Extra Eclectic - Feb. 21, 2024

On the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ Steve Seel continues celebrating Black History Month by featuring modern and contemporary Black composers and performers, including Shelley Washington, Jessie Montgomery and our exclusive recording of harpist Ashley Jackson. Listen now!


Peter Yankowsky / Courtesy of the artist

Celebrating Black contemporary composers

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Matt Haimovitz

New Classical Tracks - February 21, 2024

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,’ cellist Matt Haimovitz, the MDR Orchestra and conductor Dennis Russell Davies honor Thomas de Hartmann's music on their new album. Find out more!


Brent Calis

Cellist Matt Haimovitz honors Thomas de Hartmann's music

Choral music called and Philip Brunelle answered

Choral legend Philip Brunelle has done it all. He’s the founder and artistic director of VocalEssence, a vocal ensemble based at the Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis. He recently talked to Minnesota Public Radio about his esteemed career. Listen now!


Provided

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Cynthia Dickison

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

Everyone loves the classic musical ‘The Sound of Music,’ even if they won’t admit it. A new deluxe five-disc set lets listeners enjoy and understand the music beyond the familiar melodies, making every musical element from the film available for the first time.


20th Century Fox

New 'Sound of Music' deluxe 5-disc set offers a fresh perspective on classic musical

Saturday Cinema - Feb. 17, 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

On the latest episode of ‘Saturday Cinema,’ Lynne Warfel takes an Oscars run-up with a look at past winners and present nominations, including selections from ‘Spellbound’ and ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai.’ Listen now!


It's almost time for the Oscars

Friday Favorites - Feb. 16, 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

Eclectic, thy name is Friday Favorites! From composer birthdays (Mendelssohn and Schubert), to music that marks Black History Month, to the wild and wonderful, the latest episode of Friday Favorites has it all! Listen now with host Steve Staruch.


James Napoli/APM

Friday Favorites: Composer birthdays, Black History Month and more!

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

Rhapsody in Black - Kellen Gray

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

Find out how Kellen Gray curates and conducts programs that deal with African-diasporic composers, their place in music history and their relation to the classical canon on the latest episode of the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast. Listen now.


Conductor Kellen Gray brings music from the African diaspora into concert halls

Extra Eclectic - Feb. 14, 2024

On the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ our celebration of Black History Month continues with an hour of Black composers honoring the trailblazers who inspired them. In the second hour, host Steve Seel presents a Valentine's Day collage of the many different experiences of love. Listen now!


Matthew Murphy

History and Hearts

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Osmo Vanska

New Classical Tracks - February 14, 2024

On the latest episode of ‘New Classical Tracks,’ conductor Osmo Vanska and the Minnesota Orchestra present their recording of Gustav Mahler's epic Symphony No. 8 ('Symphony of a Thousand'). Find out more!


Travis Anderson

Osmo Vanska and Minnesota Orchestra present Mahler's 'Symphony of a Thousand'

Blue Centennial: Celebrating a Century of Gershwin’s 'Rhapsody'

Valerie Kahler grew up in a musical family and started playing cello and piano in 3rd grade.  She began her radio career in 1989 as a volunteer at KNAU (now Arizona Public Radio) in Flagstaff, Arizona.  She worked there as a classical host and music director for more than a decade before moving to Minnesota to work for MPR.   In addition to classical music, other passions include sewing, singing and cooking.  She shares her life with her partner, John, an artist.


Valerie Kahler

For the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue,’ Valerie Kahler delves into the fascinating history of this great work and shares an array of performers who interpreted it. Listen now to 'Blue Centennial': Celebrating a Century of Gershwin’s 'Rhapsody'!


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