Kate Botello

Hi Kids Commuters! It's a short school week leading up to Thanksgiving, so we're having some fun together with REQUEST WEEK! You're in charge! We're hearing music chosen by you all week. 

Tune in Monday through Friday at 7:40 a.m., school or no - or listen any time at the links on this page if you're sleeping in.

Listen for daily doses of gratitude from your fellow Kids Commuters, too!

This week on Kids Commute - it's Dragon Week! We'll take to the skies with our fire-breathing friends with dragon music from several different genres.

We've got a dragon-sized Quizlet too! Congrats to our Quizlet aces so far this week:

Hey there Kids Commuters! This week we're listening to an encore of our award-winning BANJO WEEK with the First Gentleman of the banjo, Bela Fleck!

Bela was kind enough to step right off the tour bus and into our studio - and changed the way we think about the banjo forever.

We have a brand-new banjo Quizlet for you this week! Congrats to our Quizlet Aces:

This week on Classical IPR in Concert, it's another singalong! We'll hear some of the biggest hits from musicals that premiered on Broadway in the 21st Century. Find some new tunes to love! One of our all-time favorite musical theatre afficionados tinkered with our playlist and recommended a few songs (thanks, Anthony A.!). Even if you're at home alone, there will be lots of people singing with you. 

For snacks and drinks this round, we're having a simple feast of popcorn and hot tea as we dish about a couple of the 21st Century's biggest flops, as well!

Hi, Kids Commuters! This week on IPR's Kids Commute, we look into the life and work of a composer with a very famous sibling. The sibling? Renowned German composer Felix Mendelssohn. The other sibling? His less-renowned, but wonderfully talented sister, Fanny.

Meet Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel this week, and take your chance at our sibling-related Quizlet this week!

Congrats to our Quizlet Aces:

Happy Halloween, Kids Commuters! It's SPOOKY WEEK!

This week, we're going on a musical mystery treasure hunt for the ancient "Dies Irae" - a Latin chant meaning "Day of Wrath" that shows up in lots of music as a hint of gloom and doom.

We'll have a spooky Quizlet, too!

Congratulations to:

This week on Classical IPR in Concert, we get in the Halloween spirit with "Phantasms of a Fevered Imagination." This production of the Old Town Playhouse features classic works of spooky literature, with music by Dr. Cynthia Van Maanen.

Tune in Friday night at 8 p.m., Sunday at noon, or listen any time at the link below!

"Phantasms of a Fevered Imagination" at the Old Town Playhouse in Traverse City

Hey Kids Commuters!

You might be noticing lots of campaign advertisements as we head toward the election. Using catchy songs and slogans - and throwing side-eye to your opponents - has been a common campaign tactic throughout history.

This week on Kids Commute, we'll hear catchy campaign songs composed for Presidential candidates from George Washington to Lyndon Johnson.

We'll have an American historical Quizlet for you too!

Congrats to our Quizlet Aces this week:

Hi Kids Commuters!

This week, it's Round Two of "Old American Songs" by Aaron Copland. We'll hear composer Aaron Copland at the piano along with bass-baritone William Warfield. We also have a new Quizlet for you this week!

This week on Kids Commute, it's "Old American Songs Week."

Composer Aaron Copland went digging through libraries and found a bunch of classic American folk tunes and arranged them into two sets. This week, we'll hear the first set, sung by legendary bass-baritone William Warfield with the composer at the piano.  

We'll have a U.S.A.-themed Quizlet this week, too!

Hi there Kids Commuters!

This week on IPR's Kids Commute, we'll meet the revolutionary composer Wendy Carlos. She's a pioneer of electronic music and has created many famous versions of classical works. IPR Music Director Amanda Sewell authored a biography about Carlos, and joins us to share some of her fascinating story!

This week's Quizlet will test your ears, as we give you a week of musical clues to a mystery musician.

This week on Classical IPR in Concert, we present our Oktoberfest Singalong Soiree with hosts Tony Bero and Kate Botello. Traverse Symphony Orchestra Maestro Kevin Rhodes makes a cameo appearance as our ersatz Mayor of Munich.

Official Oktoberfest activities in Munich have been canceled this year due to COVID-19, so we're bringing the celebration home to you! Join us for some great elbow-swinging oompah music and fun fest facts Friday night at 8pm or Sunday at noon. Listen any time at the link.

Music featured in the broadcast:

Hi there Kids Commuters!

This week, we'll hear music written for a BBC Documentary about the Louvre Museum in France. 

We'll take a tuneful tour of the Louvre with music by Norman Dello Joio performed by the Interlochen Arts Academy Band.

Hi Kids Commuters!

This week on Kids Commute, we've put together a week for Kids Commuter Hazel, who's a big fan of clouds. With some help from our friend meteorologist Jayne Firstenberg and some wonderful composers - it's Cloud Week!

Tune in to hear Cloud Music and take your chance at our weekly Quizlet. Listen Monday through Friday mornings at 7:40 a.m., or listen any time at the links below.

Hey Kids Commuters! Welcome back to school - and Season Four of IPR's Kids Commute!

We're overjoyed to be back with you, so this week, it's Joy Week. We'll hear music all about joy - the feeling of huge happiness.

Speaking of joy - we have new prizes for our Quizlet, too!

Tune in to Classical IPR weekday mornings at 7:40 or listen any time below. 

Congrats to our Quizlet winners this week: Finn from Traverse City, Fiona from Reed City, J.A. from Farmington Hills and Hazel from Rapid City!

This week on Classical IPR in Concert, join us for Volume II of our "Showtune Singalong Soiree" with Kate Botello. We have a rip-roaring selection of solos, duets and chorus numbers you can belt out from the safety of your own home. Plus, we get pro tips from actors on the best (and possibly most superstitious) things to eat or drink before a performance!

Tune in to Classical IPR Friday night at 8:00 p.m., Sunday at noon, or listen any time at the link below.

For many years, it's been a summertime tradition to come to the Interlochen campus on Saturday nights to hear performances of the World Youth Wind Symphony (WYWS).

This year, we're celebrating in a new way, with concerts on the radio!

Our third and final "Evening with the World Youth Wind Symphony" airs Saturday, July 11 at 8pm on Classical IPR.

Tune in or listen any time below.

PROGRAM FOR JULY 11, 2020

Blue Shades
Frank Ticheli
John Whitwell
1997 High School Symphonic Band

For many years, it's been a summertime tradition to come to the Interlochen campus on Saturday nights to hear performances of the World Youth Wind Symphony (WYWS).

This year, we're celebrating in a new way, with concerts on the radio! Join us on the 4th of July for a rousing evening of band music from Interlochen!

Tune in Saturday, July 4 at 8pm or listen any time below. Happy 4th!

PROGRAM FOR JULY 4, 2020

Northern Pines March
John Philip Sousa
Joseph E. Maddy
1956 National High School Band

For many years, it's been a summertime tradition to come to the Interlochen campus on Saturday nights to hear performances of the World Youth Wind Symphony (WYWS).

This year, we're celebrating in a new way, with concerts on the radio!

Tune in to Classical IPR for three Saturday nights for "An Evening with the World Youth Wind Symphony."

Listen to the first episode this coming Saturday, June 27, or listen any time below.

PROGRAM FOR JUNE 27, 2020

Welcome to another Singalong Soiree on Classical IPR! This time, we've pulled together a collection of popular showtunes for you to show off your pipes!

Many of our songs come from IPR's Vinyl Vault, which contains original vinyl pressings of many classic Tony-nominated musicals, but we've got a couple of recent hits, too.

SHOWTUNES IN THE SOIREE