Kaddish: Reflections on the Holocaust in Music and Words

Mindy Ratner is a host and producer on the Classical Music Service of Minnesota Public Radio, where she is heard on weekends. She began her career in public broadcasting following her graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, working first for the local public television station and then for Wisconsin Public Radio. She moved on to stations in Cincinnati and Philadelphia before joining Minnesota Public Radio in 1983. In 1998 and '99, Ratner took a leave of absence to work as a music host and producer for China Radio International in Beijing. Her spare time is devoted to international travel; folk, ballroom and contradancing; singing in the Minnesota Chorale; her two cats, and trying to stay ahead of the weeds in her garden.


Mindy Ratner

Classical music host Mindy Ratner has gathered a collection of conversations with some of those touched directly by the Holocaust. Listen now to 'Kaddish: Reflections on the Holocaust in Music and Words.'


Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Listen: 'Kaddish: Reflections on the Holocaust in Music and Words'

Saturday Cinema - Jan. 24, 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 pairs a great Italian film composer with a great American composer: Nino Rota and James Horner in the show’s first hour, and Ennio Morricone and John Williams in the second. Listen now!


Saturday Cinema

Italian and American composers in the spotlight

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

Rhapsody in Black - Paul Robeson

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

Columbia University graduate and polyglot Paul Robeson was a bass-baritone who advocated for the performance of African American spirituals in classical spaces. Considered a ‘darling of the entertainment industry,’ he was almost erased from history for his outspoken activism. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.


Paul Robeson - Ol' Man River (HD) | Film: Showboat (1936)

Rhapsody in Black

Provided

Paul Robeson was a brilliant star who was almost erased

Extra Eclectic - Jan. 21, 2026

On the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ our theme is a simple one: “big” and “small” pieces. In the first hour, the works come in large sizes, including Steve Reich’s ‘Music for a Large Ensemble.’ We get small in the second hour with Nico Muhly’s ‘Small Variations.’ Listen now with host Steve Seel! 


Extra Eclectic

Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Big and small music

New Classical Tracks (extended interview): Megan Swan (From the Top)

New Classical Tracks - Megan Swan FTT

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,’ the educational fellowship program, national radio show, and podcast ‘From the Top’ celebrates its silver anniversary with a new digital recording featuring performances by young musicians and guest artists. Listen now with host Julie Amacher!


From the Top 25 album cover featuring a pianist over a blue background

From the Top 25

New Classical Tracks® 

From the Top

'From the Top' celebrates 25 years with new recording

Songs of Freedom - Woke Up This Morning

Songs of Freedom - We Shall Overcome

Songs of Freedom -  Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round

Songs of Freedom - Eyes on the Prize, Hold On

Songs of Freedom - We Shall Not Be Moved

Songs of Freedom - Motherless Child

Songs of Freedom - Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho

Songs of Freedom - Wade in the Water

Songs of Freedom - Deep River

Songs of Freedom - Every Time I Feel The Spirit

While protesting the difficult conditions of racism and injustice in the United States, people sang freedom songs to give them strength to keep on working for the cause. Join us for ‘Songs of Freedom,’ narrated by G. Phillip Shoultz. Listen now!


Listen to 'Songs of Freedom,' with G. Phillip Shoultz

Minnesota Orchestra - Jan. 16, 2026

Minnesota Orchestra - January  9, 2026

Minnesota Orchestra - January  1, 2026

Week two of the Minnesota Orchestra’s Nordic Soundscapes festival brought audiences the music of Jean Sibelius and Hans Abrahamsen. Listen to the concert now!


Minnesota Orchestra - January 16, 2026

An orchestra performing onstage, led by a conductor on a podium

Thomas Søndergård: Taken by the Sound | Minnesota Orchestra

Celebrating a Century on the Airwaves

Minnesota Orchestra

Emma Redinger

Listen: Thomas Sondergard conducts Sibelius

Saturday Cinema - Jan. 17, 2026

On the latest episode of ‘Saturday Cinema,’ host Lynne Warfel shares music from films with great choreography numbers: ‘West Side Story,’ ‘The Red Shoes,’ ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’ and ‘Kiss Me, Kate.’ Listen now!


Dance!

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Juliet Farmer

Thursday night at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis, scores of classical music fans turned out for the YourClassical MPR Happy Hour, which featured hospitality and live music.


MPR Hero Stories

Juliet Farmer for MPR

Classical music lovers turn out for YourClassical MPR Happy Hour with the Havana Quartet

Rhapsody in Black - Paul Freeman meets MLK

Find out how a chance meeting with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. helped give composer and conductor Paul Freeman the resolve to make classical music more inclusive and diverse on the latest episode of the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast. Listen now.
