Alison Young Named New SymphonyCast Host

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Alison Young Named New SymphonyCast Host

THE HOST OF WEEKDAY MORNINGS ON CLASSICAL MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO OFFICIALLY STEPS INTO NEW HOSTING ROLE TODAY

(St. Paul, MN) - March 7, 2011 - Alison Young has been named the new host of American Public Media's popular weekly classical music radio program SymphonyCast. Young takes over from former host, Brian Newhouse, who recently was named Managing Director of classical programming for all of American Public Media.

"I'm handing the microphone to the wonderful Alison Young, and you're going to be in superb hands," says Newhouse. "Alison knows music from the inside-out from her years playing in orchestras. But what I especially love about her is the sense of passion for, and joy in, the music she's describing."

A graduate of the University of Southern California with a Masters from the Cleveland Institute of Music, Young has a long connection with music. Before her career in radio Young was a successful concert flutist. She was praised by critics and the Atlanta Journal Constitution even stated that she was a "recitalist of great poise and technical security, dazzling precision and virtuosic flair." Young has given numerous recitals in the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America.

Changing stages, Young transitioned from playing orchestras on stage to sharing those orchestras with radio listeners as she hosted, and continues to host, Classical Minnesota Public Radio's Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra broadcasts and American Public Media's annual St. Olaf Christmas Festival. Young's energy and exuberance can be felt on air where she considers herself more of a performer than a broadcaster. "There is definitely a musical feeling to it, a performance feeling to it," Young says. Listeners across the nation will not only hear the various selections of music from SymphonyCast, but also will experience the bravado and passion that Young exudes.

SymphonyCast is a two-hour weekly radio program produced and distributed by American Public Media and featuring a full-length concert by a national or international symphony orchestra. Concerts are drawn from Europe's leading ensembles, along with U.S. orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra and The Cleveland Orchestra. SymphonyCast boasts an audience of over 200,000 listeners per week and can be heard on more than 90 radio stations across the country.