Grete Dollitz Announces Her Retirement
After a quarter-century of service to WCVE Public Radio and years before that behind the microphone for WCVE’s predecessor, WRFK, Grete Dollitz, has announced her retirement.
Mrs. Dollitz is best known for her long running program The Hour with the Guitar but also earned a reputation as a guitar teacher and noted guitarist, an advocate for showcasing local classical musicians, as an on-air radio host and all around music authority.
During her career she interviewed classical guitar greats from Andres Segovia, in her early radio years, to Jason Vieaux in January of this year. She was also the first teacher of Andrew York, perhaps best known as a one time member of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.
“Grete Dollitz is one of the most popular figures in the Richmond area not only for the guitar but also for classical music in general,” said VCU associate professor of guitar, John Patykula. “With her complete understanding of the classical guitar and its repertoire and her great sensitivity to music, she has been able to inform and entertain her listeners for many years through her program The Hour with the Guitar. She has also helped encourage and promote many young guitarists as they develop into artists. We owe a great debt to Grete.”
“We applaud Grete for her tireless efforts for the station,” said WCVE Public Radio VP and General Manager, Bill Miller. “Richmond public radio listeners will remember Grete Dollitz and her years of early morning weekend and holiday air shifts. Her low, dulcet tones warmed listener’s ears and became a sort of music unto itself. Grete’s annual Thanksgiving Day program exclusively featuring performances by local musicians illustrates her commitment to the promotion of local artists. We wish Grete all the best away from the station and are honored to know that she considers those of us at WCVE her friends.”
The Hour with the Guitar will run its scheduled course through December of this year. A feature on Grete Dollitz is currently in production and will air on WCVE Public Radio in the weeks to come.
WCVE Public Radio’s Peter Solomon has this retrospective on her life and career.
Even yet I find myself missing Grete's morning programming and her Hour with the Guitar. How fortunate we listeners were to enjoy her comprehensive knowledge and ingratiating manner for so long. She enlarged my musical appreciation and I will always be grateful. I wish the station would create an accessible archive of some of her broadcasts. Thank you Grete for everything ! Iris H.
May I add my belated appreciation? I, too, like so many, loved the early hours of Sunday morning when I heard one of the most creative programs that public radio has offered. Your gracious, relaxed, knowledgeable handling of the material you knew so well and researched so thoroughly both impressed and pleased me (and my mother, as well). The program in which you interviewed piano tuners to important pianists was fascinating. I hope that other program hosts will study your style and learn from you. As someone else said, your "iconic" voice will be remembered. What a treasure you are!
How I missed Grete, and Hour With The Guitar this Sunday morning. WCVE should with Ms. Dallitz's permission, make all the recorded shows available online and/or podcasts. I would gladly pay to hear them again. I shall miss her dearly, and hope she plays through her retirement with the style we have become so accustomed.
Suddenly you're not there on Sunday morning when I'm getting ready to go to church. i'm missing you already! Thank you for your years of faithful, informed and enlightening programs and for your support of local performances like your annual Thanksgiving broadcasts. May your retirement be long and enjoyable.
David McCormick
The Hour With The Guitar begins our Sunday mornings on a high point. We will miss that excellent programming.
Hello Everyone,
I wanted to let you know that I am sharing your kind messages with Grete and she has loved receiving them. She sends her thanks to each and every one.
Bobbie Barajas
I used to get out of bed early just to Hear Gretta and Hour With the Guitar...now I often sleep in. I am hoping theres a podcast or something so that I can hear this program again. Happy retirement, Gretta...but we miss you, still.
I heard with dismay about this well-deserved retirement. I also listened to the interview about immigrating. Thank you for sharing that--I teach ESL and so many of my students are kind, sweet, loving people who are from countries so many think of as terrorist. I was happy to hear that you were not treated badly as a German child at that time in history. Human beings are human beings are human beings. And most of us just want to live our lives in peace and harmony (no pun intended) and rear our children and keep our families safe and loved. I adored the story about playing the harmonica on the front steps.
Thank you for all your contributions.
Would you kindly forward my email address to Grete. We've been associated through the guitar for over forty years. Sorry the program will not be continued.
all the best
Jim Lane
We will all miss your program, and even your commercials! Your "Won't you join me?" was always so cheerful and friendly and funny.
I don't rise as early as 7am,on Sundays, however I keep a radio at my pillow and have at times turned it on at 7am to enjoy your program. I also enjoyed your series of programs dedicated to Hans. We will miss you on W C V E. George Allan
I met you in person a while back, and I came away from the experience thinking, "That woman is amazing! She has done it ALL." Weekend mornings won't be the same without you and your classical music. I've enjoyed your show since I moved to Virginia eleven years ago. I am sad to see you leave, but ever so thankful that I had so many wonderful weekends enjoying your work.
Greta - I do my morning exercises to your program every Sunday morning and I will really miss you. I especially appreciated all the local artists you've had on your program. Nothing lasts forever - even the best stuff! I hope you enjoy your retirement- especially getting up so early to do your special programs for those of us who are sleeping in! Gratefully, Adrienne Strandberg
Grete, thank you for your distinctive, even iconic, radio contributions to the Classical Music scene in Richmond and beyond. In this capacity your knowledge of music history and music lore has often been a source of enlightenment to us all. In addition, your program support for local artists has been nourishing to performers and audiences alike. I recall distinctly a concert given years ago in a local venue which you and your husband attended; upon discovery of your presence you were asked to give an introduction to the program; you responded graciously and with a fine spontaneity. This illustrated just a small example of your commitment to keeping the flame of culture bright and unwavering. We will miss you.
Grete Dollitz personifies true excellence in broadcasting, in the Richmond tradition of Alden Aaroe and Harvey Hudson. Her voice is a real "radio voice". Her knowledge of classical guitar is authoritative. Thank you for making radio the great medium it can be.
I will have to get used to no "Won't you join me?" promos... :-((( Good luck Grete--you will be sorely missed!
Dear Grete,
Your many contributions to Richmond's music and musicians will never be forgotten, and most especially your broadcasts. Your classical music programming has been without peer, and your support of local musicians, though perhaps unheralded, is truly deeply appreciated by those of us who are performers. May your retirement be as filled with joy and beautiful music as we have experiences in those hours you have shared with us.
Grete Dollitz has provided years of listening to beautiful guitar music, along with the history and interesting stories behind the artist and compostion. She has been my "companion" every Sunday morning while driving to church. Grete,you will be sorely missed.
Thanks Grete for so many hours of enjoyment brought my way by your talents. I'll very much miss one of my favorite programs on Sunday AM, "The Hour With the Guitar". I usually listened during my Sunday run, looking forward to the "new twist" you would bring to the history and performance of the guitar. My father also taught guitar, so I appreciated all that you presented to the listeners with great interest. Thanks for a job more than well done.
Grete Dollitz has provided many hours of listening pleasure for my husband and I. Grete's programs have given us beautiful music to listen to and much interesting information about the music and musicians she featured. Grete, thank you so much for all you have done. You will be greatly missed.
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