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Ari Shapiro

William Troop

Michael Levitt

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with musician and composer Ameen Mokdad, about his album The Curve, which he composed while living under ISIS occupation in Mosul, Iraq.


Ryan Caron King / Connecticut Public

"Music is a need for me" why this violinist composed an album under ISIS

Camille Saint-Saëns: Aquarium

Manuel de Falla: Seven Popular Spanish Songs - Asturiana

Jēkabs Jančevskis: Lignum

Bedrich Smetana: The Moldau

Ethel Smyth: Piano Trio - second movement

Joe Goetz

Jennifer Allen is the Associate Music Director for Classical MPR and is responsible for classical music programming and library organization. What she enjoys most about her job is sharing great music with MPR audiences. Anderson started with Classical MPR as an intern in October 2005. She holds a degree in music from Macalester College and currently resides in St. Paul.


Jennifer Allen

Robin Gehl

Conductor Francois-Xavier Roth and the ensemble Les Siecles redefine the use of period instruments, the Czech Philharmonic celebrates its homeland, and the incredible voice of Elīna Garanča highlight our recordings of the month for March.


Deutsche Gammophon

Saint-Saens on period instruments, a 200th birthday and night music highlight March releases

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

Join Steve Seel for an Easter celebration with the complete performance of Handel's sacred oratorio Messiah, performed by the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, conductor and countertenor Dmitry Sinkovsky, an all-star roster of vocal soloists, and the Singers, led by Matthew Culloton. Listen to the concert now! 


Provided

Listen: SPCO performs Handel's 'Messiah' with the Singers and all-star vocal roster

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

Rhapsody in Black - The String Queens

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

The String Queens are a woman-powered string trio based out of Washington, D.C., who have made a difference in their community and in the classical music arena through their nontraditional programming and performances. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.


Provided 

Woman-powered trio String Queens making a difference in the world

Extra Eclectic - March 27, 2024

As we wrap up Women's History Month, it feels impossible to fit in everything we want to feature by today’s women composers. Steve Seel brings us pieces by Caroline Shaw, Raminta Serksnyte, Mahdis Golzar Kashani and Gity Razaz.




Women's history, women's present

'Portraits of Women in Music' with the Duo Avila

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

In 2023, the Venezuelan Dúo Ávila performed a concert in the UBS Forum at Minnesota Public Radio’s headquarters in celebration of Women’s History Month. Listen to music from the concert and learn more about the composers featured on it in ‘Portraits of Women in Music.’


Venezuelan Duo Avila presents 'Portraits of Women in Music'

Michel Martin

Olivia Hampton

Ana Perez

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Alicia Graf Mack about how she's reshaping Juilliard's prestigious Dance Division to make it more relevant than ever.


Tsering Bista/NPR

West African dance and hip-hop play a key role in a revamped Juilliard track

Jodi Gustafson

This Easter, as always, the 'Messiah' oratorio is in full play. But do you want to venture beyond Handel's masterpiece? Then check out our picks for 10 other great works for Holy Week.


Wikimedia Commons

10 great works for Holy Week besides Handel's 'Messiah'

Saturday Cinema - March 23, 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

Join host Lynne Warfel on the latest episode of ‘Saturday Cinema,’ celebrating the famous film folks born in March! Hear music from films featuring David Niven, Ron Howard, Liza Minelli, Shirley Jones and more. 


March birthdays

Buxtehude Festival Chorale and Orchestra: Psalm 103

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

Celebrate Holy Week with the North American premiere of a choral and orchestra setting of ‘Psalm 103,’ by Johann Schelle, recorded by the Buxtehude Festival Chorale and Orchestra, led by Brian A. Schmidt. Listen now.


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