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Ask KDFC: What First Sparked Your Love of Classical?
Explore the personal stories of KDFC staff members as they share their first encounters with classical music, from Beethoven sonatas to Wagner's Ring, that sparked their lifelong love.
KDFC Love at First Listen: SF Symphony Musicians Talk Their First Love
Explore the origins of love for classical music as shared by KDFC listeners and San Francisco Symphony musicians, including their first experiences and inspirations.
A Very Ambitious ‘Love at First Listen’
This article narrates the inspiring journey of pianist Natasha Paremski, from her early fascination with Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto in Moscow to her performance at Davies Symphony Hall.
Stewart Goodyear’s ‘Love at First Listen’
Canadian pianist Stewart Goodyear's life was transformed at age 3 or 4 after hearing Beethoven's sonatas. This early exposure inspired his career and lifelong fascination with these works.
Yo-Yo Ma’s ‘Love at First Listen’
Yo-Yo Ma shares his lifelong love for Schubert's E-flat trio, first discovered at age 12, and how it influenced his music career.
An Ode to An Ode to Joy
Lara Downes describes why Beethoven’s music still matters after 255 years, exploring the timeless power of his “Ode to Joy” and its role in shaping history.
Finding Your Voice: The Joy and Connection of Singing
Family singalongs, holiday carols, karaoke nights, Jennifer Miller Hammel knows singing isn’t just fun, it’s connection, health, and pure joy.
Notes from the Fires: Fire Victims Fight Trauma with Tradition
Pianists Natasha Marin and Maria Demina, friends for decades who play together as the DoubleSharp Piano Duo, speak with Notes from the Fires host John Rabe.
These Rides Really Sleigh
Brian Lauritzen gallops into the holidays with these compositions about sleigh rides.
Did our Notes from the Fires friends find something to be grateful for on Thanksgiving? Spoiler Alert: Yes.
Notes from the Fires host, John Rabe asks Christopher Still, the second trumpet for the LA Phil, “How was your Thanksgiving?”
Beethoven’s Quartet of ‘Thanksgiving’
Beethoven's String Quartet in A Minor, Op. 132, features a movement expressing gratitude for recovery from illness. It alternates between prayerful chorales and lively sections, reflecting his mortality.
