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Steve Staruch interviews the Four Voices String Quartet about their upcoming concert on Thursday Oct. 28.

Four Voices String Quartet

Steve Staruch can be heard on Classical Minnesota Public Radio from 3 to 7 p.m. weekdays, including hosting Music with Minnesotans, Regional Spotlight and Friday Favorites. Prior to joining the staff of MPR in 2004, Steve presented a variety of radio programs on WCAL in Northfield, Minn., where he created an immensely popular call-in program, and on WXXI in Rochester, N.Y. Outside radio, Steve also enjoys work as a freelance tenor and violist. Steve and his wife, Naomi, enjoy traveling, gardening and hosting dinner parties.


Steve Staruch

The Four Voices String Quartet is preparing for its first live concert in more than a year — 7 p.m. Thursday at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis. The program, Departures, will feature works by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw and by multiple Grammy winner Maria Schneider. Steve Staruch spoke with the group’s cellist, Rebecca Arons, about the event.


Courtesy

Four Voices String Quartet returns to live concerts with ‘Departures’

Ines Guanchez is an assistant digital producer for classical. An accomplished pianist, she founded Dúo Ávila with fellow Venezuelan violinist Sofia Schutte. The ensemble focuses on music by composers outside of the classical canon and has performed in venues in Minnesota and Costa Rica. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with master’s degrees in mass communications and piano performance. She previously interned for Minnesota Public Radio in 2018.


Ines Guanchez

Did you know that you can listen to all of YourClassical's music streams on your mobile device? Here's how to download and use the recently released YourClassical app.


Listen to the YourClassical app on your mobile device

Just before packing his bags for Poland, 22-year-old Minneapolis pianist Evren Ozel played an all-Chopin program for a sold-out house at the Ordway Concert Hall in St. Paul. Listen now to his recital, which was recorded Sept. 12, 2021, with host Melissa Ousley.


Provided

Listen: Pianist Evren Ozel performs an all-Chopin recital at the Ordway

Wondrous Strange

As a Producer for Performance Today, Meghann chooses music to broadcast on the show, writes web articles and scripts, facilitates, conducts and edits interviews, creates video content and manages PT’s social media pages. She created Performance Today’s Black History Spotlight Series and the My Name is Series to highlight Black classical musicians. Meghann is also the producer for the PT Young Artist in Residence Series. In her free time, she is a mom, a part-time actress and fashion lover.

Meghann also created and hosted “Wondrous Strange”, a national radio program about uncommon musical instruments, she is the official underwriting voice for ‘The New York Times’ The Daily, and she can occasionally be heard guest-hosting Performance Today.


Producer

Meghann Oglesby

Meghann Oglesby hosts the new special ‘Wondrous Strange.’ Whether it's the theremin, octobass or contrabass flute, listeners will explore instruments that are off the beaten track and the musicians who play them.


Xavier von Erlach/Unsplash

'Wondrous Strange' explores unusual sounds in music

Listen to the Story

A group of musicians and scientists have used artificial intelligence to complete one of the great what-ifs in classical music: Ludwig van Beethoven's unfinished 10th symphony.


NPR/W.J. Mähler

Team uses AI to complete Beethoven's unfinished masterpiece

A past performance from the Minnesota Beethoven Festival on June 29, 2021 featuring Adam Golka.


Minnesota Beethoven Festival - Adam Golka

On June 29, Adam Golka performed at the 14th annual Minnesota Beethoven Festival at Page Theater, St. Mary’s University in Winona. Melissa Ousley brings you that live performance from a Sept. 23 airing on YourClassicalMPR.


Listen Stories

Jeurgen Frank

Pianist Adam Golka performs at the Minnesota Beethoven Festival

Minnesota Beethoven Festival: Julian Bliss

Listen to clarinetist Julian Bliss' debut at the 2019 Minnesota Beethoven Festival, featuring works by Poulenc, Bernstein, Finzi and more.


Courtesy of the artist

Listen to clarinetist Julian Bliss' performance at the 2019 Minnesota Beethoven Festival

A past performance from the Minnesota Beethoven Festival on June 27, 2021 featuring the Pacifica Quartet.

Minnesota Beethoven Festival - Pacifica Quartet

On June 27, The Pacifica Quartet opened the 14th annual Minnesota Beethoven Festival at Page Theater, St. Mary’s University in Winona. Julie Amacher brings you that live performance from a Sept. 2 airing on YourClassicalMPR.


Lisa-Marie Mazzucco

The Pacifica Quartet opens the Minnesota Beethoven Festival

A past performance from the MN Beethoven Festival on July 8, 2021 featuring the LAGQ.

MN Beethoven Festival - July 8, 2021: LAGQ

On July 8, The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet performed at Page Theater, St. Mary’s University in Winona, for the 14th annual Minnesota Beethoven Festival. Scott Blankenship brings you that live performance from a Sept. 16 airing on YourClassicalMPR.


Jiro Schneider

Los Angeles Guitar Quartet performs at Minnesota Beethoven Festival

Birge's Picks: State Fair Playlist

John Birge has been hosting, producing and performing classical music for more than 25 years. Since 1997, he has been hosting on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service. He played French horn for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra and performed with them on their centennial tour of Europe in 1995. He was trained at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.


John Birge

YourClassical MPR host John Birge offers some fairly great classical tracks to put you in the mood for the Minnesota State Fair, which starts Thursday and runs through Sept. 6.
