December 10, 2003

KBSU's Mark Sheldon Dies Of Cancer

Mark Sheldon, singer, choral conductor and nationally recognized radio announcer and producer, died Tuesday, Dec. 9, at his home in Denver, Colo., after a heroic battle with cancer. Sheldon was born in 1960 and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a child and young adult, he was deeply involved in music, theater and church activities. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education and choral conducting at Brigham Young University. While in graduate school, he began his career in radio as a classical music host and producer. From 1992 until 1998, Sheldon worked with Minnesota Public Radio, and produced the national broadcasts of the Minnesota Orchestra, as well as the Utah Symphony and the Grand Teton Music Festival. “I’ve always felt as though being an announcer and producer for a classical music station allowed me to fulfill my lifelong desire to teach and share my passion for music with as many people as possible,” he wrote. As a singer, Sheldon performed with the Dale Warland Singers and produced their national Echoes of Christmas broadcasts. In recent years, he sang and guest-conducted with St. Martin’s Chamber Choir in Denver. Sheldon joined the Classical Public Radio Network and KBSU as an announcer and producer in May 1999 and achieved national recognition for his personable and knowledgeable style, his love of choral music and for his Sunday morning program, Sacred Classics. During a recent on-air feature, Sheldon talked candidly about his long battle with cancer and later wrote, “We have so much knowledge and research about the effect of great music on our emotion, our physiology, our psychology and even our ability to learn. But, in the end, we don’t really understand it at all. In a way, its very mystery and its ability to get past our intellect and defenses makes music one of our most powerful allies as we embrace joy or battle adversity.” Music was, indeed, a powerful force in Sheldon’s life and he found strength and joy in sharing it. KBSU is heard at 90.3 FM, Boise. The signal is simulcast on 91.7 FM, KBSM, McCall. KBSW is heard on 91.7 FM, Twin Falls. Boise State Radio (http://radio.boisestate.edu) includes NPR News 91, KBSU-Arts & Cultural Programming and Idaho’s Jazz Station. -30- Contact Jim East Associate General Manager Voice: 208 947-5659 Fax: 208 344-6631 jeast@boisestate.edu Media Contact Kathleen Craven Boise State communications and marketing 208 426-3275 kcraven@boisestate.edu