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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

On the latest episode of ‘SymphonyCast,’ with host Steve Seel, we head to Seoul, South Korea, for a concert by the country’s premiere classical ensemble, the KBS Symphony Orchestra, playing an all-French program under the direction of Pietari Inkinen. Listen now!


SymphonyCast® 

Provided

KBS Symphony Orchestra

Saturday Cinema - Feb. 3, 2024

Ward Jacobson has enjoyed a radio career spanning over two decades as a morning show host and sportscaster, as well as producer/host of an interview program where he chatted with authors, musicians, politicians and newsmakers. He is also a past winner of the prestigious Marconi Award. Jacobson's love of classical music stems from a childhood influenced by his bass-baritone father and piano-teaching mother. While still a college student in Nebraska, he began singing with the Abendmusik Chorus and took part in concert tours to venues as varied as Englands Lincoln Cathedral, the Vatican, Salzburg Cathedral, Auschwitz and Moscow. When not singing, he works to develop his guitar-strumming repertoire.


Ward Jacobson

Join guest host Ward Jacobson for two full hours of your favorite film music on the latest episode of ‘Saturday Cinema,’ in which we celebrate February birthdays with music from the films of Clark Gable, John Ford, Jack Lemmon, Lana Turner and more. Listen now.


Saturday Cinema

February birthdays with guest host Ward Jacobson

Friday Favorites - Feb. 2, 2024

Steve Staruch can be heard on Classical Minnesota Public Radio on Monday mornings and at other times during the week. 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, New York. 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

On the latest edition of ‘Friday Favorites,’ Steve Staruch takes listener requests featuring plenty of Mozart and Schubert for their birthday party’s afterglow. Listen now!


Theme & Variations

James Napoli/APM

Friday Favorites: Listener requests for Mozart and Schubert's birthdays

YourClassical Storytime - The Elephant's Child

Once upon a time, the elephant had no trunk – until a young one had an unfortunate run-in with a crocodile. Find out the long and short of it in the charming tale ‘The Elephant’s Child,’ the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime – featuring narration by Scott Blankenship, illustrations by E.J. Thompson and traditional classical music from India.


Once upon a time, the elephant had no trunk – until a young one had an unfortunate run-in with a crocodile. Find out the long and short of it in the charming folk tale The Elephant’s Child, the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime.

All Energy Solar Rock the Cradle 2019 Sponsor

YourClassical Storytime: The Elephant's Child

YourClassical Storytime

E.J. Thompson for MPR

‘The Elephant’s Child’

Extra Eclectic - Jan. 31, 2024

The 2024 Grammy nominees include an incredible wealth of contemporary classical recordings, and Steve Seel shares many of them on the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ including music by Missy Mazzoli, Lawrence Brownlee and Anthony McGill. Listen now! 


Extra Eclectic

Unison Media

Contemporary classical shines at the 2024 Grammys

Randy Salas is the senior digital producer of classical music for Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media. He oversees all classical digital content, including the website, social media, videos, e-newsletters and podcasts.


Senior Digital Producer, Classical

Randy Salas

Watch as the Minnesota-based ensemble 29:11 International Exchange performs "Angiwanaki," a traditional Zulu song arranged by Nomvula Maneli. Find out why it has gone viral on Facebook with more than half a million views!


Choral Stream

Watch: 29:11 International Exchange performs 'Angiwanaki'

New Classical Tracks (extended interview) - Angele Dubeau

New Classical Tracks - Angele Dubeau

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 sharing behind-the-scenes stories about a new release each week. It airs locally at 7:15 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesdays and at 9 a.m. on Saturdays.


Julie Amacher

On the latest episode of ‘New Classical Tracks,’ violinist Angele Dubeau honors the music of Philip Glass alongside her ensemble La Pieta on her latest album, ‘Signature.’ Listen now!


Opening, extrait du nouvel album Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà SIGNATURE Philip Glass

New Classical Tracks® 

Angele Dubeau and La Pieta honor music of Philip Glass with 'Signature' 

Listen to the Story

Jeff Lunden

The classic 1962 movie tells the story of a relationship buckling under the weight of addiction. The new Broadway adaptation stars Kelli O'Hara and Brian d'Arcy James.


Joan Marcus

'Days of Wine and Roses,' a film about love and addiction, is now a spirited musical

This week on ‘SymphonyCast’ with host Steve Seel, Fabio Luisi leads the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in a program of the familiar and the novel, including pianist Evgeny Kissin’s performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23. Listen now!


Stefan Hoderath

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Saturday Cinema - Jan. 27, 2024

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

As the first month of 2024 comes to an end, join Lynne Warfel in the latest episode of ‘Saturday Cinema’ for two hours of listeners' requests for their favorite film music, including selections by Erich Korngold, Leonard Bernstein and Max Steiner. Listen now!


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