Regional Spotlight: Concert Bands

Drum and bugle corps are back this summer for the first time in more than two years because of the pandemic. Anoka-based River City Rhythm’s field show is making its only Minnesota appearance on Thursday in Rochester, along with several other corps. Until then, enjoy these performances from when the corps’ horns visited Minnesota Public Radio in 2019 for a special recording session.

The Minnesota Youth Symphonies (MYS) has been training young orchestral players for more than 30 years. The quality of music-making is top notch. In this week's Regional Spotlight, Manny Laureano conducts the top orchestra in the MYS family in Johann Strauss II's 'Die Fledermaus Overture.' You'll be inspired.

The Minnesota Youth Symphonies organization has been training young orchestral players for more than 25 years. In this week's Regional Spotlight, Manny Laureano conducts the top orchestra in the MYS family in Franz von Suppe's 'Morning, Noon and Night Overture.' You'll be inspired.

Pianist Zoltan Fejervari plays the Beethoven Op. 27 No. 1 with skill and passion. His recent Chopin Society recital performance is in this week's Regional Spotlight. Listen now!

Pianist Joyce Yang opened her February Chopin Society recital with the dances of the Bach French Suite No. 5. You won't be able to sit still.

Pianist Elliot Wilcox is on the music faculty at Century College in White Bear Lake. From a Thursday Musical performance in early February, he performs Aaron Copland's 'Four Piano Blues.'

Cellist Ruth Marshall and pianist Garret Ross are the Artu Duo, artists with Classical MPR's Class Notes Concerts. Marshall and Ross have been sharing their passion for Beethoven with school students across the region. The Artu Duo joins Steve Staruch in the Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio for conversation and highlights from the five Beethoven sonatas for cello and piano.

Sprig of That is an ensemble that performs with Classical MPR's Class Notes Concerts. The group's mix of standards and originals is as unique as its instrumentation. Listen as they join Steve Staruch for this week's Regional Spotlight.

The Artaria Quartet will celebrate Beethoven's 250th birthday by performing all of the composer's string quartets in a series of 6 concerts. The first of those 6 is this coming weekend at Sundin Music Hall. The Artaria Quartet joins Steve Staruch in the Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio to share a few highlights from this weekend's performance.