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.

This month, Duluth’s Matinee Musicale launches its 125th-anniversary season. John Birge chats with executive director Mark Niedermier and artistic coordinator Kim Squillace about the legacy of the concert series and what’s ahead. Listen now — and explore historic photos.


Duluth's Matinee Musicale concert series celebrates 125 years of Superior music

‘Welcome Christmas’ is a perennial Christmas favorite from VocalEssence, one of the world's premier choral ensembles, conducted by Philip Brunelle and G. Phillip Shoultz. Join host John Birge for an hour of traditional carols and new discoveries, including compositions and arrangements by Mack Wilberg, Glenn Rudolph and John Rutter.


Welcome Christmas!

'Giving Thanks,' hosted by John Birge, is celebrating its 25th year on public radio! This year’s show presents the best moments of a quarter century of great guests amid the perfect atmosphere for Thanksgiving: the warmth of great music and truly memorable words.


'Giving Thanks' - 25th anniversary special

If you’re a fan of Sergei Prokofiev’s ‘Peter and the Wolf,’ you’ll be excited to know that the classic musical children’s story is getting an update from Bono. Find out about that and more in this week’s Birge’s Picks.


Bono and the 'Wolf'

This week on Birge’s Picks, the Minnesota Orchestra, Fargo-Moorhead Symphony and St. Cloud Symphony hold their opening season concerts. Find out more!


These are the 'Good Old Days'

This week on Birge’s Picks, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra welcomes Richard Egarr, the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra opens it season and ‘Star Trek’ actor George Takei shares his story in St. Paul. Find out more!


Across the centuries, across the sea, across the galaxy

This week on Birge’s Picks, the Duluth Chamber Music Festival returns for it’s second season and pianist Osip Nikiforov celebrates Rachmaninoff’s 150th anniversary at the Museum of Russian Art. Find out more!


Season 2 in Duluth and 150 Russian birthday candles 

This week on Birge’s Picks, events in Minneapolis, Brainerd and Fargo bring singing to the community in a variety of forms. Find out more!


Sing, Sing, Sing

This week on Birge’s Picks, the Vintage Band Festival returns to Northfield, the Great River Shakespeare Festival presents two plays and the Lakes Area Music Festival begins its 2023 season. Find out more!


Band in Northfield, Bard in Winona, Bel Canto in Brainerd

This week on Birge’s Picks, the Northern Lights Music Festival presents Pucchini’s classic ‘La Boheme’ and the Minnesota Orchestra features a wide range of artists at its annual International Day of Music. 


Summer music arrives at Minnesota's Iron Range and Minneapolis

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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