New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - 20260722

New Classical Tracks - 20260722

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

On the latest episode of ‘New Classical Tracks,’ after six years in the making, pianist Min Kwon presents ‘America/Beautiful,’ a project featuring 82 new piano variations on ‘America the Beautiful’ by 76 commissioned composers. Listen now with host Julie Amacher.


Andrej Grilc

Pianist Min Kwon celebrates 'America the Beautiful' with the help of many friends

Extra Eclectic - July 20, 2026

We continue our month-long celebration of American music on this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic’ by looking at how contemporary composers reference American folk idioms in their works, including bluegrass, hymns and lullabies. Selections include music by Daron Hagen, Jennifer Higdon and more. Listen now with host Steve Seel!


Karen Pearson

Folk music inspirations

Saturday Cinema - July 18, 2026

Ward Jacobson has enjoyed a radio career spanning over two decades as a morning show host and sportscaster, as well as producer/host of an interview program where he chatted with authors, musicians, politicians and newsmakers. He is also a past winner of the prestigious Marconi Award. Jacobson's love of classical music stems from a childhood influenced by his bass-baritone father and piano-teaching mother. While still a college student in Nebraska, he began singing with the Abendmusik Chorus and took part in concert tours to venues as varied as Englands Lincoln Cathedral, the Vatican, Salzburg Cathedral, Auschwitz and Moscow. When not singing, he works to develop his guitar-strumming repertoire.


Ward Jacobson

On the latest episode of Saturday Cinema, guest host Ward Jacobson highlights two mid-twentieth century icons of film music: Nino Rota and Ennio Morricone. Selections include music from ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ ‘The Mission,’ ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ and more. Listen now!


Rota and Morricone with guest host Ward Jacobson

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

Rhapsody in Black - Seth Parker Woods

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

Seth Parker Woods is a cellist who wholeheartedly embraces new compositions, fosters artistic innovation and pushes the boundaries of classical music. Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.


Ben Gibbs

Grammy-nominated cellist Seth Parker Woods pushes boundaries of classical music

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) 

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Kip Winger

New Classical Tracks - Kip Winger

On the latest episode of ‘New Classical Tracks,’ glam-rock artist and composer Kip Winger reveals his love for the classical music genre on his latest album, featuring conductor Giancarlo Guerrero and the Nashville Symphony. Listen now with host Julie Amacher.


Courtesy of the Artist

Rock star Kip Winger drops new classical album with the Nashville Symphony

Extra Eclectic - July 13, 2026

Steve Seel presents another week of purely American sounds on the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ and this time, it’s works written by musicians associated primarily with jazz. We hear works by Wynton Marsalis, Wayne Shorter, Thelonious Monk, Ornette Coleman, Pat Metheny and more. 


Piper Ferguson

Elements of jazz

Saturday Cinema - July 11, 2026

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 the latest episode of ‘Saturday Cinema,’ host Lynne Warfel celebrates famous folks born in the summer, including Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland and more. Selections include music from ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ ‘Chicago,’ ‘Casablanca’ and more. Listen now!


Summer birthdays: part one

The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra invites violinist Eunice Kim for one of the most enduring violin concertos of all time, Saint-Saëns’ Violin Concerto No. 3, paired with pieces by Beethoven and Françaix. Listen to the concert now!


Kevin Hsu

Listen: SPCO and Eunice Kim perform Saint-Saens, Francaix and Beethoven

Sing Democracy 250 marks the 250th anniversary of the U.S. with John Birge

Sing Democracy 250

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

The artistic collective Sing Democracy 250 recently marked the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a powerful message of hope for democracy through music. Listen now to this one-hour special, hosted by John Birge, that encourages us to build a more perfect union together!


Courtesy of Sing Democracy 250

Sing Democracy 250 encourages us to build a more perfect union together

Rhapsody in Black - Kedrick Armstrong

Conductor Kedrick Armstrong uses both archives and youth education to serve the longevity of classical music by working to represent everyone in the concert hall. Find out more on the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.


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