Music with Minnesotans

One of the stars of Park Square Theatre's "2 Pianos 4 Hands" Michael Pearce Donley shares his favorite piano pieces with us.

He led one of the finest choirs around - and set the bar in sound and blend that vocal ensembles everywhere try to reach: Dale Warland. He still conducts, consults, teaches and writes music and took a few moments out of his busy day to share a few of his favorites for the season, including a not-oft heard work by Arvo Part and a spectacularly atmospheric setting of "Lo, How a Rose" with a Swedish Choir.

Minnesota composer Steve Heitzeg loves all things of the natural world and especially the music of the earth, what he refers to as "chords of humanity, animal chants, passacaglias of plants and symphonies of sky." He shares an unusual collection of music he loves for this season.

He's one of the great choral conductors and program innovators in our midst - Philip Brunelle. He shares his favorite pieces for the season - a couple that will make you feel misty-eyed and one he plays with Garrison Keillor guaranteed for a lot of laughs!

He's written over 400 works in all genres from band to opera to organ solo - and many of his choral works have had their premieres right here in Minnesota - composer Stephen Paulus. The Christmas season just doesn't feel right without a Paulus carol getting numerous plays on Classical MPR. Today Stephen is the DJ - along with Alison Young - sharing some of the best carols he's written and some other favorites - including one sung by Sting.

He's the Mayor of Minneapolis and already has done a gig with the Minnesota Orchestra. R.T. Rybak is this week's co-host with Alison Young for Music with Minnesotans and shares the classic hit that calms his frazzled nerves, tells us why Philip Glass' minimalist style can help get city hall work done, and he'll also give us a small sampling of the Steve Heitzeg piece he narrated.

Lois Quam was named in 2006 by Fortune Magazine one of America's "50 Most Powerful Women. She's the founder and Chair of Tysvar a newly created Minnesota-based health care reform and green tech incubator and she has a penchant for Shostakovich symphonies. Listen to Lois Quam's playlist online.

Linda Andrews studied dance with the greats of the 20th century - including Merce Cunningham and Martha Graham - and took that modern sensibility of groundedness, mixed up a little jazz and fearless physicality to create a whole new language of movement for her company Zenon Dance. She shares a few of her favorite classical music selections including one she'd take if stranded on a desert island.

Saint Paul-based painter Stuart Loughridge uses classical music as inspiration when working, but also to solve artistic puzzles.

Dr. Victoria Elmer listens to classical music while doing surgery at Regions Hospital to stay calm, focused and soothed - but her connection with music goes far beyond her work, reaching her on a deeply visceral level.