‘Classically Training’ host Aerin O’Malley asks three composers about the composers they like and admire the most. Learn more about how composers write classical music in a new full episode, coming soon on YouTube and YourClassical.org.

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‘Classically Training’ host Aerin O’Malley is back for Season 2, and she has some questions. First, how do composers write classical music? Stay tuned for a new episode of Classically Training on YouTube and YourClassical.org.

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“Classically Training” host Aerin O’Malley invites professional conductor Bill Eddins to play “Can You Conduct?” with her co-workers at Minnesota Public Radio. In this edition, our novice participants try to conduct Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik. To learn more about conducting, watch Classically Training, Episode 3: “What does the arm waving mean?”

Classically Training host Aerin O’Malley invites professional conductor Bill Eddins to play “Can You Conduct?” with her coworkers at Minnesota Public Radio. In this edition, our novice participants try to conduct an orchestral arrangement of “Happy Birthday.” To learn more about conducting, watch Classically Training, Episode 3: “What does the arm waving mean?”

Classically Training host Aerin O’Malley invites professional conductor Bill Eddins to play Can You Conduct? with her coworkers at Minnesota Public Radio. In this edition, our novice participants try to conduct the main theme from Star Wars, by John Williams. To learn more about conducting, watch Classically Training, Episode 3: “What does the arm waving mean?”

Classically Training host Aerin O’Malley invites professional conductor Bill Eddins to play “Can You Conduct?” with her coworkers at Minnesota Public Radio. In this edition, our novice participants try to conduct Antonio Vivaldi’s “Spring,” from The Four Seasons. To learn more about conducting, watch Classically Training, Episode 3: “What does the arm waving mean?”

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of Is It Classical? with her coworkers at Minnesota Public Radio. In this episode, contestants decide whether Fats Waller’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’” is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of Is It Classical? with members of the Class Notes Teen Council. In this episode, contestants decide whether Fats Waller’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’” is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

Soprano Amanda Batista (Nedda) performs “Stridono lassù” from Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci accompanied by Principal Coach & Chorus Director Celeste Marie Johnson on piano.

MN Opera’s Pagliacci takes the stage at the Ordway, May 9-17.

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Tenor Won Whi Choi (Canio) performs “Un tal gioco, credimi” from Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci accompanied by Principal Coach & Chorus Director Celeste Marie Johnson on piano.

MN Opera’s Pagliacci takes the stage at the Ordway, May 9-17.

Learn more and get tickets!

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of Is It Classical? with her coworkers at Minnesota Public Radio. In this episode, contestants decide whether the overture to Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical Cinderella is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of Is It Classical? with members of the Class Notes Teen Council. In this episode, contestants decide whether the overture to Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical “Cinderella” is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of Is It Classical? with her coworkers at Minnesota Public Radio. In this episode, contestants decide whether the Vitamin String Quartet’s arrangement of Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of Is It Classical? with members of the Class Notes Teen Council. In this episode, contestants decide whether the Vitamin String Quartet’s arrangement of Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

Cellist Matt Haimovitz says there’s “nothing greater than chamber music.” Currently a Professor of Cello at the University of Minnesota’s School of Music in Minneapolis, and he recently joined the Bakken Ensemble for the group’s celebration of 30 years of concerts in the Twin Cities.

The Bakken Ensemble calls itself a “consortium of musical friends,” and they welcomed Haimovitz as their newest musical friend for a unique String Quartet scored for two cellos by Anton Arensky.

Ahead of the concert, violinist Stephanie Arado and cellist Pitnarry Shin, both co-artistic directors of the ensemble, as well as violist Grace Takeda and Haimovtz, joined host Tom Crann in the Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio for music and conversation. Arado, who has been with the ensemble since the early the beginning, told Crann how that “consortium of musical friends” works in practice. Listen to their conversation through the player above!

Find out more about the concert on the Bakken Ensemble’s official website.

Performed in this interview:

TJ COLE Fly Away Moon
ANTON ARRENSKY String Quartet No. 2: II Theme and Variations

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of Is It Classical? with her coworkers at Minnesota Public Radio. In this episode, contestants decide whether the popular Christmas song “Carol of the Bells” is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

Tenor Diego Torre (Edgar) and mezzo-soprano Kara Morgan (Tigrana) perform “Orgia, chimera dall’occhio vitreo/Edgar, sulla tua fronte” from Act II of Puccini’s Edgar, accompanied by Head of Music Mario Antonio Marra on piano.

MN Opera’s Edgar in Concert will be on stage at the Ordway, April 17 and 19.

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Soprano Karin Wolverton (Fidelia) performs “Addio, mio dolce amor!” from Act III of Puccini’s Edgar, accompanied by Head of Music Mario Antonio Marra on piano.

MN Opera’s Edgar in Concert will be on stage at the Ordway, April 17 and 19.

Learn more and get tickets!

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of “Is It Classical?” with members of the Class Notes Teen Council. In this episode, contestants decide whether the popular Christmas song “Carol of the Bells” is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of “Is It Classical?” with her coworkers at Minnesota Public Radio. In this episode, contestants decide whether Harry’s Wondrous World by John Williams is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

Aerin O’Malley hosts a round of Is It Classical? with members of the Class Notes Teen Council. In this episode, contestants decide whether Harry’s Wondrous World by John Williams is classical. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

On March 29, the Bach Society presented a concert featuring Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and his lesser-known Gloria RV 588. The program offered a captivating journey through the creative mind of the famous Red Priest and featured violinist Alan Choo, as well as the luminous voices of the women’s choir of the Bach Society. Listen to the concert now!

Find out more about the concert on the Bach Society’s official website.

Interviews

Listen below as host Tom Crann speaks to Artistic Director Matthias Maute and soloist Alan Choo about the performance.

Interview: Artistic Director Matthias Maute, conductor and recorder

Interview: Alan Choo, violin

Classically Training host Aerin O’Malley introduces the contestants for our first round of Is It Classical?, a game where guests listen to ten seconds of music and try to decide if it is classical or not. To learn more about what classical music is (or isn’t), watch Classically Training, Episode 1 – “What is classical music?”

Did you miss Bach's Birthday Bash on Saturday with Pipedreams host Michael Barone? This year's celebration included five free, hourlong concerts at venues in St. Paul. Listen to the first concert now!

Bach's birthday comes around every year on March 21. The occasion calls for a celebration of this most remarkable of musical talents, and Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Barone (host of Pipedreams) decided that Johann Sebastian Bach deserved something special. A number of years ago, he and colleagues from the Twin Cities chapter of the American Guild of Organists arranged a Bach's Birthday Bash, and the idea blossomed.

The event has become something of a local tradition, with enthusiasts from all parts of the state participating or just listening.

This year's activities featured five free, hourlong public concerts of Bach's music, presented at five venues and churches in St. Paul during the morning and afternoon of Saturday, March 21.

Co-sponsors include the Twin Cities Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and YourClassical MPR.

9 a.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (700 S. Snelling Ave., St. Paul): The first concert was aired live at 9 a.m. Central by YourClassical MPR. You can hear listen to it through the player above. Performers included organists Brenda Sevcik, Dean Billmeyer and Celina Kobetitsch; pianists Gideon Scheeler; and guitarist Lukas Murdych.

Other concerts will follow in St. Paul:

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church (1900 Stanford Ave., St. Paul): Performers included organists Joel Anderson and Bruce Jacobs; flutist Jeeyoun Kang; pianists Sujin Cho and Jeana Ogren; the Elm Ensemble; conductor Sally Messner; and saxophonist David Milne.

1 – 2 p.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Parish (Summit Avenue at Lexington Avenue, St. Paul): Performers included organists Samuel Libra, Emily Roth, Noah Strom and Daniel Schwandt; and violist Samantha Lee.

2:30 – 3:30 p.m. at St. Clement Episcopal Church (901 Portland Avenue, St. Paul): Performers included organists Catherine Rodland, Amy Maakestad, Graeme Schields and Nicholas Kees.

4 – 5 p.m. at House of Hope Presbyterian Church (797 Summit Ave., St. Paul): Performers included organists Wolfgang Rübsam, David Jenkins and Nils Halker; and pianist Jacob Marvets.

Enjoy pictures from Bach’s Birthday Bash!

Pictures from Bach's Birthday Bash

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The 2025 winner of the Karin Larson YourClassical Prize, Preprofessional Artist category, was Agnes Barthel of Duluth, Minnesota. Her entry featuring her organ performance of Cecilia McDowall’s Church Bells beyond the stars was chosen by YourClassical listeners as the submission that best celebrated women in classical music.

Barthel received $12,500, studio time in MPR’s renowned Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio, and the opportunity to perform at an MPR board meeting in June of 2025. In 2026, Barthel visited YourClassical MPR to talk with host Tom Crann about her artistic trajectory, the music she loves, and also to share her advice with prospective applicants for the 2026 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize.

Watch the full interview above.

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The 2025 winner of the Karin Larson YourClassical Prize, Emerging Artist category, was Anna Pitsavas Wakely of Northfield, Minnesota. Her entry featuring her violin performance of Pablo de Sarasate’s Ziguernerweisen was chosen by YourClassical listeners as the submission that best celebrated women in classical music.

Pitsavas Wakely received $7,500, studio time in MPR’s renowned Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio, and the opportunity to perform at an MPR board meeting.

In 2026, she visited YourClassical MPR to talk with host Tom Crann about the music she loves, and also to share her advice with prospective applicants for the Karin Larson YourClassical Prize.

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Organist Agnes Barthel is the winner of the 2025 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize in the Preprofessional Musician category. Listen as she talks about her submission piece: Church Bells Beyond the Stars by Cecilia McDowall.

Calling all young Minnesota artists ages 14 to 28! The 2026 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize is open for entries. Showcase your talent for your chance to win a cash prize and a recording studio session. Entries will be accepted through March 31, 2026.

Find the entry form, all the guidelines and rules, meet our past winners, and learn more about Karin Larson here.

Duluth organist Agnes Barthel is the winner of the 2025 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize in the Preprofessional Musician category. Listen as she performs the “Chant héroique” from Jean Langlais’ Chant de Paix, recorded in a session produced by Minnesota Public Radio.

Calling all young Minnesota artists ages 14 to 28! The 2026 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize is open for entries. Showcase your talent for your chance to win a cash prize and a recording studio session. Entries will be accepted through March 31, 2026. Find the entry form, all the guidelines and rules, meet our past winners, and learn more about Karin Larson here.

This selective performance of Neuf Pieces by Agnes Barthel, is ©2025 and used with permission. The original piece, by Jean Langlais, is ©1945, Éditions Alphonse Leduc owned by Wise Music Creative. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

In this episode of Classical Clues, Classically Training host Aerin O’Malley tries to guess how Short Ride in a Fast Machine by John Adams will sound based only on the title. To learn more about classical music taxonomy, watch Classically Training, Episode 4 — “Sonatas, concertos, and preludes, oh my!”

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Northfielder violinist Anna Pitsavas Wakely is the winner of the 2025 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize in the Emerging Artist category. Listen as she talks about her submission piece: Zigeunerweisen by Pablo de Sarasate.

Calling all young Minnesota artists ages 14 to 28! The 2026 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize is open for entries. Showcase your talent for your chance to win a cash prize and a recording studio session. Entries will be accepted through March 31, 2026.

Find the entry form, all the guidelines and rules, meet our past winners, and learn more about Karin Larson here.