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.
John 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.
Shows:
John Schaefer appears in the following:
Friday, July 26, 2024
Karen O and Danger Mouse collaborate; a posthumous track by avant pop-producer Sophie; and an environmental anthem by Colombian band Monsieur Periné. Plus, Clothing, the SEO-proof band.
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Monday, July 15, 2024
Les Violons du Roy performs with guitarist Miloš at Carnegie Hall.
Monday, July 15, 2024
This week on New York In Concert, you’ll hear performances by the Orchestra of St. Luke’s.
Monday, July 08, 2024
This week on New York In Concert, performances of concertos by Beethoven, Heinichen, and Boulogne.
Monday, July 01, 2024
Fantastic Negrito and Sting collaborate, and returns for rapper Heems and Puerto Rican indie duo Buscabulla. Also, cellist Mabe Fratti, Bryce Dessner, and Tuareg group Etran de L’Air.
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Monday, July 01, 2024
This week on New York In Concert, a celebration of music by American composers.
Monday, June 24, 2024
This week, Irish music, new and old, from Fontaines D.C. and Lankum; also, American singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams, Bootsy Collins, and Wild Up’s Survey of Julius Eastman.
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Monday, June 24, 2024
We’ll hear performances recorded at the Morgan Library on this week’s New York In Concert.
Monday, June 17, 2024
New albums by The Decemberists and Staples Jr. Singers; singles by Joan As Police Woman and Meshell Ndegeocello, separately and together. Also, So Percussion & Caroline Shaw, and STEFA*.
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Monday, June 17, 2024
This week on New York In Concert, we’ll hear excerpts from the Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and a new work inspired by it.
Monday, June 10, 2024
This week on New York In Concert we will hear performances from the Chelsea Music Festival.
Monday, June 10, 2024
This week, Moses Sumney returns, Raye shows off, and Robert Plant & Alison Kraus remake a Led Zeppelin remake. Also, Angélica Garcia, Landless, and beabadoobee.
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Monday, June 03, 2024
This week on New York In Concert, we salute the quartet through performances by the Ulysses Quartet, Sugar Hill Salon, and more.
Monday, May 27, 2024
New York In Concert travels to Katonah, New York, for performances by the Knights at the Caramoor Festival.
Monday, May 27, 2024
Hear a new song from Common and Pete Rock; trippy News Of The Universe from La Luz; and Native powwow singing meets electronic rock. Plus, the Chicago art-rock duo Finom; and mui zyu.
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Monday, May 20, 2024
This week, Billie Eilish gets quiet, of Montreal gets funky, and Kaia Kater gets nostalgic. Plus, emerging punk rap artist Wu-Lu; saxophone innovator Colin Stetson; and more.
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Monday, May 13, 2024
This week, a historic Broadway cast record, a reimagined gospel favorite by Davóne Tines, and “Proxy Music.” Plus, Colombian band Meridian Brothers and outsider country by Orville Peck.
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Monday, May 13, 2024
This week we’ll be hearing works by Bach, Faure, Dett, and more performed in sacred spaces around New York City.
Monday, May 06, 2024
This week, Mdou Moctar’s desert blues, Hiatus Kaiyote’s psychedelic soul, and Kamasi Washington’s spiritual jazz. Plus new releases from Nubiyan Twist, Ra Ra Riot, and Madlib.
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Monday, May 06, 2024
Listen to this episode of New York in Concert on Monday, May 6th at 10pm.