Classical Californians: Nicholas Pike

Classical Californians welcomes Emmy award-winning composer and musician Nicholas Pike to share his Oscar nominated aria "Sweet Dreams of Joy" from the short documentary Viva Verdi!

Saturday Morning Car Tunes: The Tone Poem

He’s a tone poet—does he even know it? Franz Liszt invented the tone poem, an orchestral piece inspired by a story, picture, or idea. It’s a whole musical language. This week, learn all about musical poetry.

Screen Time - the power of musical couch co-op!

Jennifer Miller Hammel reflects on how film, TV, and game music connects generations, blending nostalgia, storytelling, and shared experiences through ‘musical couch co‑op.’

Classical Californians: Jon Batiste

This week on Classical Californians, Grammy- and Oscar-winning musician Jon Batiste guides us through the music that shaped his artistic journey.

Notes from the Fires: One year after the fires, all we know for sure is what we already knew: people and music are good.

Notes from the Fires, host John Rabe reflects on the year following the Palisades Fire.

Albums of the Year | 2025

Top albums of 2025 according to the music programmers at Classical California.

Music for the Whole Family

Solomon Reynolds reflects on his earliest memories of classical music and sharing the tradition with future generations.

The Many Lives of the “The Flower Duet”

Explore the Flower Duet from Delibes' opera Lakme. Discover its use in TV, film, and creative remixes.

Your Invitation to the Ultimate New Year’s Eve Party!

Maggie Clennon Reberg invites you to join Classical California's Ultimate New Year's Eve Party, featuring your top 101 selections from 2025.

Chapman Challenge: The History of Handbells

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan explains the history of handbells, their transition from bell tower practice tools to melody instruments, and how melodies are divided among ringers in a handbell choir.

The Secret Story Behind Tchaikovsky’s Mysterious Celesta in “The Nutcracker”

Explore the history of the celesta, a unique instrument used in Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker and Harry Potter's theme. Discover how it went from obscurity to symphony staple.

The Ukrainian Folk Tune Behind “Carol of the Bells”