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NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with musician Tim DeLaughter about his choral rock group, The Polyphonic Spree, and its new album, "Salvage Enterprise."


Mike Mantin from Bristol, UK / Wikipedia CC BY 2.0

Choral rock gets pared down on The Polyphonic Spree's new album

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

Rhapsody in Black - Julius Eastman

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

Composer and pianist Julius Eastman’s personal philosophy was ‘to be what I am to the fullest.’ A graduate of the Curtis Institute, his music was highly acclaimed and challenged racist and homophobic stereotypes. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.


Ron Hammond

Julius Eastman composed music that challenged oppressive stereotypes

Extra Eclectic - Nov. 15. 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

Saxophones are the focus in the first hour of ‘Extra Eclectic’ this week, as host Steve Seel features music by John Adams, Michael Daugherty, Marc Mellits and more. Hour 2 gets a bit chilly, with music that evokes both northern climates and autumnal atmospheres. Listen now.


Provided

Modern classical music embraces the saxophone

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Kevin Whitehead

Sanchez's latest album, ‘Night Creatures,’ features music for nine instruments that variously contrast, blend or clash — channeling the open-air feeling of the pitch-dark woods at night.


Composer Angelica Sanchez takes inspiration from the sound of the woods at night

Felix Contreras

From the very first beat in her performance, it was clear the audience was being transported to another time and space with Marta Pereira da Costa's enchanting time behind the Tiny Desk. Listen as the renowned Portuguese guitarist bridges centuries of history in her Tiny Desk Concert. 


Michael Zamora/NPR

Michael Zamora/NPR/NPR

Marta Pereira da Costa bridges history in her Tiny Desk Concert

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Georgina Rossi and Silvie Cheng

New Classical Tracks - Georgina Rossi and Silvie Cheng

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, violist Georgina Rossi and pianist Silvie Cheng explore Brazilian music, present and past, on their latest recording, 'Chorinho.' Find out more!


Violist Georgina Rossi and pianist Silvie Cheng explore Brazilian music in 'Chorinho'

Chloe Veltman

NPR Tiny Desk contest winner Quinn Christopherson, drag queen Pattie Gonia and world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma would like "Won't Give Up" to be sung at climate change rallies and in concert halls.


William Woodward

This trio hopes 'Won't Give Up' will become an anthem for the climate movement

Every Good Thing

Longtime music host and performer Andrea Blain presents classical music programming including national specials, opera and other live broadcasts and holiday programs. She also is part of a team that works on content and scripting for ‘Rhapsody in Black’ and has voiced several episodes of YourClassical Storytime.


Andrea Blain

On Thanksgiving, host Andrea Blain and classical music fans from all around the country take time to give thanks and celebrate one of life's most meaningful gifts: music. It's ‘Every Good Thing’ — an hour of stories and music to celebrate Thanksgiving.


'Every Good Thing'

Tom Huizenga

A new album of music by the 88-year-old Estonian mystic seems to put an arm around you and whisper, "In troubled times, music can help."


Luciano Rossetti/ECM Records

A disciplined plea for peace – and quiet – from composer Arvo Pärt

Friday Favorites - Nov. 10, 2023

On the Nov. 10 episode of ‘Friday Favorites,’ guest host Steve Seel fills in for Steve Staruch as he plays listeners' requests for their favorite classical music. Listen now!


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