Lively conversations at the intersection of music, culture, and community.
Join Music Director Paul Surapine and guests from The Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra and beyond as they share stories, insights, and laughs that keep the fire of tradition burning bright.
From backstage banter to big-picture ideas, Classical Gassing celebrates the art, people, and passion that make our community sing.
šµ The Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra Podcast
What makes a great musical performance feel effortless? In this lively episode of Classical Gassing, Paul Surapine and longtime Claflin Hill supporter Peter Vangness talk about the enormous preparation behind seemingly effortless performances, the next generation of musicians, the friendships created through music, and the moments when a musician simply takes flight. From Mozart and Beethoven to a spontaneous performance of āAmazing Grace,ā this is a conversation about why great music isn't just heardāitās experienced.
25 Jul 2026
It Takes a Community: How Claflin Hill Reached a Historic Milestone
More Than Music: Building a Community That Lasts
For the first time in Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra history, we reachedāand surpassedāour annual goal of raising $150,000 from private donors.
But this episode isn't really about fundraising.
It's about perseverance.
It's about believing in something worth building.
Claflin Hill's Director of Development, Bernadette Stockwell, sits down with Claflin Hill founder and Executive & Artistic Director Paul Surapine to reflect on the historic achievement, the people who made it possible, and why community support means so much more than dollars. Along the way, Paul shares stories about small-town America, preserving our cultural heritage, the power of live music, and why every Claflin Hill concert is designed to tell a storyānot simply present one.
You'll also hear about:
The future of the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra
The return of the Claflin Hill Youth Symphonies
Family Night at the Bandstand and this summer's exciting concerts
Why great communities are built by people who refuse to give up
Whether you're a longtime supporter or discovering Claflin Hill for the first time, this conversation is a reminder that extraordinary things happen when a community believes in a shared vision.
More information at www.claflinhill.org
20 Jun 2026
Raise Your Hand: The Father's Day Lesson That Built Claflin Hill
Things happen because people raise their hands.
In this Father's Day episode of Classical Gassing, Paul Surapine shares a childhood memory that shaped the course of his life.
When a room full of parents wanted their children to have a Cub Scout packābut nobody would volunteer to lead itāPaul's father quietly raised his hand.
That simple act of service became a lesson about leadership, responsibility, and community that continues to guide Paul's work with the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra nearly sixty years later.
This conversation explores why organizations succeed or fail, how communities preserve culture, and why every generation depends on people willing to step forward and make things happen.
Whether you're a parent, volunteer, donor, educator, community leader, or simply someone who cares about the future, this episode is a reminder that meaningful change often begins with one person saying:
"I'll do it."
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