Steve Staruch
Steve Staruch
Steve Staruch is the host of YourClassical MPR. Each weekday from 3-7 p.m. he presents music spanning centuries past to contemporary. Additionally, Friday Favorites and regional programs are among his other offerings. In his free time he also freelances as a tenor and violist.
At 24, he began his love affair with public radio by working whichever shifts were available at WUSF in Tampa, Florida and later moving onto Buffalo’s renowned classical station WNED-FM.
Early Life and Education
Steve Staruch began his public radio career at 24 in Florida by filling any shift that became available. Soon thereafter he relocated to snowy Buffalo, NY and classical WNED-FM where he hosted middays and the experimental music program Present Tense.
Today, Staruch can be found hosting YourClassicalMPR weekdays from 3 to 7 pm with his popular Friday Favorites segment. Prior to MPR, he presented numerous programs at WCAL Northfield MN and WXXI Rochester NY.
Staruch also freelances as a tenor and violist, enjoying traveling, gardening, hosting dinner parties and hosting dinner parties with his wife Naomi. Donors to his scholarship fund receive a handcrafted glass water droplet created by Anchor Bend Glassworks as an acknowledgment.
Professional Career
Steve Staruch is an experienced music host who presents classical works spanning ancient to contemporary repertoire each weekday from 3-7 pm on YourClassicalMPR. Additionally, as both violist and singer he freelances throughout the region.
Before joining MPR in 2004, he presented various radio programs on WCAL in Northfield, Minnesota and WXXI in Rochester, New York. Outside his radio work he enjoys performing as a freelance tenor and violist; traveling and hosting dinner parties together are passions he shares with Naomi.
Naomi credits singing for Lee Luther in Luther’s choir as having had an immense effect on her life, leading her and Steve to make a generous gift to the Leland B. Sateren Choral Music Scholarship Fund. Additionally, they both love creating fiber art in their basement studio; winning a Minnesota State Fair blue ribbon as well as Arts in Harmony awards with it!
Achievement and Honors
Steve Staruch has long been known for his talents both as a radio host at Classical MPR and as a freelance tenor and violist, performing frequently with Dale Warland Singers as well as Minnesota Beethoven Festival Chorale. Additionally, Steve was previously hosting local radio station WCAL in Northfield, MN.
Soprano Stephanie Thorpe performs locally in opera, musical theatre and contemporary music. Her diction has been described as being so clear she could take dictation; and her voice described as having velvety purple tones that resonate from top to bottom. Stephanie is also the regular host and moderator for Thursday Musical events.
Personal Life
Staruch has dedicated himself and his wife, Naomi, to honoring the region’s vibrant choral and instrumental traditions through Classical MPR’s Regional Spotlight series. Additionally, both have long supported Augsburg College, most notably through donating a gift that established the Leland B. Sateren Choral Music Scholarship Fund.
Staruch is an accomplished freelance tenor and violist. Together with his wife, they enjoy traveling, gardening, hosting dinner parties and hosting dinner parties themselves. He is an ardent supporter of DePauw University and regularly presents interviews on its 21 CM podcast.
On weekdays he can be heard hosting YourClassical MPR as well as nationally. His musical expertise spans classical, jazz and avant-garde genres; having hosted programs from classical through jazz to avant-garde music. He began his love affair with public radio at age 24 while working any available shift at his hometown station in Tampa Florida before eventually making the leap northward to snowy Buffalo where he hosted middays and weekly experimental music show Present Tense.