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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® 

Provided

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.


Listen to the Story

Lincoln Center

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

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 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

Saturday Cinema

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!


Alice Sara Ott: Tiny Desk Concert

Elizabeth Gillis/NPR

Pianist Alice Sara Ott performs preludes in her Tiny Desk Concert

Despite facing racial bias within the opera world, soprano Grace Bumbry rose to international fame and created a sensation with her impactful performances in venues and festivals across the world. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast. 


Rhapsody in Black - Grace Bumbry

Erich Auerbach/Getty Images

Soprano Grace Bumbry challenged racial bias in the opera world

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,’ which includes works by Jessie Montgomery, Errollyn Wallen and George Walker.  


Extra Eclectic July 12, 2023

Extra Eclectic

Wil Stewart/Unsplash

Extra Eclectic for July 12, 2023

On this week’s New Classical Tracks, violinist Hilary Hahn explores her musical heritage through a new recording of sonatas by Belgian violinist and composer Eugène Ysaÿe.


New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Hillary Hahn

New Classical Tracks - Hillary Hahn

Ysaÿe: 6 Sonatas for Violin Solo, Op. 27 - Sonata No. 6 in E Major

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Hilary Hahn

OJ Slaughter

Hilary Hahn explores her heritage with violin works by Belgian composer Eugene Ysaye

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 this week’s episode of SymphonyCast with host Steve Seel, conductor Nicholas Collon leads the BBC Philharmonic on an epic mountain journey in Richard Strauss’ ‘An Alpine Symphony.’ Also featured is a world premiere by Tom Coult and Alban Berg’s ‘Seven Early Songs,’ featuring soprano Francesca Chiejina.
