john banther
@johnbanther.bsky.social
musician, non-award winning host and producer of Classical Breakdown and Front Row Washington, and NSOS Showcase (producer) on WETA Classical 🎶🎧🧑🏻💼🐶🐶🏳️⚧️
they/them - all opinions are my own
they/them - all opinions are my own
i honestly don’t know if i would be able to get a degree today if i was going into college. i think there’s a decent chance i just couldn’t do it.
I’ve seen two kids post that the Brown University shooting is the second school shooting they’ve survived.
This should enrage and radicalize everyone.
Kids shouldn’t have to survive one shooting, let alone two.
No more thoughts and prayers.
It’s time to address the guns.
This should enrage and radicalize everyone.
Kids shouldn’t have to survive one shooting, let alone two.
No more thoughts and prayers.
It’s time to address the guns.
December 14, 2025 at 5:12 AM
i honestly don’t know if i would be able to get a degree today if i was going into college. i think there’s a decent chance i just couldn’t do it.
Every musician that has voted for this or praised genocide will face professional consequences.
I also think every musician and man in power (looking at every orchestra brass section, personally) that has stayed silent or supported genocide should face professional consequences as well.
I also think every musician and man in power (looking at every orchestra brass section, personally) that has stayed silent or supported genocide should face professional consequences as well.
November 25, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Every musician that has voted for this or praised genocide will face professional consequences.
I also think every musician and man in power (looking at every orchestra brass section, personally) that has stayed silent or supported genocide should face professional consequences as well.
I also think every musician and man in power (looking at every orchestra brass section, personally) that has stayed silent or supported genocide should face professional consequences as well.
Reposted by john banther
WETA Classical's annual Classical Countdown starts this morning, counting down the top 100 Classical music pieces as selected by listeners. Sporadic countdowns through Wednesday and all day Thanksgiving, with the #1 piece Thanksgiving night -it's not always Beethoven's 9th!
November 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM
WETA Classical's annual Classical Countdown starts this morning, counting down the top 100 Classical music pieces as selected by listeners. Sporadic countdowns through Wednesday and all day Thanksgiving, with the #1 piece Thanksgiving night -it's not always Beethoven's 9th!
There is a special bonus episode of Classical Breakdown out now featuring the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra performing Hailstork!
#classicalmusic
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
#classicalmusic
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra performs Hailstork's An American Port of Call
Podcast Episode · Classical Breakdown · S7 Bonus · 10m
podcasts.apple.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:17 PM
There is a special bonus episode of Classical Breakdown out now featuring the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra performing Hailstork!
#classicalmusic
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
#classicalmusic
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
if you engage in anti union practices you deserve to choke on your fancy dessert drink and cough up whipped cream all over your steering wheel.
Beginning Monday, a Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate drink will be available exclusively at Starbucks cafés inside Target stores.
The chains are hoping the drink can drum up excitement from customers this holiday season.
🔗https://tinyurl.com/yrshv45s
The chains are hoping the drink can drum up excitement from customers this holiday season.
🔗https://tinyurl.com/yrshv45s
November 18, 2025 at 1:20 AM
if you engage in anti union practices you deserve to choke on your fancy dessert drink and cough up whipped cream all over your steering wheel.
Join me tonight at 9 for another Front Row Washington.
This evening it’s music by Beethoven and Faure from the Arts Club of Washington with some fantastic leading players. 🎶🎶🎻
weta.org/fm/features/...
This evening it’s music by Beethoven and Faure from the Arts Club of Washington with some fantastic leading players. 🎶🎶🎻
weta.org/fm/features/...
Classical Arts Society of Washington performs music by composers that experienced deafness
Join us for this performance of music for violin and piano featuring two composers who experienced deafness, Ludwig van Beethoven and Gabriel Fauré.
weta.org
November 17, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Join me tonight at 9 for another Front Row Washington.
This evening it’s music by Beethoven and Faure from the Arts Club of Washington with some fantastic leading players. 🎶🎶🎻
weta.org/fm/features/...
This evening it’s music by Beethoven and Faure from the Arts Club of Washington with some fantastic leading players. 🎶🎶🎻
weta.org/fm/features/...
It was a busy week! A special bonus episode of Classical Breakdown comes out next Tuesday. An episode on a piano concerto comes out the week after that 🎹😁
On Front Row Washington, made a GREAT episode featuring works by Carlos Simon and Chiarina Chamber Players. More later 😊
first fire 🥶
On Front Row Washington, made a GREAT episode featuring works by Carlos Simon and Chiarina Chamber Players. More later 😊
first fire 🥶
November 15, 2025 at 3:19 AM
It was a busy week! A special bonus episode of Classical Breakdown comes out next Tuesday. An episode on a piano concerto comes out the week after that 🎹😁
On Front Row Washington, made a GREAT episode featuring works by Carlos Simon and Chiarina Chamber Players. More later 😊
first fire 🥶
On Front Row Washington, made a GREAT episode featuring works by Carlos Simon and Chiarina Chamber Players. More later 😊
first fire 🥶
Reposted by john banther
One of the biggest pedophile protectors in US history
November 13, 2025 at 10:45 PM
One of the biggest pedophile protectors in US history
Bad news for Epstein associates and those that protect them with immense power.
BIG NEWS: Congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva will finally be sworn in as a member of Congress tomorrow.
She is likely to be the 218th vote on the Epstein discharge petition, which would force a full vote to release the Epstein files in their entirety.
She is likely to be the 218th vote on the Epstein discharge petition, which would force a full vote to release the Epstein files in their entirety.
November 12, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Bad news for Epstein associates and those that protect them with immense power.
Reposted by john banther
this is literally never not accurate
November 10, 2025 at 6:32 PM
this is literally never not accurate
New episode of Classical Breakdown is out today, this time on the life and music of living composer Adolphus Hailstork!
We also look a little closer at 3 of his works; a symphony, piano quintet, and a choral work.
#classicalmusic
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
We also look a little closer at 3 of his works; a symphony, piano quintet, and a choral work.
#classicalmusic
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Adolphus Hailstork, an American composer writing for our time
Podcast Episode · Classical Breakdown · 11/11/2025 · 54m
podcasts.apple.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:30 PM
New episode of Classical Breakdown is out today, this time on the life and music of living composer Adolphus Hailstork!
We also look a little closer at 3 of his works; a symphony, piano quintet, and a choral work.
#classicalmusic
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
We also look a little closer at 3 of his works; a symphony, piano quintet, and a choral work.
#classicalmusic
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Join me in 1 hour (9pm est) on Front Row Washington for ACRONYM and some fantastic music, some of which is not recorded! 🎶🎶🎻📻
Listen to WETA Clasical online or over the air at 90.9 (always my preference 😃)
#classicalmusic
weta.org/fm/features/...
Listen to WETA Clasical online or over the air at 90.9 (always my preference 😃)
#classicalmusic
weta.org/fm/features/...
Baroque band ACRONYM delights with rare 17th and 18th century works
Discover old and rare works/composers you won't find in recordings or on most concert stages!
weta.org
November 11, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Join me in 1 hour (9pm est) on Front Row Washington for ACRONYM and some fantastic music, some of which is not recorded! 🎶🎶🎻📻
Listen to WETA Clasical online or over the air at 90.9 (always my preference 😃)
#classicalmusic
weta.org/fm/features/...
Listen to WETA Clasical online or over the air at 90.9 (always my preference 😃)
#classicalmusic
weta.org/fm/features/...
you must resist imposter syndrome
November 8, 2025 at 5:17 AM
you must resist imposter syndrome
something i was listening to yesterday, the poulenc. vic firth on timpani, but poulenc treats it tamely.
great recording, and the organ in boston symphony hall is pretty stellar.
Also, a rare time i listen to non-opera mozart 😆 and for no real reason other than wanting to hear later mozart pc
great recording, and the organ in boston symphony hall is pretty stellar.
Also, a rare time i listen to non-opera mozart 😆 and for no real reason other than wanting to hear later mozart pc
November 7, 2025 at 3:21 AM
something i was listening to yesterday, the poulenc. vic firth on timpani, but poulenc treats it tamely.
great recording, and the organ in boston symphony hall is pretty stellar.
Also, a rare time i listen to non-opera mozart 😆 and for no real reason other than wanting to hear later mozart pc
great recording, and the organ in boston symphony hall is pretty stellar.
Also, a rare time i listen to non-opera mozart 😆 and for no real reason other than wanting to hear later mozart pc
Tonight at 9 (in an hour 😆) you can hear some fantastic performances featuring the NSO.
This was a fun one to put together with extra music and interviews with Noseda. And if you miss it tonight you can stream it starting tomorrow.
weta.org/fm/features/...
This was a fun one to put together with extra music and interviews with Noseda. And if you miss it tonight you can stream it starting tomorrow.
weta.org/fm/features/...
Beethoven, Prokofiev, and Ravel
Maestro Noseda will conduct the NSO in Beethoven’s Symphony No.2 to kick off the 2025-26 season of broadcast concerts on WETA Classical’s NSO Showcase. He’ll also lead the orchestra in Tchaikovsky’s 6...
weta.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Tonight at 9 (in an hour 😆) you can hear some fantastic performances featuring the NSO.
This was a fun one to put together with extra music and interviews with Noseda. And if you miss it tonight you can stream it starting tomorrow.
weta.org/fm/features/...
This was a fun one to put together with extra music and interviews with Noseda. And if you miss it tonight you can stream it starting tomorrow.
weta.org/fm/features/...
I kind of forget about Montsalvatge from time to time, but this is a good recording and I do enjoy him. Angel sent me this, and I always recommend checking out Post Classical Ensemble in DC.
Copenhagen… i relisten to this 1x a year, it’s wonderful and the intonation is so good almost unfair 😭 🎻
Copenhagen… i relisten to this 1x a year, it’s wonderful and the intonation is so good almost unfair 😭 🎻
November 5, 2025 at 3:42 AM
I kind of forget about Montsalvatge from time to time, but this is a good recording and I do enjoy him. Angel sent me this, and I always recommend checking out Post Classical Ensemble in DC.
Copenhagen… i relisten to this 1x a year, it’s wonderful and the intonation is so good almost unfair 😭 🎻
Copenhagen… i relisten to this 1x a year, it’s wonderful and the intonation is so good almost unfair 😭 🎻
Reposted by john banther
SOCIALISM WINS!!!!
November 5, 2025 at 2:13 AM
SOCIALISM WINS!!!!
I’ve been meaning to post more of what i’ve been listening to, and hopefully can find others that do the same.
After listening to MTT’s “Meditations on Rilke” 3 times in 24 hours, I naturally needed to re-listen to Mahler’s cycles. Ending with a Das Lied von der Erde I haven’t heard, Boulez/vien
After listening to MTT’s “Meditations on Rilke” 3 times in 24 hours, I naturally needed to re-listen to Mahler’s cycles. Ending with a Das Lied von der Erde I haven’t heard, Boulez/vien
November 3, 2025 at 11:22 PM
I’ve been meaning to post more of what i’ve been listening to, and hopefully can find others that do the same.
After listening to MTT’s “Meditations on Rilke” 3 times in 24 hours, I naturally needed to re-listen to Mahler’s cycles. Ending with a Das Lied von der Erde I haven’t heard, Boulez/vien
After listening to MTT’s “Meditations on Rilke” 3 times in 24 hours, I naturally needed to re-listen to Mahler’s cycles. Ending with a Das Lied von der Erde I haven’t heard, Boulez/vien
Tonight on Front Row Washington, join me for a performance of octets written by teenagers! Borromeo and Verona join forces for octets from Dumbarton Concerts.
weta.org/fm/features/...
weta.org/fm/features/...
Borromeo and Verona Quartets join forces for octets by teenagers!
These two string quartets are some of the most prominent chamber groups today, and in this concert, they join forces to play early works of Shostakovich, Enescu, and Mendelssohn.
weta.org
November 3, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Tonight on Front Row Washington, join me for a performance of octets written by teenagers! Borromeo and Verona join forces for octets from Dumbarton Concerts.
weta.org/fm/features/...
weta.org/fm/features/...
Reposted by john banther
Crossposting from my spouse’s studio page, Happy Halloween!
October 31, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Crossposting from my spouse’s studio page, Happy Halloween!
we need healthcare and they sell us snake oil
Dr Oz says healthcare premiums will only increase $13 and it’s no big deal
Premiums will increase much more than that
It’s interesting that $13 is “no big deal” when people are screaming that their tax dollars shouldn’t go towards SNAP
You know how much the average taxpayer pays for SNAP? $36.
Premiums will increase much more than that
It’s interesting that $13 is “no big deal” when people are screaming that their tax dollars shouldn’t go towards SNAP
You know how much the average taxpayer pays for SNAP? $36.
October 30, 2025 at 10:59 PM
we need healthcare and they sell us snake oil
new episode of Classical Breakdown came out yesterday, all about DEATH in MUSIC! 💀🎶
this was a lot of fun, and was also hard to limit to just 10 examples. from the poignant to grotesque 🗡️🪦⚰️
#music #classicalmusic
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
this was a lot of fun, and was also hard to limit to just 10 examples. from the poignant to grotesque 🗡️🪦⚰️
#music #classicalmusic
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Death in music! 10 works that explore life’s final question
Podcast Episode · Classical Breakdown · 10/28/2025 · 48m
podcasts.apple.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:17 PM
new episode of Classical Breakdown came out yesterday, all about DEATH in MUSIC! 💀🎶
this was a lot of fun, and was also hard to limit to just 10 examples. from the poignant to grotesque 🗡️🪦⚰️
#music #classicalmusic
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
this was a lot of fun, and was also hard to limit to just 10 examples. from the poignant to grotesque 🗡️🪦⚰️
#music #classicalmusic
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
forever in love with this recording. made the mistake of starting it earlier today knowing i will have to finish it😭
michael tilson thomas has such a way with mahler. i don’t know another who asks so little from the listener, he has you in his hands from the opening notes 🥹
michael tilson thomas has such a way with mahler. i don’t know another who asks so little from the listener, he has you in his hands from the opening notes 🥹
October 29, 2025 at 12:11 AM
forever in love with this recording. made the mistake of starting it earlier today knowing i will have to finish it😭
michael tilson thomas has such a way with mahler. i don’t know another who asks so little from the listener, he has you in his hands from the opening notes 🥹
michael tilson thomas has such a way with mahler. i don’t know another who asks so little from the listener, he has you in his hands from the opening notes 🥹
Reposted by john banther
National Chocolate Day today! The history of chocolate dates to when cacao tree was domesticated in Mexico, more than 5,000 years ago. Enjoy it with delicious Classical music this morning on WETA Classical, including a piano caprice for Classical Sunrise 7:31am.
October 28, 2025 at 9:54 AM
National Chocolate Day today! The history of chocolate dates to when cacao tree was domesticated in Mexico, more than 5,000 years ago. Enjoy it with delicious Classical music this morning on WETA Classical, including a piano caprice for Classical Sunrise 7:31am.
our cruelty has never stopped for some, and it seems our prison/judicial system was set up to do exactly that.
"At 5:50, correctional officers opened the curtains of the death chamber to begin the state’s grim orchestration. Before those curtains would close about 37 minutes later, Boyd would gasp for air inside the gas mask more than 225 times."
www.treadbylee.com/p/after-just...
www.treadbylee.com/p/after-just...
After justices warned of prolonged suffocation, Alabama subjected Anthony Boyd to the longest nitrogen execution in U.S. history.
Boyd was the chairman of Project Hope, a death row-led nonprofit. Its members are left reeling in the wake of their leader's suffocation execution.
www.treadbylee.com
October 24, 2025 at 11:21 PM
our cruelty has never stopped for some, and it seems our prison/judicial system was set up to do exactly that.