December 23, 2016 - When Minnesota poet, author and musician Bill Holm sat down to write a Christmas letter, he sorted through a lifetime of memories. He was born in 1943 and died in 2009 at the age of 65. Holm put some of these memories in a book he wrote in 1997 called "Faces of Christmas Past." That same year Minnesota Public Radio produced this "Voices of Minnesota" special, with Bill Holm reading from his own book.
January 22, 2016 - A profile of Robert Treuer, who died at the age of 89. Treuer was a writer, activist, and a tree farmer near Bemidji. The story of his life intersects with some of the most important themes of world and regional history in the 20th century. Program presents MPR’s Dan Olson interviewing Robert Treuer, as part of our "Voices of Minnesota" series.
May 19, 2015 - On this edition of Minnesota Sounds and Voices, MPR’s Dan Olson profiles Native American activist and White Earth band member Clyde Bellecourt.
March 27, 2014 - On this episode of Minnesota Sounds and Voices, MPR’s Dan Olson profiles Orkestar Bez Ime, an Eastern European music group, which has become known as a Balkan party band. Olson interviews members of the band about the complicated music form.
April 5, 2013 - MPR’s Dan Olson presents an episode of Minnesota Sounds and Voices with a profile of the langauge in the play “Spunk.”
March 15, 2013 - On this episode of Minnesota Sounds and Voices, MPR’s Dan Olson profiles dulcimer player Karen Mueller. Mueller is one of the country's top dulcimer and autoharp players, classically trained, steeped in Appalachian, Celtic and folk music. The Minneapolis musician is trying something new: performing a rarely heard classical work with a chamber group.
February 12, 2013 - On this episode of Minnesota Sounds and Voices, MPR’s Dan Olson profiles Kim Sueka and David Burk, two members of St. Paul Rose Ensemble. The two that have created the Lau Hawaiian Collective, a group that brings the islands' music to Minnesota audiences.
June 11, 2012 - On this episode of Minnesota Sounds and Voices, MPR’s Dan Olson talks with Minneapolis resident Salah Fattah on how he stays connected to his Arabic culture. Fattah is founder of the 10-year-old Arabic classical music ensemble Amwaaj, which in English means "wave," as in waves of the sea.
March 30, 2012 - On this episode of Minnesota Sounds and Voices, MPR’s Dan Olson explores the sounds of bagpiping with Mike Breidenbach, leader of the Macalester College Pipe Band. Olson also interviews members of pipe band.
March 21, 2012 - On this episode of Minnesota Sounds and Voices, MPR’s Dan Olson presents report on Jane Belau, who has volunteered for ten years playing piano in the Mayo Clinic's Gonda Building lobby. Many at the hospital find the music therapeutic.