Lurtsema hosted the classical music show Morning Pro Musica on radio station WGBH (FM) in Boston, Massachusetts, from 1971 until his death in 2000.
He was known among public radio listeners throughout New England for his sonorous voice (which was "described as having the quality of warm fudge")[1] and his phrasing, which frequently included long pauses.
Lurtsema also performed a great deal of voiceover work, especially for public-television documentaries and classical pieces with narration.
Ottorino Respighi's Ancient Airs and Dances Suite and one of Giovanni Gabrieli's triple-brass quintets were among his opening themes.
On the morning of April 5, 1985, Lurtsema joined more than 8,000 other radio stations in a simultaneous broadcast of the song "We Are the World"[3] Starting in 1995, Lurtsema and his production team traveled to Seranak Mansion at Tanglewood Music Center for the Boston Symphony Orchestra's opening weekend of the summer season.
From the mansion, Morning Pro Musica featured interviews and live performances with Seiji Ozawa, Roger Norrington, Boje Shovus, Claudio Abbado, Gil Shaham, Emmanuel Ax, John Williams, Arlo Guthrie, Maurice Abravanel and many others.
[4] Lurtsema also narrated an episode of the science show Nova titled "Where Did the Colorado Go?," first aired on March 10, 1974, and later on the BBC.