The Monserrat Boy Choir Escolania de Monserrat

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

Perched atop the mountains near Barcelona, the choir of the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat is one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious boy choirs. For the first time in their 800-year history, the choir made its Midwest premiere. Bringing with them a message of peace, the choristers will use music to transcend borders and speak directly to your heart.


Anticipation and Celebration

Carols as Home with Imani Winds

An original member of Imani Winds, oboist Toyin Spellman-Diaz has built her career as a champion of contemporary chamber music. She teaches at NYU Steinhardt School of Music, Brooklyn College and Mannes School of Music. She also serves on the board of the American Composers Orchestra.


Toyin Spellman-Diaz

Carols as Home features a modern take on classic Christmas carols, hosted by Imani Winds founding oboist, Toyin Spellman-Diaz. Toyin coaxes intimate stories of Christmas memories from the members of the ensemble, and why these classic carols are still essential today. Listen now!


Carols as Home with the Imani Winds

All Is Bright

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

'All Is Bright', with host Lynne Warfel, offers an hour of gorgeous, contemplative choral music that tells the traditional Christmas story with songs about angels, the star and the manger scene. Featured artists include Chanticleer, The Dale Warland Singers, Bryn Terfel, Emma Kirkby, Jessye Norman, and a variety of choirs.


'All Is Bright': Contemplative choral music for Christmas

Listen to the Metropolitan Opera’s broadcasts on YourClassical MPR at noon central Saturday. Enjoy present and past performances from the Metropolitan Opera stage through early June. 


Provided

Listen to the Metropolitan Opera's 2023-24 season at noon Saturdays

A Chanticleer Christmas 2022

Melissa Ousley stumbled into a career in broadcasting many years ago when she moved to Wichita, Kansas to be near her soon-to-be husband. The attraction (to radio work, that is) was immediate and the chance to be around great music without having to practice piano was irresistible. After establishing herself as a host and producer in Kansas, Melissa moved to Minnesota and continued her work at WCAL in Northfield and Minnesota Public Radio in St. Paul. Her morning classical show at WCAL was twice named "Best Classical Radio Program" by the Twin Cities paper City Pages. Melissa grew up near New York City. As a teenager, she attended the Preparatory Division of the Manhattan School of Music. Her bachelor's degree in music education is from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. When she's away from the airwaves, Melissa loves to run, read, and spend time with her family.


Melissa Ousley

Celebrate the season with song! Melissa Ousley hosts this one-hour program of holiday favorites, new and old, presented live in concert by Chanticleer, the two-time Grammy-winning 12-man ensemble known as ‘an orchestra of voices.’


'Chanticleer Christmas'

An ecstatic exploration of classical music that’s aesthetically and uncompromisingly Black.

Rhapsody in Black - Undine Smith Moore

Undine Smith Moore knew the importance of music education from an early age. But despite her success, she still doubted her abilities and accomplishments as a composer, citing racism. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.


Detroit Public Library

Undine Smith Moore understood the art of teaching

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Kellen Gray

New Classical Tracks - Kellen Gray

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 episode of New Classical Tracks, conductor Kellen Gray and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra explore the diversity and array of aesthetics among African American composers in their latest album, ‘African American Voices II.’ Find out more!


Kellen Gray and Royal Scottish National Orchestra present 'African American Voices II'

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Luis Trelles

Florencia gives star Ailyn Pérez a rare chance to sing in Spanish. As the bilingual daughter of Mexican immigrants, she learned early on that language had the power to shape her experience and voice.


Ken Howard/Met Opera

Finding a place at the Met, this opera sings in a language of its own

Listen to the Story

Jeff Lunden

Long before The Backstreet Boys, a vocal sextet in Weimar Germany was silenced because three memebrs were Jewish. A new Broadway musical with a score by Barry Manilow tells their story.


Julieta Cervantes/Harmony

An early boy band was world famous — until the Nazis took over

Scott Simon

NPR's Scott Simon talks with conductor Marin Alsop about the 30th anniversary of "Too Hot To Handel" — a modern take on Handel's baroque classic, "Messiah."


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