Music with Minnesotans

It started with a walk around the block. Julie Balamut just wanted to get in shape. Training for her 25th marathon Julie shares an all-Bach playlist on Music with Minnesotans.

Every baseball team needs one, a utility player. The player who can bat left or right, play outfield or infield. The player who's never quite the hero, but always there when the team is in need. That's how Clara Osowski describes her role as a mezzo soprano. She's Steve Staruch's guest on Music with Minnesotans, conversations and music with those who make the music and those who enjoy the music.

Roderick Cox is the Associate Conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra. How does he prepare for his performances and what does he see as the prime mission of a conductor? Roderick Cox shares a few thoughts on conducting, along with some of his favorite orchestra pieces, as Steve Staruch's guest on Music with Minnesotans.

Mike Ries and Jing Yu were engaged this past summer. Their relationship began with Classical MPR's Friday Favorites! (You can't make this up.) Mike and Jing's unusual love story and "their songs" are what Music with Minnesotans is all about this week.

Max Brummel is the Finance Director for Ecolab's International Regions. Between job and family, Max also finds time to fish, home-brew and study theoretical physics. Music accompanies all these activities.

Ann Jurewicz is a born teacher. She's the principal of the German Immersion School in St. Paul. Combining her passion for learning and the arts, she also teaches a popular Community Education class titled, 'In Search of Beauty and Truth.' Her playlist is just that.

Warren Mack is the chair of the Minnesota Orchestra. Most guests on Music with Minnesotans bring in their favorite recordings. Mack is bringing in his favorite cellist, Tony Ross, principal cello of the Minnesota Orchestra. Cello favorites and a chat about our great orchestra are on this week's Music with Minnesotans.

Founder of the the creative writing program at Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minn., poet and avid choral singer Kris Bigalk reads a few of her works and shares her simply beautiful playlist on Music with Minnesotans.

John Toren is a book designer. He's also an award-winning blogger, and the author of the travel book, 'The Seven States of Minnesota.' His playlist is as far reaching as his travels.

Hold this image in your mind: A trucker is driving down the highway with his windows down. The rock music coming from his speakers is so loud that he can't even hear the wind that's blowing through his long, wild hair. That trucker is James Cadwell. He tells stories from the road with a classical playlist that's a bit more tame. But just a bit.