Amanda Sewell

Music Director
  • Amanda Sewell
    Amanda Sewell

Amanda Sewell is a musicologist who holds a Ph.D. in musicology from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Her research about music has appeared in textbooks, academic journals, and music encyclopedias.  Her first book, a biography of the American composer Wendy Carlos, is forthcoming from Oxford University Press. Amanda frequently contributes program notes for performances of classical music, including performances at Interlochen Center for the Arts.

Ways to Connect

Classical IPR in Concert: Conrad Tao and Stefan Jackiw

By • Mar 24, 2020

Interlochen Center for the Arts recently welcomed violinist Stefan Jackiw and pianist Conrad Tao to the Dendrinos Chapel and Recital Hall. They performed music of Stravinsky, Lutoslawski, Saariaho and Brahms.

Classical IPR in Concert: Goldstein-Peled-Fiterstein Trio

By • Feb 25, 2020
Alex Fiterstein, Alon Goldstein and Amit Peled

Pianist Alon Goldstein, cellist Amit Peled and clarinetist Alex Fiterstein are all respected soloists, teachers and ensemble musicians. They formed the Goldstein-Peled-Fiterstein Trio in 2005, and in recitals, they perform as soloists, in duets, and as a trio.

The Interlochen Collection: Cynthia Raim

By • Jan 17, 2020

This week's episode of the Interlochen Collection features pianist Cynthia Raim. We'll hear archival recordings from her time as an Interlochen camper in the early 1960s as well as her later professional commercial recordings.

Listen to the entire episode below.

The Interlochen Collection: The White House

By • Jan 10, 2020
Interlochen Center for the Arts

On this edition of The Interlochen Collection, we revisit the National High School Symphony Orchestra’s trip to the White House in 1962, where they performed for President John F. Kennedy.

Listen to the entire episode below.

Classical IPR in Concert: Detroit Symphony Orchestra at Interlochen

By • Dec 31, 2019
Interlochen Center for the Arts

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra recently visited Interlochen Center for the Arts for the first time since 2006. This week, Classical IPR in Concert presents this recent performance from the stage of Kresge Auditorium.

Listen Fridays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 12 p.m. or any time on demand below.

Metropolitan Opera: The Magic Flute

By • Dec 26, 2019
Karen Almond / Met Opera

The 2019-20 Metropolitan Opera Radio Broadcast season continues with Mozart’s classic fairy tale The Magic Flute, an abridged English-language adaptation that carries on the Met’s tradition of presenting opera for audiences of all ages at the holidays.

Lothar Koenigs conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus in this beloved opera about the triumph of love and virtue.

Great Lakes Concerts: December 23, 2019

By • Dec 22, 2019

Great Lakes Concerts is a co-production of Interlochen Public Radio, WRCJ and WKAR. Listen every Monday at 6 p.m. on Classical IPR for great performances from the Great Lakes Region.

This week's program

George Gershwin: "Summertime and A Woman is a Sometime Thing" from "Porgy and Bess" (arr. Jascha Heifetz)
Ilya Kaler, violin
Genadi Zagor, piano
(Recorded Nov. 16, 2017- Urban beat, Old Town as part of the Absolute Music Chamber Series)

Christmas Day from Northern Michigan 2019 on Classical IPR

By • Dec 17, 2019

Join Classical IPR for our third annual Christmas Day from Northern Michigan. Recent holiday performances by regional music ensembles will be featured all day.

Everyone at Classical IPR wishes you and yours a very merry holiday season.

The complete Christmas Day schedule is below. 

Great Lakes Concerts: December 16, 2019

By • Dec 15, 2019

Every week, Great Lakes Concerts presents recent great performances from the Great Lakes region. Listen every Monday at 6 p.m. on Classical IPR.

This week's program

Giacomo Puccini: Aria, "O mio babbino caro" ("O dearest daddy") from "Gianni Schicchi"
Emily Douglass, soprano
Jackson Symphony Orchestra
Matthew Aubin, conductor
(Recorded at Potter Center, November 11, 2017)                                                                                                   

In Studio A with violinist Yu-Jen Weng

By • Dec 13, 2019

Violinist Yu-Jen Weng is a senior at Interlochen Arts Academy, where she studies with Ara Sarkissian.

She recently visited IPR's Studio A to perform the second movement from the violin concerto by Jean Sibelius. She was joined by collaborative pianist Ya-Ju Chuang.

Yu-Jen told us why Aladdin is her favorite movie and why it's a lot easier to practice at Interlochen than in her hometown of Taipei, Taiwan.

Listen to the entire performance and interview below.

  

Brock Morman engineered this edition of Studio A.

Classical IPR in Concert: NMC Concert Band, musicals that changed our lives!

By • Dec 11, 2019

The Northwestern Michigan College Concert band recently gave a performance called "Musicals that Changed Our Lives." Conducted by Pat Brumbaugh, the ensemble presented medleys from six different popular musicals.

Listen to this recent NMC Concert Band performance Friday at 8 p.m., Sunday at noon or on demand below.

Curious about the band members' day jobs? Scroll down to see the complete demographics.

Kevin Gills engineered the audio recording.

The complete program is listed below. Click the image to enlarge it.

Great Lakes Concerts: December 9, 2019

By • Dec 9, 2019

Great Lakes Concerts is a co-production of Classical IPR, WKAR and WRCJ. Listen every Monday at 6 p.m. on Classical IPR.

This week's program

Aaron Copland: Concerto for Clarinet & Strings, with Harp & Piano (1948)
Jeanmarie Riccobono, clarinet
Traverse Symphony Orchestra
Kevin Rhodes, conductor
(Recorded Oct. 14, 2018, Corson Auditorium, Interlochen)

Classical IPR in Concert: Sandra Shapiro

By • Dec 4, 2019

Pianist Sandra Shapiro serves on the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music. She has also taught at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy. 

Shapiro recently gave a recital at Interlochen Center for the Arts entitled "In My Father's Footsteps - A Daughter's Search for Answers." This recital is the first of the four-part series "Musical Roots: An Exploration of Cultural Heritage."

Meet IPR's Music Director at the Manitou Winds concert: December 7, 2019

By • Dec 3, 2019

On Saturday, December 7, IPR's music director Amanda Sewell will be meeting listeners at Manitou Winds' annual Winter Songs and Carols concert.

The concert takes place at Grace Episcopal Church in Traverse City, and it starts at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free, but a freewill offering will be taken to support Grace’s Friday Community Lunch ministry.

Click here for more information about the concert. Sewell will be available in the lobby before and after the concert to meet with listeners.

2019 Classical IPR holiday programming

By • Dec 2, 2019

Celebrate the season with special programming on Classical IPR. 

Click the image below for a printable version of the 2019 holiday programming schedule. 

A text version of the schedule is available below the image.

Great Lakes Concerts: December 2, 2019

By • Dec 1, 2019

Interlochen Public Radio presents Great Lakes Concerts in partnership with WKAR and WRCJ. Listen every Monday at 6 p.m. on Classical IPR for great performances from the Great Lakes region.

This week's program

Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 4 in G

Classical IPR in Concert: 2019 Baroque on Beaver highlights

By • Nov 27, 2019
Taffy Raphael Photography

Every summer, classical musicians from around the country gather on northern Michigan’s Beaver Island for the Baroque on Beaver Festival.

This week on Classical IPR in Concert, we feature highlights from the 2019 Baroque on Beaver Festival. Click here for the complete roster of musicians in the Festival Orchestra and Chorus. 

Free community Thanksgiving 2019 meals in Northern Michigan

By • Nov 27, 2019

Benzie County

Papa J's in the Honor Plaza on US 31
Noon - 3 PM on Thanksgiving
Donations accepted for Toys for Tots

Petals & Perks
429 Main Street, Frankfort
12-2 PM on Thanksgiving
7th annual community Thanksgiving dinner with turkeys roasted over a wood fire.
Donations and volunteers are greatly appreciated

Charlevoix County

13th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner
St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, 1003 Bridge St.
Noon - 3 PM on Thanksgiving

In new album, Cecilia Bartoli channels castrato Farinelli

By • Nov 26, 2019

The castrato Farinelli was one of the most celebrated singers of the eighteenth century. In a new album on the Decca label, mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli performs repertoire that was written specifically for Farinelli to sing.

Castrated when he was about 12 years old, Farinelli (born Carlo Maria Michelangelo Nicola Broschi in 1705) had become a star on the Italian operatic stage by the time he was 20. 

Great Lakes Concerts: November 25, 2019

By • Nov 24, 2019

Great Lakes Concerts is a co-production of WKAR, WRCJ and Interlochen Public Radio. Listen every Monday at 6 p.m. on Classical IPR for recent great performances from the Great Lakes region.

Sir Stephen Cleobury, longtime Director of Music at King's College, Cambridge, dead at 70

By • Nov 24, 2019
King's College, Cambridge

This year's Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from the Choir of King's College, Cambridge will likely be a sadder affair this year, following the death of its longtime leader Stephen Cleobury. 

Classical IPR in conversation with conductor Henry Leck

By • Nov 22, 2019

Henry Leck is an internationally recognized choral director. He’s professor emeritus in choral music at Butler University, and he’s also the founder and Conductor Laureate of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir. 

This weekend, he'll lead the Grand Traverse Area Festival Chorus and Chamber Orchestra, the NMC Grand Traverse Chorale and Chamber Singers, and the NMC Children’s Choir in a performance of John Rutter's Mass of the Children.

Leck visited IPR's Studio B to chat with Amanda Sewell about the upcoming performance and about some notable musical moments in the piece. 

Interlochen students featured on this week's From the Top

By • Nov 21, 2019
Chris Hintz

This week, the nationally syndicated classical music program From the Top features an episode recorded at Interlochen Center for the Arts and featuring Interlochen Arts Academy students.

The program, recorded in March 2019, was hosted by actor and conductor Damon Gupton with pianist Michelle Cann. 

Student soloists include tubist JunMing Wen, cellist Esther Chae and bassoonist Luis Marquez Teruel. The Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble were also featured.

Thanksgiving 2019 with Classical IPR

By • Nov 21, 2019

This Thanksgiving 2019, Classical IPR is pleased to offer a day of special programming. See the entire schedule below.

7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Classical music with Kate Botello (live)

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Performance Today

12 p.m. A Feast for the Ears

In Studio A with clarinetist Adam Kuhn

By • Nov 21, 2019

Adam Kuhn is a senior at Interlochen Arts Academy, where he studies clarinet with Bryan Conger.

He is one of the winners of this year's student concerto competition and will perform with the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra in the coming months.

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