Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) today announced a host lineup change for WPR Music, its statewide classical music network. Beginning Sept. 7, Ezra Wall will become the new host of “Morning Classics,” airing weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m., and Stephanie Elkins will become the new host of “Midday Classics,” airing weekdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The programs will air as “Morning Classics with Ezra Wall” and “Midday Classics with Stephanie Elkins.”
With this change, WPR Music will now feature live, locally hosted programming from its studios in Madison, Milwaukee, and La Crosse every weekday, with Wall broadcasting “Morning Classics” live from WPR’s Southwestern bureau at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Ezra into this new role and to see Stephanie bring her talents to ‘Midday Classics’,” said Peter Bryant, WPR Music’s program director. “Listeners can expect the same warmth and musical expertise they’ve come to love from WPR Music, now with a truly statewide presence.”
Elkins has been a music host and producer for WPR since 2007 and currently hosts “Morning Classics.” An amateur musician with a particular love of renaissance, baroque, and folk music, Elkins has previously hosted and produced WPR Music’s “Simply Folk,” co-hosted “The Midday” alongside Norman Gilliland, and hosted opera intermission interviews. She has performed with the Bach Choir of Bethlehem and the Festival Choir of Madison, and currently serves as a trustee for the Wisconsin Foundation for School Music.
“‘Morning Classics’ has been such a meaningful part of my life, and I really look forward to serving WPR’s midday listeners,” said Elkins. “I can’t wait to share companionship and community with this audience — and (try to) challenge them with the Midday Quiz.”
Wall grew up in La Crosse and nearby Onalaska, not far from the studios that are now his professional home. He began his media career at Mississippi College and later joined Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB), where he became executive producer of the morning news program “Mississippi Edition” and then managing editor of MPB News. In 2019, Wall returned home to become WPR’s La Crosse Regional Manager. He has since become a familiar and popular fill-in host for WPR Music and has produced special broadcasts for the network. He is an avid lifelong musician who currently enjoys singing in the La Crosse Chamber Chorale and the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra Chorus.
“I’ve loved every chance I’ve had to sit in on ‘Morning Classics’ over the years, and I’m honored to take on the role full time, especially from right here in La Crosse,” said Wall. “I can’t wait to start each day with our listeners across Wisconsin.”
