Category Archives: Contemporary
Women We Love to Play On Air: 2025 Edition
At All Classical Radio, women composers have long been an essential part of our daily playlist. We’re proud to shine a spotlight on underrepresented composers, both living and passed, and introduce listeners to the wealth of music written by them. In celebration of Women’s History Month 2025, we’re exploring the lives and careers of eight …
Six Black Composers You Need to Know
At All Classical Radio, we’re proud to continually expand our playlist with diverse musical offerings. In celebration of Black History Month, we’re highlighting six Black composers you need to know, whose music we love to play on air all year round. In this post, you’ll also find recommended recordings for the music of each composer if you’re hoping to expand your collection at home!
John Pitman Reviews: Augustin Hadelich’s ‘American Road Trip’
Violinist Augustin Hadelich was born in Italy to German parents, and then moved to the U.S. two decades ago to study at Juilliard, where he has lived ever since. Hadelich and his music embody the idea of the “American melting pot,” as does his new album, American Road Trip. On the album, he reflects as …
John Pitman Reviews: Arnold Schoenberg
For this edition of John Pitman’s Reviews, John has invited All Classical host and producer Lisa Lipton to sit down with Larry Schoenberg, son of composer Arnold Schoenberg. Lisa, along with microtonal composer Richie Greene, and 45th Parallel Universe musicians Ron Blessinger and James Shields, asked Larry what it was like having one of the …
Five Composers You Need to Know for National Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose families originate from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The timing of the 30-day period beginning September 15th is significant for several reasons: September 15th is the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, …
Five Contemporary LGBTQI+ Artists We Love to Play On Air
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Pride Month is observed each year in commemoration of the June 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York, a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. Nationally, Pride Month is observed in June. Locally, the city of Portland celebrates its queer community in July. In …
Jimmie Herrod & Cédric Hanriot: A New Foray Into Fauré
In May, All Classical Radio’s Christa Wessel hosted a special program performed by acclaimed vocalist Jimmie Herrod and celebrated pianist and composer Cédric Hanriot. A New Foray Into Fauré featured exclusive performances of works by Gabriel Fauré, as well as music by the “Dean of American Balladeers” John Jacob Niles, and composer Ned Rorem, in …
John Pitman Review: Miloš’s ‘Baroque’
Miloš, the superstar guitarist who has recorded the standard guitar repertoire, explored the Beatles, as well as the experience of isolation, returns with a carefully-curated collection of music of the 18th century. Baroque is the guitarist’s rediscovery of music that he was taught when a student, to which he now brings his own interpretation and …
Meet Seven Black Contemporary Composers
At All Classical Radio, we’re proud to continually expand our playlist with diverse musical offerings. As we continue to celebrate and honor Black History Month, we are shining a special spotlight on Black classical composers whose works grace our airwaves all year round. In this post, you’ll get to know some living composers whose works …
John Pitman Review: Randall Goosby ‘Violin Concertos’
All Classical Radio’s program director, John Pitman, chats with American violinist Randall Goosby about his second album with Decca Classics. The dynamic young soloist brings freshness to a concerto he first encountered as a teenager: Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1, and shimmering performances of Florence Price’s two Violin Concertos, with the Philadelphia Orchestra and …
