Valerie Kahler grew up in a musical family and started playing cello and piano in 3rd grade. She began her radio career in 1989 as a volunteer at KNAU (now Arizona Public Radio) in Flagstaff, Arizona. She worked there as a classical host and music director for more than a decade before moving to Minnesota to work for MPR. In addition to classical music, other passions include sewing, singing and cooking. She shares her life with her partner, John, an artist.
'From Darkness to Light' is an hourlong celebration that features some of the hosts' favorite Easter memories and melodies, including Rimsky-Korsakov's 'Russian Easter Overture,' Haydn's 'Alleluia Symphony' and Handel's 'Messiah.'
Meet the Westerlies, a New York-based brass ensemble comprising four friends who grew up together in Seattle. Inspired by classical music, jazz, world music and more, all but two of the 17 tunes on their debut, self-titled double album were written by members of the band. Learn more about the Westerlies.
Harry Christopers and The Sixteen took a 13th-century text, the Stabat Mater, as the source material for a new album that explores themes that are simultaneously exciting and meditative, hopeful and dark.
Violist and composer Lev Zhurbin, aka Ljova, has released a new album -- and it's only available on vinyl or via digital download. Why not on CD? Ljova explains as he shares the story of his new album.
Antioch Chamber Ensemble, a 12-voice mixed choir from the New York area, have a new CD that puts clear, warm sound in the spotlight with 15 song settings by composer Matthew Brown.
Times go by Turns, by New York Polyphony, is a collection of poignant texts that, in one way or another, enable you to hover between two worlds and relish those moments of transition.
Laurel Zucker's new disc is a series of musical postcards, from places she's been or has visited in her imagination.
Music by Paulus, Cage, Liebermann, and others, given expression through the unique sonority of the harp.
On their new disc of contemporary works, the members of the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet show off the sonic versatility of their instruments.
The latest disc from the singers of Cantus begins with the so-called "Notre Dame" school of the Middle Ages, and makes its way to music by an Indian film composer.
For renowned pianist Rudolf Buchbinder, performing live in front of an audience gives a musical energy which can't be obtained any other way.
How a young New York chamber orchestra finds the links connecting Schubert and Morton Feldman, Philip Glass and Satie.
Yolanda Kondonassis is one of America's foremost players of the harp. Her new discs compiles high points of two decades of making recordings.
The name of composer Xavier Montsalvatge is unfamiliar to many, thanks in part to political isolation, but a new centennial CD may change that.
Julie Amacher and Valerie Kahler look back at the best new releases from 2011.
A new disc offers two colorful ballet scores of the Soviet era--not by Prokofiev, Shostakovich, or Khachaturian.
Murray Perahia is one of the world's leading pianists, and his latest release gathers together all of his recordings by the composer who has meant more to him than perhaps any other: J. S. Bach.
"That Eternal Day" by Cantus explores American sacred music, from Colonial times through today.
On their new disc, Andrew Davis and the BBC Philharmonic perform three suites by Gustav Holst, including far and away his most popular work, The Planets. It's complemented by two lesser known works, which have roots in North Africa and Japan.
The inspiration of Aaron Copland, an immigrant's musical memories, even Gregorian chant--they all find their way into a new disc of recent American music, performed by the Boston Symphony Chamber Players.