Explore new recordings with top performers and host Julie Amacher
Each week on New Classical Tracks, the featured recording is offered as a free giveaway, with copies given to lucky winners in a random draw. Looking back over the past 52 weeks of episodes, here are the top 10 most-coveted New Classical Tracks releases of 2016, based on number of giveaway entrants.
This year, Julie Amacher counts down her six favorite New Classical Tracks interviews of 2016 and shares them in their entirety on 'New Classical Tracks Uncut.' For December 30, Julie shares her full conversation with Desmond Earley, director of the Choral Scholars of University College Dublin, who talks about the ensemble's newest album, 'Invisible Stars.' Earley also describes the composition of the choir and the role of music in traditional Irish culture.
Formed in 1999, the Choral Scholars of University College Dublin are Ireland's leading collegiate choral ensemble. Their new album, 'Invisible Stars' features choral works of Ireland and Scotland, and the album title comprises several symbolic meanings.
This year, Julie Amacher counts down her six favorite New Classical Tracks interviews of 2016 and shares them in their entirety on 'New Classical Tracks Uncut.' For December 23, Julie shares her full conversation with pianist Helene Grimaud, who talks about her album, 'Water,' and her desire to raise awareness about global water-related issues.
On her new holiday album, 'Deepest Darkness, Brightest Dawn,' violinist Gaelynn Lea sought to create an album that speaks to the range of emotions people feel during the holidays. 'I really want it to be a joyful or at least peaceful feeling that they get when they hear it,' Gaelynn says.
This year, Julie Amacher counts down her six favorite New Classical Tracks interviews of 2016 and shares them in their entirety on 'New Classical Tracks, Uncut.' For December 16, Julie shares her full conversation with Yo-Yo Ma and Johnny Gandelsman, who talk about their collaboration as part of the Silk Road Ensemble.
Kirk Elliott is an award-winning composer, multi-instrumentalist, and self-employed music historian who's blessed with a very vivid imagination. The spark for his new recording, 'Solstice Spirit', was ignited by a single carol, and further fanned by late-night composing sessions and the desire to have something new in time for a series of Christmas concerts he'll be playing.
Sometimes the best stories get left on the cutting room floor. This year, Julie Amacher picks those stories up and shares them with you. She'll count down her six favorite New Classical Tracks interviews of 2016 on 'New Classical Tracks, Uncut.' For December 9, Julie shares her full conversation with violinist Rachel Barton Pine.
Judith Clurman and her choral ensemble Essential Voices USA brighten the season with their fourth recording, 'Season of Light.' It's a holiday sampler that celebrates Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah and the New Year.
Sometimes the best stories get left on the cutting room floor. This year, Julie Amacher picks those stories up and shares them with you. She'll count down her six favorite New Classical Tracks interviews of 2016 on 'New Classical Tracks, Uncut.' For December 2, Julie shares her full conversation with violinist, violist and conductor Pinchas Zukerman.
Host Julie Amacher provides an in-depth exploration of a new classical music release each week.
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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.
