Take Me to the Water

Harpist Ashley Jackson’s program ‘Take Me to the Water’ is an immersive audio experience that touches on themes from African mythology, the antebellum spiritual tradition and water’s transportive, transmogrifying nature. Listen now with host Vernon Neal!


Harpist Ashley Jackson explores African mythology and spiritual tradition in 'Take Me to the Water'

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

On the latest episode of ‘SymphonyCast,’ with host Steve Seel, we head to Seoul, South Korea, for a concert by the country’s premiere classical ensemble, the KBS Symphony Orchestra, playing an all-French program under the direction of Pietari Inkinen. Listen now!


Provided

KBS Symphony Orchestra

Saturday Cinema - Feb. 3, 2024

Ward Jacobson has enjoyed a radio career spanning over two decades as a morning show host and sportscaster, as well as producer/host of an interview program where he chatted with authors, musicians, politicians and newsmakers. He is also a past winner of the prestigious Marconi Award. Jacobson's love of classical music stems from a childhood influenced by his bass-baritone father and piano-teaching mother. While still a college student in Nebraska, he began singing with the Abendmusik Chorus and took part in concert tours to venues as varied as Englands Lincoln Cathedral, the Vatican, Salzburg Cathedral, Auschwitz and Moscow. When not singing, he works to develop his guitar-strumming repertoire.


Ward Jacobson

Join guest host Ward Jacobson for two full hours of your favorite film music on the latest episode of ‘Saturday Cinema,’ in which we celebrate February birthdays with music from the films of Clark Gable, John Ford, Jack Lemmon, Lana Turner and more. Listen now.


February birthdays with guest host Ward Jacobson

Friday Favorites - Feb. 2, 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

On the latest edition of ‘Friday Favorites,’ Steve Staruch takes listener requests featuring plenty of Mozart and Schubert for their birthday party’s afterglow. Listen now!


James Napoli/APM

Friday Favorites: Listener requests for Mozart and Schubert's birthdays

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

Rhapsody in Black - Andre 3000

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

Hip-hop artist and composer André 3000 released his latest album, ‘New Blue Sun,’ in 2023. The album revolves around compositions with wind instruments and is a result of his need to explore the many influences around him, both jazz and classical. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.


Emma McIntyre

Andre 3000 is a musician who never stops exploring

Once upon a time, the elephant had no trunk – until a young one had an unfortunate run-in with a crocodile. Find out the long and short of it in the charming folk tale The Elephant’s Child, the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime.

YourClassical Storytime - The Elephant's Child

Once upon a time, the elephant had no trunk – until a young one had an unfortunate run-in with a crocodile. Find out the long and short of it in the charming tale ‘The Elephant’s Child,’ the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime – featuring narration by Scott Blankenship, illustrations by E.J. Thompson and traditional classical music from India.


E.J. Thompson for MPR

‘The Elephant’s Child’

Extra Eclectic - Jan. 31, 2024

The 2024 Grammy nominees include an incredible wealth of contemporary classical recordings, and Steve Seel shares many of them on the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ including music by Missy Mazzoli, Lawrence Brownlee and Anthony McGill. Listen now! 


Unison Media

Contemporary classical shines at the 2024 Grammys

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

Watch as the Minnesota-based ensemble 29:11 International Exchange performs "Angiwanaki," a traditional Zulu song arranged by Nomvula Maneli. Find out why it has gone viral on Facebook with more than half a million views!


Watch: 29:11 International Exchange performs 'Angiwanaki'

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Angele Dubeau

New Classical Tracks - Angele Dubeau

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 sharing behind-the-scenes stories about a new release each week. It airs locally at 7:15 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesdays and at 9 a.m. on Saturdays.


Julie Amacher

On the latest episode of ‘New Classical Tracks,’ violinist Angele Dubeau honors the music of Philip Glass alongside her ensemble La Pieta on her latest album, ‘Signature.’ Listen now!


Angele Dubeau and La Pieta honor music of Philip Glass with 'Signature' 

Listen to the Story

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Jeff Lunden

The classic 1962 movie tells the story of a relationship buckling under the weight of addiction. The new Broadway adaptation stars Kelli O'Hara and Brian d'Arcy James.


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