Steve Johnson
Midday Classical Host/ProducerA native of Herndon, Virginia, Steve first came to Rochester as a student at the Eastman School of Music. He has loved classical music and public media since his youth, when he was inspired by the radio broadcasts of Rob Kapilow on his local NPR affiliate. He pursued this love through college, having earned his Bachelor's in Music Education and Master's in Musicology at Indiana University and, most recently, his Ph.D. in Musicology at Eastman. His Alfred Mann Award-winning dissertation discussed the relationship between nationalist politics and opera in North Korea.
Steve is also host of WXXI’s In the Key of Z: Classical, a dynamic digital-first series that celebrates the emerging classical talent of the Rochester region. Through captivating live performances and insightful interviews, the series introduces audiences to the next generation of classical performers. These talented artists share their musical foundations and aspirations for the future.
Steve has advocated for classical music on social media for years. He got his start on YouTube with his award-winning webseries The Listener's Guide and collaborated with the Dallas Opera on their series Opera in Brief that gave synopses of their productions through humorous stick-figure sketches. Now, he is active on TikTok and Instagram promoting WXXI programming every day—be sure to follow him for all the latest content!
When he's not in the studio, Steve loves playing board games, gardening, and keeping fit, and he's always looking for his next new fascination here in Rochester!
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Join us for selections from the upcoming performances of Glory Denied and The Marriage of Figaro with Finger Lakes Opera -
The recently-formed ensemble brings us genre-bending selections from their upcoming concert in Skaneateles -
The group celebrates 40 years in Rochester with a concert of music close to their hearts -
The Artists-In-Residence at the Geneva Music Festival explore the music of composers who fled their home countries with excerpts from their upcoming concert, E Pluribus Unum -
Celebrate Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month with this album of excellent Vietnamese guitar music -
Join us at The Little for this landmark in Asian American film representation followed by a panel discussion of its legacy more than 60 years later. -
Join us for three straight days of music written exclusively by women from Friday, March 6th, to Sunday, March 8th! -
A musical journey through Korean life as told by several Korean women. -
Charles Shadle pays homage to his Oklahoma homeland in a nostalgic album performed by the Lontano Ensemble. -
WXXI Classical celebrates the birthday of legendary film composer Joe Hisaishi with this special screening. Join us December 7th at 3pm at the Little Theatre for the film followed by a panel discussion!
