September 28, 2007 - MPR’s Karl Gehrke looks at a major New York City concert series uniting classical and indie rock audiences that is coming to the Twin Cities. In the previous year, the Wordless Music Series has paired rock and electronic musicians in intimate chamber music settings with classical performers.
August 8, 2008 - MPR’s Chris Roberts presents Making the Scene: An Oral History of Twin Cities Rock, a report tracing the evolution of the local music scene from the mid-1960s through the '90s…and through the eyes and ears of key figures from each decade.
October 14, 2008 - MPR's Chris Roberts has a report on the one-man electronic band, Unicorn Dream Attack. The Chanhassen musician has found a way to inject warmth into the genre by emphasizing some of its more robotic qualities.
May 20, 2009 - Nico Muhly isn't 30 yet, but the protege of Phillip Glass is already recognized as a major force in contemporary classical music. The Juilliard graduate has composed for, among others, the Boston Pops, Chicago Symphony, and Bjork. Muhly sees himself and his music as a product of the internet age.
August 13, 2010 - MPR’s Mark Sanchez meets up with composer and Bloomington native Ryan Ingebritsen in Minnesota's White Water State Park, an area that Ingebritsen has fond memories of when hiking as a kid. With help from the American Composers Forum, he was awarded a McKnight fellowship for a project that returns him to those same woods.
October 8, 2010 - Arthur Hoehn, MPR's first classical music announcer, joins Midday to discuss his 40-year career in radio. He is best known for hosting "Music Through the Night."
September 16, 2011 - The Twin Cities hip hop duo Villa Rosa stands out, as It features two emcees, Maria Isa and Muja Messiah, who both have established identities as solo artists. The male and female tandem share equally in songwriting duties, and that's something rare in rap. The pair talk with MPR’s Chris Roberts about their album "Blue Diamond Island."
May 23, 2012 - As part of Minnesota Mix series, MPR’s David Cazares reports on Malamanya, a Twin Cities band that plays traditional Cuban songs. Cazares interviews lead singer Adriana Rimpel and band leader Tony Schreiner.
February 6, 2013 - Australian guitarist Ben Frost lives and draws inspiration from his home in Iceland, where he creates ambient music. The result is a visceral listening experience.
April 25, 2013 - MPR’s David Cazares profiles acclaimed pianist, composer, and Golden Valley native Craig Taborn. In the jazz world, some listeners might yearn for tradition, while others listen for signs of authenticity. Taborn doesn't worry about such hang-ups. Whether on solo piano, in a trio, or experimenting with electronic music, he tries to reflect an evolving culture.