Trailblazers, Past and Present

Steve Seel is the morning host on YourClassical from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays, and host of YourClassical’s weekly SymphonyCast. Until the fall of 2026, he was also host of the trailblazing music show Extra Eclectic. He possesses a broad knowledge of many musical genres, having hosted radio programs ranging from classical to jazz and even avant-garde music at radio stations around the country. Steve began his love affair with public radio at 24 working whatever shifts he could at his hometown station of WUSF-FM in Tampa, Florida, and from there worked his way to snowy Buffalo, New York, and its renowned classical station WNED-FM, where he hosted middays and the weekly experimental-music show Present Tense.  In 2005, Steve became one of the founding voices on Minnesota Public Radio's eclectic station, the Current. While there, he hosted afternoons and mornings, and conducted in-depth interviews with pop music luminaries ranging from Brian Eno to David Byrne to Tori Amos.


Steve Seel

Women composers of the 20th century have helped pave the way for the women of the 21st. Listen as Extra Eclectic’s celebration of Women’s History Month continues, with host Steve Seel.


Courtesy Walker Art Center, photo by Julieta Cervantes

Listen to trailblazers, past and present

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Vincent Acovino

Amy Isackson

For the crowds that have streamed across the border at the Medyka border crossing into Poland, they leave behind the air raid sirens and the sounds of war and are welcomed by musician Davide Martello.


Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP via Getty Images

At one border crossing into Poland, those fleeing Ukraine are met with music

Kevin Whitehead

Taylor's 1973 concert at New York's Town Hall has just been released for the first time as a digital album. It's a great, early example of Taylor's mature music — dense but well-designed.  


Marek Lazarski/Wikimedia Commons

Cecil Taylor's piano lightning bolts are precisely targeted in this 1973 recording

New Classical Tracks - Jennifer Kloetzel (Extended)

New Classical Tracks - Jennifer Kloetzel

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 sharing behind-the-scenes stories about a new release each week. It airs locally at 7:15 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesdays and at 9 a.m. on Saturdays.


Julie Amacher

In this week’s New Classical Tracks, cellist Jennifer Kloetzel takes on the monumental challenge of recording all of Beethoven’s cello and piano sonatas with her newest three-CD set, ‘Beethoven: The Conquering Hero.’


Michelle Lee

Cellist Jennifer Kloetzel conquers the Beethoven sonatas

Gioachino Rossini’s operatic version of the ‘Cinderella’ story may not have any enchanted mice or pumpkins, but there’s plenty of magic in the music. Listen to the Minnesota Opera’s 2010 performance of ‘Cinderella’ now.


Provided

Listen: Minnesota Opera performs Rossini's 'La Cenerentola'

Before Bach's Birthday Bash 2022

Building upon a curiosity which began in his teens, Michael Barone has been involved with the pipe organ for more than 65 years. As host and senior executive producer of Pipedreams, produced and distributed by American Public Media, he is recognized nationally for his outstanding contributions to the world of organ music. Pipedreams began in 1982 and remains the only nationally distributed weekly radio program exploring the art of the pipe organ. Michael's talent and commitment have been recognized with numerous awards, including the American Guild of Organists President's Award in 1996, the Distinguished Service Award of the Organ Historical Society in 1997 and the 2001 ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award. In November 2002 he was selected for induction to the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame. For 22 years he was host for broadcasts of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and his weekly program devoted to The New Releases aired for 40 years on Minnesota Public Radio.  Additionally, since 1997 he has been host for USA broadcasts of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College, Cambridge, England.


Michael Barone

On Saturday, March 19, YourClassical MPR celebrated Before Bach's Birthday Bash with Pipedreams host Michael Barone. Listen to our live broadcast of the first of five concerts in St. Paul now.


Public domain

Listen: Celebrate Before Bach's Birthday Bash in St. Paul

Tom Huizenga

The late Icelandic composer's magnum opus unfolds like a ritual, combining a potent mix of tradition and technology. 


Jónatan Grétarsson/Courtesy of the artist

Listen to Jóhann Jóhannsson's 'gift from the great beyond'

Terry Gross

The MacArthur "genius" grant winner talks about what he learned from his piano teachers, and his failures, frustrations and pivotal moments as an artist. Denk's new memoir is Every Good Boy Does Fine.


Eric Thayer for NPR Music

For classical pianist Jeremy Denk, life is like a series of music lessons 

Jeff Lunden

A pop-up shop in a New York subway station is home to all things Broadway: memorabilia, live performances and handmade goods created by fans. Now, the shop's owners hope to find a permanent home.


Michael T. Clarkston /Broadway Makers Marketplace

At the Broadway Makers Marketplace, theater fans find both crafts and community

An overview of Best Original Score Winners from the 70s and 80s.

Oscar Retrospective - The 1970s and 1980s

Lynne has been at this radio thing since 1984 when she fell into an historic job at KFAC AM and FM, the commercial classical station in Los Angeles.  She was the first woman staff announcer in the station's history, and it was such big news back then, it made the LA newspapers and national radio publications.  She is thrilled women in radio is no longer newsworthy.


Lynne Warfel

Saturday Cinema presents highlights from some of the best Oscar score winners from films in the 70s and 80s.


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