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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

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!


Extra Eclectic

Johanna Siegmann 

Two premieres at the Proms 

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

On this week’s New Classical Tracks, harpist Ashley Jackson collaborates with the Harlem Chamber Players in the album ‘Ennanga,’ featuring music exploring the African American and West African roots in American music. 


New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Ashley Jackson

New Classical Tracks - Ashley Jackson

Ennanga: I

New Classical Tracks® 

Provided

Harpist Ashley Jackson and Harlem Chamber Players explore African roots

On this episode of SymphonyCast, we have another BBC Proms exclusive with host Steve Seel, as conductor Mark Elder and the Hallé orchestra present a Russian pairing of music by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Dmitri Shostakovich. 


SymphonyCast® 

BBC Proms No. 16

Jon Kimura Parker shares his love and admiration for British singer, pianist and composer Elton John. Listen as he shares a snippet of a song that shaped his youth with YourClassical MPR host Melissa Ousley.


Jon Kimura Parker on Elton John - Minnesota Orchestra Chat

Minnesota Orchestra

Acclaimed classical pianist surprises with Elton John

Jon Kimura Parker shares his passion for Sergei Rachmaninoff's 'Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini' with YourClassical MPR host Melissa Ousley. Find out what makes this well-loved classical piece tick.


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

 Courtney Perry/Minnesota Orchestra

Pianist Jon Kimura Parker explains what makes Rachmaninoff's 'Paganini' tick

Lynne has been at this radio thing since 1984 when she fell into an historic job at KFAC AM and FM, the commercial classical station in Los Angeles.  She was the first woman staff announcer in the station's history, and it was such big news back then, it made the LA newspapers and national radio publications.  She is thrilled women in radio is no longer newsworthy.


Lynne Warfel

On this episode of Saturday Cinema, for Aug. 19, host Lynne Warfel plays listener requests for their favorite film scores, featuring an hour devoted to Jerry Goldsmith, including his music for 'Alien,' 'Chinatown' and 'Tora! Tora! Tora!'



Saturday Cinema August, 19

Saturday Cinema

Listener requests, Part 1

Steve Staruch can be heard on Classical Minnesota Public Radio from 3 to 7 p.m. weekdays, including hosting Music with Minnesotans, Regional Spotlight and Friday Favorites. Prior to joining the staff of MPR in 2004, Steve presented a variety of radio programs on WCAL in Northfield, Minn., where he created an immensely popular call-in program, and on WXXI in Rochester, N.Y. Outside radio, Steve also enjoys work as a freelance tenor and violist. Steve and his wife, Naomi, enjoy traveling, gardening and hosting dinner parties.


Steve Staruch

Host Steve Staruch plays listener requests on the Aug. 18, 2023, episode of Friday Favorites. Listen now.


Classical Programs - August 18, 2023

Friday Favorites

James Napoli/APM

Friday Favorites for Aug. 18

Tom Huizenga

The intrepid champion of new music turns her attention to female composers, offering a sampler of works by women across four centuries, including a favorite of Louis XIV and an Ethiopian nun. 


Sarah Cahill: Tiny Desk Concert

Michael Zamora

Michael Zamora/NPR/NPR

Sarah Cahill features women composers in her Tiny Desk Concert

Host Steve Seel gives us a variety of music on Extra Eclectic this week. The program features works by Missy Mazzoli, Jeff Beal and more. Listen now!


Courtesy of the artist

Extra Eclectic for Aug. 16, 2023 

On this week’s New Classical Tracks, pianist Michelle Cann releases her debut album, ‘Revival: Music of Price and Bonds,’ in which she explores the solo piano music of Florence Price and Margaret Bonds, two composers whose music is recently entering the mainstream after years of suppression. 


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