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Happy Birthday, Francis Poulenc!

Blue Lake Public Radio | By Foley Schuler
Published January 6, 2026 at 8:11 PM EST

This afternoon, Foley celebrates classical music's master of insouciance, who was born on January 7, 1899.

Bill McGlaughlin is, of course, featuring Poulenc's music of throughout the week on Exploring Music in honor of the composer's January 7 birthday, but we're not going to let him have all the fun. Afternoon host Foley Schuler, who has long held Poulenc as a personal favorite composer, will feature his Nocturnes for piano performed by Blue Lake favorite (and frequent visitor to Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp over the years) Ralph Votapek—as well well as one of his great vocal masterworks, Figure Humaine, cantata for double mixed choir of 12 voices composed in 1943 on texts by Paul Éluard, written during the darkest days of the Nazi occupation of France, and considered both one of the composer's finest achievements and a hymn to Liberté, victorious over tyranny.
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