Where classical music is always arriving, with host Steve Seel. Listen live at 10 p.m. central every Wednesday on 

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Where classical music is always arriving, with host Steve Seel. Listen live at 10 p.m. central every Wednesday on YourClassical Radio.


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Scott Blankenship started his radio career in college when he began working as a volunteer at a local cable radio station, announcing alternative and new rock music. His love and appreciation of classical music began at public radio station KVNO in Omaha, where he spent 13 years in various on-air and management roles, five of those years as the morning drive-time host.

Indications that radio was in his blood go back to age five, when he used a corkboard and a battered phonograph as a makeshift radio studio; his father's Air Force issue flashlight served as his "on air" light. In his spare time, Blankenship is an avid cyclist and amateur playwright with several produced scripts to his credit.


Scott Blankenship

Guest host Scott Blankenship sits in for Steve Seel on the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic.’ 


Extra Eclectic - Oct. 25, 2023

Extra Eclectic

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'Extra Eclectic' for Oct. 25, 2023 

Steve Seel is the host of YourClassical’s weekly SymphonyCast and the trailblazing music show Extra Eclectic. He possesses a broad knowledge of many musical genres, having hosted radio programs ranging from classical to jazz and even avant-garde music at radio stations around the country. Steve began his love affair with public radio at 24 working whatever shifts he could at his hometown station of WUSF-FM in Tampa, Florida, and from there worked his way to snowy Buffalo, New York, and its renowned classical station WNED-FM, where he hosted middays and the weekly experimental-music show Present Tense.  In 2005, Steve became one of the founding voices on Minnesota Public Radio's eclectic station, the Current. While there, he hosted afternoons and mornings, and conducted in-depth interviews with pop music luminaries ranging from Brian Eno to David Byrne to Tori Amos. Steve is a basement composer obsessed with all things both minimalist and slow, and might actually be incapable of writing anything that exceeds 75 beats-per-minute.


Steve Seel

On the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ host Steve Seel plays music in honor of our migrating avian friends — from Norman Dello Joio's ‘Exaltation of Larks’ to Jennifer Bellor's ‘Skylark Lullaby.’ He also pays tribute to jazz iconoclast Carla Bley, who died Tuesday at 87. Listen now!


Extra Eclectic - Oct. 18, 2023

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Taking flight

Fall is slowly creeping in, and host Steve Seel brings us some modern classical works in an autumnal mode on the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic.’

 


Extra Eclectic - Oct. 11, 2023

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Autumn landscapes 

For host Bonnie North, classical music is more than just a genre — it's a way of life. She stumbled into the world of radio after responding to a newspaper ad for Vermont Public Radio seeking a classical music DJ for its Sunday afternoon show. Despite having no previous radio experience, she was confident in her knowledge of classical music and took a chance. She created an audition tape, and the rest is history. Her favorite composer depends on her mood. Sometimes she seeks the meditative sounds of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, while other times she craves the angular compositions of Igor Stravinsky. Of course, she also loves the classics by composers who include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel. But she is always looking for contemporary composers and is eager to discover new musical talents. Outside of work, she loves to attend live music events. She also enjoys traveling and having friends and family scattered throughout the United States and Europe. But her love for animals is just as strong, and she often volunteers at animal shelters. She is an avid duathlon participant, combining her love for running and biking in one exciting event.


Bonnie North

As our celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month continues, this edition of ‘Extra Eclectic’ showcases contemporary classical works from South America. We hear music by Venezuelan composer Gabriela Montero, Argentine composer Osvaldo Golijov, Brazilian composer Marcelo Zarvos and Gabriela Lena Frank. Listen now with guest host Bonnie North.


Extra Eclectic - October 4, 2023

Anders Brogaard

A South American showcase

This week on ‘Extra Eclectic,’ host Steve Seel features a concerto for orchestra, but not Bela Bartok’s famous example, which features each section of the orchestra. Instead, we hear acclaimed American composer Jennifer Higdon’s Concerto for Orchestra. 


Extra Eclectic - Sept. 27, 2023

Provided

A different Concerto for Orchestra 

Host Steve Seel gives us a variety of contemporary music on the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic.’ The program features works by Missy Mazzoli, Philip Glass and more. Listen now!


Caroline Tompkins

Extra Eclectic for Sept. 20, 2023 

Can a work of modern classical music be both ‘attractive’ and ‘dissonant’? Extra Eclectic host Steve Seel explores this question on the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic’ with the Piano Concerto by Thomas Ades. 


Thomas Ades electrifies the Proms

On the latest episode of Extra Eclectic, Steve Seel showcases the world premiere of composer Judith Weir’s work ‘Begin Afresh,’ which took place at the 2023 BBC Proms Festival on Aug. 24. It's a piece that Weir says was inspired by the trees and plants that she observed during the changing seasons over the course of a year. Listen now!


Celebrating the changing of seasons

Thursday night was the the super blue moon, and Extra Eclectic host Steve Seel continued his visits to the 2023 BBC Proms festival. Listen now.


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In space, no one can hear you — sing?

As we continue our samplings from the 2023 BBC Proms Festival, host Steve Seel features two  new pieces recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall: Derrick Skye's ‘Nova Plexus’ and Peruvian composer Jimmy Bellido's ‘Peru Negro.’ Listen now!
