Objects in Mirror

Minnesota experiences: Spring lambing season

Posted at 9:11 AM on April 11, 2013 by Julia Schrenkler

"Minnesota has 3,000 sheep farms and more than 130,000 sheep according to the state Board of Animal Health."

This means a lot of lambs. Dan Gunderson of MPR News shows you that spring means lambing season in Minnesota on Joan and Dave Ellison's farm.

Hear about their experiences and explore this Minnesota scene in photos.

Member presale for The Current Sessions at the Fitz: Dessa

Posted at 9:39 AM on April 10, 2013 by Julia Schrenkler

As outlined by Andrea Swensson on the Local Current Blog MPR Members can access the members-only presale for The Current Sessions at the Fitz: Dessa today, Wednesday, April 10, 2013.

Tickets and general information:

The Current Sessions at the Fitz: Dessa
Celebrating the new album Parts of Speech
Saturday, June 22, 2013 8:00PM
The Fitzgerald Theater

Tickets go on sale to Minnesota Public Radio Members starting at noon on Wednesday, April 10. General public can purchase tickets starting at noon on Thursday, April 11. All tickets are reserved seating and are available for $26.00.

Members of Minnesota Public Radio may also order tickets by calling the Fitzgerald box office during regular business hours at 651-290-1200 (noon - 5 p.m., Tuesday to Friday). For more information visit the Fitzgerald Theater website.

Tickets for the First Avenue show will also be available in a presale on Wed, Apr 10th for MPR Members with the password: "MPRMember" and using this link.

The cradle was rocked!

Posted at 10:28 AM on March 25, 2013 by Julia Schrenkler

Meet Classical MPR's Minnesota Varsity 15 Featured Artists and 4 Featured Composers

Posted at 9:34 AM on March 11, 2013 by Julia Schrenkler

Piano. Voice. Cello. Violin. Viola. Marimba. Trumpet. Ephonium. All these are represented in Classical MPR's Minnesota Varsity Featured Round. Our engineers will make a professional recording of these artists' performances, which will then be heard on Classical MPR both on air and online. Yet there's more! American Composers Forum Judges chose four composers for Minnesota Varsity's Featured Round.

Spend some time getting to know this young talent now by listening to their submissions or (in the case of the composers) reading their music, and plan to join us as five Showcase Artists perform in concert at the Fitzgerald Theater on April 28, 2013.


Classical MPR's on air highlights

Posted at 1:48 PM on March 7, 2013 by Julia Schrenkler

The Regional Spotlight, Minnesota Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall Live, and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra have many things in common, but for Classical MPR fans they have one notable point: They're all a highlight on the air this week. Rex Levang shares these specials (and more!) that deserve appointment listening. Tune in or stream Classical MPR for these significant musical specials.

Reflecting on the Naturalization Ceremonies

Posted at 10:03 AM on March 6, 2013 by Julia Schrenkler

Nick Leitheiser, our Development Strategy and Special Projects Manager, reflected on the Naturalization Ceremonies MPR│APM hosted at the Fitzgerald Theater last week. Read his take on the events we shared to celebrate these new American citizens. From Nick:

Working at an organization like MPR│APM that has wide impact across a diversity of areas using mediums where we can't initially see the impact we are having it is sometimes hard to fully gauge what that community impact is. That's what makes days like last Thursday so special as MPR hosted two Naturalization Ceremonies at the Fitzgerald Theater. These are such a moving experience when you think about the journey that these new American citizens had to take to make it to this day, and how proud there family and friends in the audience are that they got there. It is great to work at an organization that takes the time to host these ceremonies once a year and a number of MPR│APM staff members were able to attend.

We have a great, hard working staff at MPR│APM and the Inclusion Council, which I Chair, also wanted to create a small, fun activity to help break up the day for those who couldn't sneak away for the ceremonies. Thankfully, our fantastic events team had scheduled large school choirs to sing at the end of each Naturalization Ceremony. We worked with the choir leaders and were able to bring both choirs over to the MPR│APM building after the ceremonies to surprise our colleagues. In the morning we had "flash choirs" show up on each floor and serenade staff, and in the afternoon we had a grade school choir perform a mini-concert in our lobby with staff emerging from all floors to listen.
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The leaders of both choirs talked about how amazing the experience was for their students, and our MPR│APM colleagues talked about how fun and moving it was to watch. Large events like the Naturalization Ceremonies and small events like the "flash-choirs" take only a sliver of time in the grand scheme of things, but they add up to create a fun, vibrant and productive place to work and I'm very proud to be a part of it.

Classical MPR's music stacks checked by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Posted at 12:48 PM on March 1, 2013 by Julia Schrenkler

During a visit, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Mack Willberg and Scott Barrick checked Classical MPR's music stacks for the choir's recordings with a little laughter and a lot of enjoyment:

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* Classical MPR presents The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.(Details at the link)

From the Naturalization ceremony to music in the halls

Posted at 2:57 PM on February 28, 2013 by Julia Schrenkler



MPR volunteers at Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity site

Posted at 9:15 AM on February 25, 2013 by Julia Schrenkler

On Saturday February 23, 2013, The Current's Matt Perkins brought a group of MPR people to a Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity site to get some work done on a home. What can a team do? See for yourself, @MPRMembership tweeted a few photos from the worksite:

Behind the scenes: One pitch producer's story

Posted at 2:59 PM on February 14, 2013 by Julia Schrenkler

Jess Horwitz, known to many as the person behind @MPRMembership, shared this behind-the-scenes story of what it is like to work during a member drive:

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Happy last day of the Member Drive! Because you've been with us this whole time, sharing your MPR love, I wanted to shed some light on what goes on behind the scenes.

When you're listening, instead of the one voice you usually hear, you're hearing two voices in our studios. The host and the "pitcher." The host is running the show and the pitcher is there to share the load of Drive info. They volley back and forth, making sure we let you, the listener, know the importance of Membership.

Hosts are given bullet points for each break. They highlight what items we need to communicate, like when we have a Challenge or goal to meet or a certain gift to offer. Between that and doing their actual hosting duties, it's a lot to remember!

Also in the studio is a pitch producer. A designated listener/helper/cheerleader, keeping energy up and the facts straight. Those numbers you hear about each hour? They are real. The Challenge funds? Also real. Our Finance department won't let us touch them until the Members are officially counted!

And those Member comments? Just like all the requests you hear on Classical and The Current, just like the callers you hear on The Daily Circuit, they are actual Members and listeners.

Earlier this week, you met Elliott. MPR News pitch producer Ben Martin saw Elliott's comment come through our donation portal. Elliott is nine years old, and though his parents are Sustainers, he wanted to become a Member in his own right. He donated some of his birthday money and told us he likes Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me! a lot.

Ben saw how cool Elliott was, and knew he couldn't keep this story all to himself. He printed Elliott's comment and handed it to Cathy Wurzer and John Moe, who were the host and pitcher that day on Morning Edition. Cathy read it on the air and Elliott's story traveled throughout the building.

When I learned about Elliott, I just had to tweet:

All day, everyone at HQ was so impressed with this smart kid. Cathy and John started the #belikeElliott movement. If a 9 year old is generously giving his birthday money, why aren't you a Member?

Today, Cathy Wurzer invited Elliott in to the studio during Morning Edition:


Member Drives are fun because of Members like Elliott. Members like you!

If you're inspired by Elliott's story, share your MPR love with us. We'd love to hear from you!

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As the interactive producer for Minnesota Public Radio | American Public Media, Julia Schrenkler moderates online discussions, hosts chats, and run contests. She is fascinated by the Internet and its place in our lives.