Garrett McQueen

Host, Classical Music
gmcqueen@americanpublicmedia.org

You first heard Garrett McQueen when he filled in as the guest host of Performance Today. Now you can hear him all the time as our overnight host/producer. As a professional bassoonist, most recently with Tennessee's Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Garrett brings a performer's perspective to his new assignment. He has performed with ensembles such as the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He first entered the world of public radio in 2016 on Knoxville's WUOT-FM, where he produced interviews with some of the country's leading artists and created nationally recognized features on the intersection of race and classical music. Promoting diverse artistic voices — music by women and people of color — remains a priority for him. He also is keen to share his love for concert band music, where his favorite composers include David Maslanka, Frank Tichelli and Eric Ewazen.

Stories

Emmys misidentify the much-alive Leonard Slatkin as Andre Previn during memorial tribute

September 23, 2019

Composer Andre Previn, who died earlier this year, celebrated a career in classical music that few will ever achieve. But it wasn't enough to keep the Emmy Awards from showing a photo of the much-alive conductor Leonard Slatkin instead during a memorial tribute.

Six works to listen to in honor of Juneteenth

June 17, 2019

This Juneteenth, we're celebrating by featuring black classical music each hour on June 19. Learn more about six of the 24 pieces that classical host Garrett McQueen has picked to be featured in this year's Juneteenth celebration.

Trilloquy: Opus 2 - Classically Black

May 30, 2019

The experiences that Katie Brown and Dalanie Harris share as black women in classical music led them to create their own podcast, Classically Black. In this episode, Garrett and Scott talk about some of the challenges they've experienced in conversations surrounding race, followed by an interview with Katie and Dalanie.

Trilloquy: Opus 1 - Marion Dooley

May 23, 2019

Why is representation in classical music important? What does it feel like for black millennials in the concert hall? How is the music experience unique at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs)?

Trilloquy: Overture No. 1 - Introducing Trilloquy

May 23, 2019

Welcome to Trilloquy, true and real stories from the fringes of classical music. In the Overture, hosts Garrett McQueen and Scott Blankenship introduce themselves by recalling the journeys that brought them together. The two also lay out the path toward the podcast, its purpose and where they plan to take it. The world of classical music is much like the rest of the world!

Nine classical performances to help you celebrate Black History Month

February 04, 2019

America's relationships with slavery, the civil rights movement and modern race-based challenges aren't the only things to think about for Black History Month. Members of the African diaspora have contributed to classical music since there was a "classical music." Here are nine notable performances of black pieces of music to explore.

Listen as Sphinx Virtuosi perform at Ordway, live on Classical MPR

October 24, 2018

The elite ensemble Sphinx Virtuosi, part of an organization that promotes inclusion and diversity in the world of classical music, is coming to the Ordway Center in St. Paul. Listen to their performance live at 3 p.m. Sunday on Classical MPR.

Illharmonic Orchestra blends classical music with 'old-school' hip-hop

October 16, 2018

The Illharmonic Orchestra unites classically trained musicians with the music of 'old-school' hip-hop artists such as Wu-Tang, Lauryn Hill and the Roots to create a truly unique sound. Its latest album, 'Maniac Maestro,' is out now.