An ecstatic exploration of classical music that’s aesthetically and uncompromisingly Black.

Rhapsody in Black - Julius Eastman's brilliant, beautiful and challenging life

Composer Julius Eastman’s personal philosophy was “to be what I am to the fullest. Black to the fullest, a musician to the fullest, and a homosexual to the fullest.” Find out more about his brilliant, beautiful and challenging life in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.


Ron Hammond

Julius Eastman's brilliant, beautiful and challenging life

Women Lead the Way

Steve Seel is the host of YourClassical’s weekly SymphonyCast and 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 is a basement composer obsessed with all things both minimalist and slow, and might actually be incapable of writing anything that exceeds 75 beats-per-minute.


Steve Seel

Women’s History Month opens with a sampling of some of the women moving classical music forward.


Dayna Szyndrowski

New Classical Tracks - Simone Dinnerstein (Extended)

New Classical Tracks - Simone Dinnerstein

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

In this week’s New Classical Tracks, pianist Simone Dinnerstein completes her pandemic trilogy with her latest album, ‘Undersong.’ 


Courtesy

Pianist Simone Dinnerstein finishes her pandemic trilogy 

Interview: Tesfa Wondemagegnehu and “Let’s Not Go Back To Normal: Racial Reckoning, Repair, and Reconciliation”

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

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Tesfa Wondemagegnehu

John Birge interviews Tesfa Wondemagegnehu about his project “To Repair” and his upcoming three-day conversation series, “Let’s Not Go Back To Normal: Racial Reckoning, Repair, and Reconciliation” which opens Thursday night in Minneapolis.


MPR Photo / Nate Ryan

To repair, Tesfa Wondemagegnehu looks to home and beyond

Listen to the Story

Next month's benefit concert, hosted by a Washington-based chamber music group, will raise funds for families affected by the war in Ukraine. All proceeds will be donated to Save the Children.


Courtesy of the artist

Artists will perform in a benefit concert for Ukrainian families

Pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason makes her solo debut Tuesday at the Ordway as part of the Schubert Club’s International Artist Series. Listen to YourClassical MPR’s live broadcast of the concert at 8 p.m. Tuesday. 


Robin Clewley

Listen live: Pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason performs Tuesday at the Ordway

Oscars Retrospective:  The 30s and 40s

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 a survey of some of the best music winners from films in the ‘30s and ‘40s, from “The Informer” to “The Heiress,” with guest host Kevin O'Connor.


Listen to the Oscars' best scores from the '30s and '40s

Rhapsody in Black - Henry T. Burleigh and his new American sound

Baritone Henry T. Burleigh, who worked with Antonin Dvorak, is a forgotten figure in American music history. Find out how they helped create a new identity for American sound in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.


Albany Times-Union 

Henry T. Burleigh and his new American sound

Creating Peace Across Borders

Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble asks, “What happens when strangers meet?” The idea of "creating peace across borders" is on many people’s minds now, and that’s the focus of this week’s Extra Eclectic, with Steve Seel. 


Max Whittaker

Creating peace across borders

Jeffrey Yelverton is a digital producer of classical music for Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media. He supports the digital portfolio of MPR/APM by creating original content and providing production support for YourClassical Storytime, New Classical Tracks and various seasonal events.


Digital Producer, Classical

Jeffrey Yelverton

Here are six works to celebrate the Ukrainian people’s rich musical heritage, providing comfort in these difficult times.
