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Cynthia Dickison

It’s road trip season, and you might be headed to one of America’s awe-inspiring national parks. It’s no surprise that they’ve also been an inspiration for composers who captured the grandeur and beauty of these natural wonders during their own travels (actual or imaginary). Here’s some music for the journey.


Nate Ryan

Take a musical trip to our national parks

YourClassical Storytime - Sweet Arabella

What happens when the nicest and best cow has a clumsy run-in with the Ice Fairy? Find out in ‘Sweet Arabella,’ the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime — featuring narration by Valerie Kahler, illustrations by Raul Villanueva and music by Jacques Ibert.


Raul Villanueva for MPR

'Sweet Arabella'

Saturday Cinema - 07/29/23

For host Bonnie North, classical music is more than just a genre — it's a way of life. She stumbled into the world of radio after responding to a newspaper ad for Vermont Public Radio seeking a classical music DJ for its Sunday afternoon show. Despite having no previous radio experience, she was confident in her knowledge of classical music and took a chance. She created an audition tape, and the rest is history. Her favorite composer depends on her mood. Sometimes she seeks the meditative sounds of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, while other times she craves the angular compositions of Igor Stravinsky. Of course, she also loves the classics by composers who include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel. But she is always looking for contemporary composers and is eager to discover new musical talents. Outside of work, she loves to attend live music events. She also enjoys traveling and having friends and family scattered throughout the United States and Europe. But her love for animals is just as strong, and she often volunteers at animal shelters. She is an avid duathlon participant, combining her love for running and biking in one exciting event.


Bonnie North

‘Saturday Cinema’ celebrates women and the various roles they play in the movies — moms, stage moms, stepmoms, grandmothers, aunts, nannies — from Mama Rose in ‘Gypsy’ to ‘Mrs. Doubtfire.’ Listen now with guest host Bonnie North.


Celebrating women in the movies

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

Rhapsody in Black - Terence Blanchard

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

In 2021, Terence Blanchard became the first Black composer to have an opera staged at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Whether it’s performing or composing jazz, film music and opera, he does it exceptionally well, receiving awards and nominations for his work at every turn. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast. 


Muse Media

Terence Blanchard is a legend of jazz, film music, opera and more

Extra Eclectic - July 26, 2023

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

Your ears will positively tingle in the first hour of ‘Extra Eclectic’ when host Steve Seel features music by Turkish-American composer Mehmet Ali Sanlikol. In the second hour, it's a quiet set that veers from the calm to the eerie, with music by Pauline Oliveros, Missy Mazzoli and Timo Andres.


Provided

Mehmet Ali Sanlikol's global village

Acclaimed pianist Jon Kimura Parker and the BRKFST Dance Company joined the Minnesota Orchestra for a program featuring works by Sergei Rachmaninoff, Maurice Ravel, Daniel Bernard Roumain and Igor Stravinsky. Listen to the concert now and watch as Parker demonstrates his love for Elton John and explains Rachmaninoff’s work.


Tara McMullen Photography

Listen: Jon Kimura Parker, BRKFST Dance Company and Elias Grandy perform at Orchestra Hall

Saturday Cinema - Hook and More

This week’s episode of ‘Saturday Cinema,’ with guest host Bonnie North, features music from the movie ‘Hook’, and also includes selections from ‘The Little Mermaid,’ ‘Jaws’ and ‘Life of Pi.’ Listen now!


It's movie music on the high seas with 'Hook,' 'Jaws' and more

Listen to the Story

Noah Caldwell

In their new book ‘On Minimalism,’ musicologists William Robin and Kerry O'Brien capture the lesser-known stories of the musical movement and its development, era by era.


The Museum of Modern Art/SCALA/Art Resource, N.Y.

Minimalism: a story told in 8 pulses

Rhapsody in Black - Damien Sneed

A musician of multiple hats and genres, Damien Sneed is recognized today as a pianist, vocalist, organist, composer, conductor, arranger, producer and arts educator in high demand. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast. 


Ayano Hisa/Jazz at Lincoln Center

Damien Sneed is a musician of many skills and genres

Gaelynn Lea debuts an original play with storyteller Kevin Kling named 'Invisible Fences.'

Duluth musician Gaelynn Lea debuts new play, continues work to make stages more accessible

Dan Kraker is based in Duluth, Minn., and covers northeastern Minnesota for MPR News.


Dan Kraker

Duluth musician Gaelynn Lea’s latest project, “Invisible Fences,” is an original play she co-wrote and is performing with Minnesota storyteller Kevin Kling. It debuts Thursday at the Open Eye Theatre in Minneapolis.


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