An ecstatic exploration of classical music that’s aesthetically and uncompromisingly Black.

Rhapsody in Black - Ulysses Kay

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 Ulysses Kay dedicated his life to music. With more than 140 works representing the various genres of classical music, Kay should be a household name. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.


Columbia University

Ulysses Kay was one of America’s leading Black composers

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Olivia Hampton

NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Mark O'Connor about his memoir, ‘Crossing Bridges,’ on his journey from multi-instrumentalist child prodigy to solo artist composing and performing on world stages.


Marty O'Connor/Mark O'Connor

Prodigious fiddler Mark O'Connor celebrates 50 years of music with memoir 

New Classical Tracks - Eldbjørg Hemsing (Extended)

New Classical Tracks - Eldbjørg Hemsing 

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

In this week’s New Classical Tracks, Norwegian violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing offers a glimpse of her homeland’s fragile beauty through the music of contemporary and traditional composers on her latest album, ‘Arctic.’ 


Gregor Hohenberg

Eldbjørg Hemsing shares a musical journey through the Arctic

Leila Fadel

Barry Gordemer

Russian-born violinist Nataly Merezhuk explores the history of jazz in the former Soviet Union in her new album: Jazz on Bones.


Courtesy of the artist

'Courtesy of Nataly Merezhuk 

Violinist's album honors the underground effort to keep jazz alive after Stalin's ban

YourClassical Story: Tom Trautman

Not all classical music is soft and quaint. 


Max Bender/Unsplash

Tom Trautman discovers the 'sublime power' of classical music

This week of the Oscar deep dive focuses on winners from the ‘50’s and ‘60’s and the rise of method actors. Randy Haberkamp, Executive Vice President, Library Archives and Sci Tech for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is back to talk all things cinema. Listen now!

Oscars Deep Dive: Hollywood Comes of Age

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

This week of the Oscars deep dive focuses on winners from the ‘50’s and ‘60’s and the rise of method actors. Randy Haberkamp, Executive Vice President, Library Archives and Sci Tech for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is back to talk all things cinema. Listen now!


A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images

New Classical Tracks - David Starobin (Extended)

In this week’s New Classical Tracks, guitarist David Starobin’s retirement from performing has finally given him the time to catch up on his playing and to celebrate one of his musical idols on his latest album, ‘Giulio Regondi: A 200th Birthday Bouquet.’ 


YouTube

Guitarist David Starobin celebrates one of his musical idols

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

Choral fans received a nice surprise over the weekend when Coldplay performed on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and was unexpectedly joined by the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers and YouTube sensation Jacob Collier on ‘Fix You’ and ‘The Astronaut.’ Watch now!


Watch: Jason Max Ferdinand Singers join Coldplay on 'SNL'

This week’s episode of Saturday Cinema is the first of five shows that features music that won at the Academy Awards in the ‘30’s and ‘40’s with special guest Randy Haberkamp, Executive Vice President, Library Archives and Sci Tech for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences! Listen now! 

Oscar's Deep Dive: The Beginning

This week’s episode of Saturday Cinema is the first of five shows that features music that won at the Academy Awards. This episode focuses on winners from the ‘30’s and ‘40’s and the origins of the Oscars with special guest Randy Haberkamp, Executive Vice President, Library Archives and Sci Tech for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences! Listen now! 


Oscars Deep Dive: The Beginning

Friday Favorites-02032023

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 this episode of Friday Favorites, for Feb. 3, 2023, Cecilia finally gets her lost request, Lori prepares for a concert by Evan Price and host Steve Staruch is joined by Project DJ co-host William Gomes.


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