Music for a week of mourning

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

In a week of unspeakable tragedy, we offer two hours of reflective works from contemporary composers.


David Tomaseti / Unsplash

New Classical Tracks - Lara Downes (Extended)

New Classical Tracks - Lara Downes

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, pianist Lara Downes continues her work of uplifting Black composers on her record label, Rising Sun Music, with her latest CD, ‘Reflections: Scott Joplin Reconsidered.’ 


Courtesy of artist

Lara Downes reflects on the music of Scott Joplin

Listen to the Story

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Mary Louise Kelly

Kat Lonsdorf

Patrick Jarenwattananon

On a new album, the classical stars revisit the concerto Williams composed specifically for Ma, as well as some of Williams' most affecting film scores.


Lawrence Sumulong/Courtesy of Sony Music

Composer John Williams and cellist Yo-Yo Ma bring together 'A Gathering of Friends'

Tesfa Wondemagegnehu - To Repair

Last summer, YourClassical MPR’s Tesfa Wondemagegnehu traveled across the United States, looking for ideas and people who could help repair communities through his project ‘To Repair.’ His first stop was George Floyd Square in Minneapolis, where Floyd was murdered on May 25, 2020. Listen now to the choral work that was inspired by Wondemagegnehu’s journey.


Jayden Browne/St. Olaf College

Listen: New choral work by Wondemagegnehu explores repairing communities

Jeffrey Yelverton is a digital producer of classical music for Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media. He supports the digital portfolio of MPR/APM by creating original content and providing production support for YourClassical Storytime, New Classical Tracks and various seasonal events.


Digital Producer, Classical

Jeffrey Yelverton

Legendary composer and conductor John Williams hasn’t showed signs of slowing down since turning 90 earlier this year. With the upcoming ‘Star Wars’ show ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi,' Williams’ score amazes music and movie lovers alike once again. 


Stephan Rabold

John Williams has done it again with music for 'Obi-Wan Kenobi'

Scott Simon

Scott Simon talks to singer-songwriter Avi Kaplan, former member of Pentatonix, about his debut solo album, "Floating On A Dream."


Courtesy of the artist

Former Pentatonix member Avi Kaplan releases debut solo album 'Floating On A Dream'

Films of John Ford and Billy Wilder

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

Celebrating two seemingly different directors with music from “Stagecoach”, “The Informer”, “Lost Weekend” and ”Sunset Boulevard.


Films of Ford and Wilder

Neda Ulaby

An old-fashioned steam calliope designed by luminaries in the worlds of art and jazz is on display at the National Sculpture Garden. 


Robert Shelley/National Gallery of Art

A slavery-era instrument is on the National Mall, singing 'songs of liberation'

Michael Levitt

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with rising opera star and break dancer Jakub Jozef Orlinski, whose new album "Farewells" is a collection of Polish opera classics, little known to the rest of the world.


Kamil Szkopik

Jakub Orlinski, the breakdancing countertenor, explores his Polish roots

Eve Beglarian's Sensual Idealism

Composer Eve Beglarian has been described as a “humane, idealistic rebel and a musical sensualist.” Listen to her sinewy, evocative composition “We Will Sing One Song” on the latest episode of Extra Eclectic, with host Steve Seel.


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