This activity is made possible in part by the 

Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.


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Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment

Sing to Inspire: Dec. 21, 2015

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Tesfa Wondemagegnehu

Each week, Tesfa Wondemagegnehu and Julie Amacher share a choral music story from around the country. This week, they share an interview and new holiday recording from VocalEssence.


Chorus and Ensemble Singers at Welcome Christmas

Choral Stream

Sing to Inspire: Nordic Nativity

Luke Taylor

Directed by Stephen Layton, the Choir of Trinity College Cambridge is known for its serious scholarship and soul-stirring singing. But it's certainly not above a little fun, as its 'White Christmas' music video attests.


A choral take on a Bing Crosby holiday classic

Scott Blankenship started his radio career in college when he began working as a volunteer at a local cable radio station, announcing alternative and new rock music. His love and appreciation of classical music began at public radio station KVNO in Omaha, where he spent 13 years in various on-air and management roles, five of those years as the morning drive-time host.

Indications that radio was in his blood go back to age five, when he used a corkboard and a battered phonograph as a makeshift radio studio; his father's Air Force issue flashlight served as his "on air" light. In his spare time, Blankenship is an avid cyclist and amateur playwright with several produced scripts to his credit.


Scott Blankenship

On Friday, Dec. 18, at 4 p.m., join us for Caroling with The Singers. Classical MPR host Scott Blankenship he welcomes one of the region's finest choirs, The Singers, and its conductor, Matthew Culloton, who will perform 15 carols selected by you, our audience. Tune in for the live broadcast -- and sing along!


Caroling with The Singers on Classical MPR

Vaughn Ormseth

Along with Classical MPR's Tesfa Wondemagegnehu, The Current's Production Manager Derrick Stevens lent his skills and stories to a rehearsal of the vocal-music students at the FAIR School in Minneapolis.


Public radio producer coaches kids at FAIR School

Tuesday night on NBC's 'The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon,' house band The Roots led Fallon along with 'Star Wars' cast members Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Gwendoline Christie, Lupita Nyong'o, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford, for an a cappella tribute to the films' music.


The Tonight Show cast 'Star Wars' a cappella

Watch this a cappella 'Star Wars' music medley

Sing to Inspire: Dec. 14, 2015

Each week, Tesfa Wondemagegnehu and Julie Amacher share a choral music story from around the country. This week, they share interviews and performances from U.S. choirs that were nominated for a GRAMMY in the Best Choral Performance category.


Sing to Inspire: And the GRAMMY goes to...

Whispered and Revealed

Tom Huizenga

Hear a deceptive take on the winter blues by way of a versatile choir, a young New York composer and a 150-year-old poem by Longfellow.


A New Holiday Song By Nico Muhly

Snowflakes and Troubled Hearts: A New Holiday Song By Nico Muhly

Brian Newhouse

Listen Thursday, Dec. 10, at 11 a.m., for a Christmas with Cantus special, broadcast live from Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis.


Christmas with Cantus

Sing to Inspire: Dec. 7, 2015

Each week, Tesfa Wondemagegnehu and Julie Amacher share a choral music story from around the country. This week, they share surprising data on choral singing and highlight an extraordinary professional female choral ensemble.


Sing to Inspire: Something to Think About

Building upon a curiosity which began in his teens, Michael Barone has been involved with the pipe organ for more than 40 years. As host and senior executive producer of Pipedreams, produced and distributed by American Public Media, he is recognized nationally for his outstanding contributions to the world of organ music.  Pipedreams began in 1982 and remains the only nationally distributed weekly radio program exploring the art of the pipe organ. Michael's talent and commitment have been recognized with numerous awards, including the American Guild of Organists President's Award in 1996, the Distinguished Service Award of the Organ Historical Society in 1997 and the 2001 ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award. In November 2002 he was selected for induction to the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame.  He also hosts broadcasts of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and The New Releases on Minnesota Public Radio.


Michael Barone

On Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, at 1 p.m. Central, the Memorial Concert for Sir David Willcocks will air on our Choral Stream. Willcocks, who died in September at age 95, was one of the great choral directors of King's College, Cambridge. Classical host Michael Barone reflects on the life and music of Willcocks.
