Jon Kimura Parker shares his love and admiration for British singer, pianist and composer Elton John. Listen as he shares a snippet of a song that shaped his youth with YourClassical MPR host Melissa Ousley.


Minnesota Orchestra

Acclaimed classical pianist surprises with Elton John

Jon Kimura Parker shares his passion for Sergei Rachmaninoff's 'Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini' with YourClassical MPR host Melissa Ousley. Find out what makes this well-loved classical piece tick.


 Courtney Perry/Minnesota Orchestra

Pianist Jon Kimura Parker explains what makes Rachmaninoff's 'Paganini' tick

Saturday Cinema August, 19

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 this episode of Saturday Cinema, for Aug. 19, host Lynne Warfel plays listener requests for their favorite film scores, featuring an hour devoted to Jerry Goldsmith, including his music for 'Alien,' 'Chinatown' and 'Tora! Tora! Tora!'



Listener requests, Part 1

Classical Programs - August 18, 2023

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

Host Steve Staruch plays listener requests on the Aug. 18, 2023, episode of Friday Favorites. Listen now.


James Napoli/APM

Friday Favorites for Aug. 18

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Tom Huizenga

The intrepid champion of new music turns her attention to female composers, offering a sampler of works by women across four centuries, including a favorite of Louis XIV and an Ethiopian nun. 


Michael Zamora

Michael Zamora/NPR/NPR

Sarah Cahill features women composers in her Tiny Desk Concert

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

Host Steve Seel gives us a variety of music on Extra Eclectic this week. The program features works by Missy Mazzoli, Jeff Beal and more. Listen now!


Courtesy of the artist

Extra Eclectic for Aug. 16, 2023 

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) -  Michelle Cann

New Classical Tracks - Michelle Cann

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 New Classical Tracks, pianist Michelle Cann releases her debut album, ‘Revival: Music of Price and Bonds,’ in which she explores the solo piano music of Florence Price and Margaret Bonds, two composers whose music is recently entering the mainstream after years of suppression. 


Pianist Michelle Cann explores the music of Bonds and Price in 'Revival'

Saturday Cinema - 08/12/2024

On this episode of ‘Saturday Cinema,’ host Lynne Warfel explores music from movies on the American Film Institute's top 10 lists for various genres, including ‘2001: A Space Odyssey,’ ‘King Kong’ and ‘The Lion King.’ Listen now!


AFI top 10 lists

Friday Favorites - August 11, 2023

Host Steve Staruch takes your requests on Friday Favorites for Aug. 11, 2023, including a dedication of a waltz by Johann Strauss Jr. Joining as a guest is Project DJ (Plus) co-host Mark Scannell.



Friday Favorites: Listener requests and Project DJ (Plus) co-host Mark Scannell

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

Rhapsody in Black - Lawrence Brownlee

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

Known for singing roles in operas that demand his particular bel canto voice and leading projects that uplift music by African American composers, tenor Lawrence Brownlee is conscious of how the work of Black singers in the past has helped him succeed in his career, and he intends to do the same for upcoming young singers. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.


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