passionate cook, enthusiastic gardener, inveterate traveller and interested in art and music.
Radio is in Marné's blood, so it was quite a natural evolution for her to end up in this industry. She earned her stripes, bumps and bruises at the SABC in the 1980s and 1990s, and then plunged into the private sector. After 11 years at Classic FM, and a few detours, she returned to FMR where she is now doing what she loves most, compiling music. Marné has played the piano since she was three, and her great loves include chocolates, dogs, cats and rainy days with a good book. Oh and listening to Fine Music Radio of course!
Mzukisi Maketa joined FMR as an intern in 2013. He now presents In the Mood and Sunday Scene. In 2022 he enrolled at the Cape Audio College to study Sound Engineering and he is now a sound engineer at FMR. After working at Musica for a number of years, Mzukisi quit to follow his childhood dream, which led him to Fine Music Radio. He is also a chairperson of the non-profit organisation, Inkwenkwezi Foundation. Mzukisi has a varied musical taste and delights in African, Asian and Italian cuisine and enjoys tending his small veggie garden and watching sport.
Job Titles:
- Trainer and IT Specialist
Otto van der Walt presents the English and Afrikaans news, Matinee, Saturday Classic Breakfast, and The Choral Life. He has a passion for choirs and choir music. He believes music - and specifically choral/group singing - bridges all divides and brings people together. He also believes that South African choirs, with their rich diversity, do not get enough recognition in South Africa, even though outside of its borders, they are rated some of the world's best. He continues to promote South African choirs globally. Otto contributes to the operations of the station using his years of experience in the IT sector.
Job Titles:
- Reception and Administration
Pam loves listening to all sorts of music and what better way to experience this than to work at a radio station. "I've been at FMR for a long time, since 2001, and have learned lots about how things work behind the scenes." Occasionally, Pam even gets opportunities to do a bit of work in one of the studios. Interacting with FMR's listeners and guests is one of the reasons why she enjoys working at FMR. It's so much fun and hardly ever a dull moment at FMR's perfectly situated offices in the Marble Foyer of the Artscape Theatre Centre.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor of Media Studies
Tanja Bosch is an Associate Professor of Media Studies and Production in the Centre for Film and Media Studies at the University of Cape Town, where she also holds the position of Deputy Dean of Research and Postgraduate Affairs. She teaches journalism and multimedia production, social media, radio studies, and research methods at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Her first book, Broadcasting Democracy: Radio and Identity in South Africa, was published in 2017. Her second monograph, Social Media and Everyday Life in South Africa explores how South Africans use social media apps for personal and group identity formation.
Job Titles:
- Copywriter and Opus Editor
Vanessa has a drama background and a Psychology and English degree from Unisa. She worked for years as a copywriter at Primedia Broadcasting, e.tv (where she won a Promax Gold for radio) and also freelanced extensively. No matter which media station she worked for she (secretly) listened to FMR. Her father once told her that radio was the superior medium, she wholeheartedly agrees. She also does book reviews for FMR's Book Choice. Can this job get any better? Vanessa believes in the transformative power of music, books and art and is currently studying Community Art Counselling through Lefika La Phodisa.
Victoria Cawood joined FMR as a volunteer shortly before the station's first birthday. She managed Arts Diary and was then appointed to the staff as assistant to Leslie McKenzie, taking on responsibility for membership and basic bookkeeping. When FMR moved to Artscape she was appointed assistant station manager and upon Leslie's retirement became station manager. During this time Victoria also served on the board of Cape Town City Ballet and became chairperson for some years. Post retirement, but pre-Covid, she taught reading/literacy at a remedial level in a junior school in Lavender Hill.
Job Titles:
- Member of the FINE MUSIC RADIO TEAM
- Programme Manager
Originally from Johannesburg, he came to Cape Town in his early 20's for what should have been three months and, like many people who visit this city, he never left. Wesley embarked on a lifestyle of exploration and adventure. He started at Fine Music Radio in March 2004, knowing nothing about community radio or classical music. He'd like to think that, over nearly two decades, he's learned much about both. "I've witnessed the growth of our little radio station, its ups and downs, and am always amazed by our achievements - long may they continue."