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

Host Steve Seel gives us a variety of contemporary music on the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic.’ The program features works by Missy Mazzoli, Philip Glass and more. Listen now!


Caroline Tompkins

Extra Eclectic for Sept. 20, 2023 

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Rachel Barton Pine

New Classical Tracks - September 20, 2023

New Classical Tracks - Rachel Barton Pine

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 this week’s episode of New Classical Tracks, violinist Rachel Barton Pine combines classical music and metal in her latest recording, ‘Dependent Arising,’ featuring concertos by Dmitri Shostakovich and Earl Maneein. Find out more!


Andrew Eccles

Violinist Rachel Barton Pine combines classical and metal in 'Dependent Arising'

This week on SymphonyCast, host Steve Seel brings us the biggest musical party of the year —the last night of the proms!


Last night of the Proms No. 71 

Listen to the Story

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Ayesha Rascoe

Danny Hensel

The Danish Chamber Orchestra has brought Leopold Mozart's "Hunting Symphony" to life with some canine performers joining the fun.


Danish Chamber Orchestra

A trio of dogs were part of a recent performance by the Danish Chamber Orchestra

Saturday Cinema - Sept. 16, 2023

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, Lynne Warfel celebrates the music of the first family of film scoring — Alfred, Lionel, Thomas and Randy Newman — with selections that range from the ‘20th Century Fox Fanfare’ to ‘Toy Story.’


The Newman Dynasty

Friday Favorites - Sept. 15, 2023

Steve Staruch can be heard on Classical Minnesota Public Radio on Monday mornings and at other times during the week. 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, New York. 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

Elmer Bernstein’s theme from ‘The Magnificent Seven’ is a wonderful way to celebrate a retirement with the hope of new (western) adventures ahead! Last week’s Friday Favorites also marked the end of the summer season with music that sounded like a walk in an apple orchard. Listen now.

 


James Napoli

Hurrah for autumn!

Can a work of modern classical music be both ‘attractive’ and ‘dissonant’? Extra Eclectic host Steve Seel explores this question on the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic’ with the Piano Concerto by Thomas Ades. 


Provided

Thomas Ades electrifies the Proms

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Clancy Newman and Natalie Zhu

New Classical Tracks - September 13, 2023

New Classical Tracks - Clancy Newman and Natalie Zhu

On this week’s episode of New Classical Tracks, cellist Clancy Newman and pianist Natalie Zhu explore the beauty of America through the combination of emotion and structure on their debut album, ‘From Method to Madness.’ Find out more!


Clancy Newman and Natalie Zhu explore the beauty of America on ‘From Method to Madness’ 

This week on SymphonyCast, host Steve Seel welcomes back the BBC Proms, and this concert is pulsing with dance. Selections include the European premiere of Carlos Simon’s ‘Four Black American Dances,’  George Gershwin’s Concerto in F and Maurice Ravel’s ‘La Valse.’


BBC Proms No. 55

Saturday Cinema - Sept. 09, 2023

On the latest episode of ‘Saturday Cinema,’ Lynne Warfel celebrates the much more than five-year mission of ‘Star Trek’ on its 57th anniversary with a survey of the fine music composed for the original TV series and later incarnations.


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