John Birge

John Birge

Host, Classical Music
Minnesota Public Radio
jbirge@mpr.org

John Birge has been hosting, producing and performing classical music for more than 25 years. Since 1997, he has been hosting on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service. He played French horn for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra and performed with them on their centennial tour of Europe in 1995. He was trained at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.

John Birge Feature Archive

Sunmi Chang
New musicians from the SPCO, Sumni Chang and David Huckaby, perform in the studio. (11/23/2009)
Casanova's Homecoming
MPR's John Birge talks with John Fanning and Jean Stillwell who are the principals in Dominick Argento's "Casanova's Homecoming," a production of the Minnesota Opera. (11/18/2009)
Dawn Upshaw
Dawn Upshaw returns in her role as Artistic Partner of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. She sings some signature music by Argentine composer Osvaldo Golijov and a world premiere by film composer Alberto Iglesias. (11/06/2009)
British conductor Simon Halsey joins VocalEssence for a British Invasion of the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 8 pm. (10/22/2009)
The St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra calls its first concert of the 2009-2010 season "New Beginnings." It's the first concert of a new season, featuring the "New World" Symphony and the debut of the orchestra's new conductor, Andrew Altenbach. (10/20/2009)
Courtney Lewis is getting ready for his first gigs in his new post as Assistant Conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra. He looks back and looks ahead in a conversation with John Birge. (10/15/2009)
As Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Marin Alsop is the first woman to lead a major American orchestra. She also spent twelve years with the Colorado Symphony, and six years as principal guest conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in England. (10/05/2009)
It's a memorial to love, light and angels. Dominick Argento's "Evensong" will have its Midwest premiere this weekend by VocalEssence. (09/23/2009)
The Rose Ensemble is an acclaimed vocal group based in the Twin Cities that is mostly known for its arrangements of early classical music. A new documentary produced by Twin Cities Public Television goes behind the scenes to present the ensemble in a new light. (05/28/2009)
VocalEssence and other regional choral groups gather for a performance of a new piece by Dominick Argento and other works. (04/29/2009)
VocalEssence and the St. Olaf Choir perform the Berlioz Te Deum at the Cathedral of St. Paul. (04/07/2009)
Eric Whitacre is a phenomenon. He couldn't read music when he started college, but within a few years he was composing music that was performed and recorded by professional choirs around the world. (03/19/2009)
The New York-based Fireworks Ensemble performs music in the studio from their genre-breaking repertoire. (02/18/2009)
VocalEssence performs it's Inauguration Day concert at St. John's Smith Square in London live on Classical Minnesota Public Radio. (02/17/2009)
Christmas Eve is a time for tradition, and we continue what has become a holiday tradition for Minnesota Public Radio by featuring a new Christmas carol written by composer Abbie Betinis. (12/24/2008)