Hear the full "AAPI Classical Musicians of Interlochen" podcast feature by clicking or tapping "Listen" above.
This May, Classical IPR celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month on Classical IPR by featuring just some of the many AAPI artists of Interlochen who play significant roles in the classical music world.
From Doctor of Medicine to Doctor of Musical Arts, Debra Lew Harder is one of the most prominent voices in American classical music today. She is the current host of the weekly Robert K. Johnson Metropolitan Opera Saturday Matinee Radio broadcasts — the longest-running classical music program in American radio history.
Born to South Korean parents in Vermont in the 1960's, she started piano at age 6, and would attend Interlochen Arts Camp to study both piano and voice in the 1970s, during high school.
Even though she focused on medicine for much of her undergraduate and medical school years, she continued to perform in national chamber music concerts.
After earning her medical degree, she practiced as an emergency room physician before pursuing a second doctorate in music as a pianist. Listen to her at the piano in this recording of "Scherzo: Molto vivace" from Chopin's Sonata No. 3 in B minor.
Harder began to announce classical music on the radio in 2016 with WRTI FM, and since 2021, hosts the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts. Her winding career spanning industries and now as the "Voice of the Met" makes her one of Interlochen's most prolific alumni.
