Michael Krall
Program Director
If you’ve ever had a question or comment about the station’s programming, or were looking for a story from WBHM or NPR, chances are you’ve spoken with WBHM’s Program Director Michael Krall. His job includes managing the sound of the station -- from overseeing the on-air staff to curating the program schedule.
You can hear Michael hosting Morning Edition or All Things Considered from time to time, and listen out for his interviews with artists and other interesting people who make their way through Birmingham.
Michael came to WBHM in 1998 from WCBU in Peoria, Illinois. A graduate of the University of Maine, he’s spent his entire career in public radio working in WKNO in Memphis and WSCL in Salisbury, Maryland, as well as Maine Public Radio.
In his free time, Michael enjoys hiking, attending concerts, and playing Scrabble.
Hilary Hahn interview
Not only is Hahn one of the world's top violinists, but several years ago she gave the world premier performance and recording of the Violin Concerto by Edgar Meyer. This weekend, with the ASO, Hilary Hahn revisits the Meyer Violin Concerto - a work that was specifically commissioned for her.
Justin Brown interview
In his sixth and final season, Justin Brown conducts the opening weekend of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra's Masterworks Series.
Matisyahu
It's not every day you come upon a Hasidic Jewish musician singing reggae about his religious devotion. But, in a nutshell, that describes Matisyahu. In 2006, he broke through with a top 10 hit and an album that sold more than half a million copies. In his early days, Matisyahu was Matthew Miller and he dropped out of high school to follow the band Phish. He spoke with WBHM's Michael Krall about the lessons learned during that time, as well as his religion and his music.
The Farewell Drifters
The band The Farewell Drifters were literally formed when Zach Bevill was stopped on the street in Nashville. The group plays harmonic roots music. WBHM's Michael Krall has their story...
Gil Shaham
Gil Shaham is widely considered to be one of the world's top violinists. This weekend, he performs Beethoven's Violin Concerto with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Shaham recently spoke with WBHM's Michael Krall.
Alabama Symphony Orch. 2010-11 season
Music Director Justin Brown previews the Alabama Symphony Orchestra's 2010-2011 season which includes a world premier as well as a performance of all nine Beethoven symphonies...
Tokyo String Quartet
The Tokyo String Quartet has been making music for 41 years and shows no signs of slowing down. Tonight, the group plays in Birmingham.
The ASO plays Carnegie Hall
The Alabama Symphony Orchestra is one of six orchestras selected to play in Carnegie Hall as part of the Spring for Music festival in 2012.
Interview: Fred Schneider of The B-52’s
In the late 1970’s Athens, Georgia didn’t have much to offer in the way of music. One night, a group of friends were hanging out and decided to write a song. After all, it was something to do. A few months later, the B-52s were playing their first gig. Thirty-two years later they’re still making […]
Girlyman: “Really good, really unexpected, and really different.”
Imagine a modern-day Peter, Paul & Mary, only edgier...and with a quirky sense of humor, and you get the band Girlyman. Their songs are described as leading edge three-part harmony folk-pop. WBHM's Michael Krall spoke to Ty Greenstein about the group...
Steve Chiotakis leaving WBHM
WBHM's Steve Chiotakis will leave the station in October to take a network job with the Marketplace Morning Report.
WBHM 30th Anniversary
In celebration of WBHM's 30th anniversary year, meet some of the people who were there during the station's early years. WBHM officially signed on at Sunday, December 5, 1976 at 1 p.m. In this interview Michael Krall talks to Les Myers, WBHM's first Music Director...
Justin Brown
On November 17-18, guitarist David Starobin played contemporary music with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. One of the works is Paganini Variations by Poul Ruders. David Starobin spoke with WBHM's Michael Krall about the work.
On the Line: Mass Transit
On buses in Birmingham, getting from point to A to point B means mostly obstacles and frustration. Leaders have talked aboout mass transit for years, but putting it to work and funding it has been the real speed bump, despite calls to the contrary. On November 6th, WBHM broadcast a special two-hour discussion on the future of mass transit in the Birmingham area.
On the Line – education
Standardized testing... school overcrowding... teacher pay. WBHM's listener call-in program 'On the Line' tackled The State of Education in Alabama.
Marilynne Robinson
Marilynne Robinson's second novel, Gilead, is written in the form of a letter from a 76-year old Congregationalist minister to his young son. Gilead is a meditation on family relationships, religion, and finding meaning in life. Robinson's visit coincided with the selection of Gilead for the Mayor's Book Club of Vestavia Hills. She spoke with WBHM's Roseanne Pereira.
