The music is exultant on this week’s show, as host Steve Seel brings us John Adams’ ‘Hallelujah Junction’ and we visit the 2024 BBC Proms Festival for a live recording of Wynton Marsalis’ ‘Herald, Holler and Hallelujah.’ Listen now!


Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images

Getting in the spirit

New Classical Tracks (extended interview) - Danish String Quartet

New Classical Tracks - Danish String Quartet

Valerie Kahler grew up in a musical family and started playing cello and piano in 3rd grade.  She began her radio career in 1989 as a volunteer at KNAU (now Arizona Public Radio) in Flagstaff, Arizona.  She worked there as a classical host and music director for more than a decade before moving to Minnesota to work for MPR.   In addition to classical music, other passions include sewing, singing and cooking.  She shares her life with her partner, John, an artist.


Valerie Kahler

On this week’s episode of ‘New Classical Tracks,’ the Danish String Quartet goes traditional with the acclaimed ensemble’s third collection of folk songs, ‘Keel Road.’ Listen now with guest host Valerie Kahler.


Caroline Bittencourt/ECM

Danish String Quartet serves up its third collection of folk songs with 'Keel Road'

Saturday Cinema - Aug. 24, 2024

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

On this episode of ‘Saturday Cinema,’ guest host Scott Blankenship celebrates August birthdays in the world of film, including Jerome Moross, Peter O’Toole, Billie Burke, Alfred Hitchcock, Maureen O’Hara, Gene Kelly and more. 


August birthdays with guest host Scott Blankenship

Friday Favorites - Aug. 23, 2024

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 Minnesota Winds is a new professional concert band. The founders, Meagan Bachmayer and Katherine Bergman, joined Steve Staruch to talk about their commitment and passion for the ensemble on the latest episode of ‘Friday Favorites.’  


Provided

Friday Favorites: Listener requests with Minnesota Winds founders Katherine Bergman and Meagan Bachmayer

Where we turn up the voices of Black artists in the world of classical music, with host Vernon Neal.

Rhapsody in Black - Imani Winds

Vernon Neal is the host of the podcast ‘Rhapsody in Black,’ where we turn up the voices of Black artists in the world of classical music.


Host/Producer

Vernon Neal

The players of the Imani Winds have had faith in commissioning new works that uplift the profile of BIPOC composers and performers. They have been doing so for more than 25 years. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast. 


Imani Winds have faith in music as their core value

This week, ‘Extra Eclectic’ begins its weekly visits to the biggest classical music celebration in the world, the BBC Proms — with highlights from the British summertime festival’s rich offerings of contemporary music performances. Listen now with host Steve Seel!


We're off to The Proms!

New Classical Tracks (extended interview) - Karen Slack

New Classical Tracks - Karen Slack

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.


Julie Amacher

On this week’s episode of ‘New Classical Tracks,’ soprano Karen Slack delves into her new album, ‘Beyond the Years: Unpublished Songs of Florence Price,’ which features 16 world-premiere recordings. Listen now!


Kia Caldwell

Soprano Karen Slack celebrates rare songs by Florence Price

Saturday Cinema - Aug. 17, 2024

This week on Saturday Cinema, host Lynne Warfel plays two hours of listeners’ requests for their favorite film music, including selections from ‘How to Marry a Millionaire’ ‘Monsters, Inc.’ and ‘Julius Caesar.’ Listen now!


Films in the National Parks (and other lovely locations) with guest host Ward Jacobson

Friday Favorites - Aug. 16, 2024

On the latest episode of ‘Friday Favorites’: Leo Dworsky loves singing and loves people! He found his voice as an eight-year-old singing with the Minnesota Boy Choir. As a performer he has gone from strength to strength. Leo joins Steve Staruch as a Project DJ co-host. Listen now!


Friday Favorites: Listener requests and Project DJ co-host Leo Dworsky

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Cynthia Dickison

Discover the top movie scores by Hans Zimmer that continue to push cinematic boundaries. Immerse yourself in iconic soundtracks that resonate beyond the screen.

 


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