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When I’m doing tasks like cooking, exercising or cleaning.

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If it’s improvised and cool, I’m there.

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Rooted in Black music history in the Americas and worldwide.

Going beyond Western Europe traditions, often influenced by folk music.

Drawing from traditional music of the Middle East, Southeast Asia and more.

Delving into traditional music of Native Americans and other First Nations.

Surveying traditional music of Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

Exploring traditional music cultures from around the world.

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This weekend in Minneapolis, Eric Whitacre conducts his music with the

Choir, St. Olaf Choir, and a 170-voice high school honor choir.

Whitacre is no stranger to fame; really, how many other choral music composers have 11,182 Facebook friends?

But even as child he'd already gotten his Warholian fifteen seconds of fame, in a McDonald's commercial. Click play to watch, and click

to read his charming blog post with the rest of the story. That's Eric with his face in the books (literally), at about 0:17!

Meanwhile, Eric stopped by Classical Minnesota Public Radio to talk about the Eric Extravaganza; we had 

 that included a look back to the past, a sneak preview of things to come (he revealed that "Paradise Lost" is coming to Carnegie Hall), and the weekend's world premiere of his new piece, "Nox Arumque."

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

This weekend in Minneapolis, Eric Whitacre conducts his music with the VocalEssence Choir, St. Olaf Choir, and a 170-voice high school honor choir. Whitacre is no stranger to fame; really, how many other choral music composers have 11,182 Facebook friends? But even as child he’d already gotten his Warholian fifteen seconds of fame, in a […]


Eric Whitacre at McDonald's

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