July 31, 2008 - The 15th annual Minnesota Fringe Festival, the midwest's biggest performing arts festival, opens today. For the next ten days actors and dancers will perform in over 150 shows throughout Minneapolis. Covering the event seemed an impossible task for one reporter - so we sent out four to see what's in store for Fringe-goers this year.
June 3, 2008 - MPR’s Karl Gehrke profiles Minneapolis jazz musician Gordon Johnson. Gehrke interviews Johnson about his musical background, and other local musicians about Johnson’s playing.
April 3, 2008 - MPR’s Karl Gehrke profiles classical clarinetist Bruce Cho, who plays the Mozart Clarinet Concerto with the Minnesota Orchestra as part of the Young People's Concerts. Gehrke interviews Cho, his music teacher, and a music colleague.
February 28, 2008 - MPR’s Karl Gehrke meets with American composer Dominick Argento at his Minneapolis home to discuss his work “Evensong: Of Love and Angels," commissioned by Washington Cathedral Choral Society. Argento wrote the piece for his deceased wife, Carolyn, and considers it his most meaningful work.
February 25, 2008 - MPR’s Karl Gehrke talks with Minnesota jazz vocalist Connie Evingson about her CD of songs by Dave Frishberg, an American jazz pianist, vocalist, composer, and lyricist born in St. Paul. Gehrke interviews both artists and others about the music compositions.
May 18, 2007 - The personal stories of several Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity homeowners have been turned into songs for Saturday's Minnesota Chorale "Sing Me a Home" concert. The performance is part of the chorale's outreach program called "Bridges." The concert features four local high school choirs singing newly-commissioned works by area composers with texts written by students. One of the songs tells the story of a man who escaped war-torn Somalia and found a new life for his family in St. Paul. Minnesota Public Radio's Karl Gehrke has more.
December 21, 2006 - A new exhibit at the University of Minnesota challenges the stereotype of Lutherans as staid, white Scandinavians. The recent arrival of immigrants from Latin America, Africa and Asia has created many ethnically diverse Lutheran congregations in the Twin Cities. As the exhibit demonstrates, you can hear as well as see the changes. Minnesota Public Radio's Karl Gehrke has more. The exhibit "A Mighty Fortress Far from Lake Wobegon" is at the U of M's Elmer L. Andersen Library through December 29th.
February 24, 2006 - MPR’s Karl Gehrke talks with composer and native Minnesotan Maria Schneider about the influence her southwest Minnesota prairie town experiences in Windom have on her compositions.
November 18, 2005 - MPR’s Karl Gehrke profiles The Bakken Trio, one of the oldest music chamber ensembles working in the Twin Cities. Gehrke interviews members of group and composer Jeffrey Brooks about the dedication and commitment it takes to keep chamber groups going.
October 20, 2005 - MPR’s Karl Grehrke interviews local jazz musician Dave Graf about life as a trombonist and his first CD release, “Just Like That.” Gehrke also speaks with Artegra label founder Warren Sampson and trumpeter Dave Jensen about Graf.