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

Rhapsody in Black - Duke Ellington's Black, Brown, and Beige

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

Duke Ellington once said, “All arrangements of historic American Negro music have been made by conservatory-trained musicians who inevitably handle it with a European technique. It’s time a big piece of music was written from the inside.” That piece of music was ‘Black, Brown and Beige.’ Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.


Louis Panassié

Duke Ellington's 'Black, Brown and Beige' fuses jazz with classical orchestration

Extra Eclectic - April 23, 2025

This Saturday, Michael Tilson Thomas will make his final public appearance conducting the San Francisco Symphony, which he led for 25 years. He is a longtime advocate for modern classical music, and on this episode of Extra Eclectic, we honor his life and career. Listen now with host Steve Seel!


Brigette Lacombe

A final bow for a maverick

Kaddish: Reflections on the Holocaust in Music and Words

Mindy Ratner is a host and producer on the Classical Music Service of Minnesota Public Radio, where she is heard on weekends. She began her career in public broadcasting following her graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, working first for the local public television station and then for Wisconsin Public Radio. She moved on to stations in Cincinnati and Philadelphia before joining Minnesota Public Radio in 1983. In 1998 and '99, Ratner took a leave of absence to work as a music host and producer for China Radio International in Beijing. Her spare time is devoted to international travel; folk, ballroom and contradancing; singing in the Minnesota Chorale; her two cats, and trying to stay ahead of the weeds in her garden.


Mindy Ratner

Classical music host Mindy Ratner has gathered a collection of conversations with some of those touched directly by the Holocaust. Listen now to 'Kaddish: Reflections on the Holocaust in Music and Words.'


Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Listen: 'Kaddish: Reflections on the Holocaust in Music and Words'

New Classical Tracks (extended interview) - JoAnne Polk

New Classical Tracks - January  8, 2025

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 the latest episode of ‘New Classical Tracks,’ with host Julie Amacher, pianist Joanne Polk releases the second volume of her recordings featuring the music of French composer and pianist Cécile Chaminade. Listen now!


Jeffrey Langford

Joanne Polk returns to the exquisite music of Cécile Chaminade

St. Paul Chamber Orchestra - Handel's 'Messiah'

Join Steve Seel for an Easter celebration with the complete performance of Handel's ‘Messiah,’ performed by the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, conductor Patrick Dupré Quigley, an all-star roster of vocal soloists, and the Singers. Listen to the concert now!


Provided

Celebrate Easter with the SPCO's performance of Handel's 'Messiah'

Saturday Cinema - April 19, 2025

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

This week on Saturday Cinema, host Lynne Warfel shares music from Biblical and historical epic films, including ‘The Robe,’ ‘Ben-Hur,’ ‘Quo Vadis’ and more. Listen now!


Sword and Sandal Epics

Friday Favorites - April 18, 2025

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

Steve Staruch celebrates his tenure of ‘Friday Favorites’ with an eclectic show. Enjoy choral and instrumental classics for the Easter season right next to Broadway showtunes, and everything in between. Listen now!


James Napoli/APM

Friday Favorites: Listener requests and celebration with Steve Staruch

Rhapsody in Black - 20240620

Michelle Cann is a trailblazing African American concert pianist and teacher who is inspiring the next generation of musicians at the Manhattan School of Music and the Curtis Institute.  Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.


Steven Mareazi Willis

Pianist Michelle Cann inspires next generation as a noted music teacher

Extra Eclectic - April 16, 2025

With Earth Day on the way this coming Tuesday, Steve Seel presents two hours of contemporary classical pieces on themes of the environment on this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic.’ Listen now!


Pete Woodhead

Earth and sky

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Phoenix Chorale

New Classical Tracks - April 16, 2025

On the latest episode of ‘New Classical Tracks,’ the Phoenix Chorale and its artistic director Christopher Gabbitas explore the ways that earth’s rotation and seasons mark our time and emotions as humans on their latest recording. Listen now with host Julie Amacher!


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