| Dear Program Director, Thank you so much for your support and commitment to YourClassical’s Performance Today and our work in delivering music and programming to your audiences. With the announcement of Fred Child stepping down as host of Performance Today in October 2025, we are in the process of collecting listener and station feedback to understand audience behavior and sentiment around the show and how we can continue to deliver quality programing in the future. We would greatly appreciate your feedback about how you and your audiences listen to Performance Today, what you value, what you might like to see change, and how you engage with the show. Please click THIS LINK to take the survey. You may choose to remain anonymous and results will only be used internally. Please let me know if you have any questions, and thank you for your participation, Amy Lundgren Director, Portfolio & Operations APM Distribution |
Category Archives: Classical
Classical APM Monthly – September 2024
C24 Holiday Programming Preview
Thanksgiving 2024
Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27 & 28 – C24 will program festive music to celebrate family, feasting and harvest themes.
Christmas 2024
As in the past, Classical 24 will gradually increase Christmas programming throughout December.
- Nov 29 – Dec 6: 3-5 minutes of Christmas music per hour
- Dec 7-13: 5-10 minutes of Christmas music per hour
- Dec 14-18: 10-15 minutes of Christmas music per hour
- Dec 19-21: 50% Christmas programming
- Dec 21: 4pm-6pm CT The Nutcracker ballet with Mindy Ratner
- Dec 22-25: 100% Christmas programming
- Dec 24 (Christmas Eve): 6:01pm CT and 9:01 pm CT “The Night Before Christmas,” complete with classical music and sound effects, narrated by C24 host, Lynne Warfel, inside the news holes.
Chanukah 2024
Wednesday, Dec. 25 – Thursday, Jan. 2: Classical 24 celebrates each day of Chanukah with a bit of music to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights throughout the Chanukah.
ADDITIONAL HOURS of Holiday Music from C24
All APM affiliates: 8 Hours of Christmas Music
C24 is offering 8 hours of Christmas music hosted by Mindy Ratner. Stations may use these hours to best suit their needs. These evergreen hours will be posted on Content Depot Dec. 1, 2024.
C24 affiliates: 20 Bonus hours at no charge
Remember that if you subscribe to any day part of C24, you are entitled to 20 additional C24 hours per quarter without charge. Many stations use this C24 bonus during the holidays.
Contact your APM Station Relations Rep if you have questions about C24 holiday use.
APM Presents: September Specials
- Music for the Days of Awe
Available September 27 – October 31, 2024
Host Mindy Ratner guides us in a musical observance of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, known in Hebrew as Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe. - Folk Classics Across the Globe (Encore)
Available now – September 30, 2024
Newly recorded versions of folk songs from cultures typically on the fringes of the classical canon. - Fur, Feathers and Flutes (Encore)
Available now – September 30, 2024
A light-hearted look into the relationship between our pets and music. - I Hear America Singing (Encore)
August 23 – September 30, 2024
Join Cantus for a joyful examination of the role work has played in our lives in years past and how work might evolve into the future.
Visit our APM Presents webpage for more information on these specials perfect for the summer!
C24 Host News
In October, C24 afternoon drivetime host Jeff Esworthy will retire, changing his status from a full-time host to on-call.
For nearly 30 years, Jeff has kept listeners company sharing his love of classical music including several of those years hosting Music Through the Night. Jeff has been an essential voice on YourClassical with his commitment to his craft, humor, and his deep knowledge of the classical repertoire.
We are so grateful to Jeff and his work with C24. We are also happy that he will be staying with us as an on-call host so that listeners may still occasionally hear him. You may send your congratulations to your Station Relations Rep and we’ll pass them along to Jeff. His last day on air as a full-time host will be October 30th. YourClassical.org will also celebrate him in an article that will be available in October with a more in-depth look at Jeff and his time with C24.
Steve Staruch, a familiar voice, will be the interim afternoon drive host.
SymphonyCast
Coming up on SymphonyCast in September, it’s a wrap to two months of the world’s greatest classical music festival–the BBC Proms! Highlights include Anthony McGill and Mozart’s emotional Clarinet Concerto, the inimitable Patricia Kopatchinskaja and Schoenberg’s Violin Concerto, and an end-of-season party like no other: the Last Night of the Proms! (more below)
Pipedreams
PIPEDREAMS Program #2346 (9/2/24) celebrates the 200th birthday of Anton Bruckner with “A Big Bruckner Bicentennial Bash” featuring transcriptions of movements form his symphonies plus new works commissioned by soloist Hansjörg Albrecht.
PIPEDREAMS Program #2347 (9/9/24) honors the memory of the late, lauded Canadian musician Rachel Laurin (1961-2023), with concert performances and composer comments…Remembering Rachel.
PIPEDREAMS Program #2348 (9/16/24) preludes the upcoming Canadian International Organ Competition (October 17-27) with highlights from the final round and gala awards concert of the 2021 competition and festival.
PIPEDREAMS Program #2349 (9/23/24) honors the centenary of the death of celebrated Irish-English composer Charles Villiers Stanford with a cross-section of his organ and choral music…The Stanford Standard.
Also, check out Pipedreams new video content – visit their Facebook Page or visit YourClassical.org to watch, learn, and listen!
BBC Proms 2024
Proms on C24: C24’s programming will air BBC Proms selections every weekday at 10 am and 10 pm starting on August 19 and running through September 27th. Some hours will contain multiple selections from either the same program or different programs, depending on timing and programmatic elements. We’re delighted to share this beloved annual event with your listeners!
Proms on SymphonyCast: Beginning with the August 5th program and ending with The Last Night of the Proms on the September 30th program, SymphonyCast will once again broadcast the BBC Proms. A full list with dates and details is available here. These programs are available to ALL APM affiliates regardless of your SymphonyCast subscription status. We hope you’ll take advantage of this much-anticipated annual gift to your listeners.
Welcome Additions
- KHCC (Witchita, KS) – Rhapsody in Black
- KWRV (Sun Valley, ID) – Performance Today Weekend
2024 Fall Fundraising Package
It’s fall member drive time again and we have a new batch of fundraising assets available for you to use. If you don’t find what you need below, please submit a custom request.
This year’s fall 2024 fundraising tools include:
- BBC Newshour – new feature segments for pitching around the program
- The Daily – two new evergreen episodes for use in pledge drives.
- Performance Today – new promos and long-form, in-studio segments.
- On Point – 7 new promos voiced by Meghna Chakrabarti
- The Splendid Table – new fundraising episode hosted by Francis Lam
All assets are available now on ContentDepot. Subscribe to the fundraising program pages today and receive all future updates for each program. Visit the ‘Episodes’ section of the pages below to download the new promos.
We are aware of the changes coming to ContentDepot tomorrow that will allow these assets to be consolidated on the program pages. APM will take a look at the new functionality and will communicate any migration of these assets at a future date.
Check out the links below, and if you have any questions please reach out to your station relations representative.
News
- 8 new featured BBC Newshour segments
- 6 new promos voiced by Kai Ryssdal
- 6 new promos voiced by David Brancaccio
- 4 promos voiced by Meghan McCarty Carino
- 4 new promos voiced by Michael Barbaro and Sabrina Tavernise
- 2 shortened evergreen episodes (including promos) to pitch around
- 7 new promos voiced by Meghna Chakrabarti
Classical
- 7 new promos voiced by hosts Valerie Kahler, Lynne Warfel, Scott Blankenship, Steve Seel, Jillene Khan and Kevin O’Connor
- 4 new promos voiced by Fred Child
- 4 long in-studio segments (11:00-14:00) with guest artists
- 5 new promos voiced by Michael Barone
- 5 new promos voiced by Steve Seel
Arts & Culture
- 1 new, fundraising episode
We welcome your fundraising questions and feedback! Please contact your Station Relations Representative.
Classical Monthly – August 2024
APM Presents August Specials
- Folk Classics Across the Globe (Encore)
Available now – September 30, 2024
Newly recorded versions of folk songs from cultures typically on the fringes of the classical canon. - Fur, Feathers and Flutes (Encore)
Available now – September 30, 2024
A light-hearted look into the relationship between our pets and music. - I Hear America Singing (Encore)
August 23 – September 30, 2024
Join Cantus for a joyful examination of the role work has played in our lives in years past and how work might evolve into the future.
Visit our APM Presents webpage for more information on these specials perfect for the summer!
BBC Proms 2024
Celebrate the BBC Proms with APM!
- Proms on C24: C24’s programming will air BBC Proms selections every weekday at 10 am and 10 pm starting on August 19 and running through September 27th. Some hours will contain multiple selections from either the same program or different programs, depending on timing and programmatic elements. We’re delighted to share this beloved annual event with your listeners!
- Proms on SymphonyCast: Airing now through the Last Night of the Proms on the September 30th program, SymphonyCast will once again broadcast the BBC Proms. A full list with dates and details is available here. These programs are available to ALL APM affiliates regardless of your SymphonyCast subscription status. We hope you’ll take advantage of this much-anticipated annual gift to your listeners.
- Proms on Pipedreams: The August 26th program of Pipedreams will feature a BBC broadcast from London’s Royal Albert Hall featuring acclaimed Manchester organist Jonathan Scott.
- Proms on BBC World Service: Highlights from the 2024 BBC Proms will be broadcast on the 24/7 BBC World Service stream on Saturday at 2pm ET with a repeat on Sunday at 7am ET on the following dates:
- Aug 10 – The Sound of Disco
- Aug 17 – Anne-Sophie Mutter plays Brahms
- Aug 24 – Dances with the Kanneh-Masons
SymphonyCast
Coming up in August, kick off two months of the world’s greatest classical music festival–the BBC Proms—with SymphonyCast! August highlights include the First Night of the Proms with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, Sir Mark Elder leads Hallé in Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, and Nicholas Collon and the BBC Philharmonic perform Messiaen’s titanic Turangalîla Symphony. Find all the details here.
Pipedreams
Congratulations to Michael Barone! Mid-August (8/20/1968 to be exact) marks the 56th anniversary of Michael Barone’s employment by KSJR-FM, Collegeville, MN (St. John’s University Radio, which became Minnesota Educational Radio, and later Minnesota Public Radio | APM). 56 years later, he’s still going strong!
Welcome Additions
- WXLJ (Whitehall, NY) – Classical 24
- WUSO (Springfield, OH) – Composer’s Datebook, Performance Today, SymphonyCast
- WERN (Madison, WI) – Classical 24
- KSOR (Medford-Ashland, OR) – Performance Today
Fred Child to Step Down from Performance Today® After 25 Years
| ST. PAUL, MINN. July 23, 2024 – American Public Media today announces Fred Child will step down in October 2025 from his position as Host and Senior Editor of YourClassical’s Performance Today®, completing a 25-year run as host of America’s most popular classical music radio show. Performance Today, winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement, is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country and features live concert recordings, highlights from new album releases, and in-studio performances and interviews. The show is based at the APM studios in St. Paul, Minnesota, and is frequently on the road, with special programs broadcast from festivals and public radio stations around the country. In addition to hosting Performance Today, Child was the Emmy-winning commentator and announcer for the PBS program Live From Lincoln Center and has hosted many live national concert broadcasts. His music reviews and commentary have appeared on NPR, the BBC and Billboard magazine. He continues to host musical events on stages around the country, working with major orchestras and festivals and connecting with audiences coast to coast. “It’s been the greatest joy of my working life to share music, stories, conversations, and ideas with audiences around the country for a quarter of a century. I will dearly miss our daily meeting in the virtual space we all create together in our hearts and imaginations, via radio and streaming. But after 25 years, I feel I have accomplished far more than I could have imagined, connecting music-makers with music-lovers in service of this wondrous art form we call classical music. I’m ready to step away from this platform, and to heartily welcome new voices and talent who will carry this work forward. My deepest thanks to the entire APM and YourClassical team. Hugs and thanks to every member of the Performance Today team, past and present. And special thanks to every station that has entrusted their airtime to me, and to every listener I’ve connected with through our shared love of music,” Child said. “We have the deepest gratitude and admiration for Fred and his talents for connecting with listeners worldwide. We will work with Fred to ensure his legacy with Performance Today is honored and that he has a fantastic final year hosting for us,” said Liwanag Ojala, Chief Transformation Officer at American Public Media Group and brand leader for YourClassical. “Fred’s distinctive style has guided and enthralled audiences far and wide blending his genuine passion for classical music with eloquence, knowledge and insightful commentary. We’re mutually excited for the next chapter of Performance Today and we’re working on next steps.” ### About YourClassical YourClassical® is a collection of curated classical music listening experiences and information produced by Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media Group. YourClassical provides audiences with the music they love through terrestrial broadcasts and multiple web-based platforms. Nationally syndicated YourClassical programs include Pipedreams®, SymphonyCast®, Composers Datebook® and Performance Today®, and are in addition to the YourClassical Radio Lullaby, Sleep, Relax, Peaceful Piano, and Holiday audio streams that can be found at YourClassical.org. Regional music programming produced by YourClassical MPR®, is a trusted companion for listeners across Minnesota on broadcast radio, web, and live events. YourClassical MPR’s Class Notes program strives to inspire the next generation of music fans and artists through in-school learning experiences, educational content, and resources for teachers and parents. Each week, nearly 2.75 million people engage with YourClassical. Learn more and listen at yourclassical.org. |
Classical: July 2024
Thank you
APM’s pricing season and fiscal year closed on June 30th. Thank you for choosing APM. We are grateful for your loyal support of our programming and look forward to serving you and your audiences in FY25!
APM Presents July Specials
We are making two of our specials from the spring available again for the summer. Folk Classics Across the Globe features newly recorded classical pieces inspired by folk songs from cultures typically on the fringes of the classical canon.
Fur, Feathers and Flutes is a light-hearted look into the relationship between our pets and music. Visit our APM Presents webpage for more information on these specials perfect for the summer!
- Folk Classics Across the Globe (Encore)
Available now – September 30, 2024 - Fur, Feathers and Flutes (Encore)
Available now – September 30, 2024
BBC Proms 2024
Check you inboxes next week for a stand-alone BBC Proms announcement but, in the meantime, here’s a sneak peek:
- Classical 24: C24’s programming will air BBC Proms selections every weekday at 10 am and 10 pm starting on August 19 and running through September 27th. Some hours will contain multiple selections from either the same program or different programs, depending on timing and programmatic elements. We’re delighted to share this much anticipated event with your listeners!
- SymphonyCast: Beginning with the August 5th program and ending with The Last Night of the Proms on the September 30th program, Symphonycast will once again broadcast the BBC Proms. A full list with dates and details is available here. These programs are available to ALL APM affiliates regardless of your Symphonycast subscription status. We hope you’ll take advantage of this much-anticipated annual gift to your listeners.
- Pipedreams: The August 19th program of Pipedreams will feature a BBC broadcast from London’s Royal Albert Hall featuring acclaimed Manchester organist Jonathan Scott.
- BBC World Service: Highlights from the 2024 BBC Proms will be broadcast on the 24/7 BBC World Service stream on Saturday at 2pm ET with a repeat on Sunday at 7am ET on the following dates:
- Aug 3 -Beethoven’s Fifth
- Aug 10 – The Sound of Disco
- Aug 17 – Anne-Sophie Mutter plays Brahms
- Aug 24 – Dances with the Kanneh-Masons
SymphonyCast
Coming up on SymphonyCast in July, we’ll share a concert featuring the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields as we join them in celebrating the 100th birthday of their founder, Sir Neville Marriner. Also in July, Sir Stephen Hough offers a fiery performance of Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and violinist Inmo Yang shines in Prokofiev’s dream-like Violin Concerto No. 1.
Performance Today
Performance Today will wrap up their Young Artists in Residence program in July with Najee Greenlee and Daniel Dastoor. Congratulations to all the amazing young artists featured this year:
- Sarah Ma, Oberlin Conservatory of Music
- Jane Yoo, Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University
- Avery Gagliano, Curtis Institute of Music
- Daniel Dastoor, San Francisco Conservatory of Music
- Najee Greenlee, The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University
Pipedreams
On July 21-25, Michael Barone will participate in the 2024 Organ Historical Society Convention in Baltimore. Baltimore was a 19th century hub of American organ building with Roosevelt, Stein, Erben, Pomplitz workshops and one of perhaps the least known American organ builders, Henry Niemann. For an introduction to the organs in Baltimore, and this event, check out Historic Baltimore on Pipedreams.
Welcome Additions
- KWSU (Pullman, WA) – Classical 24
Classical APM Monthly – May 2024
APM Presents: May Specials
A Passion for Bach and Coltrane with the Imani Winds
Available now – June 30, 2024
Folk Classics Across the Globe
Available now – May 31, 2024
Fur, Feathers and Flutes
Available now – May 31, 2024
Proud to Be
Available May 31, 2024 – June 30, 2024
Take Me to the Water – Encore
Available May 31, 2024 – June 30, 2024
For more upcoming specials visit our website.
Fur, Feathers and Flutes – Behind the Scenes
Classical host, Jillene Khan, has always loved animals and has had pets her whole life! Her love of animals and Classical music joins forces on Fur, Feathers and Flutes, from American Public Media.
In this special, you’ll hear stories of composers and the pets they love along with music inspired by their furry friends. You’ll meet an opera-loving parrot and other classical-loving pets, plus hear how classical music helps train service dogs.
Khan says, “I had so much fun meeting listeners and their furry friends! Rascal the parrot especially stands out. His parents wanted to help improve his mood after his companion birds passed away and they ended up finding him a new flock! The power of music is so apparent when you hear his story, and I’ve never believed in that power more than I have after meeting Rascal and other pets featured in the show.”
Khan understands that the hardest part of having a pet is having to say goodbye to them and she’ll leave you with stories and music to find comfort after our companions leave us for the Rainbow Bridge.
Celebrate the love we have for our special furry and feathered friends and the music we all love on Fur, Feathers and Flutes this May.
New and Upcoming
New Classical Tracks
Last week violinist Daniel Hope stopped by the APM studios to talk about his latest 2-CD recording, ‘Dance!’ It’s a project he’s been noodling on for the past 20 years, covering 700 years of dance! He’s super passionate about it.
Along with his 1742 “ex-Lipínski” Guarneri del Gesù violin, he brought with him a copy of his next recording due out in July, ‘Irish Roots,’ which celebrates his roots with some incredible collaborations including one with flutist James Galway.
As a tribute to his grandfather, after whom he is named, Daniel played a heartfelt rendition of, ‘Danny Boy.” And we got it all on video too! Listen (and watch) for it on an upcoming episode of New Classical Tracks from APM.
Pipedreams
Minnesota composer Libby Larsen made an impromptu visit to the APM studios to talk about her most recent composition for organ, Tapestry of Fire, dedicated to Minnesota organist Gregory Peterson whose premiere performance of it (and Libby’s comments) will be included in an upcoming PIPEDREAMS program built around the theme of ‘Pentecost’ and the creative spark (distribution 5/13/24).
SymphonyCast
In May, SymphonyCast will celebrate an all-Bartók concert with conductor Alan Gilbert and the NDR Elphphilharmonie, plus violinist Veronika Eberle performs Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Performance Today
Performance Today will highlight more of our Young Artists in Residence in May- we featured violinist Sara Ma on April 17 and pianist Avery Gagliano on May 6. Coming up in May will be Jane Yoo, harpist.
They will also feature composer Missy Mazzoli on May 17, talking about her new release “Dark with Excessive Bright.”
Performance Today: Request for Music
If you have a strong partnership with your local orchestra, please encourage them to submit their concerts to us- If you have a contact who’d like to start (or continue) submitting to PT, please put them in touch with kslusher@mpr.org for guidelines and a submission account.
Reminders
Spring Fundraising Promos
Spring fundraisers are available on Content Depot. Follow the links below:
Classical Monthly – April 2024
Reminders
APM Weekly Newsletter
Classical updates are included in the APM Weekly newsletter each Thursday. Forward-promote what listeners can anticipate on APM classical programs and on C24. Subscribe to the APM Weekly here.Spring Fundraising Promos
Spring fundraisers are available on Content Depot. Follow the links below:
Programming News
APM Presents: April Specials
A Passion for Bach and Coltrane with the Imani Winds
Available now – June 30, 2024
Scott Blankenship shared his experience of working on this special with us:
After producing Carols as Home with Imani Winds last winter, I was very excited to continue our partnership with the group to bring Jeff Scott’s Grammy winning Passion for Bach and Coltrane to listeners. AB Spellman’s book of poems “Things I Must Have Known” inspired Passion for Bach and Coltrane, and it explores the musical mastery of J.S. Bach, John Coltrane, as well as religion and mortality. It also asks the inevitable question, what if JS Bach and John Coltrane were to meet?
I’ve never worked on a project like this. Toyin Spellman-Diaz again took the host chair and conducted intimate interviews with group members and her father AB Spellman. My biggest challenge as the producer was to determine what parts of the interviews to keep, because there were so many moments of pure gold in their conversations! Plus, the innovative way they integrate baroque music of Bach with the transcendent jazz aesthetics of Coltrane might seem unlikely, but they make it work in a magical way.
May Specials Sneak Peek…
Folk Classics Across the Globe — never-before recorded folk tunes from three contrasting countries and cultures: Iran, Venezuela and Ukraine/Russia.
Fur, Feathers and Flutes — celebrating the love we have for our special companions and their connection to music.
For more upcoming specials visit our website.
New and Upcoming
Pipedreams Live in Williamsburg, VA
On April 21, Pipedreams host Michael Barone will appear as master-of-ceremonies, commentator and interviewer for an Open Door Concert Series event at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church in Williamsburg, Virginia. Joining Michael will be composer and recitalist Aaron David Miller and three organ students from William & Mary College. This event will feature the 40 stop and 51 rank Buzard Pipe Organ, Opus 32.
SymphonyCast highlights the Oregon Symphony & Berlin Philharmonic
Coming up on SymphonyCast in April, Grammy-nominated composer and percussionist Andy Akiho performs his concerto for steel pan and orchestra with the Oregon Symphony, and legendary pianist Martha Argerich joins Daniel Barenboim and the Berlin Philharmonic for Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto.
And we wish a happy one-year anniversary to Steve Seel as the host of SymphonyCast!
Classical 24 Celebrates
Don’t miss 30 days of musical poetry all April long as C24 celebrates National Poetry Month. Listen for a piece of music about poetry every day at 3 pm CT.
Sir Neville Marriner’s 100th birthday is April 15th and C24 will celebrate by featuring Marriner recordings all day long.
Performance Today’s Classical Woman of the Year
Performance Today recently announced their Classical Woman of the year: Deborah Borda. She spoke with Fred Child about her career and accomplishments on the March 29th episode.
“I’m thrilled that Deborah Borda is our 2024 Performance Today Classical Woman of the Year,” said Fred Child, host and senior editor of Performance Today. “Though much of her career has been behind-the-scenes, some of the most cherished aspects of today’s classical scene wouldn’t be what they are without her guiding spirit and determination. She combines the forward-thinking savvy and intelligent risk-taking of an entrepreneur with the passionate dedication of an artist. As a former violinist and violist, her administrative vision is driven by her devotion to music itself.
“She has created greater access to music for communities, families, and individuals across the country. She has piloted the creation and renovation of some of the most important concert venues of our time. She has envisioned and brought into being some of the most fruitful artistic partnerships and collaborations of our era. She’s steadily laid the foundations for greater stability in several major classical music institutions, which means musicians can focus on making music, and audiences have reliably vibrant and meaningful concerts and events. It is with great pleasure that we recognize Deborah Borda with this well-deserved award.”
Performance Today’s Young Artists
Listen for 2024’s Young Artists on Performance Today beginning with Sarah Ma, violinist, on April 17th. Learn more about Performance Today’s Young Artists program and see their impressive list of alumni here.
Performance Today: Request for Music
If you have a strong partnership with your local orchestra, please encourage them to submit their concerts to us- If you have a contact who’d like to start (or continue) submitting to PT, please put them in touch with kslusher@mpr.org for guidelines and a submission account.
Classical APM Presents Specials Spring/Summer 2024
We present to you our new spring and summer Classical specials from APM Presents! This quarter we have an exciting selection of diverse specials for you and your listeners, including a new special from Imani Winds!
Check out the full list of classical specials below and our website.
Looking for News/Talk specials? Subscribe to our News/Talk APM Monthly newsletter or visit our website for the full list of APM Presents specials.
Classical
A Passion for Bach and Coltrane with Imani Winds
- Broadcast Window: March 29, 2024 – April 30, 2024
- Duration: Two hours
- Description: Jeff Scott’s new Grammy winning oratorio is full of inspiration from two giants of music – Johann Sebastian Bach and John Coltrane. Passion for Bach and Coltrane with Imani Winds is an innovative and surprising confluence of classical and jazz. Scott is the founding horn player of Imani Winds, and along with the Harlem Jazz Quartet, jazz soloists, and spoken word by AB Spellman, Passion for Bach and Coltrane offers an intimate perspective on Imani Wind’s most personal recording in their 25 year history.
Folk Classics Across the Globe from YourClassical
- Broadcast Window: May 1, 2024 – May 31, 2024
- Duration: One hour
- Description: An hour special featuring never-before recorded folk tunes from three contrasting countries and cultures: Iran, Venezuela and Ukraine/Russia. These tunes have been composed and/or arranged by composers from these locations, two of which are currently living. They will also be performed by professional musicians from the respective countries/cultures. Exploring the intersection of folk and classical music, while also placing the spotlight on present-day communities.
Fur, Feathers and Flutes
- Broadcast Window: May 1, 2024 – May 31, 2024
- Duration: One hour
- Description: We all know that Classical music can calm us – and our pets! We also know that there’s a special connection we have with our pets. Do our pets have a special connection with Classical music? We think so! On Fur, Feathers and Flutes, you’ll hear stories of composers who loved their pets along with music inspired by their furry friends. You’ll also meet an opera-loving parrot, curious Classical-loving cats, and you’ll hear how Classical music helps train canines, as we celebrate the love we have for our special companions and their connection to music on Fur, Feathers and Flutes!
Proud to Be
- Broadcast Window: May 31, 2024 – June 30, 2024
- Duration: One hour
- Description: Pride Month is a wonderful time to celebrate our unique identities and to reflect on how pride and authenticity show up in our lives. We asked classical musicians in the LGBTQIA community about their thoughts on Pride. The answers we got were incredibly diverse and thought-provoking. This one-hour special brings all of those thoughts to you punctuated with music performed, conducted or composed by these featured artists.
Take Me to the Water – Encore
- Broadcast Window: May 31, 2024 – June 30, 2024
- Duration: One hour
- Description: A one-hour special, hosted by Vernon Neal, focusing on harpist Ashley Jackson’s program Take Me to the Water recorded at American Public Medias studios. Take Me to the Water, is an immersive audio experience that touches on themes from African mythology, the antebellum spiritual tradition and water’s transportive, transmogrifying nature. This will be an encore from February 2024
Classical Monthly: March 2024
This is the Classical APM Monthly. Classical updates are also included in the APM Weekly newsletter each Thursday. Forward-promote what listeners can anticipate on APM classical programs and on C24. Subscribe to the APM Weekly here.
Spring Fundraisers
Spring fundraisers are up and ready on Content Depot! Follow the links below:
New and Upcoming
Pipedreams celebrates Women’s History and International Women’s Day
This week’s Pipedreams program #2410, celebrates Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day and is devoted entirely to works by women composers…Fanny Mendelssohn, Clara Schumann, Gwyneth Walker, Sharon J. Willis, Barbara Dennerlein, Margie Griebling-Haigh, Margaret Sandresky, Theophania Cecil, Pamela Decker, Rachel Laurin, and Wang Jie, whose new score for organ and string quartet, “The Night When You See Again,” will be heard in its world premiere performance.
On Saturday, March 23rd, Michael Barone will co-host with Tyrone Whiting Philadelphia Orchestra’s Organ Day, a family-friendly event with lively performances by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Paul Jacobs, the Lucas Brown Trio, the Philadelphia Ballet, Dr. Jay Fluellen, John Walthausen, and much more. This event features the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ, the largest mechanical-action concert hall organ in the United States with 6,938 pipes, four blowers, 300 levels of memory, 111 stops, and a total weight of approximately 32 tons!
SymphonyCast
Coming up on SymphonyCast in March, listen for a dazzling program from the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra with Michael Tilson Thomas on the podium, including a Liszt piano concerto featuring Yuja Wang, and Mahler’s titanic symphonic debut. Later this spring, we’ll hear Andy Akiho and his steel pan concerto, Beneath Lighted Coffers, backed by the Oregon Symphony.
Performance Today
Performance Today’s 2024 class of Young Artists in Residence opened with Sarah Ma, a violinist recently graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Sarah’s interview with Fred will air in March, with four more artists lined up to complete their residencies by June. The Young Artists in Residence program has hosted a number of young talents over the years and we are proud of its alumni. Most have gone on to successful music careers. Scroll through the pages here to see past and present Young Artists.
Performance Today will also choose their 2024 Classical Woman of the Year- the winner will be announced on air and online on March 29th.
Performance Today: Request for Music
If you have a strong partnership with your local orchestra, please encourage them to submit their concerts to us- If you have a contact who’d like to start (or continue) submitting to PT, please put them in touch with kslusher@mpr.org for guidelines and a submission account.
APM Presents: March Specials
Check out our special featuring harpist Ashley Jackson.
Take Me to the Water
Available now – March 31, 2024
For more upcoming specials visit our website.
Take Me to the Water—behind the scenes
“Take Me to the Water,” from American Public Media, explores the profound meaning of water across different cultures and different religions, led by Vernon Neal and harpist Ashley Jackson. The program explores water’s historical significance in Black culture, the symbolism in spirituals, and the ripple effect of George Floyd’s murder in 2020. It culminates in a powerful performance of “Take Me to the Water” by Ashley and Twin Cities youth choir, KNOWN MPLS.
Julie Amacher shared, “Vernon and I had a fabulous time getting to know Ashley during these recording sessions. She stretches the limits of her instrument in such a powerful, and beautiful way. Her playing is so fluid, which makes her style a perfect fit for this program. This is the first time we brought an artist into the studios to create a national special with them – creating content exclusively for us to share with stations.”
To learn more about the show, learn more about Ashley Jackson’s music, and watch videos of Ashley performing this music in our St. Paul studio, go to YourClassical.org.
Welcome Additions
- WFCR (Springfield, MA) – Rhapsody in Black