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 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

This week on Birge’s Picks, the Northern Lights Music Festival celebrates ‘Festive Fourth!,’ MacPhail Center for Music presents ‘Sounds of Summer,’ the Minnesota Orchestra performs at the Minnesota Beethoven Festival and much more!


What’s twice as good as the Fourth of July? Try the Eighth!

This week on Birge’s Picks, the Great River Shakespeare Festival and the Minnesota Beethoven Festival open their seasons in Winona, and the Madeline Island Chamber Music Festival brings world-class string quartets to Minnesota. 


On the road again

This week on Birge’s Picks, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra projects Ludwig van Beethoven’s ‘Pastoral Symphony’ at Rice Park outside Ordway Concert Hall. 


Rice Park goes 'Pastoral'

This week on Birge’s Picks, head over to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival to watch three classical music films.


Classical MSPIFF!

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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