WRCJ In-Studio Guests: Recent Episodes
90.9 WRCJ
90.9 WRCJ is a listener supported classical and jazz music public radio station licensed to Detroit Classical and Jazz Educational Radio, LLC., and managed by Detroit Public Television and the Detroit Educational Television Foundation Board of Trustees.
2026 is the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence! Here is a little feature from Christa Grix about Revolutionary Era American composer William Billings.
Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival starts this weekend. Paul Watkins takes a bow as artistic director of the festival...
90.9 WRCJ’s film host Haley Taylor interviews actor, producer, screenwriter and director Bruce Campbell. Bruce has a new movie “Ernie and Emma” which will debut at the Redford Theatre on Friday, June 5, 2026 at 8 p.m. They talk about the new movie, independent filmmaking, and Bruce’s long career in cult cinema — from “The Evil Dead” to today.
Renowned bassist Marion Hayden will return to The Station at Michigan Central with the Grammy-nominated band Straight Ahead for a special Mother’s Day edition of Fridays at The Station, on May 8, 2026.The Detroit-born Hayden was the first artist to perform at the first-ever Fridays at The Station event, in April 2025. She has performed and recorded with a number of leading musicians from the 1980s onwards and is considered one of the best acoustical bassists in the country. She began performing at age 15 under the tutelage of master trumpeter Marcus Belgrave and saxophonist Wendell Harrison. She would go on to perform with legends such as Regina Carter, Nancy Wilson, Lionel Hampton and George Benson. She also received the Kresge Eminent Artist Award in 2025, and is widely recognized as an advocate for the preservation of the cultural and artistic legacy of jazz.She is a co-founder of the Grammy-nominated ensemble Straight Ahead—the first all-woman jazz ensemble signed to Atlantic Records. Over the years, members of the band have shared the concert stage with a who’s-who of the music world, including Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, George Duke, Stanley Clark, the Yellowjackets and Dianne Reeves.“Straight Ahead will present a celebration of women as creatives, composers, arrangers and conceptualists,” Hayden said. “The band will open a musical conversation, engaging the audience in themes of womanhood, power and intentionally creating a space where women are uplifted.”Featuring Hayden on bass, Alina Morr on keys, Gayelynn McKinney on drums, Ingrid Racine on trumpet and the vocal stylings of Kymberli Wright. Widely recognized for their eclectic and soulful approach to creating music, the Straight Ahead sound ranges comfortably from jazz, to Latin music and jazzy hip-hop.
90.9 WRCJ's Dave Wagner speaks with organist Fred Hohman who is playing a free concert on Sunday April 26, 2026 at 4pm at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit, MI.
just ahead of Earth Day. In this interview, our very own harpist Christa Grix speaks with Yolanda about the album which includes world premiere recordings of major new works by acclaimed composer Reena Esmail. The album also includes violinist Vijay Gupta, the Interlochen Center for the Arts Orchestra and Chorus, conductor Andrew Grams and choral director Carter Smith.
which grew into the Detroit Opera company, their theatre in Downtown Detroit and their 30th anniversary.
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Classical Roots concert comes to 90.9 FM Friday morning at 10:40.WRCJ's Cecelia Sharpe speaks with conductor Thomas Wilkins about the DSO's Classical Roots tradition and music by Black composers on concert stages everywhere...
The A2SO brings you an extra special Valentines Day concert this Saturday - and an exciting second half to the 2025-26 season. Peter speaks with A2SO Executive Director Sarah Calderini about this weekend's concert with violinist Danny Koo and Music Director Earl Lee.
Cecelia Sharpe speaks with Executive Director Anna Glass about the Dance Theater of Harlem's performance at the Detroit Opera House November 15-16, 2025.
The harp and vocal ensemble at Detroit's Cass Tech High School is the oldest continuously operating public school music program in the United States. They celebrate 100 years in 2025! The renowned program has been guided by Velma Froude, Patricia Terry-Ross and current Director Lydia Cleaver who have cultivated exceptional harpists. Hear more of the story from our own harpist Christa Grix.
Johann Sebastian Bach’s “The Well-Tempered Clavier” a two-volume collection of 24 preludes and fugues in every major and minor key, is a foundational work in classical music, demonstrating a revolutionary tuning system for keyboard instruments. 90.9 WRCJ's Haley Taylor talks with pianist Christopher O’Riley about his newly-released recording of Book II, where he explores the Japanese concept of Ma—’the space between’—to uncover new expressive possibilities through the silence between the notes.
2025 is the 300th anniversary of the Anna Magdalena Notebook. The lavish notebook was a gift from Johann Sebastian Bach to his second wife Anna Magdalena. Who was she and what did the book contain? Listen to find out! 2025 is also the 20th anniversary of 90.9 WRCJ going on the air.
2025 marks the 150th anniversary of Georges Bizet's opera masterpiece "Carmen". Scandalous when it was first performed, Bizet sadly didn't live to see it become appreciated. In this feature by Christa Grix hear more of the story including some of the famous people who did recognize it's beauty.
The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra's new season opens September 12, 2025. 90.9 WRCJ's Peter Whorf and orchestra Executive Director Sarah Calderini talk about a few highlights.
2025 is the 20th anniversary of 90.9 WRCJ and would be the 150th birthday of conductor Pierre Monteux. He led orchestras like the Boston Symphony and the Metropolitan Opera but had a unpopular debut in Paris of the Rite of Spring. Hear more in this feature from our very own Christa Grix.
Detroit-born Sheila Jordan passed away Monday, August 11, 2025 at the age of 96. She was a jazz singer, songwriter, pianist, music educator, NEA Jazz Master and pioneered a bebop and scat jazz singing style. Here is a segment 90.9 WRCJ's John Penney put together in remembrance.
Pianist and composer Jason Moran is this year's Artist-in-Residence for the 2025 Detroit Jazz Festival. Get to know him better in this interview with 90.9 WRCJ's John Penney.
90.9 WRCJ's Linda Yohn speaks with engaging and entrancing French jazz singer Tatiana Eva-Marie. She will be performing at the 2025 Detroit Jazz Festival and has a new CD, which covers Disney tunes with fresh "jazz manouche" arrangements.
2025 is the 100th anniversary of the birth of jazz pianist and composer Oscar Peterson. Hear a bit of his story and how he was influenced by classical music in this little feature from our very own Christa Grix. 2025 is also the 20 year anniversary of 90.9 WRCJ going on the air!
2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of English Author Jane Austen! Listen to this little feature by 90.9 WRCJ's Christa Grix for a bit of history.
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Sosnick Courtyard Series opens this week through the 20th in midtown Detroit. 90.9 WRCJ's Peter Whorf speaks with DSO cellist and composer Jeremy Crosmer who headlines Wednesday's opener...
90.9 WRCJ's Christa Grix tells us a little more about Italian composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, who many of the greats turned to for inspiration and guidance. 2025 would be his 500th birthday!
Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival brings legendary works and new compositions to the metro area every June. 90.9 WRCJ's Peter Whorf speaks with Artistic Director and cellist Paul Watkins about concerts this week and next....
90.9 WRCJ's Peter Whorf speaks with DSO music director Jader Bignamini about the orchestra's final concerts this season, including beloved concertos, hidden gems and thrilling tone poems...
90.9 WRCJ's Haley Taylor speaks with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Music Director & Conductor Jader Bignamini. The Orchestra performs a 150th birthday celebration for Ravel which includes Le Tombeau de Couperin, Bolero and the Piano Concerto in G. Listen to them discuss the concert in this excerpt.
In this excerpt from "Live with C#" Cecelia speaks with Conductor and Bassoonist Anthony Parnther who conducts Detroit Opera's production of "Central Park Five". He speaks a bit about how he got started in scoring, why he got involved with Detroit Opera's production and what he hopes the audience takes away from the production.
Dr. Dave speaks with Professor Jeffrey S. Sposato, Chair and Professor of the Department of Music at Wayne State University. He will be doing the Pre-Talk for Fort Street Chorale's Concert on May 4, 2025. The concert will feature Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass performed by the Chorale as well as the Nardin Park Church Choir and the Michigan Sinfonietta Orchestra under the baton of Ann Marie Koukios.
Cecelia Sharpe talks with Edward Quick, Director of the Ferndale Community Concert Band. The band celebrates their 10 year anniversary with a concert on March 30, 2025 at Orchestra Hall in Detroit.
Cecelia Sharpe talks with pianist and composer Charlie Albright who is performing March 23, 2025 at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial presented by ProMusica Detroit.
Linda Yohn speaks with jazz vocalist Catherine Russell who is releasing her new album "Send For Me" and performing at The Cube in Detroit March 22, 2025.
90.9 WRCJ's Peter Whorf talks with Jader Bignamini and Wynton Marsalis about the new Detroit Symphony Orchestra release of "Blues Symphony".
90.9 WRCJ's Christa Grix talks a little about Maurice Ravel as he celebrates his 150th birthday this year.
Cecelia Sharpe talks with award-winning Detroit trumpeter, composer, and educator Kris Johnson who premieres his work Marlowe's Wings: Detroit's Champion of Change at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's 2025 Classical Roots concert.
In this excerpt from "Live with C#" Cecelia helps get you ready for Detroit Opera's "Rinaldo" with special guest, the dynamic, soprano Nicole Heaston. Mrs. Heaston brings the role of bad girl to life as Armida in Handel's opera.
90.9 WRCJ's Haley Taylor talks with Louisa Proske, Director of Detroit Opera's production "Rinaldo" as well as Roberto Kalb the Opera's Music Director and Conductor.
Randall Goosby returns to Detroit to play Florence Price with the DSO this weekend. It's a reunion with 90.9 WRCJ's Peter Whorf who heard Goosby play the Price Violin Concerto No. 2 in Amsterdam last spring.
In this excerpt from the January 2025 episode of "Live with C#" Cecelia speaks with Kymm Clark who is both keeping the art of upholstery alive and giving back to the community.
This weekend the DSO performs Gustav Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 5. Joseph Haydn’s 100th Symphony opens the program. DSO concertmaster Robyn Bollinger joins 90.9 WRCJ’s Peter Whorf to talk about Mahler, Haydn and Beethoven.
Dave Wagner talks with Christopher Ward, Director of the award winning Five Lakes Silver Band and their tribute to the students of Oxford High School in a special work written to honor those who lost their lives during that tragic day.
Assistant Principle Flutist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Sharon Sparrow has a new holiday album "Flutes Joyeux!" She stops by our studios before DSO practice to tell us a bit more about it.
Cecelia Sharpe speaks with members of the Akropolis Reed Quintet and composer/pianist Pascal Le Boeuf about their latest album "Are we Dreaming the Same Dream?" They will perform at the Carr Center in Detroit on October 11 2024.
Yuval Sharon and the Detroit Opera are shaking up the opera scene in Detroit. As artistic Director since 2020, Sharon has brought viewers unique performances during the pandemic and beyond. The Opera’s upcoming season will continue to push the boundaries of how opera is presented. Contributor Cecelia Sharpe of 90.9 WRCJ talks with Sharon about the 2024-2025 season, his contract extension and more.
The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra kicks off its 2024-25 season this Friday night at Hill Auditorium. WRCJ's Peter Whorf speaks with A2SO executive director Sarah Calderini about the first few programs of the season, including the opener - with keyboard showcases by Saint-Saens and Rachmaninoff...
Sheku Kanneh-Mason makes his DSO debut this week. He joins Peter to talk about his remarkable musical family, and his thoughts on cooperation and competition...
Cellist Paul Watkins is in his 10th year as Artistic Director of the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival. He speaks with Peter about the wide-ranging series of concerts, beginning this weekend all around Metro Detroit...
Brian Blade is the Artist in Residence for the 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival. John Penney put together this one hour special featuring his wisdom and his music with the Fellowship Band, Joni Mitchell, Black Dub, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Kenny Garrett, and Ron Miles.
The A2SO wraps up its 2023/24 season Saturday night at Hill Auditorium with Beethoven's 9th. Executive Director Sarah Calderini talks with Peter about next season - and LVB's mighty Choral Symphony...
Learn more about Leos Janacek and his opera "The Cunning Little Vixen" in this short feature put together by 90.9's Jenna Dell and Adam Hinton. Detroit Opera performs their production May 11-19, 2024.
Juanjo Mena leads the DSO this weekend in a program of Schumann and Elgar favorites. Peter speaks with Mena about being a guest conductor...and some of his favorite composers...
Peter and DSO Assistant Conductor Na'Zir McFadden talk about Classical Roots and upcoming concerts...and reflect on some of the sounds we hear in Shelly Washington's "Both"...
In addition to being a gifted instrumentalist, Detroit saxophonist, composer and educator Dominic Waddles is a member of the music theory staff at Michigan State University's Community Music School-Detroit. He also leads the Civic Jazz Band with the DSO's civic ensemble program. In this feature he shares conductor William Eddins reflecting on composer Florence Price.
Peter's final conversation with DSO musicians during their Florida tour. This time, it's Principal Flutist Hannah Hammel Maser reflecting on this past week's performances and what's ahead...
Dr. Dave Wagner talks with Ann Marie Koukios, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Fort Street Chorale. On February 25, 2024 the Fort Street Chorale, the Brazeal Dennard Chorale and Wayne State University Choirs present A Black History Month Celebration at Fort Street Presbyterian Church in Detroit. The concert will feature opera legend George Shirley, soprano Frances Brockington and organist Dr. Norah Duncan IV.
Peter brings us our daily check-in with DSO musicians on the Florida tour. Today, Principal Bassist Kevin Brown leads off the conversation as he considers playing in different halls every night...
Peter caught up with DSO Principal Clarinetist Ralph Skiano first thing this week to talk about the orchestra's Florida tour. This past weekend was a two-fer in Vero Beach with different programs showcasing Nicolai Rimsky Korsakov's Scheherazade on Saturday, followed by Sunday's Tchaikovsky 6...
WRCJ is your station for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's 2024 Florida tour this week - taking our ensemble to six cities in the sunshine state. But Principal Trombonist Kenneth Thompkins tells us that the DSO's arrival was anything but sunny...
In addition to being a gifted instrumentalist, Detroit saxophonist, composer and educator Dominic Waddles is a member of the music theory staff at Michigan State University's Community Music School-Detroit. He also leads the Civic Jazz Band with the DSO's civic ensemble program. In this feature he presents a Detroit-made classical music story about Thomas Wilkins.
In addition to being a gifted instrumentalist, Detroit saxophonist, composer and educator Dominic Waddles is a member of the music theory staff at Michigan State University's Community Music School-Detroit. He also leads the Civic Jazz Band with the DSO's civic ensemble program. In this featurette he presents a Detroit-made classical music story about Lara Downes.
DSO Principal Clarinetist Ralph Skiano takes center stage with the orchestra on this weekend's Neighborhood Concert Series. Peter catches up with Skiano to talk about Mozart and more...plus the Gerald Finzi Clarinet Concerto...
Douglas Bianchi conducts the International Symphony Orchestra in their "At the Movies" concert this weekend. The concert consists of 20th and 21st century masterworks and new music by an international array composers.90.9's Peter Whorf sits down with conductor Bianchi and Executive Director Anthony Wing. Doug begins the discussion by considering Sergie Prokofiev's intense Romeo and Juliet score...
The 20th Anniversary of "Too Hot To Handel" in Detroit at the Detroit Opera is just around the corner. Here's a sneak peek of Cecelia's conversation with tenor Rodrick Dixon and learns how Detroit's "Too Hot To Handel" started 20 years ago, what people can expect to see and hear, and how Handel's Messiah and the mission of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are in perfect harmony.
DSO Principal Oboist Alexander Kinmonth and Associate Concertmaster Kimberly Kaloyanodes Kennedy play Bach's Oboe and Violin Concerto this weekend on the orchestra's Neighborhood Series. Also included are works by Joseph Boulogne and Nicolai Rimsky Korsakov. 90.9's Peter Whorf catches up with Alex to talk about DSO news...and the Bach concerto...
The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra performs for the first time at Orchestra Hall in Detroit on Friday, January 26. It's part of a music-rich weekend in Midtown, which also brings the Sphinx Competition Finals to Orchestra Hall and DPTV. WRCJ's Peter Whorf speaks with A2SO Executive Director Sarah Calderini about this historic happening...
Cecelia Sharpe speaks with Yolanda Jack, Director of the play TopDog/UnderDog running at the Detroit Repertory Theatre through December 17, 2023.
Cecelia Sharpe speaks with award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter who will be at the Charles H. Wright Museum in Detroit on December 16, 2023 to talk about her book "The Art of Ruth E. Carter: Costuming Black History and the Afrofuture, from Do the Right Thing to Black Panther".
Jader conducts the DSO in music by Bonds, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky this weekend. He spoke with Peter about the upcoming Florida tour, and Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony...
Linda Yohn host of 90.9's Swing Set talks to Kris Johnson, who is the director of the Paradise Theatre Big Band and is having a very special concert on Friday, November 17th.
90.9's Peter Whorf speaks with Detroit Symphony Orchestra guest conductor Kevin John Edusei about this week's program featuring a world premiere, a beloved violin concerto and Alexander Zemlinsky's The Mermaid...
DSO Music Director Jader Bignamini opens the DSO season with violinist Gil Shaham and one of the instrument's most beloved works...
Sarah Calderini, Executive Director of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra speaks with Peter Whorf about the symphony's 2023/2024 season which begins this weekend, September 23rd at Hill Auditorium.
It's the 78th anniversary season of the Michigan Philharmonic and the 25th anniversary of the appointment of Music Director and Conductor Nan Washburn. Dave Wagner talks with Nan about the orchestra, this coming season, and her love and promotion of new orchestral music.
In this excerpt from "Live with C#" Cecelia speaks with Patty Isacson Sabee who will take the helm as President and CEO of Detroit Opera in 2024.
Peter Whorf joins Paul Watkins, cellist with the Emerson String Quartet and Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival Artistic Director. Watkins reflects on the Emerson's final season and Saturday's final Detroit area concert...
The recent release, Estampas Americanas showcases new music by Michigan State University composer Paola Marquez and contemporaries Mauricio Charbonnier, Jose Elizondo and Leonardo Le San. 90.9’s Peter Whorf recently spoke with Marquez, Charbonnier and Le San about the works. Marquez opens the conversation with thoughts about her work entitled Speaking to Silence…
Isata Kanneh-Mason joins the Detroit Symphony Orchestra this weekend as the soloist in Ernst Dohnányi's Variations on a Nursery Tune. She also has a brand new recording release she talks about in this conversation with Peter...
In this excerpt from "Live With C#" Cecelia Sharpe speaks with harpist Brandee Younger who performed at The Cube the night of May 28, 2023.
Dr. Julie Jaffee Nagel has written a new book entitled "Career Choices in Music Beyond the Pandemic: Musical and Psychological Perspectives" and Dave Wagner talked with Dr. Nagel about the challenges facing everyone who is considering a career in the performing arts.
Jader conducts the DSO this weekend in a program of Johannes Brahms, Carlos Simon and Beethoven. He stopped by our studios to speak with Peter about the concert, Friday's live 90.9 broadcast...and the upcoming performances at Orchestra Hall and the William Davidson Neighborhood Series.
They have been called 'The Rock Stars of Renaissance Polyphony" by the New York Times, and the Tallis Scholars, with their founder Peter Phillips, come to Detroit on Saturday night for a concert at St. Anne Church in Detroit. Dave Wagner had the opportunity to talk with Peter Phillips about their 50th anniversary tour and their stop here in Detroit.
Nathalie Doucet is Head of Music at Detroit Opera. For the past weeks, she's been working with artists preparing for the company's upcoming run of Osvaldo Golijov's electrifying work Ainadamar: Fountain of Tears. 90.9's Peter Whorf speaks with Doucet about the many components of this Spanish language opera...
Nathalie Doucet is Head of Music at Detroit Opera. For the past weeks, she's been working with artists preparing for the company's upcoming run of Osvaldo Golijov's electrifying work Ainadamar: Fountain of Tears. 90.9's Peter Whorf speaks with Doucet about the many components of this Spanish language opera...
In 2022, Jessie Montgomery was named the Mead Composer in Residence for the Chicago Symphony, receiving commissions to write 3 new orchestral works, and curate the orchestra’s MusicNOW programs.
When bandleader Duke Ellington made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1943, he had already enjoyed a career spanning 20 years as part of the Harlem Renaissance. But the Carnegie Hall concert presented an opportunity to branch out in a new direction, debuting his 45-minute symphonic work, called “Black, Brown and Beige.”
George Walker, the first black recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in Music, worked tirelessly throughout his life, composing every day well into his 90’s.
When bandleader Duke Ellington made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1943, he had already enjoyed a career spanning 20 years as part of the Harlem Renaissance. But the Carnegie Hall concert presented an opportunity to branch out in a new direction, debuting his 45-minute symphonic work, called “Black, Brown and Beige.”
George Walker, the first black recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in Music, worked tirelessly throughout his life, composing every day well into his 90’s.
In 2022, Jessie Montgomery was named the Mead Composer in Residence for the Chicago Symphony, receiving commissions to write 3 new orchestral works, and curate the orchestra’s MusicNOW programs.
In 2022, Jessie Montgomery was named the Mead Composer in Residence for the Chicago Symphony, receiving commissions to write 3 new orchestral works, and curate the orchestra’s MusicNOW programs.
This weekend the Detroit Symphony Orchestra performs Brahms, Coleridge-Taylor and Rachmaninoff. 90.9's Peter Whorf spoke with Music Director Jader Bignamini about the genius of Brahms composition as well as Rachmaninoff and what he was going through when he composed his second piano concerto.
"Swing Set" host Linda Yohn speaks with legendary jazz violinist Regina Carter who is the recipient of 2023 NEA Jazz Masters Honors award. They speak about the significance of three Detroiters being honored this year.
90.9's Cecelia Sharpe spoke with Na'Zir McFadden who is guest conducting the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's "Classical Roots" concert March 3, 2023. In this interview, Na'Zir goes into more detail about the pieces that will be performed.
Cecelia Sharpe caught up with Detroit Native BLKBOK to talk about his upcoming concert, the value of arts education, the importance of Classical music, and what he hopes people will take away from his performance.
DSO Music Director Laureate Leonard Slatkin and his friend Garrick Ohlsson are back in town this weekend to performs Johannes Brahms’s mighty Piano Concerto No. 1. The DSO also plays music by Igor Stravinsky and Bela Bartok. 90.9’s Peter Whorf asked the Maestro about the concerto’s place in Brahms’s symphonic timeline…
The International Symphony Orchestra meets up with the Windsor-based band The Tea Party this Friday night at The Colosseum at Caesar’s Windsor. Then they’re back in Sarnia on Saturday to encore the show. Following the Tea Party gig, the ISO is in-concert for a “Night At The Movies” experience. 90.9's Peter Whorf joins ISO conductor Douglas Bianchi and Executive Director Anthony Wing to talk about the upcoming dates…and the multi-talented Wing’s Tea Party connection through his personal “metal memories”…
Dave Wagner talks with cellist Roman Borys of the Gryphon Trio who are in town to perform at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial with vocalist Patricia O'Callaghan.
Cellist Edgar Moreau joins the Detroit Symphony Orchestra this weekend, playing Sergei Prokofiev’s virtuosic Sinfonia Concertante. 90.9’s Cecelia Sharpe catches up with Moreau between DSO rehearsals to talk about the notoriously difficult work…
Violinist Hilary Hahn’s newest release is entitled Eclipse. The recording features Antonin Dvorak’s Violin Concerto – which Hahn played with the DSO in her last Orchestra Hall appearance. She also played some Dvorak with the popular TwoSet violin duo during her Australian tour this past summer.Hilary Hahn speaks with 90.9’s Peter Whorf about TwoSet and her most recent studio project…
Jonathon Heyward leads the DSO this weekend in works by Tania Leon, Felix Mendelssohn and Antonin Dvorak.Leon was awarded lifetime achievement recognition this past week by the Kennedy Center Honors.Her new piece, Pasajes premieres with the DSO on Friday.90.9’s Peter Whorf begins the conversation by recalling a Chicago concert from this past July…
In this excerpt from "Live With C#" Cecelia talks men's health with Dr. Roy Elrod, Physician and Chief of Staff at Detroit Medical Center and Detroit Receiving Hospital.
DSO Music Director Jader Bignamini leads the orchestra and soloist Daniil Trifanov this weekend in music of William Grant Still, Florence Price and Johannes Brahms. The concert is also a live broadcast on 90.9FM and the Michigan Classical Network on Friday at 10:40am with hosts Dave Wagner and Cecelia Sharpe. 90.9’s Peter Whorf speaks with Bignamini as they begin their conversation with stories of William Grant Still…
Detroit Opera's Associate Artistic Director Christine Goerke speaks with Dave Wagner about the innovative upcoming season including this weekends The Valkyries.
Maestro Robert Franz begins his 8th season as Music Director of the Windsor Symphony as they begin their 75th concert season Saturday September 17th. Dave and the Maestro talk about the history of the orchestra and the upcoming concert season.
A2SO Executive Director Sarah Calderini speaks with 90.9’s Peter Whorf about the orchestra’s upcoming season.
The ensemble will be conducted by new Music Director Earl Lee. Sarah begins the conversation with the story of A2SO’s search for the new Maestro…
Cecelia Sharpe talks with Detroit drummer, producer and vocalist Alex White in this excerpt from "Live With C#".
Attention clarinetists and Mozart lovers - that should cover most everyone. Michigan State University Associate Professor of Clarinet Mingzhe Wang takes us on this tour on the earliest days of the instrument, and one of its most beloved works.
In this clip from "Live with C#" Cecelia speaks with tenor and native Detroiter Bernard Holcomb. He will be performing in the Detroit Opera's "X: The Life & Times of Malcom X".
DSO President and CEO Erik Ronmark and 90.9’s Peter Whorf get together to preview a few highlights of the 2022-23 season…
Pianist David Fung’s most recent recording is an all-Mozart collection of four piano sonatas. Fung speaks with 90.9’s Peter Whorf about putting together the Mozart set, and interpreting the keyboard music through a vocal lens…
In this interview Cecelia Sharpe speaks with composer William Bolcom and his wife mezzo-soprano Joan Morris.
Detroit Opera Artistic Director Yuval Sharon speaks with 90.9’s Peter Whorf about the upcoming production of X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X, composer Anthony Davis, and title role baritone, Davóne Tines…
Detroit Opera presents X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X, May 14-22 at the Detroit Opera House. Davóne Tines performs the title role and is Detroit Opera 21-22 Artist-In-Residence. He speaks with Detroit Public TV American Black Journal host Stephen Henderson about his road to a life in music and current Detroit residency…
Dave Wagner speaks with Livonia Symphony Maestro Volodymyr Shesiuk and Ukrainian violin soloist Solomia Soroka. The Symphony is dedicating its May 14th concert to the Ukrainian community.
Concert organist Christopher Houlihan is coming to Detroit and he will be playing a solo recital at Old St Mary's Church in Greektown May 24th at 7pm. He speaks with Dave Wagner about the program which will include Mendelssohn's first Organ Sonata, Bach's Prelude and Fugue, selections from Florence Price's Suite for Organ and some pieces by Louis Vierne which Christopher has previous experience with.
California native and frequent DSO guest conductor Kent Nagano shares stories of his personal relationship with classical masterworks in his recent book, Classical Music: Expect the Unexpected. Nagano speaks with 90.9’s Peter Whorf about his early musical life, and some of his favorite composers…
Here Dave Wagner speaks with Susan Catanese, Artistic Director and Conductor of Cantata Academy Chorale as the organization prepares for their 60th Anniversary Concert.
In this excerpt from "Live With C#" Cecelia speaks with legendary bassist and Detroit born Marion Hayden.
Pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason and her brother, cellist Sheku are in town April 26th to perform for the University Musical Society at Hill Auditorium. Here they speak with Dave Wagner about their upcoming performance and their newest album "Muse". Also, you can see Isata this June when she performs with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
Live opera returns to the stage and the radio this weekend. Detroit Opera’s new production of Puccini’s beloved La Boheme comes to the Detroit Opera House and 90.9 FM this Saturday night at 6:00, with the performance starting at 6:30. WRCJ’s Dave Wagner hosts. 90.9’s Peter Whorf speaks with Detroit Opera President and CEO Wayne S. Brown and Associate Artistic Director Christine Goerke about the company’s past two years of innovative productions, their upcoming twist on Boheme…and the recent rebranding…
Next Saturday, April 9, at 8pm at the Seligman Center for Performing Arts, Chamber Music Detroit premieres a new work by composer Jeff Scott and poet Robert Laidler. Fallen Petals of Nameless Flowers combines Scott’s music with Laidler’s text – based on the personal stories and writings of several former “juvenile lifers” in Michigan. It promises to be a powerful experience, not just as a work of musical art, but also as social commentary. The piece is scored for wind quintet, piano, cello and narrator and will be performed by Grammy-winning wind quintet Imani Winds with pianist Cory Smythe, cellist Seth Parker Woods and Robert Laidler as narrator. Jeff Scott and Robert Laidler speak with 90.9’s Peter Whorf about the piece…begin with Laidler speaking of the text’s inspiration…
Yuval Sharon, Artistic Director of Detroit Opera, talks with Dave Wagner about the return of opera on Saturday April 2nd in a new production of La Boheme by Giacomo Puccini, presented in reserve order!!
Dave Wagner talks with James Baldiga, the Head Trustee of the Addison Township Public Library about the exciting news about their brand new library for the community in Northeastern Oakland County.
Violinist Angèle Dubeau and her ensemble La Pietà have just released their newest recording entitled Elle. The all-women orchestra presents music composed by women from the 12 century’s Hildegard Von Bingen to present day artists. 90.9’s Peter Whorf recently spoke with Dubeau about her recent collection. She started with its earliest composer…
Detroit is blessed to have so many fine musicians who are a resource of students wishing to study classical instruments like the oboe and English horn. Dave Wagner talks with one of those musicians, Dr. Ann Lemke and about her new recording of music featuring women composers, released early, just in time for Women's History Month.
Our own Dave Wagner continues his talk with Professor Thomas Bara from the Interlochen Arts Academy, about his program and his love of introducing people to “The King of Instruments”.
The International Symphony Orchestra returns to in-person performance this Friday at 7:30pm at Port Huron’s McMorran Place Theatre. Douglas Bianchi leads the ensemble in the program of Mozart, Mendelssohn and more. 90.9’s Peter Whorf speaks with ISO Executive Director Anthony Wing about the homecoming, which also features a work by ISO principal French horn, composer Dinah Bianchi…
Photo caption: Peter Whorf, Anthony Wing and Douglas Bianchi
Earlier this week, WRCJ’s Peter Whorf spoke with pianist Lara Downes about her role in this weekend’s DSO Classical Roots concerts. Now, Peter talks with conductor William Eddins for a further concert preview of what’s ahead in this Friday’s DSO Live broadcast on 90.9FM…with music by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Quinn Mason and Florence Price…
Pianist Lara Downes is the featured soloist in this Friday morning’s DSO Live broadcast at 10:40am on WRCJ and the Michigan Classical Network. Downes speaks with Peter Whorf about the music she’ll perform at Orchestra Hall. She’ll focus on two composers – Scott Joplin and Florence Price – the latter representing an important discovery in Lara’s early musical life…
In this clip from "Live with C#" Cecelia speaks with author Brendan Slocumb about his debut book "The Violin Conspiracy".
Jauron Perry and William Hill III are students at Detroit School of Arts. Jauron plays trumpet and William is a pianist. Both of the talented young musicians aim to further their lives in music after their senior year at DSA. The two are well on their way. William has been busy the past few years performing at music camps at Interlochen Arts Academy, Berklee College of Music and the Juilliard School. Jauron is a veteran of MSU’s Community Music School-Detroit and says he hopes to attend Michigan State next year. Jauron and Will visited with WRCJ’s Peter Whorf this week. Jauron started the conversation, reflecting on his many relationships with DSA and CMSD musicians.
Dr. Dave speaks with Detroit’s own Damien Crutcher, an MSU alumnus and arts leader, who will be guest conducting the Michigan State University Wind Symphony this Sunday at the Detroit School of Arts. The concert will be re-broadcast on Sunday, Feb. 13 at noon on 90.9 WRCJ.
Cecelia Sharpe speaks with Afa Dworkin ahead of this Saturday's 25th Annual Sphinx Organization's Junior and Senior Finals Concert, in which musicians perform for prizes and the opportunity to launch a career.
In this interview from Live with C#, Cecelia speaks with 22 year old cellist Joshua McClendon who is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree at Juilliard. He is a founding member of the Isidore String Quartet, and recently made his debut with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
JoAnn Falletta is Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic.
She’s also one of the founding board members of the Claudette Sorel Organization. Sorel was a pianist, teacher and music philanthropist who advocated a higher profile for contemporary music – particularly by women composers. Falletta and WRCJ’s Peter Whorf speak about the remarkable life of Claudette Sorel – commemorated in the recent re-release of classic recordings: Claudette Sorel: Rediscovered.
Detroit’s Barry Harris was without argument the greatest teacher in jazz, a brilliant pianist and all-round musician. His house in Detroit was a salon where everybody went to learn and play in the 40’s and 50’s. He moved to NYC in the early 60’s and continued to teach around the world for the rest of his life. In 2007 the Arts League of Michigan, now https://thecarrcenter.org/ , brought Barry to Detroit for a performance at the Detroit Festival of the Arts. He also came to the WRCJ studios for an interview, hosted by Karen Dumas and produced by John Penney. He tells the story of jazz in Detroit, stories about the musicians, and reflects on his life.
Steven Jarvi, Music Director of the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra, stops by to speak with Dave Wagner about the symphony's holiday performance on December 17, 2021 at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center.
Each year organist James Kibbie has a tradition of creating an audio holiday card! Listen to this interview with Dave Wagner as he tells us more about it. This year’s recording is Karl Osterland’s Personent hodie, which you can listen to here: www.umich.edu/~jkibbie.
DSO Music Director Laureate Leonard Slatkin recently returned to Detroit to lead the ensemble at Orchestra Hall. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf spoke with the Maestro from his St. Louis home about his recent book "Classical Crossroads" and his DSO reunion performance…
Dave Wagner talks with Damien Crutcher, the Managing Director of Detroit Harmony at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He talks about getting instruments into the hands of young students in Detroit in a joint effort with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra and Band Directors.
Maybe you’ve experienced Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s beloved opera The Marriage of Figaro before – but probably never like this. This Saturday in downtown Detroit, Michigan Opera Theatre plays host to the Mozart masterpiece in a startling new way. WRCJ’s Dave Wagner speaks with MOT Artistic Director Yuval Sharon and new Director of Innovation, Matthew Principe about Bliss – the reimagining of one music’s most sublime moments.
In this interview from "Live With C#", cellist and music educator Cecelia Sharpe speaks with her special guest, the legendary bassist from Detroit Michigan, Ralphe Armstrong.
Peter Whorf speaks with Michigan native cellist and UT-Austin Professor Bion Tsang about his new release of Bach Cello Suites - performed on a very special instrument.
WRCJ’s John Penney spoke recently with Saxophonist and Artistic Director of the Detroit Jazz Festival, Chris Collins, about this year’s artist line-up and last year’s virtual event. The world’s largest free jazz festival returns to live audiences in downtown Detroit, September 3 – 6.
Thursday, July 29th at 1:00pm, PUBLIQuartet begins its residency through virtual events that will be free to the community through the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Wright Museum. The first event is "Reflections on Beauty" a multimedia project about the life of entrepreneur, activist and America's first African-American women millionaire - Madame CJ Walker. PUBLIQuartet presents that project both at the DIA on Thursday, July 29 and again at the Wright Museum on August 25 - which will be followed by a discussion panel with the quartet and Madame Walker's great-great granddaughter and autobiographer A'lelia Bundles. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf Speaks with quartet violinist and violist Jannina Norpath and Nick Revel.
In this excerpt from "Live With C#" Cecelia Sharpe speaks with special guest, acclaimed jazz violinist Regina Carter!
Detroit-based Akropolis Reed Quintet returns to live performance this Friday evening in Detroit’s Beacon Park. Saxophonist Matt Landry spoke with WRCJ’s Peter Whorf in May about his group’s recent recording entitled Ghost Light. Matt returns to talk with Peter about this week’s performance of music from that new release…
The Scandinavian Cello School presents concerts weekly at a cattle farm in Denmark, providing a stress-free, soothing environment for its cows, who enjoy the moo-sic.
Detroit-based Akropolis Reed Quintet recently released their latest recording of new works entitled Ghost Light. The collection showcases music by Stacy Garrop, Michael Gilbertson, Niloufar Nourbakhsh, Theo Chandler and Jeff Scott with poetry from Detroit’s Marsha Music. Akropolis notes that “over the past two years, we’ve premiered a series of works dealing with life, death and rebirth…with Ghost Light we wanted to shine a light on ghosts around us…and embrace the beautiful cycle of life and death while recalling important moments and practices from our history.” Akropolis saxophonist Matt Landry speaks with WRCJ’s Peter Whorf about Ghost Light, and starts their conversation on the topic of Stacy Garrop’s music…based on ancient Egyptian ideas…
In this excerpt from Live with C#, Cecelia talks with former psychologist and current life coach, Christine Elwart. She has some beneficial tips to help boost our mental wellness.
The final track of Pat Metheny’s 2021 album Road to the Sun is a confluence of three musical visionaries, featuring the master guitarist playing the music of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, on the Pikasso guitar, an instrument developed by Canadian luthier Linda Manzer.
photo credit: Florian Thoss/Courtesy of the artist
The final track of Pat Metheny’s 2021 album Road to the Sun is a confluence of three musical visionaries, featuring the master guitarist playing the music of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, on the Pikasso guitar, an instrument developed by Canadian luthier Linda Manzer.
photo credit: Florian Thoss/Courtesy of the artist
The final track of Pat Metheny’s 2021 album Road to the Sun is a confluence of three musical visionaries, featuring the master guitarist playing the music of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, on the Pikasso guitar, an instrument developed by Canadian luthier Linda Manzer.
photo credit: Florian Thoss/Courtesy of the artist
-Gavilán Brothers: A Concert and Film May 8, 2021 8pm- This week from the Chamber Music Society of Detroit, violinist Ilmar Gavilán and pianist Aldo López-Gavilán perform at the Flagstar Strand Theatre in Pontiac, in a performance of Aldo's genre-defying music rooted in classical, Latin jazz and Afro-Cuban traditions. Listeners can attend in person as part of CMSD’s socially distanced, limited-capacity audience; or watch online from the comfort of your own home. Before the concert, meet Aldo and Ilmar by watching the online Metro Detroit Premiere screening of "Los Hermanos - The Brothers" on May 6, including a live post-film conversation featuring the Gavilán Brothers and the filmmakers hosted by longtime area arts and music critic Mark Stryker. The film will also be available on-demand through May 9. Both in-person and virtual concert tickets give you access to the online film screening. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf speaks with Ilmar, Aldo and CMSD President Steve Wogaman.
John Penney’s conversation with Peter Whorf completes a three month series of insights on great music with WRCJ’s local jazz hosts. In this interview, John shares some of his early memories of classic jazz recordings, starting with his father’s collection of swing era giants…
Musician, composer, and educator Kris Johnson joins C# to discuss his journey through the Civic program, our rich Detroit Jazz culture, his online music course, and more.
Cecelia Sharpe's interview with two dynamic women on Live with C#. Karla Hall Retired VP of the DTE Foundation and Margo Hall, actress, playwright, director and newly appointed Artistic Director of the Lorraine Hansberry Theater!
Linda Yohn hosts The Swing Set on Sundays at 7pm on 90.9FM. In a series of WRCJ jazz host conversations with Midday Music’s Peter Whorf, Linda recalls her family’s early influence on her musical life…
Violinist Hilary Hahn has just released her newest recording of music by Ernest Chausson, Sergei Prokofiev and Einojuhani Rautavaara. She begins her conversation with WRCJ’s Peter Whorf explaining why her latest disc is entitled Paris…
Marian McPartland hosted National Public Radio’s Piano Jazz for over 30 years. Throughout her lifetime, she was known for her support of jazz education and other female jazz musicians.
The all-female band Artemis transfixed listeners at the 2018 Newport Jazz Festival, and were soon signed to Blue Note Records. But in the 1940’s The International Sweethearts of Rhythm were among the first to break the gender barrier on the jazz bandstand.
Marian McPartland has given listeners a treasure trove of jazz history through her more than 700 interviews on National Public Radio’s Piano Jazz.
The all-female band Artemis transfixed listeners at the 2018 Newport Jazz Festival, proving that music transcends gender.
Despite its humble roots as part of a music education program at the Piney Woods School for Orphans in rural Mississippi, the International Sweethearts of Rhythm became the most sensational all-female band of the 1940’s.
Detroit musician and arranger Maurice King was instrumental in developing the musical precision of the all-female International Sweethearts of Rhythm.
Maxine Michaels hosts jazz on WRCJ’s Maxology every Friday at 7pm. She speaks with Midday Music host Peter Whorf about the top musicians and broadcasters who have influenced her throughout her radio career, leading off with a Motown legend…
This year’s Sphinx Organization concerto competition took place in the virtual space. You can still see the exciting performances by this year’s artists at DPTV.org. Sphinx Organization President Afa Dworkin speaks with WRCJ’s Peter Whorf about this year’s event…
Daniil Trifonov’s last two discs have focused on great Russian music of the past century. Trifonov is up for a Grammy for his Rachmaninoff release, and his newest recording, Silver Age, delivers the best of Prokofiev, Scriabin and Stravinsky. Daniil spoke with WRCJ’s Peter Whorf last week…
Tyshawn Sorey has found his voice, drawing upon all kinds of music, from the classical avant garde, to jazz and traditional classical music, to express himself as a contemporary black American composer.
Photo Attribution: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Cecelia Sharpe speaks with Kenneth Thompkins, Principal Trombone of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in this extended interview originally from her February episode of "Live With C Sharpe".
In a historic concert in Genoa Italy, Detroit native Regina Carter was the first African American and jazz musician invited to perform on Nicolo Paginini’s 200 year-old Guarneri violin.
Photo Attribution: Brianmcmillen, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Like all musicians, Chicago-based violinist Rachel Barton Pine isn’t doing the things to which she is most-accustomed these days. But her new digital project, 24 in 24 is exploring her favorite masterworks in new ways. Rachel speaks with WRCJ’s Peter Whorf…
WRCJ remembers the late Mike Whorf, longtime Detroit radio host of the award-winning series “Kaleidoscope.” This holiday edition from 1997 explores the life of George Frederick Handel and the writing of “Messiah.”
WRCJ’s Peter Whorf speaks with International Symphony Orchestra executive director Anthony Wing about their new digital series. Wing begins their conversation recalling the ensemble’s initial post-Covid response...
After a decades-long career with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Detroit Symphony Orchestras, violinist Joseph Striplin recently retired from the DSO. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf speaks with the current Grosse Pointe Symphony Orchestra maestro about the next chapter in his musical life, and the beginning of his path to the violin...
Nearly 200 years after Beethoven (1770-1827)wrote the Grosse Fuge, his fiendishly difficult masterpiece for string quartet still sounds fresh and contemporary. Photo: Ludwig-beethoven.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
Mack the Knife by Kurt Weill (1900-1950), one of the most popular songs of the 20th century, has its origins in The Beggar’s Opera by John Gay (1685-1732), one of the most popular plays of the 18th century. Photo of Kurt Weill: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-2005-0119%2C_Kurt_Weill.jpg Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-2005-0119 / CC-BY-SA 3.0 / CC BY-SA 3.0 DE (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en)
The composer/pianist Dave Brubeck (1920-2012) was mentored by French composer Darius Milhaud (1892-1974), who taught Brubeck to take creative risks, and encouraged him to play jazz. Photo: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Dave_Brubeck_%281964%29.jpg Jac. de Nijs / Anefo / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
JS Bach’s (1685-1750) brilliant masterwork The Art of Fugue, is adaptable to many different instruments, and even today, more than 300 years after it was written, remains fresh, interesting and astonishing in its complexity. Photo: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Johann_Sebastian_Bach.jpg Attribution: Elias Gottlob Haussmann / Public domain
Bebop saxophonist Charlie Parker (1920-1955) admired the music of Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) and incorporated some of Stravinsky’s music into his jazz solos. Stravinsky respected the music of Charlie Parker, too. Photo: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/Portrait_of_Charlie_Parker_in_1947.jpg Attribution: William P. Gottlieb / Public domain
The Concerto for Orchestra, one of the last works of Bela Bartok (1881-1945), quotes Symphony No. 7 “Leningrad" of Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975), in what appears to be a jeering parody of Shostakovich’s theme. Photo: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Bart%C3%B3k_B%C3%A9la_1927.jpg Public domain
Chick Corea (b. 1941) is one of the most versatile and innovative artists gracing concert stages today. Photo Attribution: Tore Sætre / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
Both Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915) and Sun Ra (1914-1993) were “out of this world,” by way of being influenced by the cosmos. Photo: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Skrjabin_Alexander.jpg Public domain
Mozart’s (1756-1791) brilliant Clarinet Concerto in A Major is a testament to the friendship and enduring respect he felt for the clarinetist Anton Stadler (1753-1812.)
2018 marked the centenary of the great American composer, conductor and humanitarian Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), whose fluidity with jazz and classical music captured the sound and ideals of mid-20th century America. Photo: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Leonard_Bernstein_by_Jack_Mitchell.jpg
American jazz pianist virtuoso Dorothy Donegan (April 6, 1922 - May 29, 1998) played everything from stride piano to Bach and Rachmaninoff, with a joie de vivre that belied the sexism and racism she faced.
Hank Jones (1918-2010), whose career spanned 7 decades, was known for his elegant and impeccable style as a jazz pianist. Even into his 90’s, he practiced classical exercises and etudes daily. Photo: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/Hank_Jones_MJF.jpg
The poco allegretto movement of Symphony No. 3 by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) has an evocative melody that has captured the imagination of a wide range of artists, from film composers to Carlos Santana and jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby. Photo: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/JohannesBrahms.jpg
Ken Fischer was President of Ann Arbor’s University Musical Society for three decades. From 1987 to 2017, UMS showcased everyone from the Vienna Philharmonic to the Royal Shakespeare Company, Yo Yo Ma to Wynton Marsalis. In fact, it was Marsalis who wrote the forward to Fischer’s new memoir, Everybody In Nobody Out…
Guitarist Sharon Isbin recently released her newest collection of diverse music entitled Affinty.
Sharon speaks with WRCJ’s Peter Whorf about the meaning behind the recording’s title. They discuss the music of several Latin American composers, American composer Chris Brubeck and Chinese composer Tan Dun…who combines sounds of traditional Chinese instruments with Isbin’s guitar…
Violinist Augustine Hadelich joined the DSO late in January of 2020 for one of the last live concerts at Orchestra Hall. Hadelich’s newest release Bohemian Tales features Antonin Dvorak’s Violin Concerto, and other works by Czech composers. Augustine Hadelich tell’s WRCJ’s Peter Whorf that last January’s Detroit appearance felt like ages ago…
Peter Whorf speaks with UMS President Matthew VanBesien about plans for the coming season.
WRCJ’s Peter Whorf speaks with Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus director Suzanne Acton about the ensemble’s May 22nd on-line performance and the history of the group…
DSO President and CEO Anne Parsons speaks with WRCJ’s Peter Whorf about how the orchestra is serving the classical music community during the current global crisis.
Dance Theatre of Harlem Choreographer in Residence Robert Garland visited the WRCJ studio to talk about the World Premiere of his new dance, “Higher Ground,” set to the music of Stevie Wonder.
Thomas Wilkins returns to Orchestra Hall to lead the DSO in this weekend’s “Classical Roots” concerts. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf caught up with the maestro to talk about Beethoven, this weekend’s Detroit-based premiere and more…
Andrew Neer leads the Redford Civic Symphony Orchestra this weekend in a program of exciting film music entitled “Heroes and Fellowship”. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf talks with Neer about this Sunday’s concert…
Dr. Dave Wagner talks with Soprano Avery Boettcher who plays Lauretta in Michigan Opera Theatre's performance of Gianni Schicchi/Buoso's Ghost.
The Heaton/Pierce/Martin Trio is featured in the Tuesday Musicale Detroit Artist of the Year concert on Saturday, February 22nd at 7:30 at St. James Catholic Church in Novi. Violinist Eliot Heaton joins WRCJ’s Peter Whorf to talk about being a chamber music performer – and concertmaster of the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra.
Cellist Alisa Weilerstein performs Samuel Barber’s concerto with the DSO this weekend. She joins WRCJ’s Peter Whorf to talk Barber, Bach and Beethoven…
WRCJ’s Peter Whorf with International Symphony Orchestra Executive Director and pianist Andrew Wing and Music Director Doug Bianchi.
Peter Whorf talks with Thomas Sondergard who conducts the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in Stravinky’s “Symphony in Three Movements,” Poulenc’s “Les Animaux Modeles,” Debussy’s “La Mer,” and Ravel’s “Piano Concerto for the Left Hand” with pianist Bertrand Chamayou.
Cellist Kamyron Williams and Sphinx Organization Manager for Institutional Partnerships Lauren McNeary joined us in our studios this week to talk about next week’s Sphinx Competition and Detroit symposia.
The Gryphon Trio performs the complete Beethoven Piano Trios as part of Chamber Music Society of Detroit concerts this weekend.
WRCJ’s Peter Whorf speaks with Gryphon members Roman Borys (cello) and Jamie Parker (piano) about Friday’s Grosse Pointe War Memorial concert, Saturday’s Canton performance and Sunday’s Oakland University presentation.
Pictured: Gryphon Trio’s Roman Borys (cello), Annalee Patipatanakoon (violin), Jamie Parker (piano)
Jader Bignamini was named this week as the new Music Director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra starting in the 2020-21 season. Maestro Bignamini first led the DSO in 2018 in their electrifying concert stage production of Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot. This past fall, Bignamini performed again with the DSO in a program highlighted by Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No.4. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf speaks with the DSO’s 18th music director…
Chicago violinist Rachel Barton Pine now has more than three dozen recordings in her catalog. Pine specializes in thematic collections of violin works not typically brought to the recording studio. Dvorak and Khachaturian are the subjects of her newest release as she chats with WRCJ’s Peter Whorf.
Following last year’s Vivaldi Four Seasons collaboration with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, violinist, conductor and counter tenor Dmitri Sinkovsky returns this weekend to the William Davidson Neighborhood Concert Series in Plymouth, Bloomfield Hills and Grosse Pointe.
Like fellow Russian artists Alexander Borodin and Peter Tchaikovsky, Moscow native Sinkovsky’s family is rooted in the precise world of engineering. Dmitri starts his conversation with WRCJ’s Peter Whorf by exploring ways that engineering an musical worlds intersect…
After last Wednesday’s DSO rehearsal, guest conductor Juanjo Mena came to the WRCJ studios to talk about this weekend’s program of Mendelssohn, Haydn and Schubert. Mena tells WRCJ’s Peter Whorf how he’d enjoy a daily dose of Haydn…
The International Symphony Orchestra is a two household ensemble with bases in Pt. Huron, MI and Sarnia, ON. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf speaks with ISO Music Director Douglas Bianchi and Executive Director Anthony Wing about the orchestra’s upcoming concert and future plans…
Bach To Bach is the newest release – and the first in two decades – from cellist Ofra Harnoy. The Toronto-based virtuoso took the classical music world by storm in the 1980s and 90s, but has been sidelined by injury for the past few years. Harnoy has recently bounced back to perform, tour and take to the recording studio. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf recently spoke with Ofra Harnoy about her Analekta label recording of music by Bach, Telemann, Corelli and other Baroque masters.
Cellist Camille Thomas and pianist Roman Rabinovich are a busy pair on the move. They first performed together this past summer at Michigan’s Interlochen Center. Tuesday night, Thomas and Rabinovich played a concert of works by Beethoven, Brahms, Frank and Messiaen for the Cranbrook Guild. Thursday, they join forces in Ft. Worth, Texas at the acclaimed Cliburn Concerts. The duo heads to Houston on Friday. Ms. Thomas jets off to Salzburg, Austria later in the month to perform a work written for her – Fazil Say’s Cello Concerto.
Thomas and Rabinovich stopped by WRCJ’s studios earlier this week to talk about their recent and future performances, recordings and more…
Cellist Camille Thomas and pianist Roman Rabinovich are a busy pair on the move. They first performed together this past summer at Michigan’s Interlochen Center. Tuesday night, Thomas and Rabinovich played a concert of works by Beethoven, Brahms, Frank and Messiaen for the Cranbrook Guild. Thursday, they join forces in Ft. Worth, Texas at the acclaimed Cliburn Concerts. The duo heads to Houston on Friday. Ms. Thomas jets off to Salzburg, Austria later in the month to perform a work written for her – Fazil Say’s Cello Concerto.
Thomas and Rabinovich stopped by WRCJ’s studios earlier this week to talk about their recent and future performances, recordings and more…
This Saturday, November 23rd, 7:00pm at Bloomfield Hills’ St. Regis Church, Andrew Neer leads the Oakland Choral Society and Orchestra Sono in three masterworks by Bach and Vivaldi. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf invited Neer to our studios this week to talk about the program, and Andrew’s early memories of musicals, choral performance…and Leonard Bernstein…
DSO Music Director Laureate Leonard Slatkin leads the ensemble this weekend in works by Hector Berlioz, Mohammed Fairouz and Modest Mussorgsky/Maurice Ravel. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf speaks with Maestro Slatkin at Detroit’s Orchestra Hall about Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition…and DSO concerts later this season celebrating Slatkin’s 75th birthday…
Stephen Powell performs the title role in Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, opening Saturday in the Michigan Opera Theatre production at the Detroit Opera House. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf speaks with Powell about his first encounters with the “Demon Barber of Fleet Street”…
This week at Orchestra Hall, Dalia Stasevska leads the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in Julia Wolfe’s “Fountain of Youth”, Peter Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and the First Symphony by Jean Sibelius. Stasevska and WRCJ’s Peter Whorf talked about the program in our studios earlier this week. Upon first hearing Tchaikovsky’s concerto, colleague and pianist Nikolai Rubinstein famously rejected the masterwork. Dalia Stasevska wonders why…
Flutist Jeff Zook and Guitarist Bret Hoag will be featured at WRCJ’s Classical Brunch at the Birmingham Community House this Sunday morning. Doors open at 11:20am with brunch at 11:30 and music from 12:30 to 1:30. More information and tickets at WRCJFM.org.
Jeff and Bret joined Peter Whorf in the WRCJ studios on Monday for this preview performance and conversation…
Flutist Jeff Zook and Guitarist Bret Hoag will be featured at WRCJ’s Classical Brunch at the Birmingham Community House this Sunday morning. Doors open at 11:20am with brunch at 11:30 and music from 12:30 to 1:30. More information and tickets at WRCJFM.org.
Jeff and Bret joined Peter Whorf in the WRCJ studios on Monday for this preview performance and conversation…
Christopher Allen leads the Michigan Opera Theatre in Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the Detroit Opera House. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf has this preview conversation with Allen about the Mozart masterpiece…and why Christopher is so thrilled about his stellar cast…
Christopher Allen leads the Michigan Opera Theatre in Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the Detroit Opera House. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf has this preview conversation with Allen about the Mozart masterpiece…and why Christopher is so thrilled about his stellar cast…
This week marks two return engagements with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Jader Bignamini conducted Puccini’s Turandot at Orchestra Hall in June of 2018. He rejoins former DSO concertmaster Yoonshin Song to conduct Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto in g minor. Soprano Janai Brugger then makes her DSO debut in Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 4. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf speaks with Bignamini about the program…and how Mahler follows his massive symphonies 2 and 3 with the more intimate number four…
Pianist David Fung will be one of the many talents on stage at Orchestra Hall this weekend as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra opens its 2019-20 season. Fung joins pianists Christina and Michelle Naughton in J.S. Bach’s Triple Concerto in a program that also includes Mozart’s Concerto for 2 pianos and Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.
WRCJ’s Peter Whorf speaks with David about this weekend’s concerts and his new recordings of the complete Mozart piano sonatas…
Since his 2007 Grand Prize-winning performance at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, tenor Michael Fabiano has been one of opera’s fastest-rising stars. The University of Michigan grad has headlined performances around the world including those with the San Francisco Opera, Glyndebourne Festival, Deutche Oper Berlin, Vancouver Opera and more. Fabiano currently appears in the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Puccini’s Manon.
Michael Fabiano is featured in the Michigan Opera Theatre’s season-opening gala concert on October 12th at the Detroit Opera House. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf speaks with Michael about his days at the University of Michigan..and two experiences that helped Fabiano to prepare for a life in performance…high school debate and baseball umpiring.
Sharon Isbin, one of the leading guitarists of our time, was recently in Michigan for two performances. She gave the world premiere of Chris Brubeck’s Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra a few seasons back. Isbin also played Joaquin Rodrigo’s popular Concierto de Aranjuez with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra. In her newest project, she partners with the Pacifica Quartet in music from Spain and Italy. In her conversation with WRCJ’s Peter Whorf, Sharon Isbin talks about her admiration for the Indiana University quartet-in-residence…
The Miro Quartet opens the Chamber Music Society of Detroit’s 2019/20 at the Seligman Performing Arts Center on Saturday, September 14 at 8pm. They joined us in our studios today to play Beethoven and Kevin Puts and spoke with Midday Music Host Peter Whorf.
The Miro Quartet opens the Chamber Music Society of Detroit’s 2019/20 at the Seligman Performing Arts Center on Saturday, September 14 at 8pm. They joined us in our studios today to play Beethoven and Kevin Puts and spoke with Midday Music Host Peter Whorf.
This Sunday, September 15, historic Ste. Anne de Detroit Catholic Church presents its annual cultural festival “Rendez-Vous” from 11am-7pm. Metro Detroiters will gather to celebrate the founding heritages of Detroit with French Canadian, Metis, and Native American music, dancing, food and cultural exhibits. The fest also includes a beer and wine tent, children’s activities, and artisans featuring French, Native American, Michigan and Detroit themed merchandise. WRCJ’s Dave Wagner and Ron Nolan speak with Rendez-Vous participants Geno Picor, Elizabeth Bourne-Nido and Sheila Graziano about Sunday’s events.
Violinist Nicola Benedetti and the Philadelphia Orchestra have just released a live concert recording of the 2015 Violin Concerto by Wynton Marsalis. Detroit listeners were among the first to hear the work; Benedetti has performed the concerto at Orchestra Hall in 2017 with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. The BBC has also created a television documentary about the making of the concerto. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf recently spoke with Nicola Benedetti about her partnership with Marsalis in introducing the piece to audiences through the music’s direct language…
Hamilton Philharmonic Music Director Gemma New leads the DSO this weekend as part of the Davidson Neighborhood Series. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf speaks with Gemma about the program of Haydn, Mozart and Edvard Grieg’s Holberg Suite: In The Olden Style.
David Gier is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance. He holds a Doctorate of Music from Yale University. After serving as the University of Iowa’s music school Dean, Gier returned to UM last summer as the new Dean at the SMTD. He caught up with WRCJ’s Peter Whorf in our studios this week to talk about the school’s newest projects, and remember his days as a Michigan undergraduate trombone student…
Michigan Opera Theatre's Director Of Education Andrea Scobie speaks with Dr. Dave about the Operetta Workshop which offers professional training for students ages 13-18 and running July 8-26.
The Passacaglia is a stately triple-time dance of Renaissance Spain. Later re-workings of the three-step open and close this weekend’s Detroit Symphony Orchestra program – first in music by Anton Webern, then in Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 4. Simone Young leads the DSO in the concert of Viennese composers, and talks with WRCJ’s Peter Whorf about Brahms’ take on the Passacaglia…
Starting on May 29th, Ann Arbor-based Akropolis Reed Quintet brings their “Together We Sound” series of outreach concerts to neighborhoods in Detroit and Ann Arbor. Akropolis saxophonist Matthew Landry speaks with WRCJ’s Peter Whorf about the series and a bit of the group’s history…
Kent Nagano is Music Director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and leads the DSO in performances this weekend of music by Anton Bruckner and Sergei Prokofiev. Nagano stopped by the WRCJ studios after Wednesday’s rehearsal to speak with Peter Whorf about his Orchestra Hall program and his new book, Classical Music: Expect the Unexpected…
Ricky Ian Gordon’s opera The Grapes of Wrath tells the iconic American story by John Steinbeck and premieres at Michigan Opera Theatre this Saturday.
WRCJ’s Peter Whorf speaks with Gordon about the adaptation of the literary classic, his work with librettist Michael Korie and creating the piece in cooperation with the Steinbeck estate…
Dave Wagner talks with Dr. Robert A. Harris, respected African-American composer and Professor of Music, at the 41st Annual Classical Roots Celebration.
Cecelia Sharpe talks with Luka Šulić, one half of 2CELLOS, coming to Detroit's Fox Theater on 2/23/19. Hear what it's like going from YouTube phenom, to touring with Elton John, to much, much more.
WRCJ’s Chris Felcyn recorded this interview with Soprano Renee Fleming on September 27, and sadly, Chris passed away the next morning. Their conversation took place after a “Music & The Mind” presentation by Henry Ford Hospital and Michigan Opera Theatre, and touched on the power of music, Ms. Fleming’s upcoming performance on 9/29 for the MOT, and her new recording “Broadway.” Thank you for your expressions of kindness for the family and friends of Chris Felcyn.
Join us to celebrate the 120th birthday of George Gershwin as pianist Kirill Gerstein checks in with Chris Felcyn from Carnegie Hall with a new album of outstanding Gershwin. The new CD includes guest appearances by Gary Burton and Storm Large.
Three-time Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn joined Chris Felcyn from Boston to give a sneak preview of her newest album. In 1997 on her debut album, Hilary Hahn recorded three of J.S. Bach's masterpieces for unaccompanied violin. Now, more than 20 years later she completes the set!
Chris Felcyn speaks with Executive Director Mary Steffek Blaske and Music Director (also flutist!)Arie Lipsky of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra which will soon begin it's 90th season.
Sensational violinist Anne Akiko Meyers joins Chris Felcyn to talk about her newest album "Mirror in Mirror". With the exception of Ravel, Anne collaborated with all of the composers and arrangers on this album and several works were written for her. This is her 36th studio album!
Jamie Bernstein, the eldest daughter of Leonard Bernstein, joins Chris Felcyn to talk about her new book, Famous Father Girl: A Memoir of Growing Up Bernstein. “It is a great American story about one of the greatest Americans of the modern age” (Amazon.com).
Stephen Hough joins us from Carnegie Hall to talk about his latest release, The Dream Album. It is loaded with brilliant arrangements of 27 short piano jewels.
DSO Associate Conductor Michelle Merrill visits the Well-Tempered Wireless as she wraps up her time in Detroit prior to assuming the post of Music Director of the Coastal Symphony of Georgia next season.
Leonard Slatkin joins host Chris Felcyn on The Well-Tempered Wireless for his last visit as DSO Music Director. Expect great music, great stories and maybe a surprise or two. Don’t miss it!
Joshua Bell joins host Chris Felcyn from New York to give a two-part sneak preview of his latest CD with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, “Scottish Fantasy,” featuring music by Max Bruch.
Conductor Jader Bignamini stops by to talk about this weekend's Detroit Symphony Orchestra's concert performance of Puccini’s final opera, Turandot.
Chris Felcyn greets Paul Watkins, cellist with the Emerson Quartet and artistic director of The Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, which opens 6/9/18 for its 25th season. Discover the many amazing artists who will be performing.
In this clip from The Well-Tempered Wireless, hear Simone Dinnerstein's latest release which pairs a Bach keyboard concerto with a brand new piano concerto written for her by Philip Glass. "Circles; Piano Concertos by Bach + Glass" has been getting enthusiastic reviews, and Simone joins us to tell us all about it.
Maestro Peter Oundjian joins The Well-Tempered Wireless to talk about leading Tchaikovsky's Pathetique Symphony with the DSO this weekend.
DSO Concertmaster Yoonshin Song visits to talk about her upcoming performance for The Vivace Music Series at The Birmingham Temple.
The University of Michigan's prestigious M-Prize competition kicks off 5/3/18. In this interview from 5/2, Chris Felcyn talks with the event's Program Director, Heather Kendrick, for the complete lowdown. Ms. Kendrick is a U of M alum and a former Miss Michigan.
French Canadian pianist Louis Lortie visits WRCJ today at 1pm, just hours before he dazzles Detroiters with his Beethoven.
Maestro Fabien Gabel and cello soloist Nicolas Altstaedt visit the Well-Tempered Wireless as they prepare for an all-French program this weekend with the DSO and the U of M Choral Union.
Legendary tenor George Shirley stops by to help us out during or Spring Fundraising Drive!
Finnish maestro Hannu Lintu visits WRCJ en route to his guest conducting gig this weekend with the DSO.
Superstar Storm Large rocks "the Cube" at Orchestra Hall, but first she visits WRCJ with the scoop.
The CutTime Players have an upcoming performance at the Birmingham Temple but first Chris Felcyn talks with Mr. CutTime himself, bassist-arranger-composer-founder Rick Robinson.
Noah Stewart gives us the scoop on Tosca. He plays her love interest on the stage of the Detroit Opera House on April 15, 2018.
Denise Tryon and Karl Pituch visit The Well-Tempered Wireless with a brand new CD "A Pair Of Aces".
Maestro John Mauceri explains how there really is more to conducting than just waving a stick.
In this clip from the Well-Tempered Wireless, Chris will is joined from Sacramento by pianist Lara Downes to discuss her latest CD "For Lenny: An intimate tribute to Leonard Bernstein and his American legacy."
Chris Felcyn brings you a one-hour feature with Ricky Ian Gordon, the composer of “27” brought to you by the Michigan Opera Theatre. “27” is about the American writer Gertrude Stein and her partner Alice B. Toklas. It follows the salons hosted by Gertrude and Alice in their home at 27 rue de Fleurus in Paris.
DSO Associate Conductor (and new mother) Michelle Merrill joins us during The Well-Tempered Wireless special, “In Praise of Classical Women.”
WRCJ 90.9 FM is fortunate to have many guests visit our studios, from performers to composers to conductors and more. Our archived interviews are available for your listening pleasure.
In this clip from The Listening Room, violinist Anne Akiko Meyers joins Chris Felcyn from Los Angeles to talk about her new CD Fantasia.
The Well-Tempered Wireless welcomes two Frenchmen who will be performing with the DSO this weekend, Conductor Fabien Gabel and pianist Bertrand Chamayou. They're playing concerts featuring Strauss' Don Juan and his Burlesque for piano and orchestra, as well as Brahms' Symphony.
Fresh from a triumphant and historic Asia tour, DSO bass trombonist Randy Hawes joins us for a DSO Asia Tour wrap-up.
As the DSO Asia Tour is packing for China we talk with Trey Lee, the phenomenal cellist who will be next week's featured soloist.
Legendary saxophonist Branford Marsalis returns to WRCJ to talk with Chris Felcyn about his concerts this weekend with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
Here we speak with the soloists for Friday the 27th's two DSO performances, Associate Concertmaster Kimberly Kaloyanides Kennedy and Assistant Concertmaster Hai-Xin Wu.
Pianist Alon Goldstein joins Chris in the studio. Alon is in town to play the music of Mozart with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra July 14, 2017.
The British pianist joins us from London to talk about his history and his most recent cd "Homages".
Guitarist Jason Vieaux and accordionist Julien Labro join Chris Felcyn from Cleveland to talk about their latest collaboration Infusion.
Chris talks with the six-man ensemble who will be performing in Kurt Weill's The Seven Deadly Sins with our previous guest Storm Large and the DSO at Orchestra Hall December 2nd and 3rd.
Singer, songwriter, actor and author Storm Large returns to visit Chris Felcyn to talk about her upcoming performances. Wednesday, she performs her cabaret show in The Cube, and this weekend, she'll reprise her triumphant 2013 Carnegie Hall performance of Kurt Weill's The Seven Deadly Sins with the DSO in Orchestra Hall.
Chris speaks with pianist Kirill Gerstein who will join the DSO this weekend for a performance of the less common 1879 version of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1.
Today we are visited by Michelle Merrill, assistant conductor of the Detroit Symphony and her husband Steve, principal percussion for the Jacksonville FL Symphony. Together they'll discuss the joys and challenges of pursuing successful careers as professional musicians in a long-distance marriage.
Nan Washburn, music director of the Michigan Philharmonic, visits the station ahead of their season opening concert coming up on October 8th.
The much anticipated history of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra was just released by Wayne State University Press and Chris will be joined by author Laurie Lanzen Harris and Paul Ganson to talk about "The Detroit Symphony Orchestra: Grace, Grit, and Glory".
Chris is joined by the music director of the Ann Arbor Symphony, who will give us a lowdown of their season opening concert Saturday September 10th in Hill Auditorium. (He also gives us a couple of tongue-in-cheek tips on how to survive game day in Ann Arbor).
Chris Felcyn speaks with violinist Jennifer Koh for a preview of her new album, the complete works for violin and orchestra by Tchaikovsky, which releases on September 9th.
The violinist, violist and conductor explains to Chris his introduction to playing an instrument and his journey as a musician, including leaving his home country of Israel at the age of 13 and a half. Coming out soon is a 22 cd set featuring Zuckerman spanning 1974 to 1996.
Cellist and Artistic Director of the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, Paul Watkins talks with Chris Felcyn about the Great Lakes Chamber Festival (opening 6/11) that brings a contingent of the world's finest chamber musicians to metro Detroit for two weeks of performances in downtown and suburban venues.
Cellist and Artistic Director of the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, Paul Watkins talks with Chris Felcyn about the Great Lakes Chamber Festival (opening 6/11) that brings a contingent of the world's finest chamber musicians to metro Detroit for two weeks of performances in downtown and suburban venues.
DSO Principal Cellist Wei Yu and his wife, pianist Keun-A Lee, join Chris Felcyn in this segment of The Well-Tempered Wireless. They will perform on Saturday, 6/4, at The Birmingham Temple Congregation for Humanistic Judaism as part of the Vivace Music Series.
On this, his fourth visit to Detroit, violinist Paul Huang will be performing three concerts around the area featuring the "Scottish Fantasy" by Max Bruch. Learn a bit more about him in this interview from the Well-Tempered Wireless.
After an 18 year absence, the British violinist will perform with the DSO May 6th and 7th. He describes his musical history but first he and Chris discuss the less than spectacular records of their favorite sports teams.
Chris is joined by DSO Conductor Michelle Merrill and the DSO's new principal bassist Kevin Brown. The DSO will have three performances this weekend of Beethoven's Pastoral as well as a Concerto for double bass featuring Mr. Brown.
Violinist Annalee Patipatanakoon, cellist Roman Borys and pianist James Parker of the Gryphon Trio join us for an interview from Washington. They've been together for 23 years(!) and their next performance is this Sunday at Oakland University.
Chris and percussionist Joshua Jones take a tour of the DSO's "percussion closet" and we also learn about Joshua's long journey to become part of the symphony.
French pianist Helene Grimaud will be performing the first and second Brahms Piano Concertos this weekend with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Fresh from rehearsal she explains her musical experience with Brahms.
Harpist Yolanda Kondonassis and Detroit Symphony Orchestra flutist Sharon Sparrow join Chris to talk about this weekend's concerts at the DSO's Mozart Festival in Orchestra Hall.
We are joined by Detroit Symphony Orchestra music director Leonard Slatkin who talks about this weekend's concerts with Hilary Hahn and Lang Lang.
It's the Adjunct Associate Professor of Harp and Choral Conducting at Wayne State University, the Principal harpist for the Michigan Opera Theatre and the Kresge Eminent Artist for 2017 all in one person! In the studio!
The Music Director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra stops in to tell us how his summer went and also to give us the scoop on his new book, "Leading Tones: Reflections on Music, Musicians and the Music Industry".
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is off to Asia for a two week tour and Music Director Leonard Slatkin gives us a preview of our orchestra's epic journey.
WRCJ 90.9 FM is fortunate to have many guests visit our studios, from performers to composers to conductors and more. Our archived interviews are available for your listening pleasure.
WRCJ 90.9 FM is fortunate to have many guests visit our studios, from performers to composers to conductors and more. Our archived interviews are available for your listening pleasure.