Friday Favorites - April 26, 2024

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

Spencer LaMott — known to his fans as Skippy Stone — is a gifted singer and songwriter. He lives to make music, creating songs about self-discovery and, of course, love. Spencer brought all his talents to co-hosting the latest ‘Friday Favorites’ with Steve Staruch. Listen now! 


Provided

Friday Favorites: Listener requests and Project DJ co-host Spencer LaMott

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

Rhapsody in Black - March  2, 2023

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

Pop artist Roberta Flack grew up classically trained and continued to love the music, even when revolutionizing the R&B scene. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast. 


Keystone/Getty Images

Roberta Flack is the shepherd of a new R&B sound

Extra Eclectic - May 1, 2024

The first day of May is considered the first day of summer in Celtic tradition. Whether you’re giving thanks for spring or summer, there’s little doubt that things are greening outside — and we celebrate that on this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ with host Steve Seel. Listen now!


May Day music

Classical Feature: folk-classics-across-the-globe

Ines Guanchez is an assistant digital producer for classical. An accomplished pianist, she founded Dúo Ávila with fellow Venezuelan violinist Sofia Schutte. The ensemble focuses on music by composers outside of the classical canon and has performed in venues in Minnesota and Costa Rica. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with master’s degrees in mass communications and piano performance. She previously interned for Minnesota Public Radio in 2018.


Ines Guanchez

Host Ines Guanchez explores classical pieces inspired by folk music from composers and cultures that have often existed on the fringes of the classical canon, including three world premieres recorded at MPR’s headquarters. Listen now to ‘Folk Classics Across the Globe.’


'Folk Classics Across the Globe'

Cantus and Canadian Brass

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

When Cantus and Canadian Brass got together for a one-off show this past February, they delighted the audience at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. Steve Seel hosts this special two-hour concert event featuring folk music, classical standards, tangos, spirituals and more! Listen now.


Cantus and Canadian Brass join forces for an evening of music and surprises

Classical Feature - Fur, Feathers and Flutes

Jillene Khan works for Minnesota Public Radio/American Public Media as an overnight classical host.


Classical Host

Jillene Khan

Do our pets have a special connection with classical music? Host Jillene Khan thinks so! Join her as she hosts ‘Fur, Feathers and Flutes,’ a program that celebrates the love we have for our companions and their connection to classical music. Listen now and check out cute pictures of the furry and feathered friends who were featured in the show! 


'Fur, Feathers and Flutes'

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 - Ode to Joy; Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Herbert von Karajan

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 - Ode to Joy; Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Simon Rattle

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Cynthia Dickison

It’s the 200th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and its iconic final movement, commonly known as ‘Ode to Joy.’ Learn a little about its history, and listen to nine great renditions. 


Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty Images

Light a candle for Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony on its 200th anniversary

YourClassical Storytime - The Turtle and the Flute

When a turtle finds a flute on the rainforest floor, she opens up a world of possibilities! But what happens when a curious stranger hears her play? Find out in ‘The Turtle and the Flute,’ the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring narration by Ines Guanchez, Brazilian music and illustrations by E.J. Thompson.


E.J. Thompson for MPR

‘The Turtle and the Flute’

Saturday Cinema - April 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

This entire episode of ‘Saturday Cinema’ was requested by former Chief Scientist for Human Space Flight at NASA, Dr. Kathryn Clark. “KC” is in her “retirement” recruiting future astronauts and scientists for NASA and has written a children’s book! Listen now with host Lynne Warfel!


Space day

Steve Staruch plays listener requests on the latest episode of ‘Friday Favorites,’ including Project DJ. This week’s co-host is professional photographer and MPR colleague, Jenny Cvek. Her artistic insight and keen storytelling were on full display. Listen now!


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