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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

Your ears will positively tingle in the first hour of ‘Extra Eclectic’ when host Steve Seel features music by Turkish-American composer Mehmet Ali Sanlikol. In the second hour, it's a quiet set that veers from the calm to the eerie, with music by Pauline Oliveros, Missy Mazzoli and Timo Andres.


Extra Eclectic - July 26, 2023

Extra Eclectic

Provided

Mehmet Ali Sanlikol's global village

Acclaimed pianist Jon Kimura Parker and the BRKFST Dance Company joined the Minnesota Orchestra for a program featuring works by Sergei Rachmaninoff, Maurice Ravel, Daniel Bernard Roumain and Igor Stravinsky. Listen to the concert now and watch as Parker demonstrates his love for Elton John and explains Rachmaninoff’s work.


Jon Kimura Parker on Rachmaninoff's 'Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini' - Minnesota Orchestra Chat

Jon Kimura Parker on Elton John - Minnesota Orchestra Chat

Celebrating a Century on the Airwaves

Minnesota Orchestra

Tara McMullen Photography

Listen: Jon Kimura Parker, BRKFST Dance Company and Elias Grandy perform at Orchestra Hall

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

This week’s episode of ‘Saturday Cinema,’ with guest host Bonnie North, features music from the movie ‘Hook’, and also includes selections from ‘The Little Mermaid,’ ‘Jaws’ and ‘Life of Pi.’ Listen now!


Saturday Cinema - Hook and More

Saturday Cinema

It's movie music on the high seas with 'Hook,' 'Jaws' and more

Noah Caldwell

In their new book ‘On Minimalism,’ musicologists William Robin and Kerry O'Brien capture the lesser-known stories of the musical movement and its development, era by era.


Listen to the Story

The Museum of Modern Art/SCALA/Art Resource, N.Y.

Minimalism: a story told in 8 pulses

Vernon Neal is the host of the podcast ‘Rhapsody in Black,’ where we turn up the voices of Black artists in the world of classical music.


Host/Producer

Vernon Neal

A musician of multiple hats and genres, Damien Sneed is recognized today as a pianist, vocalist, organist, composer, conductor, arranger, producer and arts educator in high demand. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast. 


Where we turn up the voices of Black artists in the world of classical music, with host Vernon Neal.

Rhapsody in Black - Damien Sneed

Sequestered Thoughts Music Video

Rhapsody in Black

Ayano Hisa/Jazz at Lincoln Center

Damien Sneed is a musician of many skills and genres

Dan Kraker is based in Duluth, Minn., and covers northeastern Minnesota for MPR News.


Dan Kraker

Duluth musician Gaelynn Lea’s latest project, “Invisible Fences,” is an original play she co-wrote and is performing with Minnesota storyteller Kevin Kling. It debuts Thursday at the Open Eye Theatre in Minneapolis.


Gaelynn Lea debuts an original play with storyteller Kevin Kling named 'Invisible Fences.'

Duluth musician Gaelynn Lea debuts new play, continues work to make stages more accessible

Kerem Yücel | MPR News

Julie Amacher's desire to introduce others to great music is what led her to radio. She began her professional broadcast career at a station in Sun Prairie, Wis. She went from rock 'n' roll to the Rocky Mountains, where she found her niche in public radio at KUNC in Greeley, Colo. Julie spent 13 years at KUNC, where she managed the announcers and their eclectic music format. During that time, she earned four national awards for best announcer. She joined Minnesota Public Radio in 1997 as an on-air host and also produces New Classical Tracks, a weekly podcast critiquing a new release each week. It airs locally at 7:15 a.m. Wednesdays and 5:15 p.m. Fridays.


Julie Amacher

In this week’s New Classical Tracks, guitarist William Kanengiser joins forces with the Alexander String Quartet to experience one of rock’s greatest events, which is also the title of their first album, ‘British Invasion.’ 


New Classical Tracks - William Kanengiser and Ian Krouse (Extended)

New Classical Tracks (Extended) - April 26, 2023

New Classical Tracks - William Kanengiser and Ian Krouse

British Invasion Official Trailer (William Kanengiser & The Alexander String Quartet)

New Classical Tracks® 

William Kanengiser and Alexander String Quartet relive British Invasion

Anastasia Tsioulcas

Octavia Butler's novel ‘Parable of the Sower’ — depicting a dystopian U.S. in 2024 — was published 30 years ago. Toshi Reagon's new musical retelling explores the web of past, present and future.


Lincoln Center

Octavia Butler wrote a 'Parable' that became a prophecy — now it's also an opera

This week’s episode of ‘Saturday Cinema,’ with guest host Bonnie North, features music to highlight books turned into movies, including selections from ‘Black Beauty,’ ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘The Color Purple.’ Listen now!


Saturday Cinema - Books Turned Into Movies

Books Turned Into Movies

Tom Huizenga

Widely acclaimed pianist Alice Sara Ott serves up nearly 200-year-old music by Chopin mixed with a contemporary work that looks back in time in her Tiny Desk Concert. Listen now!


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