Will Gay Bottje Centenary

Blue Lake Public Radio | By Foley Schuler

Published June 30, 2025 at 2:49 PM EDT

Left: Will Gay Bottje working at a study carrel in the old Sibley Music Library at The Eastman School of Music, ca. mid-1950s. Right: Will Gay Bottje in later years, at his home in West Michigan, on the Lake Michigan Shoreline. — Left: Will Gay Bottje working at a study carrel in the old Sibley Music Library at The Eastman School of Music, ca. mid-1950s. Right: Will Gay Bottje in later years, at his home in West Michigan on the Lake Michigan Shoreline.

Monday afternoon on Blue Lake Public Radio, Foley celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of the West Michigan-based, and internationally-acclaimed composer, Will Gay Bottje, with a selection drawn from his wide body of his music.

You can hear Foley Schuler's musical selections—and stories behind the music—every weekday afternoon from 1 until 5 on Blue Lake Public Radio.

Foley Schuler

Encouraged by creative parents, Foley began his music career at age 7, studying violin with Jean Manning at North Muskegon Public Schools. As a Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp camper, he became Blue Lake Public Radio’s first high school intern. Foley earned an English Literature degree from Hope College, and Masters in Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from the Warren Wilson College. He has performed with the West Michigan (formerly West Shore) Symphony; served on the English Department faculty at Muskegon Community College, and been the Music, Art & Theatre reviewer for the Muskegon Chronicle. He follows his love of the arts around the globe, but says, “There is no place like the Blue Lake setting, sharing extraordinary music with our listeners.” Foley hosts Blue Lake Public Radio’s weekday classical music from 1 to 4 p.m. and “Sunday on Blue Lake”.

See stories by Foley Schuler