John Schaefer has hosted Soundcheck since the show’s inception in 2002. He has also hosted and produced WNYC’s radio series New Sounds since 1982 (“The No. 1 radio show for the Global Village” – Billboard) and the New Sounds Live concert series since 1986.
Schaefer has written extensively about music, including the book New Sounds: A Listener’s Guide to New Music (Harper & Row, NY, 1987; Virgin Books, London, 1990); The Cambridge Companion to Singing: World Music (Cambridge University Press, U.K., 2000); and the TV program Bravo Profile: Bobby McFerrin (Bravo Television, 2003). He was contributing editor for Spin and Ear magazines, and his liner notes appear on more than 100 recordings, ranging from “The Music of Cambodia” to recordings by Yo-Yo Ma and Terry Riley.
In 2003, Schaefer was honored with the American Music Center's prestigious Letter of Distinction for his "substantial contributions to advancing the field of contemporary American music in the United States and abroad." In May 2006, New York magazine cited Schaefer as one of "the people whose ideas, power, and sheer will are changing New York" in its Influentials issue. He began blogging for WNYC when accompanying the New York Philharmonic on its historic (and apparently very weird) trip to North Korea in 2008 and continues to blog at soundcheck.org.
He is a regular contributor to the World Science Festival and the White Light Festival at Lincoln Center; he has also written about horse racing (Bloodlines: A Horse Racing Anthology, Vintage NY 2006) and was a regular panelist on the BBC’s soccer-based program Sports World.
John Schaefer appears in the following:
Watch Live: The Rite of Spring Goes Solo
Monday, May 13, 2013
Buy tickets for Wednesday, May 29 at 7 pm to hear pianist Vicky Chow celebrate the 100th anniversary of the premiere of Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring with a live performance from The Greene Space.
On-Demand Audio: John Corigliano's 75th Birthday Concert
Monday, April 29, 2013
On Monday, a star-studded line-up celebrated John Corigliano's 75th birthday at LPR. Listen to the archive of Q2 Music's live audio webcast of the event.
Listen: NY Philharmonic Gives Four Premieres
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Tonight at 8 pm, Q2 Music streams the next installment of the New York Philharmonic's CONTACT! series, with premieres of works by Unsuk Chin, Poul Ruders, Yann Robin and Anders Hillborg.
Listen: Bang on a Can People's Commissioning Fund Concert
Thursday, February 07, 2013
On March 14, Q2 Music and New Sounds Live presented a live webcast of the Bang on a Can All-Stars, featuring new works by Anna Clyne, Dan Deacon, Tyondai Braxton and others. Listen to the whole show on demand.
Listen: Clogs, Sarah Kirkland Snider and Orchestra for the Next Century
Wednesday, February 06, 2013
On Feb. 6, Q2 Music presented a live webcast of indie favorites Clogs and Orchestra for the Next Century, and the premiere of Sarah Kirkland Snider's new song cycle, Unremembered. Listen to the full show.
Listen: Carla Kihlstedt, ICE, Causing a Tiger and Face the Music
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Tonight at 7:30 pm, Q2 Music presents a live audio webcast of singer-instrumentalist Carla Kihlstedt with the International Contemporary Ensemble, live from the Ecstatic Music Festival.
New York Philharmonic Premieres Akiho, Norman and Vaclavik
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
On Tuesday, Dec. 25 at 8 pm, Q2 Music presents the webcast premiere of the next installment in the New York Philharmonic's new-music series, CONTACT!, featuring works by Andy Akiho, Andrew Norman, Jude Vaclavik and the late Jacob Druckman.
On-Demand Audio: The Brooklyn Philharmonic's Season Preview
Thursday, October 25, 2012
On Thursday Q2 Music presented a live audio stream of the season-opening concert of the Brooklyn Philharmonic with world premieres from Ted Hearne, Kendall Williams, Matt Marks and more.
On-Demand Audio: Vijay Iyer and Missy Mazzoli's Victoire
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
This October, Q2 Music partnered with WNYC's New Sounds Live to present the eclectic composer-pianist Vijay Iyer in an exciting double billing with composer's Missy Mazzoli's all-female band, Victoire. Hear the show at 8 pm tonight on New York Now.
Listen Live: Antibalas and Ted Leo
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
On Tuesday, October 23 at 8 pm, ET, Q2 Music present a live audio webcast of the dynamic, 12-piece Afrobeat ensemble Antibalas and the songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ted Leo interpreting the music of Hugh Masekela.
Soundcheck with John Schaefer (2002)
Sunday, September 09, 2012
In this episode of Soundcheck from 2002, the composer discusses some of the odd jobs he has held throughout his career, the development of the new music scene in New York, and how he defined success for himself along the way.
The Leonard Lopate Show (2002) and New Sounds with John Schaefer (1985)
Saturday, September 08, 2012
Today’s archival Glass interviews feature an appearance on The Leonard Lopate Show from 2002 about Koyaanisqatsi and an episode of New Sounds from 1985, in which the composer talks about scoring Mishima.
Survival Kit with Leonard Lopate (2003) and Around New York with John Schaefer (1995)
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
What would Philip Glass need to survive in complete isolation? Find out on this episode of Survival Kit from 2003. The composer opens up about what recordings he would bring along, including some unexpected selections.
Young Glass, New Sounds
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
As part of Music of Constant Change, Q2 Music spotlights archival episodes of WNYC's New Sounds by streaming interviews between host John Schaefer and many of Glass's most important colleagues, including Ravi Shankar and director Robert Wilson.
Top 10 Essential Philip Glass Recordings
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
Philip Glass has been an extremely prolific composer, and has had long associations with two major record labels. Here are 10 recordings that will serve as an introduction to his hugely influential music.
On-Demand Audio: Steve Reich's Complete String Quartets
Monday, August 20, 2012
Tonight at 7:30 pm, Q2 Music presents a live audio- and videocast of the sold-out concert of the American Contemporary Music Ensemble performing the complete string quartets of Steve Reich at (Le) Poisson Rouge.
Premieres from Michael Jarrell and Elliott Carter
Monday, June 18, 2012
Enjoy three Webcasts of the New York Philharmonic's ground-breaking CONTACT! new music series with works by Elliott Carter, Michael Jarrell and Pierre Boulez. Tuesday at 3pm, Wednesday at 7pm and Saturday at 10am.
Terry Riley Remembers In C
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
In this 2009 episode of WNYC's New Sounds, Terry Riley speaks with host John Schaefer about his landmark 1964 work In C which helped usher in the style known as minimalism.
Lou Harrison Tunes the Gamelan for Western Ears
Monday, March 26, 2012
In this 1997 New Sounds with host John Schaefer, Lou Harrison talks about composing for the Indonesian gamelan, the associated complexities of intonation and his recollections of instrument building and experimentation with fellow West Coast maverick, Harry Partch.
Frederic Rzewski and DIY Music-Making
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
In this 2002 episode of WNYC's Soundcheck, host John Schaefer talks to maverick American icon Frederic Rzewski as well as fellow pianist-composers Michael Hersch and Russian-born Lera Auerbach about performing their own pieces, and working outside the musical mainstream.
