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 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!

Join John Birge in this joyful hour of music for chorus and orchestra that captures the spirit of Easter and the rebirth of spring. ‘Song of Joy: The Mendelssohns’ features choral settings by siblings Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn, showcasing their enormous talent and culminating with a festive ‘Hymn of Praise’ based on Psalms and other biblical texts.


Song of Joy: The Mendelssohns

‘I identify as me.’ That’s how pianist Sara Davis Buechner described her identity for ‘Proud to Be,’ YourClassical’s profiles of LGBTQ+ artists in classical music. This week on Birge’s Picks, Buechner returns to Minnesota to perform a recital and pass on her authentic wisdom to music lovers and students.


'I identify as me': Sara Davis Buechner returns to Minnesota

This week on Birge’s Picks, check out the Harlem Quartet as they perform a series of concerts in St. Cloud. 


Harlem in St. Cloud

This week on Birge’s Picks, experience the wonder of chamber music. 


3 + 4 + 3 = Infinity

This week on Birge’s Picks, experience works that take you worldwide and beyond. 


World music and a world of music!

This week on Birge’s Picks, two excellent artists perform concerts in St. Paul this week. 


Decisions, decisions…

This week on Birge’s Picks, experience classical music that is infused with music from various regions of the world. 


Persia to Iberia, Paris to Punjab

This week on Birge’s Picks, explore a weekend stuffed with great live orchestral music across the state.


An orchestral carnival

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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