New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Wynton Marsalis

New Classical Tracks - Wynton Marsalis

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,’ trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis talks about his ‘Blues Symphony,’ which was featured on the latest recording by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Listen now with host Julie Amacher!


Piper Ferguson

Detroit Symphony Orchestra presents Wynton Marsalis' 'Blues Symphony'

Recorders, the woodwind music instruments, are on the decline in British classrooms

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Ayesha Rascoe

A British music education organization reports that use of recorders are declining in the classroom. We wonder: Why were they there to start with? And why is "Hot Cross Buns" such a banger?


Photo by Sushmita Chatterjee on Unsplash

Kevin Olusola discusses his album 'Dawn of a Misfit'

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with music artist Kevin Olusola about his new album, "Dawn Of A Misfit," and his love for mixing it up with classical music.


Jeremychanphotography/Getty Images

Saturday Cinema - May 10, 2025

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

This week on ‘Saturday Cinema,’ join host Lynne Warfel for a celebration of movie moms and mother figures. Selections include music from ‘Steel Magnolias,’ ‘Little Women,’ ‘The Sound of Music’ and more. Listen now!


Mother's Day

Composer John Adams' opera 'Antony and Cleopatra' opens in New York

Jeff Lunden

John Adams has been called America's greatest living composer. His adaptation of Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra" opens at the Metropolitan Opera, in New York, next week.


David Ruano

Friday Favorites - May 9, 2025

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

Guest host Steve Seel fills in for Steve Staruch on the latest episode of ‘Friday Favorites,’ playing listeners’ requests for their favorite classical music. Listen now! 


Friday Favorites: Listener requests with guest host Steve Seel

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

Rhapsody in Black - Jessie Montgomery

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

On the latest episode of the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast, we learn about Jessie Montgomery, a composer, violinist and educator whose music helps her connect with the world. Listen now.


Jiyang Chen

Composer Jessie Montgomery uses music to connect with the world

Extra Eclectic - May 7, 2025

On the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ whimsy is on the docket! Host Steve Seel features Missy Mazzoli’s ‘Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres),’ Caroline Shaw’s ‘The Observatory,’ Christopher Cerrone's ‘Ode to Joy’ and Laurie Spiegel’s ‘The Unquestioned Answer.’ Listen now!


Caroline Tompkins

Whimsy and wonder

New Classical Tracks (Extended Interview) - Ashley Jackson

New Classical Tracks - Ashley Jackson

On the latest episode of ‘New Classical Tracks,’ American harpist Ashley Jackson talks about her latest album, which explores the ways that water and music can connect us. Listen now with host Julie Amacher!


Julia Comita

Ashley Jackson explores love, freedom, hope and rebirth in 'Take Me to the Water'

Saturday Cinema - May 3, 2025

This week on ‘Saturday Cinema,’ join host Lynne Warfel for salute to Mexican filmmakers and actors. Selections include music from ‘La Strada,’ ‘Gravity,’ ‘The Shape of Water’ and more. Listen now!


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