Piedmont Arts Podcast: Recent Episodes
WDAV Classical Public Radio
The nation’s largest print and drawing competition in the early 1970s was held at Davidson College. Organized by renowned artist Herb Jackson, the competition drew submissions from across the country and brought some of the most compelling works on paper to campus. Davidson is celebrating the 50th anniversary with a new competition and exhibition called “50 Years Later: Davidson National Print and Drawing Competition.” On this Piedmont Arts episode we talk to Herb Jackson and curator Lia Newman about the competition’s legacy.
A new season of orchestral performances will start in a few weeks, and that includes the 62nd season for the Western Piedmont Symphony. Maestro Matthew Troy has been the Hickory-based orchestra’s Music Director and Conductor since 2019 and he talks on this Piedmont Arts about what we’ll be hearing from them in 2026-2027. You’ll also get a preview of other regional orchestras’ upcoming seasons, plus a quick look at more events and activities with FanFare.WPS Masterworks Symphony Swings with Doreen Ketchens, clarinet. Credit Paul van Breemen PhotographyWestern Piedmont Symphony performs the music of Pink Floyd. Credit Tom Devlin Photography
Storyteller Donna Washington has been weaving tales for audiences of all ages for more than 38 years. On this Piedmont Arts podcast episode, she shares what makes a good story and a good storyteller, and she even tells us a story or two. Plus, a look at the largest Black theatre festival in the world, the International Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem. One of the organizers, Brittany Giles-Jones, helps us parse the more than 100 offerings. And hear interesting things to do for fun in the FanFare segment.
There isn’t always a direct path for classical musicians who want to perform professionally to go from university to the stage. But renowned conductor James Meena aims to help these artists through a new venture called the Charlotte Lyric Theatre. Meena is the guest on this Piedmont Arts episode, and he explains how this career development program is working and getting results. Also, the latest edition of FanFare to help you plan fun activities in coming days.
Originally from Northern California, poet and creative arts activist Cheryl Wilder has lived in North Carolina for more than 20 years, and her latest collection of poems, Singing Riptide, stems from a traumatic event in her life. On this episode of Piedmont Arts, you’ll hear what it was that set Cheryl’s writing career in motion. Plus, we’ll let you know about upcoming arts and culture happenings across our region with FanFare.
At An Appalachian Summer Festival in Boone this month, you can do everything from enjoying classical concerts to watching international films. And if you’re in the Greensboro area, the newly launched Eastern Festival of Music offers numerous concerts, many of them led by music director Gerard Schwarz. Find out more about both festival’s offerings by listening to this Piedmont Arts podcast episode.
As American celebrates its 250th Anniversary this week, our Piedmont Arts podcast features two conversations that explore different aspects of the American experience, one past and one present. Moravian music expert Dr. Christopher Ogburn tells us how the Moravians, who settled in North Carolina and Pennsylvania, made significant contributions to music in colonial and post-Revolutionary America. And we talk to the composer and librettist of the opera The Falling and Rising which examines the ways war impacts modern military family life. Their opera is coming to the Brevard Music Center in July 2026.
A rare opportunity for choral composers and lyricists is happening in Charlotte this week. It’s the second annual International Choral Composers Institute, a 5-day immersive program dedicated to nurturing and instructing those who create choral music. On this Piedmont Arts episode, we talk with Sherry Blevins, the Institute’s founder, about the ways participants will get practical, hands-on advice and instruction to further their careers.
In the summer of 1965, a theater arts major from Carnegie Mellon University named Constance Welsh put on the first show by the new Davidson Community Players. Sixty-one years later, the theater company is still going strong and getting stronger. DCP’s executive director Steve Kaliski is on this episode of Piedmont Arts to talk about the productions of Evita, Million Dollar Quartet, and more. Then, soprano Karen Slack speaks about her concert, African Queens, which Piedmont Opera is presenting this month in Winston-Salem. Plus FanFare with even more events and activities across our region.
Summer Shakespeare productions are a long-standing tradition in the U.S., and now the Triad has a theater company dedicated to bringing the Bard’s plays to North Carolina Audiences. Piedmont Shakespeare Company is in its second season with performances of “Much Ado About Nothing” taking place in venues from Winston-Salem to Burlington. On this Piedmont Arts episode, executive director David McGraw talks about the importance of Shakespeare in the modern day and the beauty of summer Shakespeare.
By many accounts, he was an unsavory character, but Caravaggio was also a revolutionary and influential painter of the late 16th century in Rome, Naples, and Sicily. A new exhibition of Caravaggio’s paintings and others by leading Baroque masters has opened at the Mint Museum in Uptown Charlotte. Hear more about it from exhibition curator and Mint President & CEO Todd Herman on this episode of Piedmont Arts. Plus, we have a report from the Spoleto USA Festival in Charleston, SC, and the latest edition of FanFare to help you plan more early-summer fun.
What's Bach's connection to French composers, both baroque and modern? How did Bach influence Brahms? What's Handel's other great religious oratorio besides Messiah? The 2026 Charlotte Bach Festival offers concerts and experiences that help audiences explore those questions and learn about Bach's singular place in the history of music. On this episode, we take an in depth look at the festival with Bach Charlotte executive director Garrett Murphy.
Pianist Phillip Bush grew up in Charlotte and has had a successful career across the country as a soloist, chamber musician, and university professor. He’s the next WDAV Small Batch concert at Free Range Brewing as part of the Steinway at Free Range series. On this edition of the Piedmont Arts podcast, he talks about his music education in Charlotte as well as his love of contemporary music.
Based in Davidson, North Carolina, the Orchestra of the Carolinas is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing people together through the power of music. On this Piedmont Arts podcast, you’ll hear more about what makes the orchestra tick, and details on their upcoming season finale with Grammy award-winning vocalist Carmen Bradford. Plus, a new edition of FanFare to help you fill out your arts & culture calendar.
As America’s 250th Anniversary draws near, Charlotte Ballet will celebrate with a work that pays tribute to America. Artistic director Alejandro Cerrudo’s first full-length ballet called “One Thousand Pieces” receives its Charlotte premier in May at the Knight Theatre. It’s inspired Marc Chagall’s stained-glass creation called “America Windows.” Learn more about “One Thousand Pieces” from Cerrudo on this episode of Piedmont Arts.
America turns 250 this year, and there are all sorts of celebrations, events, and activities happening across the country. One of them is a new immersive experience at the Charlotte Museum of History called American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition. You’ll hear all about it on the new episode of Piedmont Arts. Plus, hear the scoop on summer arts camps for your kids, and your weekend is covered with FanFare.
Goodyear Arts is an artist-led nonprofit located in Camp Northend that exists to support local artists and musicians in a variety of ways. They offer gallery spaces, performance areas, and studios where artists of all types can create and share their work. On this Piedmont Arts podcast we talk with Goodyear Arts Collective members Amy Bagwell, Kadey Ballard, and Nathan Matthews about the ways the organization connects artists and fosters creativity in our community.
Artist David McGee’s paintings explore the meanings we associate with images and words and the way they influence attitudes about race and history. The Bechtler Museum has added an exhibition of his work called “The Griot and The Nightingale” which brings together more than 100 of his creations. McGee and Bechtler curator Katia Zavistovski are guests on this Piedmont Arts podcast episode.
A new exhibition at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts & Culture prompts visitors to consider the way a photograph or painting decides what “correct” looks like. In Presence of Color, Charlotte-born artist Jeremy Okai Davis reimagines the Kodak Company’s mid-century “Shirley” cards which used white skin tones to establish baselines for light and color when developing film. Davis is the guest on this Piedmont Arts podcast, and he talks about the ways he deconstructs the “Shirley” cards to create portraits of Black individuals.
What happens when you take a murder mystery and wrap it in local Charlotte history? You get another thrilling novel by Landis Wade. On this episode of Piedmont Arts, you’ll hear from the trial lawyer-turned-author about his new book, Deadly Gold Rush. Then, learn about the Avett Brothers’ effort to restore and revive a historic theater in Mount Pleasant, NC. Plus some live entertainment options to put on your calendar with FanFare.
When George Bizet’s Carmen was first performed, it wasn’t well-received because of its gritty subject matter and fiercely independent female lead. Today it’s one of the most often performed of all operas. Piedmont Opera will present Bizet’s masterpiece at High Point Theatre with mezzo-soprano Zoie Reams singing the title role. On this Piedmont Arts podcast hear her talk about how she got into opera and why she finds Carmen’s character so compelling.
What goes into creating a children’s book? On this episode of Piedmont Arts, you’ll learn about that process from Charlotte-based author and editor Maya Myers. You’ll also hear about her new book Good Morning, Morning. Plus, Phil Vavra will tell you about some fun and engaging events to put on your calendar with FanFare.
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra recently announced their ‘26-‘27 season which will bring big name soloists like Joshua Bell to town and feature well-loved works like Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. There are also lesser-known works and up-and-coming soloists. And don’t forget the pops, movie, family, and road show series. On this Piedmont Arts podcast episode, CEO David Fisk talks about some of the season’s highlights.
On this episode of Piedmont Arts, you’ll learn about two exciting opportunities to hear live music. Jane Cain and David Wilson of the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra tell us all about the 2nd annual Davidson Bach Festival. And Rachel Stewart explores the intersection of classical and video game music with Charlotte wind ensemble Phoenix Down RPG, who are headlining WDAV’s next Small Batch concert.
Not every organist incorporates jazz and gospel into their repertoire, but Alcee Chriss III does. He’s one of America’s most talented young organists, and he’s coming to Charlotte’s Covenant Presbyterian Church for a masterclass and recital. In this episode, learn more about Alcee Chriss and what audiences can expect from his Charlotte appearance.
Theatre Charlotte is now in its 98th season of engaging, entertaining, and enlightening audiences of all ages. Artistic Director Chris Timmons talks about which shows are hitting the stage this season, including a special appearance at WDAV’s Small Batch Concert. Plus, hear an interview with the folks organizing Una Noche Entre Suenos, an afternoon of Tango music and dance coming to Charlotte.
Confluence, the Carolinas’ music industry conference, brings together artists, entrepreneurs, and fans for daytime panels and nightly concerts across Charlotte. Host Rachel Stewart talks with organizers Rick Thurmond and Liz Brigham about how the event supports the region’s thriving independent music scene, the collaborative spirit behind its growth, and the mix of live showcases. Highlights include a keynote with Grammy president Panos Panay and performances by emerging artists you’ll want to discover before they reach bigger stages.
Founded in 2022, the Stateline Community Orchestra is based in Pineville, North Carolina. On this episode of Piedmont Arts, Phil Vavra speaks with the orchestra’s conductor, David Gordon, about what it’s like to work with a talented and dedicated group of volunteer musicians who come from all walks of life. You’ll also get a preview of their upcoming schedule and hear about other cultural happenings to put on your calendar in the Charlotte region.
The Charlotte Film Festival was started in 2006 to give established and emerging filmmakers a place to showcase their work. After 19 years, it’s still going strong. This year’s festival is at the International Picture House and promises a diverse line up of full and short-length features, documentaries, and animated films. Host Rachel Stewart talks with festival organizers Jay Morong and Taylor Montalto about what’s on offer this year. She also chats with David Wilson, concertmaster of North Carolina Baroque Orchestra Chamber Players, which opens WDAV’s Small Batch Concert Series.
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra’s 2025-26 season gets underway at its annual Gala concert on September 18th with a very special guest. The CSO’s President and Chief Executive Officer, David Fisk, tells us all about that and some other upcoming highlights from the season. Plus, a preview of new Visual Arts offerings across our region and the weekly FanFare segment to help you fill out your events calendar.Learn more about the Charlotte Symphony
Charlotte Ballet's new season begins in October. We talk with artistic director Alejandro Cerrudo about what you'll see - from a world premiere by a South African choreographer to "The Nutcracker" to Cerrudo's own full length ballet, "One Thousand Pieces" in May.
Piedmont Opera has a new interim artistic director, Joseph Mechavich, who has put together a varied and innovative ‘25/’26 season. It includes everything from an unusual, immersive production of Pagliacci to a concert by Grammy-award winning soprano Karen Slack. We talk with Mechavich about the season and the importance of opera and the arts to our communities. Rachel Stewart and Phil Vavra also preview the seasons of other opera companies in the region.
Three Bone Theatre’s mission is unique among Charlotte’s theater companies. They focus on contemporary works centered around diversity and social justice that can be a catalyst for change in the community. Three Bone’s current production is “Electricidad,” a retelling of the ancient Greek tragedy, “Elektra,” in a modern-day Chicano setting. We talk to “Electricidad’s” director, Glynnis O’Donoghue, and Three Bone leaders Robin Tynes-Miller and Tiffany Bryant-Jackson.Learn more about Three Bone Theater’s “Electricidad”
In 2025, Charlotte Pride celebrates 25 years of LGBTQ arts and culture with the annual Charlotte Pride Festival in its new location at First Ward Park. On this Piedmont Arts podcast, we hear from the Managing Director of Charlotte Pride, Meredith Thompson, about what we can expect during the 2025 festival and parade.Learn more about the Charlotte Pride Parade
Henry David Thoreau’s Walden was written in 1854 but has lessons for life in the 21st century. In her new book Finding Your Walden, Charlotte author Jen McGivney explores how the ideas in Walden can help people navigate modern life—from career crossroads to everyday overwhelm—with more clarity and intention.
Since 1937, visitors to North Carolina’s Outer Banks have been enhancing their beach vacations by taking in a performance of The Lost Colony at the Waterside Theater in Manteo. We talk to Chuck Still, the Executive Director of the Roanoke Island Historical Association, about the beloved play, how the production has evolved through the years, and the mystery that remains unsolved. You’ll also hear about other North Carolina outdoor dramas from across the state.
Charlotte Strings Collective was formed five years ago, in the midst of Black Lives Matter protests, to promote the music of Black composers. On this Piedmont Arts podcast, we talk with three members of the group about its origins and its role in the Charlotte region.
Charlotte will become the home to the first ever International Choral Composers Institute, a 5-day immersive program dedicated to nurturing and teaching choral composers and lyricists of all levels. It’s the brainchild of award-winning composer Sherry Blevins. Through the Institute, she hopes to provide an opportunity for composers in our area and beyond to hone their skills and network. You can hear more about her vision for the event and get details about the free concert showcasing participants’ works at CPCC.
Charlotte is home to a growing community of music creators of all types. It’s a collaborative community where musicians work across genres, as evidenced by WDAV’s own NoteWorthy and Small Batch concerts. On this Piedmont Arts podcast, we talk with Charlotte Hip Hop artist YUNG Citizen who has worked with many local musicians including Charlotte Strings Collective. He shares his perspective on the Charlotte scene, pursuing a music career in the Queen City, and his work as a mental health advocate.
Did you know the city of Charlotte has its own Poet Laureate? If not, that might be because there has only been one so far. His name is Junious “Jay” Ward, and you’ll get to know him on this episode of the Piedmont Arts podcast. Jay talks about his journey with poetry, what it means to be Charlotte’s first Poet Laureate, and you’ll get to hear some of his work.
There's a new weekly email newsletter in Charlotte focusing on local people and issues. The Charlotte Optimist is published by longtime local writer and editor Michael Graff. On this Piedmont Arts he shares his vision for the new venture.Learn more about The Charlotte Optimist
Broadway is bigger than ever. For the 2024-25 season, Broadway took in $1.9 billion across all productions, which is a record and a 23% increase from the previous year. Many of those shows come to Charlotte as part of Blumenthal Arts’ Broadway Lights Series. Blumenthal Arts’ president and CEO Tom Gabbard talks about the exciting productions coming to the city in 2025 and 2026.
Alvin C. Jacobs is a Charlotte-based photographer and image activist. His new exhibit "Black Behind Bars" about Black biker culture is on display at the Gantt Center in uptown Charlotte through September 21st, 2025.Learn more about “Black Behind Bars: The Untold Story of Black Biker Culture” at the Harvey B. Gantt Center"Black"Alvin C. Jacobs, Jr."Family Ties"Alvin C. Jacobs, Jr."Road Glide"Alvin C. Jacobs, Jr.
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra is ready to kick off its 2025 Summer Pops season. On this Piedmont Arts, we ask the CSO’s resident conductor, Christopher James Lees, about what we can expect to hear this month at Symphony Park. We also talk about recent news regarding the beloved outdoor venue, as well as what life is like for an in-demand conductor.
Pianist Jeffrey Biegel wanted to mark the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." So, he commissioned a new work by composer Peter Boyer called "Rhapsody in Red, White and Blue." On this Piedmont Arts podcast, Biegel talks about the work, and we also talk with one of the leaders of the Charlotte Bach Festival about the multi-day event that gets underway May 30th.
A new North Carolina theater group called Piedmont Shakespeare company makes its debut in June 2025 with a touring production of "Hamlet." All nine performances at indoor and outdoor venues are free. On this episode of Piedmont Arts, we sit down with the company's three founders to talk about their plans.Learn more about Piedmont Shakespeare Company
Providing students with music education opportunities is the mission of North Carolina Youth Orchestra. Based in the Lake Norman area, the organization has seen rapid growth in recent years and offers kids a range of options from beginning classes to full orchestras. They now serve about 225 students. On this Piedmont Arts podcast, executive director Eric Boruff talks about how North Carolina is working to meet the growing demand for music instruction in our region and about what’s next.
By David BoraksPhotographer Annie Leibovitz is legendary for her iconic photos of celebrities - from professional athletes and politicians to entertainers and artists. Many of those photos, plus a few you haven't seen, are in the exhibit "Annie Leibovitz/WORK" at the Mint Museum Uptown through the end of August. Jen Sudul-Edwards chief curator for the Mint talks about Leibovitz's style and career.Learn more about the Annie Leibovitz/WORK exhibit at the Mint Museum.Mint Chief Curator Jen Sudul Edwards talks to reporters and staff at the press opening for "Annie Leibovitz / Work" at the Mint Museum Uptown in Charlotte on 4/25/25. This set of photos (left) depicts celebrities in their cars.David Boraks/WDAVTop: A photo of soldiers at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, with Mary, "Queen of the Negritos" on the base. 1968Bottom: Leibovitz's grandmother in her house in Waterbury, Connecticut, early 70s.David Boraks/WDAVChief curator Jen Sudul Edwards talks to staff and reporters at the press opening of Annie Leibovitz's retrospective at the Mint Museum Uptown.David Boraks/WDAVLeibovitz's photo of Georgia O'Keeffe on a big screen, next to a "salon wall" of her other portraits of the famous. At the Mint Museum Uptown.David Boraks/WDAV
After the beloved Manor Theater closed its doors in 2020, there weren’t many places to see art house and foreign films on the big screen in the Charlotte area. On top of that, the COVID-19 pandemic had put the entire movie theater industry in jeopardy. But that’s exactly when the Charlotte Film Society made the bold decision to find investors and start a new, not-for-profit, multi-screen cinema. The Independent Picture House opened its doors in 2022 and hasn’t looked back. We talk to executive director Brad Ritter about the early days of this destination for film lovers, as well as what we can look forward to seeing at the Independent Picture House in the weeks and months ahead.Pictured: Executive director Brad Ritter or the Independent Picture House. Phil Vavra/WDAVPictured: Brad Ritter in the lobby of the Independent Picture House theater. Phil Vavra/WDAV
In recent years, Raehann Bryce-Davis has become a familiar name in the world of opera through performances at the Met, Santa Fe, Houston, Los Angeles, and in opera houses across Europe. She is the mezzo-soprano soloist for the Winston-Salem Symphony’s performance of Verdi’s Requiem, one of her favorite works to sing. On this episode, Bryce-Davis talks about singing Verdi and her newly released album, “Evolution,” an eclectic recording with everything from art song to electronic dance music.Learn more about Verdi’s Requiem at Winston-Salem Symphony.Pictured: Raehann Bryce-Davis. Wolf Dieter Grabner/IMG Artists.
The North Carolina Brass Band performs a free concert in Charlotte at First United Methodist Church. It's a night of brass band and pipe organ music featuring organist Evan Currie. On this Piedmont Arts podcast, we talk with music director Brian Meixner and cornest Bill Lawing. Plus, we talk with singer-songwriter and classically trained cellist Ben Sollee. He talks about breaking boundaries with the cello, his social activism offstage, and his new post-pandemic album, The Long Haul . Learn more about the North Carolina Brass Band Learn more about Ben Sollee's The Long Haul
Museums across the Piedmont are hanging their fall shows. On this Piedmont Arts podcast, we have a preview that includes local and regional art at Charlotte's Mint Museum, Surrealism and African American artists at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, a Wizard of Oz-themed show at UNC Charlotte and more.
A new season of live music is starting for music groups and venues across the Piedmont. In this Piedmont Arts podcast, we have a few ideas as you plan your listening for the 2024-25 season. We preview what's coming from classical music groups like Bach Akademie Charlotte and 7th Street Concerts , monthly concerts from JazzArts Charlotte , and eclectic series like the Cain Center for the Arts in Cornelius and Music at St. Alban's in Davidson.
A new season of theater is coming up across the region. This episode previews Broadway shows at The Blumenthal in Charlotte, children's shows at Children's Theater of Charlotte, and productions at professional and community theaters from Charlotte to Salisbury to Hickory. Pictured: Lin-Manuel Miranda in the title role of his musical "Hamilton"; By Steve Jurvetson - CC BY 2.0 , Wikipedia .
Hosts Rachel Stewart and David Boraks preview the 2024 - 2025 opera season at companies around the region. Opera Carolina's James Meena talks about his company's season of classic operas, plus a special benefit concert with famed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Opera Carolina Piedmont Opera North Carolina Opera Greensboro Opera
If you live near Winston-Salem, Hickory, Salisbury, Rock Hill, Monroe, or, of course, Charlotte, you’ll be close to some great music this year. The orchestras in those communities have a variety of concerts planned with varied repertoire. There's Bach, Beethoven and Brahms, but also contemporary composers including a former Miss America who writes music. There are pops concerts and evenings of film and cartoon music; programs that include actors, dancers and jugglers, and world class soloists; concerts outdoors and at breweries. There's something for everyone, and to get detailed information about the upcoming orchestra seasons in our region listen to this episode and visit the links below. Picture courtesy Charlotte Symphony Learn more: Charlotte Symphony Winston-Salem Symphony Salisbury Symphony Western Piedmont Symphony Union Symphony Rock Hill Symphony
The inaugural Carolina Youth Orchestra Summer Festival will take place at Davidson College in early August 2024. The three-day clinic is designed to help young musicians develop their musical skills under the tutelage of professional musicians and broaden their connections to our music community. The festival culminates in a free public concert at Duke Family Performance Hall on the Davidson campus. Festival organizers Eric Boruff of Cornelius Youth Orchestras and Tara Villa Keith of Davidson College talk about the festival. Pictured (l-r): Eric Boruff and Tara Keith. Eric Boruff Tara Keith
On this Piedmont Arts podcast, we talk with Shante Williams, the new general director of Opera Carolina. Williams is a business owner and venture capitalist who has been on the Opera Carolina board for three years. She talks about the upcoming season, her passion for new operas, and about the group's future.
Juneteenth marks the date on June 19, 1865, when news of the Emancipation Proclamation finally reached the last remaining enslaved people in Texas. We talk with Davidson College historian Hilary Green about how Texas commemorations in the 19th century led to the declaration of a national holiday in 2021. We also get an overview of the Juneteenth events happening in the Charlotte area.
Bach Akademie Charlotte’s 2024 Bach Festival returns to various locations around Charlotte and this year’s festival is called “Bach Akademie Charlotte Goes to Italy.” While it is indeed a Bach festival, it’s bookended by opening and closing concerts that focus on music from Italy, namely Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 . We talk to Bach Akademie Charlotte leadership about those concerts as well as many of the other events, both concerts and educational sessions, that make up this year’s festival. Learn more about the Bach Festival: Bach Akademie Charlotte Goes to Italy Pictured: Aislinn Nosky by Sian Richards.
Trumpeter Rodney Marsalis is a member of the famous New Orleans musical family and the leader of the Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass. We talk to Marsalis about his career and the group's upcoming concert at Gardner-Webb University. Learn more about the Summer in the Springs with the Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass Concert Pictured: The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass will be at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs for the Summer in the Spring concert series. Rodney Marsalis at center and Tim Hudson of Gardner-Webb second from right. (Courtesy of the The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass ).
The Salisbury Symphony has been looking for a new music director this season, and they will audition their final candidate at their concert called "Hope and Lifting." Daniel Wiley will conduct the orchestra in music of Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, and Omar Thomas. Wiley is currently assistant conductor with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Pops. He talks about his passion for providing music education in the communities he serves. Learn more about the Salisbury Symphony's Hope and Lifting Pictured: Daniel Wiley/courtesy of danielwiley.com .
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra is producing an immersive event called "Merge" that combines modern symphonic music with electronic dance music and synchronized visual projections. Resident Conductor Christopher James Lees talks about the symphony's foray into new territory and the collaboration that brought it to life. Learn more about the MERGE: Symphonic x Electronic event Pictured: Christopher James Lees courtesy of Charlotte Symphony.
Charlotteans Lorne Lassiter and Gary Ferraro helped found the former Mint Museum of Craft and Design in uptown. They've also donated dozens of pieces from their own collection. The exhibit "Craft Across Continents" features many of those works in glass, wood, ceramics, and textiles. On this edition of the Piedmont Arts podcast, we tour the exhibit and talk with the couple about their passion for collecting. Charlotte collectors Gary Ferraro and Lorne Lassiter (l-r) in their uptown Charlotte apartment. Work from their collection is featured in the show "Craft Across Continents" at the Mint Museum in Charlotte. Photo courtesy Mint Museum. "Smok," which means dragon in Polish, is a glass sculpture by the Polish artist Anna Skibska. Lorne Lassiter and Gary Ferraro have donated it to the Mint Museum, along with other works in the show "Craft Across Continents."
Kalena Bovell, a candidate for Salisbury Symphony Music Director, will lead the orchestra in a program called "Musical Inspirations." Bovell made her professional debut as the Chicago Sinfonietta's Assistant Conductor in 2015 and has led performances at the BBC Proms and the Kennedy Center. She also recently had her opera debut at Volcano Theatre where she led a reimagined production of Scott Joplin's Treemonisha making her the first black woman to conduct opera in Canada. On this episode of Piedmont Arts, Bovell talks about discovering her love of conducting and about becoming a poet. Learn more about Salisbury Symphony's Musical Inspirations Pictured: Kalena Bovell by Jamie Pratt Photos.
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO) shared news that the organization has raised more than $40 million toward a goal of $50 million for its endowment. CSO President and CEO David Fisk discusses why having a significant endowment makes the orchestra stronger, and he provides details about the vital programs the endowment campaign will enable in the future.
Charlotte's nonprofit Blumenthal Arts hosts touring Broadway shows, symphony concerts and the ballet, among other things. But it's also branching out to other kinds of events, like the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit a couple of years ago. David Boraks talks with Blumenthal Arts CEO Tom Gabbard about another big immersive exhibit coming to Charlotte and how the organization is evolving. Pictured: Tom Gabbard photo by Chris Edwards.
The Charlotte Shout! festival is produced by Charlotte Center City Partners and showcases Charlotte's creativity, innovation, diversity, and resilience. It includes music acts, art installations, community conversations, culinary events, and more. We talk to Rick Thurmond from Charlotte Center City Partners about the festival's importance to our cultural eco-system. He also gives tips for getting the most out of Charlotte Shout!, especially if you've never been before. Learn more about Charlotte Shout!
Traditionally, composers have written music with a group of musicians in mind, painstakingly transcribing or notating their ideas as sheet music. But these days, many work on a computer loaded with a digital library of instruments and sounds. That’s the case for the next generation of composers in training at Davidson College. We visit with music professor Jennifer Stasack and some of her students who talk about using digital tools to bring their ideas to life. We also hear some of their compositions. Pictured: Davidson College professor and composer Jennifer Stasack teaches digital composition. She spoke at a recent New Music Davidson showcase of student work. Credit: Josh Matushak/Davidson College WDAV · Davidson’s Digital Composers Video : Watch New Music Davidson - A Student Composer Showcase
The Marriage of Figaro considered one of the greatest operas of all time, is billed as a comic opera but addresses serious themes such as tension between the social classes. Find out more about this masterpiece, and its important place in history by listening to a conversation with Dr. Scott MacLeod, associate professor of music and director of High Point University's vocal division, who is singing the role of Bartolo. Learn more about Piedmont Opera’s performance of The Marriage of Figaro Pictured: Dr. Scott MacLeod/Facebook
One Voice Chorus was founded in Charlotte in 1990 to bring together lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and LGBTQIA+ affirming people to celebrate their lives through song. Since that time the chorus has grown in membership from 25 to more than 90 singers. Executive Director Micah Deer fills us in on the organization's history, purpose, and program called "Mindful Music". Learn more about One Voice Chorus’ Mindful Music Pictured: Micah Deer, Executive Director/onevoicechorus.com
Thorgy Thor, a classically trained musician who first came to national prominence on the television series RuPaul’s Drag Race , is the guest on this episode of Piedmont Arts. After a recent appearance at Davidson College, she spoke to us about how she developed the concert program Thorgy and the Thorchestra which has been performed with orchestras in Canada and the U.S. including the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra last season. She has also performed as an instrumentalist at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City.
The Salisbury Symphony is auditioning candidates for music director. Michelle Di Russo, a candidate for the position, will conduct their "Enchanting Sounds" concert in Keppel Auditorium. She'll lead a program of music by Piazzola, Saint-Saens, and Rimsky-Korsakov. Di Russo is from Argentina, and currently the Associate Conductor in her second season with the North Carolina Symphony. She talks about the music on the program and shares her approach to working with an orchestra for the first time. Learn more about "Enchanting Sounds" with the Salisbury Symphony Pictured: Michelle Di Russo by Roy Cox
Each year, Charlotte Master Chorale presents a "Unity Concert" with the goal of building bridges in the community through the shared experience of choral music. This year's concert is called "Unity: Earth" and is Saturday, March 9 at 4pm at First United Methodist Church in Charlotte. The ensemble will perform the North Carolina premiere of Jake Runestad's EMMY® Award winning Earth Symphony which presents a view of humanity from the point of view of Mother Earth. Jake Runestad and Charlotte Master Chorale Artistic Director Kenney Potter are guests on this episode of the Piedmont Arts podcast where they talk about the composer's work and the aspirations of the "Unity" concerts. Learn more about the Charlotte Master Chorale "Unity Concert" Pictured: Jake Runestad photo by Michael Markowski. Jake Runestad , composer Kenney Potter , Artistic Director
One of the most extraordinary figures in American classical music is someone you may never have heard of. Mary Cardwell Dawson, born in 1894 in Madison, NC, was a musician, teacher, and founding director of the National Negro Opera Company, the longest-running, all-Black opera company which helped launch the careers of many singers. Now her story is being told in a 'play with music', The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson , which is being produced by Opera Carolina and stars internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves. In this episode, she tells us about Dawson’s determination and accomplishments. Learn more about Opera Carolina's production of The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson Pictured: Denyce Graves; by Devon Cass/IMG Artists.
Research suggests there are significant neurological and academic benefits to children who learn to play a musical instrument. However, most school systems wait until 6th grade to offer band or orchestra programs, and many kids simply do not have access to instrumental instruction until it's offered at school. Cornelius Youth Orchestras wants to change that and has launched “Musical Pathways Initiative,” a groundbreaking program designed to provide access and opportunities for elementary aged students in the Lake Norman region to learn an instrument. Cornelius Youth Orchestras executive director Eric Boruff talks about the Initiative and how kids in the area can benefit. Learn more about the Musical Pathways Initiative
Burnt Reeds is a reed quintet of local professional instrumentalists. Their concert called "Homegrown Melodies" features newly commissioned works by local composers. It's a project that brings together not only composers but also music producers, local independent mixed media artists, and of course musicians -- from a variety of backgrounds. Three members of Burnt Reeds—Dr. Dylan Lloyd, Dr. Jessica Lindsey, and Teil Taliesin—talk about their interest in creating opportunities for local artists to collaborate and share their creations with the community. Learn more about the Burnt Reeds "Homegrown Melodies" Concert at Free Range Brewery Pictured: Burnt Reeds after their Providence Chamber Music Series concert./Facebook
The Charlotte Master Chorale's Chamber Singers will present concerts called "Art & Science" at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlotte and Davidson College Presbyterian Church in Davidson. The centerpiece of the concerts is a multi-media symphony, The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci , by composer Jocelyn Hagen. The work uses the latest video syncing technology to bring Leonardo's words and drawings to life and provides an immersive, multi-sensory experience very different from a typical concert performance. In this episode, hear Hagen talk about her creation and its inspiration. Charlotte Master Chorale artistic director Kenney Potter joins her. Learn more about the Charlotte Master Chorale's Chamber Singers Art & Science Concerts Jocelyn Hagen , composer Kenney Potter , Artistic Director
The inaugural Black Notes Project Music Festival makes it debut at Charlotte's Knight Theater. The two-day festival celebrates and amplifies Black music and artistry and will honor the classical orchestral tradition while situating it alongside contemporary musical innovation. Nationally known artists such as harpist Brandee Younger and opera singer Tunde are featured along with musicians from the Charlotte community including members of the Charlotte Strings collective and the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra. On a new Piedmont Arts episode, festival organizers Michael L. Kitchen and Dr. Amy Carleton talk about the origins of the Black Notes Project Music Festival and their hopes for its future. Learn more about the Black Notes Project Music Festival
North Carolina Baroque Orchestra will perform concerts called "Splendid Music from the Time of King George III and Queen Charlotte" in locations across the Charlotte region. The program includes works by Chevalier de Saint Georges, Handel, Mozart, Avison, and others. Frances Blaker, the ensemble's artistic director and conductor, explains how the concerts' theme ties into the history of Charlotte. And she talks about the research she and the other musicians did to present the music the way it would have been heard in Queen Charlotte's time. Learn more about the Splendid Music from the Time of King George III and Queen Charlotte Concert
The Metropolitan Opera's Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition has auditions across the country. The competition is designed to discover promising young opera singers and assist the development of their careers. The North Carolina District holds auditions and approximately 25 singers will compete to move on to Regionals in Atlanta. The event is open to the public. Steven LaCosse, Auditions Director for the Met Competition in North Carolina, explains why the competition is such an important opportunity for young artists to grow and why it’s a great event to attend. Learn more about The Metropolitan Opera's Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition -->
After a search that has lasted more than two years, the Charlotte Symphony has announced their next Music Director: Kwamé Ryan. Originally from Trinidad, Ryan has an impressive resume and has worked around the globe. He was General Music Director of the Freiburg Opera from 1999 to 2003 and Musical and Artistic Director of the National Orchestra of Bordeaux Aquitaine between 2007 and 2013. His most recent appointment is Director of the Academy for the Performing Arts at the University of Trinidad and Tobago. Ryan will start his tenure with the Charlotte Symphony in the 2024 - 2025 season. On this edition of Piedmont Arts, we talk with Kwamé Ryan about his new appointment. He talks about why he wanted to come to Charlotte, what to expect in the coming season, and how he approaches life and work in general. Pictured: Kwamé Ryan/courtesy Charlotte Symphony.
Caritas a Cappella ensemble presents a concert of Christmas and holiday music in Charlotte. The set will include settings of familiar carols as well as beautiful motets written by modern and Renaissance composers. And this time, the ensemble will be led by their new artistic director, Dr. Jeremy Mims. By day, Jeremy is Associate Professor and Director of Choral Activities at Wintrhop University, but he recently stepped in to take the helm from Caritas founder, Cathy Youngblood. He talks with WDAV about the unique qualities of the group which specializes in a cappella singing and about the music on their Christmas with Caritas: A Season of Light program. Learn more about Christmas with Caritas: A Season of Light
The Charlotte Civic Orchestra presents its annual Christmas Extravaganza at the Halton Theater at CPCC’s Uptown Campus. The program features a sixty-piece orchestra, performances by the Charlotte Youth Ballet and Diamond Elite Dancers, the Holiday Singers, and soloists, plus the combined choirs of the Marvin Ridge and Porter Ridge High Schools. Dr. Geoffrey Whitehead, the music director of the Charlotte Civic Orchestra, and Jeff Andler, a member of the Holiday Singers, speak about the challenges and the extraordinary rewards of this yearly labor of love. Learn more about the Charlotte Civic Orchestra's Christmas Extravaganza
Composer, pianist, and social justice activist Margaret Bonds is one of the twentieth century's more remarkable American artists, and her reputation is growing in stature among twenty-first century music lovers. There's a terrific opportunity to learn more about this remarkable woman and her music when Queens University hosts the Margaret Bonds Symposium . Learn more about her by listening to guests Dr. John Michael Cooper, an expert on Bonds' life and music; Dr. Sequina Dubose, who will perform during symposium concerts; and Dr. Justin Smith of Queens who helped organize the Margaret Bonds Symposium. Learn more about the Margaret Bonds Symposium at Queens University
Piedmont Opera in Winston-Salem is opening their new season with Verdi's Il Trovatore and they're welcoming home Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano Tichina Vaughn. Vaughn was raised in Winston-Salem, and she is a graduate of UNC School of the Arts. After getting her start with the Metropolitan Opera, she went on to international acclaim performing many years with Staatstheater Stuttgart as principal artist. She talks about how it feels to perform in her hometown, when she discovered she was meant to sing opera, and why she believes anyone can sing with the right training. Learn more about Piedmont Opera's Il Trovatore Pictured: Tichina Vaughn by Bashstint - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0 .
In the month of October, Davidson College will present several great concerts. Renowned vocal group Stile Antico performs a program celebrating William Byrd. And the Amerigo Trio, whose members are all internationally acclaimed musicians, is in concert. And later in the month, Davidson faculty members will present a benefit tribute to Burt Bacharach. On this episode of Piedmont Arts, we talk to artists who will be appearing in two of those concerts. Amerigo Trio members Glenn Dicterow, former concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic, and Karen Dreyfus, Grammy-nominated violist, tell us about the unique experience of playing in a string trio. And emeritus Davidson faculty members Cynthia and Bill Lawing talk about why they wanted to honor legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach. Learn more about the concerts : Davidson College Choirs & Stile Antico: The Byrd & The Bees Davidson College Concert Series: Amerigo Trio with Glenn Dicterow, Karen Dreyfus, and Inbal Segev What the World Needs Now: A Tribute to Burt Bacharach
The Charlotte Master Chorale comes to the Cain Center in Cornelius and Queens University in Charlotte respectively this fall. The theme of the concerts is freedom and oppression across communities and features the North Carolina premiere of R. Nathaniel Dett's The Ordering of Mose s as well as Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. Dr. Marques L.A. Garrett, associate professor of choral studies at the University of North Texas and an expert in the music of Nathaniel Dett, a Black Canadian-American composer from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Garrett will give pre-concert talks at both events. He's the guest on this episode of the Piedmont Arts podcast where he explains Dett's importance and legacy. Pictured: Dr. Marques L.A. Garrett by Justin S. Robinson.
Heartland Baroque is an ensemble specializing in music of the 17th and 18th centuries. They perform regularly in our region and will give a concert at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Davidson. Violinist Martie Perry is founder and artistic director of Heartland Baroque. She explains how Heartland Baroque's historically informed performances provide context around the music and give modern audiences insight into the music-making of the past. Learn more about Heartland Baroque at the Music at St. Alban's
Charlotte Ballet is gearing up for the 2023-2024 season which will be the first one fully curated by artistic director Alejandro Cerrudo. Several world premieres by notable choreographers are highlights, and the season kicks off with a performance in Toronto, the first time since 1981 Charlotte Ballet is traveling abroad. Cerrudo describes some of the innovative and traditional works audiences can expect to see as well as why he is passionate about the artform of dance. Learn more about the Charlotte Ballet season . Pictured: Alejandro Cerrudo by Richard Israel.
The Rock Hill Symphony welcomes a new music director this season -- Christopher James Lees. Lees is already known to the area's classical audiences through his work as the Charlotte Symphony's Resident Conductor. Now he's poised to lead the region's newest orchestra in its next chapter. Lees talks about the symphony's future aspirations and their first concert of the 2023-2024 season in Rock Hill. Learn more about the Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra's upcoming events
In the coming year, the Salisbury Symphony will be looking for a new music director. One of their candidates, Peter Askim, will lead the first concert of the season at Catawba College. Askim is on the faculty at N.C. State University, leads the Raleigh Civic Symphony and Chamber Orchestra, and is a composer and bassist as well as a conductor. He talks about what attracts him to the Salisbury position; his passion for creating initiatives that connect an orchestra to its local community; and the theme of the concert he will conduct. Learn more about the Salisbury Symphony's A River Runs Through It program
The Winston-Salem Symphony recently announced their new music director -- Michelle Merrill. Merrill served four years with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra as assistant then associate conductor under Leonard Slatkin. She will be the Winston-Salem Symphony's first female music director and the only woman to lead a professional orchestra in the Carolinas. She talks about her priorities, one of which is music education, as she takes on this new role.
Opera Carolina is going international this summer through a new partnership with International Lyric Academy. More than 100 opera singers and musicians from across the globe have arrived in the Queen City for three weeks of immersive mentorship, followed by two weeks in Vicenza, Italy. Part of the experience is a summer festival of free and ticketed performances. We talk with Opera Carolina's director of education & community programs, Ashley Lam, and one of the singers participating in the academy, Luvo, who is from South Africa. Learn more about the International Lyric Academy Festival
The Charlotte Bach Festival returns to the Queen City with a full schedule of recitals, concerts, and educational opportunities, drawing talented musicians from across the country to celebrate the artistic legacy of J. S. Bach. On this episode, Aisslinn Nosky, Laura C. Atkinson, Margaret Carpenter Haigh and Derrick Miller provide insights into what makes the festival special. Learn more about the Charlotte Bach Festival
Kazem Abdullah leads the Charlotte Symphony in their final classics concerts of the season. Abdullah was General Music Director of the City of Aachen in Germany from 2012 to 2017. He has also served as an assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera, and has guest conducted around the country for both opera productions and orchestral concerts. He talks about the differences between opera and concert hall conducting and discusses the importance of cultivating diverse audiences for classical music. Learn more about the Charlotte Symphony's Classical Series .
Pianist/composer Kory Caudill is music director of “ The Concert for the Human Family,” performances which highlight themes of community and racial reconciliation. Caudill talks about the concert coming to Charlotte’s Holy Comforter Episcopal Church.
Two of the Charlotte region's choral ensembles team up for a concert of music by Black composers at First United Methodist Church of Charlotte. Caritas A Cappella Ensemble and Charlotte Contemporary Ensemble will present a program called " HEHLEHLOOYUH: A Celebration of Choral Music by Black Composers" which features a wide variety of classically based selections by composers from several eras. Cathy Youngblood, artistic director of Caritas, and JoVan Adams, director of Charlotte Contemporary Ensemble, talk about some of the works they'll perform including the poignant "Seven Last Words of the Unarmed" by Dr. Joel Thompson.
Uptown Charlotte hosts the multi-week festival known as Charlotte Shout! The festival is produced by Charlotte Center City Partners and includes music performances, art installations, community conversations, culinary events, and more. The idea is to showcase and celebrate Charlotte's creativity, innovation, and diversity. Robert Krumbine, Chief Creative Officer and Senior Vice President of Events at Charlotte Center City Partners, describes several of the of the festival's unique offerings and talks about Charlotte Shout's importance to our region. Learn more about Charlotte Shout! Pictured: Robert Krumbine/ Charlottecentercity.org
The Charlotte Symphony (CSO) has just announced its 2023-24 season, and it's filled with variety and diversity across all the series: Classics, Pops, Movie, and Family. The season features several big names (like Renee Fleming), puts some Charlotte Symphony musicians in the spotlight, blurs genre boundaries, and provides lots of opportunities for members of our community to access the music. CSO President and CEO David Fisk is the guest on a new Piedmont Arts podcast episode where he talks about many of the exciting concerts that are in store as well as the importance of creating programming that appeals to diverse members of our community. Learn more about the Charlotte Symphony 2023 - 2024 Season Read Why The New Charlotte Symphony Season Matters Next Year More Than Ever Pictured: David Fisk; photo by Keitaro-Harada.
The compositions and recordings of American fiddler, violinist, and composer Mark O'Connor are heard often on WDAV. His career which has seen him work across genres – country, folk, classical, and jazz – began as a child when he showed astonishing musical talent at an early age. His memoire, "Crossing Bridges," chronicles the ups and downs of life as a child prodigy. He recounts the adventures and challenges he and his family faced as they struggled to build his career. Pictured: Mark O'Connor by John David Pittman
The Charlotte Symphony welcomes guest conductor Vinay Parameswaran to the podium to lead a program of twentieth and twenty-first century music by Sibelius, Britten, Still, and up-and-coming American composer Gabriella Smith. He shares the story of how he became a conductor instead of a lawyer and gives in depth insights into all the works on the symphony program. Learn more about the Charlotte Symphony's Classical Series . Pictured: Vinay Parameswaran; credit Roger Mastroianni.
Trio Gaia, winners of the 2022 WDAV Young Chamber Musicians Competition, return to Davidson for a concert at Tyler Tallman Hall. Learn how these young musicians, who are New England Conservatory’s piano trio in residence, formed their ensemble and why they enjoy playing chamber music together. Learn more about Trio Gaia in the Davidson College Concert Series Pictured: Members of Trio Gaia (from left to right) Grant Houston, violin, Andrew Barnwell, piano, and Yi-Mei Templeman, cello.
The Charlotte Symphony will perform a concert called "Together We Rise" at the Sarah Belk Gambrell Center at Queens University. It will explore themes of freedom, strength, and justice through works by a diverse range of composers. One of the works on the program is by Queens University Composer-in-Residence, Malek Jandali. He talks about his compositions, the responsibility he feels to preserve his Syrian heritage through music, and the unique role music can play in furthering humanitarian and educational objectives. Learn more about Together We Rise
WDAV and the Fair Play Music Equity Initiative continues its NoteWorthy concert series, which teams local pop musicians of color with classically-trained musicians. Music producer and recording artist YUNG Citizen, classical musicians Casey Mink, violin and Suzanne Polk, piano, and bassist David Vergato speak about their approaches to this genre-blending concert, and what made their collaboration memorable. Watch YUNG Citizen with Casey Mink, Suzanne Polk, and David Vergato on Noteworthy
Guest conductor Erina Yashima leads the Charlotte Symphony in a program that includes Beethoven's Triple Concerto and Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique . Yashima recently finished her tenure as Assistant Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. And she recently started in her new position as First Kapellmeister at the Komische Oper Berlin. She talks about the works on the orchestra program, the differences between American and European orchestras, and the importance of music education in her native Germany. Pictured: Erina Yashima by Todd Rosenberg Photography/ Askonas Holt .
The Carolina Brass Quintet will present a fun and challenging virtuosic recital as part of Music at St. Alban's in Davidson, NC. The recital will celebrate the contributions and talents of trumpeter and quintet founder Bill Lawing who will retire from the quintet in December 2022. Besides his long service in Carolina Brass Quintet, Lawing is the Estes Millner Professor of Music Emeritus at Davidson College having retired after teaching there for 46 years. He talks about his long career and his many contributions to Davidson College, and the cultural life of our region. Learn more about Music at St. Alban's
WDAV and the Fair Play Music Equity Initiative launch another video in the NoteWorthy concert series, which teams local pop musicians of color with classically-trained musicians. Singer/songwriter Nathan Kam talks about his approach to performing his songs, and how it felt to collaborate with classical musicians Alice Silva, violin, Mira Frisch, cello, and arranger Madison Bush. His collaborators also speak about the ease of working with Nathan and blending musical genres. Nathan Kam, Alice Silva, Mira Frisch on Noteworthy Nathan Kam Mira Frisch Alice Silva
The Mint Museum Uptown in Charlotte is hosting an exhibition called "American Made: Paintings and Sculpture from the DeMell Jacobsen Collection." The collection features more than 100 paintings and sculptures from the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen PhD Foundation. And it surveys more than two centuries of American art. Listen to Dr. Diane Jacobsen describe the collection she has been painstakingly building for many years. She explains why she is so passionate about putting a spotlight on American creations and how they help us understand our history and culture. Pictured: "School's Out" by By Allan Crite - Smithsonian American Art Museum , Public Domain . Learn more about " American Made: Paintings and Sculpture from the DeMell Jacobsen Collection "
Conductor Marcelo Lehninger will return to the Charlotte podium to lead the Charlotte Symphony in a program of music by Beethoven, Lili Boulanger, and Manuel da Falla. Lehninger explains how the works on the program relate to one another. Plus, he talks about finding his own interpretation of a familiar work like Beethoven's "Pastoral" Symphony which has been interpreted hundreds of times before. Pictured: Marcelo Lehninger. Photo by Andy Terzes.
The UNC School of the Arts Chamber Music Festival is led by artistic directors and faculty members violinist Ida Bieler and pianist Dmitri Vorobiev. The two talk about why they founded the festival which will bring students together with faculty members and special guests for several days of focused music making and learning. Learn more about UNC School of the Arts Chamber Music Festival Pictured (l-r): Ida Bieler and Dmitri Vorobiev. Ida Bieler , violin Dmitri Vorobiev , piano
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO) season opens with concerts featuring Elgar's Cello Concerto, Strauss's symphonic poem Aus Italien , and Anna Clyne's Pivot . Inbal Segev will be the soloist for the Cello Concerto, and the performances will be led by Andrew Grams who has been guest conductor with the CSO on a couple of occasions. Grams talks about the works on the upcoming program which he says are all built around the creators' impressions of a place, time, or life in general. He also talks about how he approaches the role of guest conductor. Learn more about the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra's Classical Series Pictured: Andrew Grams by Masataka Suemitsu/courtesy of Charlotte Symphony.
This season marks the 75th anniversary of the Charlotte chapter of the American Guild of Organists. To celebrate they are teaming with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra to present concerts that include Saint-Saëns’ beloved “Organ” Symphony, as well as a solo organ recital, all featuring Grammy-winning organist Paul Jacobs. He and Mark Johanson, Dean of the Charlotte AGO chapter, talk about the celebratory events. Learn more about the AGO Organ Concerts
This winter the Lake Norman area will see the opening of a new cultural arts facility that promises to enrich the cultural life of the region. The Cain Center for the Arts in Cornelius will house a 400-seat theater, two visual arts classrooms, a dance studio, gallery space and more. Although the building isn't quite finished, the Cain Center has already begun offering art and music classes, and this fall it launches an inaugural season of performances. Justin Dionne, the center's executive director, gives us a look at the year to come and talks about ways the Cain Center plans to serve the community including providing access to all regardless of financial means.
As Charlotte’s music scene grows, musicians are finding new ways to connect. We talk with Justin Honigstein, the general manager of Jambox, a “co-musicing space” where musicians can find rehearsal space and be part of a diverse music community. Justin shares his observations on the current state of music-making in the Charlotte area and the types of cross-pollination he sees happening across genres from rock to hip hop to classical and jazz. Pictured: Justin Honigstein; photo courtesy of Justin Honigstein.
The Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra is one of the newer professional music ensembles in our region having been established in 2017. It kicks off its new season with a concert called "A Musical Tapestry of Folk & Classical Traditions" with guest conductor and Rock Hill native Kellen Gray. Gray currently serves as Assistant Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Associate Conductor of the Charleston Symphony. He talks about the music on the program and the opportunity to conduct in his hometown. He also reflects on his journey as a Black conductor and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the classical music world.
The Charlotte Master Chorale was founded in 1951 as the Oratorio Singers of Charlotte, and they are the resident chorus of the Charlotte Symphony. They announced their 2022-23 season which includes a performance of Bach's B Minor Mass and an appearance at Carnegie Hall. Artistic Director Kenney Potter talks about season highlights and reflects on the important role Charlotte Master Chorale plays in our community.
WDAV and the Fair Play Music Equity Initiative continue the second season of NoteWorthy virtual concerts with R&B artist Nia J joined by flutist Jill O’Neill and violist Ben Geller. We speak to the trio about how well they bonded as a group, and how the addition of the classical instruments helped “breathe some life back” into the singer-songwriter’s music. Nia J Ben Geller Jill O'Neill
In 1984, John Tosco began hosting music parties as informal gatherings in his home. Over the years, these Tosco Music Parties, as they are known, have grown into popular community concerts where nationally recognized acts share the stage with undiscovered artists. The Tosco Music organization is presenting FabFest: Charlotte's Beatles Festival which will celebrate all things Beatles. Founder John Tosco talks about the festival as well as how his organization is helping support Charlotte's burgeoning music scene. Learn more about FabFest: Charlotte's Beatles Festival
For 61 years, the nationally recognized Eastern Music Festival (EMF) in Greensboro has been providing first rate educational opportunities to hundreds of young musicians from across the country and around the world. The festival also includes top notch performances featuring faculty, students, and internationally renowned soloists. Conductor Gerard Schwarz, who is the Eastern Music Festival music director, talks about this year's festival, the educational opportunities it provides young musicians, and the Adolphus Hailstork work the EMF Orchestra will premiere. He also talks about why he keeps coming back to Greensboro year after year. Pictured: Gerard Schwarz; photo by Ben VanHouten
WDAV and the Fair Play Music Equity Alliance launch the second season of NoteWorthy virtual concerts with the experimental electro-pop group Bravo Pueblo collaborating with classical cellist Marlene Ballena and Kania Mills playing clarinet and saxophone. Siblings Claudio and Liza Ortiz of Bravo Pueblo describe the regenerative effect of their Latin rhythms combined with empowering Spanish language lyrics. Learn more about the event, here .
The talents of Charlotte composers and musicians will be on display at Carnegie Hall in New York City. James Kevin Gray and Rick Bean have written a Jazz Mass that will be performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City by many musicians and singers from the Charlotte area including renowned vocalist Dawn Anthony. Gray, Bean, Anthony, and conductor Sonja Sepulveda talk about the origins of the Jazz Mass , what it means for the Charlotte music community to have this work performed in New York, and how this work brings people from different backgrounds together. Pictured: Carnegie Hall by Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA - Carnegie Hall, CC BY 2.0 .
The Schiele Museum in Gastonia will open a brand-new exhibit called "Carolina 'Cue" which tells the story of the Carolinas most famous food tradition. The exhibit explores the history, culture, and science around this culinary institution. Tony Pasour, Head of Interpretation at the Schiele, talks about creating the exhibit and some of the barbecue traditions of Gaston County and the Southern Piedmont. Learn more about the "Carolina 'Que" exhibit Photo by Katerina Jerabkova on Unsplash
After a two-year hiatus, the Charlotte Bach Festival is back. The festival promises concerts of Bach masterworks, recitals, and several educational experiences which are central to the festival’s mission. Festival artistic director Scott Allen Jarrett talks about the festival generally and shares information about some exciting new additions this year including the inaugural appearance of the Bach Akademie Orchestra. Learn more about the Charlotte Bach Festival
Caritas A Cappella Ensemble will perform the premiere of North Carolina composer Dan Locklair's "Sing to the World: A Choral Celebration of Music." Caritas commissioned Locklair's new work in 2019, but because of the pandemic, they have not been able to hold the premiere until now. Caritas’ artistic director Cathy Youngblood and Dan Locklair talk about how they worked together to create this new work and what a composer must consider when writing music for the human voice. Learn more about the "Sing to the World: A Choral Celebration of Music" premiere
For several decades Israeli luthier Amnon Weinstein has been lovingly restoring violins with Holocaust histories, preserving their stories and those of their owners. These violins are known as the Violins of Hope, and they will be featured in concerts at the Stan Greenspon Center at UNC-Charlotte (UNCC). A new work written specifically for these instruments, "Intonations: Songs from the Violins of Hope," by renowned composer Jake Heggie will receive its East Coast premiere at these concerts. The music is based on stories from UNCC professor Heggie and Grymes' book "Violins of Hope: Instruments of Hope and Liberation in Mankind's Darkest Hour." Heggie and Grymes talk about the importance of capturing these histories in word and music for future generations.
Karen Kamensek is the guest conductor for Charlotte Symphony (CSO) and leads a program with Sibelius' Symphony No. 2 and Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1 featuring CSO concertmaster Calin Lupanu. Kamensek is in demand around the world as a guest conductor for both opera productions and symphonic concerts. Her recording of Philip Glass's Akhnaten with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus recently won the Grammy for Best Opera Recording. She talks about what she's learned from Philip Glass, what it's like to work with a brand-new orchestra, and how conducting operas and concerts are different. Pictured: Conductor Karen Kamensek by Denise Biffar.
After 35 years, Alan Black is retiring as principal cello of the Charlotte Symphony. Before he transitions to his new role as cello section player, he’ll be in the spotlight at the Charlotte Symphony’s “Music and Healing” concert at Queens University. He’ll be the soloist for the premiere of a work written for him by South Carolina composer Leonard Mark Lewis called “I Will Wade Out.” Black talks about his collaboration with Lewis. And he reflects on his long career in Charlotte explaining why this is a good time for him to pass the baton to new leadership in the cello section.
North Carolina Baroque Orchestra’s (NCBO) spring concert is called "Biber to Bach: Captivating Concertos for Strings." NCBO founders Frances Blaker and Barbara Blaker Krumdieck talk about the history of the orchestra and its special role in the musical life of the Charlotte region.
Joshua Gerson, guest conductor for a series of Charlotte Symphony concerts, talks about his work with youth orchestras as well as his approach to conducting an unfamiliar orchestra. He also shares why he’s interested in conducting new compositions.
Guest conductor Paolo Bortolameolli will lead the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO) in Kabalevsky's Cello Concerto No. 1 , featuring cellist Christine Lamprea plus works by Corigliano and Gabriela Ortiz. Bortolameolli is a strong advocate for bringing new compositions and new audiences to classical music. He describes some of his novel approaches to this challenge. He also talks about the music on the program for the upcoming CSO concerts. Pictured: Paolo Bortolameolli photo by Michiko Tierney. Paolo Bortolameolli , conductor
The Ivalas Quartet took first place at the 2019 WDAV Young Chamber Musicians Competition. Since that time, they've been building a career for themselves focusing on their mission of “enhancing the classical music world with voices less known and sometimes unheard.” They spoke with WDAV about their love of chamber music and their joy in sharing classical music with young people and other audiences who are new to it.
Based in New York, the Harlem Quartet was founded in 2006 by The Sphinx Organization, a national non-profit devoted to building diversity in classical music and providing educational access for underserved communities. The quartet will perform in a local concert presented by Chamber Music Raleigh and WDAV . Harlem Quartet violinist Ilmar Gavilán talks about their mission to advance diversity in classical music by exploring new repertoire and reaching new audiences. Learn more about the Charlotte Masters: Harlem Quartet Concert Pictured: Ilmar Gavilán; credit Amy Schroeder
Black Violin brings their unique blend of classical and hip-hop to the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte. The genre-defying duo of violinist Kev Marcus and violist Wil B. is known for its artistry and high energy performances. On this episode, Wil B. talks about breaking down cultural barriers through music and thinking about musical genres in a more fluid way. He also explains Black Violin's commitment to music education and providing opportunities for young people that allow them to explore their musical interests. Pictured: Wil B. from Black Violin; photo by Albert Manduca. Wil B. of Black Violin
Charlotte Master Chorale brings back Considering Matthew Shepard, a “fusion oratorio” that examines the notorious 1998 hate crime that triggered a new era of activism. Acclaimed choral conductor Craig Hella Johnson talks about the work.
The Western Piedmont Symphony's next Masterworks concert on features baritone Sidney Outlaw who performs Wagner's "O You, My Fair Evening Star" and Mahler's "Songs of a Wayfarer". Hear Outlaw and Western Piedmont music director Matthew Troy chat about everything from Mahler's intent when he wrote "Songs of a Wayfarer" to the preparation necessary for performing such a work to their best practices as musicians for surviving the pandemic. Sidney Outlaw , baritone Matthew Troy , conductor
Jessica Cottis will be the guest conductor for concerts by the Charlotte Symphony. The program will feature Kurt Weill's The Seven Deadly Sins with soprano Lindsay Kesselman, Ravel's Piano Concerto in G with pianist Stewart Goodyear, and works by Stravinsky and Jessie Montgomery. Cottis talks about how this program of 20th and 21st century works came together and why they make a compelling grouping. She also talks about her passion for sharing classical music with young listeners and mentoring the next generation of women conductors. Learn more about the Charlotte Symphony's Ravel Piano Concerto Concert Pictured: Jessica Cottis by Kaupo Kikkas/courtesy of jessicacottis.com Jessica Cottis, conductor
The Winston-Salem Symphony is kicking off its 75th anniversary year with concerts called "Celebrate!" Sharing conducting duties are Karen Ni Bhroin, the symphony’s Assistant Conductor, and Grammy winner JoAnn Falletta, one of the most renowned conductors working in the world today. The two talk about the environment for women in classical music today compared to the past. They also talk about the importance and benefits of expanding the concert repertoire to include works by lesser-known composers. Learn more about "Celebrate" Pictured JoAnn Falletta (photo by Heather Bellini) and Karen Ni Bhroin. JoAnn Falletta Karen Ni Bhroin
Seventy years ago, a group of Charlotte singers founded the Oratorio Singers of Charlotte to perform great choral masterpieces. Today that organization is known as Charlotte Master Chorale, but regardless of name, they remain an important institution in the cultural life of our region performing often throughout the year. Artistic director Dr. Kenney Potter talks about celebrating this important milestone with a season of concert repertoire that ranges from beloved classics to newer, diverse works, some written specifically for Charlotte Master Chorale. And he talks about the organization’s mission to inspire unity in our community through music. Learn more about Christmas with the Charlotte Master Chorale
Cellist Tanja Bechtler and arranger Adam Watkins speak about their concert of Beatles tunes arranged as chamber music. The two also discuss the collaborative process that resulted in the arrangements they perform, as well as the enduring appeal of The Beatles’ music to multiple generations. Learn more about the Beatles with the Bechtler Ensemble concert at Queens University
Guest conductor Roderick Cox talks about how he chose the music for his program with the Charlotte Symphony, and why the Brahms Serenade No. 2 is particularly close to his heart. He also describes the Roderick Cox Music Initiative, a project that provides scholarships for young musicians of color from underrepresented communities. In only two years, the Initiative has been able to award thousands of dollars to help young artists pursue their dreams. Pictured: Roderick Cox; photo by Susie Knoll. Roderick Cox , conductor
The NoteWorthy concert series is presented by WDAV in partnership with the FAIR PLAY Music Equity Alliance . The series brings together gifted Black and brown artists from the Charlotte music scene with classical musicians for some genre-blending, community building music. Charlotte composer and musician Harvey Cummings II is featured in the series. He talks with WDAV about his enjoyment of arranging string parts for his jazz compositions and about the value of collaborating with musicians from other genres. Harvey Cummings II
The Sacred Veil , a relatively new work by acclaimed American composer Eric Whitacre and librettist Charles Anthony Silvestri, explores the loss of a loved one to cancer. Caritas Artistic Director, Cathy Youngblood, explains why Caritas A Capella Ensemble of Charlotte chose to present this work. She walks us through the composition providing insight into ways the music addresses human grief and love.
Deanna Tham is the music director of the Union Symphony Orchestra. The Symphony is kicking off its 2021 - 2022 season with an in-person concert featuring Juilliard trained soprano Gina Gutierrez in a program called “The Symphonic Voice.” Maestro Tham talks about the upcoming season and the important role the orchestra plays in the cultural fabric of Union County.
In 2018, Opera Carolina stepped out of its comfort zone to present the powerful rhythm & blues opera I Dream , a fictional chronicle of the final days of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King’s life. Now I Dream returns for performances at the Belk Theatre in Charlotte. We revisit an interview before the premier with James Meena, general director and principal conductor of Opera Carolina. He talks about his aspirations for this new work. You’ll also hear from composer Douglas Tappin about how his musical hybrid is ideal for telling the story of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Chamber Music For All, founded by violinists Monica Boboc and Calin Lupanu, launches their Fall season with an in person concert – their first since February 2020 – featuring piano trios by Brahms and Arensky. Calin Lupanu talks about what life has been like for musicians during the pandemic, and about his anticipation of returning to live in-person performances.
In addition to the challenges of the pandemic, Theatre Charlotte suffered a difficult loss when their building caught fire in December 2020. Despite the set-back, they managed to continue with their season, and this year they are embarking on a new season of productions that will be staged at venues around Charlotte. Acting executive director, Chris Timmons, talks about the many ways Theatre Charlotte is adapting to changing circumstances and some of the unanticipated opportunities that last year’s catastrophe created.
The NoteWorthy concert series is presented by WDAV in partnership with the FAIR PLAY Music Equity Alliance . The series brings together gifted Black and brown artists from the Charlotte music scene with classical musicians for some genre-blending, community building music. Karen Poole, a singer/songwriter and contemporary gospel artist, is joined by trumpeter Keenan Harmon, one of the classical musicians who perform with her in the NoteWorthy concert series. They speak about their different musical backgrounds and what it was like to come together to perform Karen’s original songs. Karen Poole Keenan Harmon Transcript: Frank Dominguez : This is Frank Dominguez for WDAV’s Piedmont Arts. On Wednesday, September 1st at 7:30 p.m., WDAV continues the NoteWorthy virtual concert series presented in partnership with the FAIR PLAY Music Equity (Initiative). The series brings together gifted Black and brown artists from the Charlotte music scene with classical musicians for some genre-blending, community-building music. Next in the series, we feature singer-songwriter and contemporary gospel artist Karen Poole and joining in support of her terrific talents are a trio of classical musicians including violinist Alice Silva, trombonist Brent Ballard, and trumpeter Keenan Harmon, who joins me now via Zoom along with Karen to talk about the concert and their own musical journey. Welcome, Karen and Keenan. Karen Poole : Thank you. Frank : Karen, I noticed from the bio information at your website that like a lot of gifted musicians, you were born into a musical family, so tell me a little bit about them and what you learned from them. Karen : Yeah, absolutely. I was the baby of the family, so I got the opportunity to watch my parents as soloists and some of my older siblings just navigate, moreso in the gospel of church scene. So we were very, very heavy into the music department of our church, and I just had the opportunity to learn just standing up on people’s shoulders and looking, watching. (I’m) very blessed to have a front seat experience into this. (On a) typical day in our home, you’d hear about three or four songs singing at once. (Laughs) That’s what that was like. Born into it. Frank : And what about a formal education in music of any kind? What was it like for you? Were you exposed to that? Karen : I did some... I want to say not formal, but more so informal training. I’ve had very great mentors throughout the years who’d sit down with me (and) teach me theory and things of that nature. I actually don’t - I’m not very fluent at reading charted music, but I have very strong ear training, and I can read some chord charts as well. But in that regard, no, I never had formal training, it’s all natural giftings that I had. Frank : And that’s nothing to be sneezed at, of course. You know, one of the things that I've discovered over and over again in these conversations, whether it's about NoteWorthy or if I'm interviewing Black classical artists who are singers or instrumentalists, is just the amazing conservatory that's provided by the Black church music tradition. There’s so much inspiration there. Keenan, what about you? What was your coming up like? Did it include a lot of music? Keenan Harmon : My family - I wouldn't say that my family is very musical, but [they’re] music lovers. And that’s, to me, part of the human condition. So, I rarely run into people that don’t have some affiliation with music or some love for it. But in all reality, I kind of discovered or felt that I was heeding this call from a very young age, and my parents had kind of a little bit of a diverse music taste. I mean it was kind of old school eclecticism, so I grew up around Motown, church music… I, too, am the youngest like Karen, so my brothers were really into popular music at the time, which was kind of the early hip hop scene. And what ended up happening is [that] I felt really drawn to being a trumpet player, and then more or less, I stumbled on some recordings at a very young age that impacted my life. When I was about eleven and I started playing, I was able to hear a classical CD, it was a mostly Baroque type of thing and had a lot of trumpet on it, and likewise my mother had bought this Miles Davis CD, and at the time I knew nothing too much about it. You know, she had been familiar with Miles. And it was actually the Live at Montreux album that was done in the last year of his life. And not knowing any of that, I asked her could I open the CD and listen to it, and here I am listening to the CD, and I thought, “My goodness, as a trumpet player I could play something like this. Something Baroque, and I could play something like this, something that’s jazz.” And so that’s kind of how… that spearheaded what I’ve been drawn to in my career as a musician. Frank : Karen, talking about those wide ranges in sound, your sound is a good example of how eclectic contemporary gospel music can be. I think people hear that and assume it’s going to sound a certain way, but you have a very eclectic and versatile sound. What are the sources and the elements that go into your music? Karen : First of all, I'm glad you recognize that. The best way I can describe my music is gumbo: it’s like a little bit of everything. I would say I listened to a lot of traditional gospel growing up, but definitely (was) introduced to more of a jazzy sound probably in my late teens. I started being introduced to Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, that kind of sound, Yellowjackets… and I’m somewhat of a late bloomer because we had a very strict household growing up, so it was only gospel music that I was allowed to listen to. So I was a late bloomer being introduced to other styles. And still to this day, I’m still grasping a lot of the classic tunes out there. I’m still evolving musically because of that, so I’m actually grateful for it. And then I’d listen to more of the contemporary Christian music, like Matthew West and Lady Antebellum, stuff like that, just kind of listen to those songs, and they’re very pure sounding. And I love, actually, country music - just the way it tells a story, and the sounds from the violins and strings, all those things. Alice actually played on that (in) the performance we did, she played the violin parts for (one of my) song(s). And it was just amazing to be able to partner with (the classical musicians) and have a range of sounds that they could dig into with me, so I was excited about that. Frank : I really noticed that, in the little bit of the sessions that I've been able to hear, that it was just incredibly eclectic. And your description of gumbo, I don’t think could be more apt. As a former Louisiana resident, that takes us to the tastiness of gumbo and the tastiness of your sounds, because I really hear that country and all of those various influences in there. It's really wonderful. Keenan, as a working musician, versatility is pretty much a requirement for you. I mean you've been able to play all sorts of music, and you have to in order to put together enough gigs to make a living. So what are some of the disparate events that you play regularly - the kinds of places where you bring your talent to bear? Keenan : I’ve done a lot of shows. There was a time where I'd done quite a bit of opera orchestra stuff for a while. Shows tend to run longer and pay more, so I would do that. Frank : By shows, you mean Broadway shows? Keenan : Musicals and such, yes. On top of that, a lot of chamber music stuff. Some friends of mine and I started to do a lot of collaborations and just be on each other’s radar always to at least be available for performances and various things, and then there’s also recording work that I’ve been known to do. There was a short time - well, I say short, it was about four and a half years - [when] I worked with some guys out of Nashville. They had been in this area and they were bringing a lot of musicians in from the Nashville area, and so I got to work and collaborate and do concerts with them as well. It’s kind of like Karen had said, it’s an evolution on a continuum, and so you try to stay ahead of that and you make sure you’ve got a good namesake, you’ve got a good reputation and like you had said, versatility is the key. I’ll put it to you like this. I tell people oftentimes that musicians, particularly in the freelance community, have to practice music like an attorney practices law, like a doctor practices medicine. I am continually studying, because authenticity is very important to me. Being genuine. Whenever I’m playing something, if we go back to Baroque or classical, [making sure] that my ornaments are proper when I’m ornamenting the music. And similarly, that I’m very fresh on ideas if I’m doing something that’s jazz. The pandemic put a different dynamic on that, but what I found more or less is that I worked. You know, I look at last year and I worked fruitfully. One show got cancelled, one musical. Other than that, some of the concerts that I would normally do at certain times a year, like towards the holidays, they went on. So it’s a testament that people really wanted to experience some normalcy, so live music was a part of that. And then on top of that, it was just the fact that it was the determination of the musical community to try to make that happen. And so that's really how you can make (a) living. You’ve just got to persevere through it and stay fresh. Frank : Karen, you touched on this in one of your answers earlier, but I want you to go a little deeper into what it was like collaborating with the musicians in this NoteWorthy session that folks will be seeing on September 1st. What was it like working with them, and what did they bring to your songs that you had already written and created to give them a different sound or a different life, if you will? Karen : It was inspiring in a lot of ways. For example... the first song we did that night, “High Praise,” when I produced the music, I had recorded keyboard horns on it and while they sound good, it’s nothing like having a real horn player on it. So, I sent the music and I let [the classical musicians] know, “Hey. I don’t actually have this charted out, but if you can try to follow this pattern, that would be great.” And Keenan was so, so easy to work with. He said, “Okay, we’ll get it. We’ll figure it out.” At our first rehearsal, he had it charted out for him and Brent [Ballard], and they nailed it. It was just very minor little things that we had to adjust here and there, little nuances like something is staccato, not legato, but very, very minor. They brought my song to life, and it was amazing to hear music that I had created live that way. It was just amazing. And then on top of that, to build a relationship with them to where even beyond this NoteWorthy performance, we can still collaborate on some other things, I can refer him for some things and vice versa, and bring him on for other shows that I might have. And now it’s forced me to have my music officially charted out. So, moving forward, I will always have this thanks to NoteWorthy. I’m grateful - amazing experience working with them. Frank : I have a last question for the both of you, and that's what would you like to see more of in the Charlotte live music scene? What's missing right now that you think would take it up a notch and make it a better scene for both musicians and audiences? Keenan : For Charlotte, it’s really that connectivity of having people both aware of what goes on musically in Charlotte, because that’s not always the case, and then on top of it, it's to build that culture. Right before the pandemic, I was in Chicago, and I’d gone to see a couple of different performances while I was there and what amazed me - because it had been a long time since I had been to Chicago - it was just being an audience member. That was the most awe-inspiring thing was to watch how audiences were connected and interacted with various music, whether it was a classical or a jazz thing. You just had that community. So in the Charlotte area, there’s a thirst for it, I think. It’s just a matter of that connection that’s there. Having Charlotte have enough room for music is kind of the big goal because we’re making room for a lot of things in this area. Lots of things. And music, I feel like, has always been here. It’s just the awareness is the thing, I would say. Frank : Karen, you’re here a little more recently. What have you observed in your time here? Karen : My answer may not be what you expect, but honestly, in my time here - it's been about four and a half years - I’m actually quite pleased, because the first couple of years of me being here, I was not very well-known. I made some connections with some individuals in the music scene here, like I met Tim Scott, Jr. once on a show, I think it’s called the Soulful Noel, that they do at Christmas time every year, put on by Quentin Talley. I met some folks who said, “Hey, we need an extra background singer, can you come on.” So, by me being there, I made some small networks there, and just earning my place, if I can say that. They got a chance to see how I flowed in the background. And somewhere around the middle of 2019, I was offered an opportunity to do my own show. I had my own set. It was just a small acoustic session put on by Arsena Schroeder, and that was really exciting for me because I hadn’t performed my music at all since I’d moved to Charlotte. I’d put out a couple of singles working with a great producer, Johnny Abraham, who was also playing keys on the NoteWorthy performance. When I did that show, people were like, “Wow, we need to see more of this.” And so that really opened up opportunities for more performances. I didn’t do very many, but the ones I got were impactful. I think that was in July of 2019, and somewhere in September, I had the opportunity to open for a major artist, Tweet, and then from there, it built the energy to say hey, I’m going to go ahead and try to finish my album. I had never put out a full length album. Yes, the pandemic hit in 2020, and I had plans to do a small live recording... we did it in February of 2020. The plan was to do that and then work on a few more, and I was going to have an album done, ready to release it on Easter of 2020. But we shut down. Even despite that, though, I’ve just got to say it catapulted me, because I got all the tools I needed to finish recording at home. Folks around here in the music community were very much on board to work with me, and we got the album done, and I put it out in February of this year. So, even in the course of that time, I was able to do a few virtual shows, we did some shows with John Tosco. Although we were shut down, I think Charlotte did a great job of keeping us busy. As a newcomer, I’m impressed. Frank : Well, I'm impressed with both of you, and I'm so excited from these conversations that I've had with NoteWorthy artists to see what this music scene’s going to be like when we get back to being able to comfortably perform in person, and it just seems to me like the talent that's going to be showcased is going to surprise a lot of people. So I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes. My guests have been two of the performers of the next virtual concert in the NoteWorthy series from WDAV and FAIR PLAY Music Equity Initiative, singer-songwriter and contemporary gospel artist Karen Poole and trumpeter Keenan Harmon. The concert streams on Wednesday, September 1st at 7:30 p.m., and it will also feature violinist Alice Silva and trombonist Brent Ballard. You can get more information and find a link to the Facebook Live and YouTube event at NoteWorthyClassical.org . Thank you so much, Karen and Keenan, for speaking with me. Karen : Thank you. Keenan : Thank you. Frank : For WDAV’s Piedmont Arts, I’m Frank Dominguez.
The NoteWorthy concert series is presented by WDAV in partnership with the FAIR PLAY Music Equity Alliance . The series brings together gifted Black and brown artists from the Charlotte music scene with classical musicians for some genre-blending, community building music. Singer, songwriter, guitarist and community organizer, Quisol and Charlotte Symphony musicians Kari Giles (violin) and Jeremy Lamb (cello) speak about the pleasures of collaborating across genres, and how creativity is linked to activism. Quisol Kari Giles Jeremy Lamb
Since 1958, the Arts and Science Council (ASC) has been a driving force in the cultural life of the city and Mecklenburg County. In recent years, in an effort to live up to its promise of “Culture for All,” the ASC put together a Cultural Equity Report that is drawing attention. ASC President Krista Terrell speaks about the importance of cultural equity, and how the ASC is working to assure it. Related: Arts & Science Council Cultural Equity Report Blog: The Uncomfortable Truth ( Americans for the Arts ) Video: Beyond the Sound Bites Pictured: Krista Terrell, President, Arts and Science Council.
The NoteWorthy concert series is presented by WDAV in partnership with the FAIR PLAY Music Equity Alliance . The series brings together gifted Black and brown artists from the Charlotte music scene with classical musicians for some genre-blending, community building music. Grammy Award winner Greg Cox, who blends hip-hop, R&B and Gospel in his music is joined by two veteran classical musicians from our area, violinist Jane Hart Brendle and violist Matt Darsey to talk about being a part of the concert series. Greg Cox Jane Hart Brendle Matt Darsey Transcript: Frank Dominguez : This is Frank Dominguez for WDAV’s Piedmont Arts. On Wednesday, May 26th at 7:30 p.m., WDAV continues the NoteWorthy virtual concert series presented in partnership with the FAIR PLAY Music Equity [Initiative]. The series brings together gifted Black and brown artists from the Charlotte music scene with classical musicians for some genre-blending, community-building music. Next up, we’re thrilled to offer a concert headlined by a GRAMMY Award winner and overall renaissance man. Greg Cox blends hip-hop, R&B, and gospel in his music and infuses it with his own Southern soul. He’ll have recording artist A$H. as his special guest, and they'll be joined by two veteran classical musicians from our area, violinist Jane Hart Brendle and violist Matthew Darsey. Greg, Jane, and Matthew are joining me now via Zoom to talk about their NoteWorthy program. Welcome, everybody! Greg Cox : Hey, Frank! Frank : Greg, I’ll start with you. We often distinguish classical musicians from artists in popular music like you by talking about the rigorous training classical musicians get in conservatories and the like, but then looking at your background, it strikes me that you came up in a fairly rigorous family conservatory of sorts and learned a lot from touring with some pretty top-notch gospel musicians. So, tell us a bit about your musical journey. Greg : Yeah, so starting in church is definitely something that I was fortunate to experience. Not much lesson - they just throw you in the fire there. When you’ve got musicians who are top notch since age 12, you're going into some proteges, some child legends. In Black church, you learn! You learn how to literally score what the preacher is preaching. It’s like scoring a movie as he’s going. And then touring with my dad, and touring with a few other artists, you bump into some of the best musicians in the world. So I wouldn't say I'm up there with them, but what I would say is we can eat lunch at the same table and hang out. If there was anyone who - you don’t have the money to throw your kids into phenomenal teaching (or) rigorous training, just drop them off at church. They’ll be fine. Frank : And when you consider how many wonderful musicians have come from the Black church tradition in this country and the influence its had on all sorts of genres, there’s definitely something there. Greg : There’s something the water, man. There’s something in the atmosphere. Blends of jazz, blends of blues, blends of old Negro Spiritual songs - it’s very, very unique music to learn how to play, and I’m very, very fortunate. Some of the best ever, right? Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, Jennifer Hudson, the best vocalists ever come from the church. So it’s just something in the water and something in that community. Every week, it’s growing. So even if it's not as formal, you definitely learn things you can’t learn anywhere else. Frank : Jane, I've had the pleasure of hearing you play in a variety of concerts, including a Klezmer-infused program the Charlotte Symphony presented about music of the Holocaust, so I know you’re versatile, but I'm not sure I ever imagined you collaborating with a hip-hop artist like Greg Cox. What was that like? Jane Hart Brendle : It was so much fun! It was really way beyond what I imagined. I had so much fun, and Greg was so easy to work with. He just made it - it felt so natural to play. He just told us what he needed, and he had the parts written out, and it just felt great. Frank : And Matthew, even though you're a trained classical musician, I sort of expect you to be adventurous because I know you have a passion for contemporary music - and did that focus help you in any way for approaching this collaboration with Greg? Matthew Darsey : I think it does. You know, when you play a lot of contemporary classical music, your ears have to adjust to a different way of hearing music. And when you're playing in a genre that you're not really used to, your ears have to work fairly differently as well. The harmonic language isn't necessarily the same as it is in Brahms. So, in a certain sense, I’ve even trained my ears out of the classical years because I'm used to playing atonal music or music that doesn't really fit in with what we’re used to from Western classical music. So, when you're coming to someone like Greg, who’s so intuitively exacting in what he wants, it was just incredible. You sort of just - you almost lose control, or not lose control, but you let go of that really analytical part of your brain and just ride the wave that he gives to you, because it's such a powerful wave that if you just give in to it, then it sort of lays itself out there for you. Frank : Greg, talk about that a little bit. What was it like for you knowing the background of these musicians and coming together with them to work with them? Greg : Ah, man. Absolutely magical. So, classical musicians are literally like ninjas to me. Where do they hang out? Where do they, like... what do they eat? It's like when you go to a Broadway show and you try to go down and talk to (the orchestra), they just disappear. Like it’s a smoke bomb, and they’re just gone, or they’re in the lobby in the hotel. So, I've always wanted to have friends who were in that world. So, to be thrown into this environment, and to see that, “Oh, crap! They're human, they're just in different pockets.” It’s a different pocket. You figure out where they hang out at. “Oh, they’re at the Panera Bread!” “Oh, I need to go over to this side of town to see where they’re hanging out at.” So, it was beautiful to kind of pull back the curtain on that cultural demographic, and I was very fortunate to have the introduction that I did have through this organization. And they got it! I was very nervous going into it because I was like, “I hope I can speak their language.” (I had to) be overprepared. We had a little funny story of - the printer didn’t work. And sheet music without a printer, forget that. But thankfully, they had iPads, and they understood my chicken scratch and my little notations of what I was trying to communicate to them. They weren’t hard to work with at all. They didn’t use their knowledge to puff up, to make me feel inferior. They welcomed me. They spoke my language, and it was a humbling, humbling experience that I wish more musicians would get to experience. Frank : You mentioned that you were a GRAMMY winner. How did that accolade come about? What were you involved with that resulted in that? Greg : There’s this icon by the name of Kirk Franklin who just decided - woke up one day with his team and decided to have me be a part of this amazing, phenomenal album Long Live Love. I’m on a song called “Strong God” that he wrote and produced and had me feature as a vocalist in 2020. That album won for Gospel Album of the Year; therefore, I'm a part of that album and contributed to it, so anyone who is a part of the album gets a GRAMMY. It’s like going to the NBA and playing with LeBron (James). You gotta know that if you’re on LeBron’s team, you’re going to get a ring. You know what I mean? So I got a ring because LeBron was in the game. And I might have shot a few 3’s, I might have passed LeBron the ball a couple times, but it definitely was, on the back, carried by the LeBron James, Kirk Franklin. Frank : Jane and Matthew, when we were talking about the attitude you you brought to this project, I couldn't help but think back, because I've been in this classical music radio business for so long, to times when classical musicians in orchestras were perhaps a little more unbending - you know, who weren’t quite as open to collaborations like this in the past - and that seems to have really changed in recent years, I guess because there's new generations of classical musicians in orchestras. Am I right about that? Would you confirm that perception? Matthew : I think that's a very big trend right now. Especially, you see it with a lot of the younger composers that are coming up. Caroline Shaw, for instance, does a lot of genre bending. She’s from Raleigh, I think, too. And I think it's a really beautiful thing for the field because, for so long, classical music has been so very structured within its Western European roots. And you of course see that with the music itself, in terms of the Classical era music, was obviously very, very structured within its own form, but then the social structures of it have been very narrow as well. And then there’s something that I think that we’re - it's almost like if we’re afraid if we expand that, then classical music disappears, which I think is a very paradoxical way of going about it, because if you build a wall up around something, then it's no longer - then it it does disappear, because there's nothing to let it thrive. So I think that it's a really beautiful thing for Western European music to really open up itself to exploring what it can do with and for other genres, because if you don't grow, you're going to die. And so there’s a lot of really great younger performers that are breaking that mold, because we grew up with being very affected by music that wasn't necessarily, you know, classical music. And then we're wanting to combine all of that into something that is more personal to us, maybe, and not so much meaningful to the older generation, or the ones that came before us, but it's still a very powerful way for us to express ourselves as a musician in the 21st century. Jane : I think that we have definitely - in the recent years, we have started to branch out and look for many new ways to include all sorts of music, and it’s been a great adventure, and I’m so glad that it's finally open. It feels like it’s opening up, and it’s not just a token here and there: “Let’s play this piece by a woman composer because she's a woman composer.” It’s just opening up, and it doesn't matter anymore. We're just including all people and all types of music. That’s what it feels like. Frank : Greg, I'm going to give you the last word here. Hearing the three of you speak, I know I'm looking forward to hearing you all perform. What else can you tell listeners to this conversation to whet their appetites for the program you’ve prepared? What should they be expecting? Greg : They should be expecting White Sexual Chocolate. That's what they should expect. That's the name of the band that I gave them, and they put beautiful, sugary, milk white chocolate on my music, and it definitely embellished all the songs - every song that I perform normally. I feel really good about (the performance). They just added a different sauce. Frank : Do you think you'll - having done this now, do you think you'll consider doing something like it again, either in the recording studio or when in-person performing becomes commonplace again? Greg : I’m changed forever through this experience. I've always wanted to be involved with film, watching Disney growing up, (and) seeing Randy Newman, who is my favorite composer, just compose the crap out of string arrangements and provoke emotion in that way, I always wanted to be a part of it. So my next album actually is going to be very, very influenced by this experience (with) classical string playing throughout the entire album now. So it’s very much now a fiber, a part of who I am through this experience. I’m very affected by it, and very thankful for the organization again. Frank : I am so looking forward to hearing how that turns out, and I'm really excited for you. My guests are the performers for the next virtual concert in the new NoteWorthy series from WDAV and FAIR PLAY Music Equity Initiative, singer-songwriter and rapper Greg Cox, Charlotte Symphony violinist Jane Hart Brendle, and violist Matthew Darsey. The concert streams on Wednesday, May 26th at 7:30 p.m. You can get more information and find a link to the Facebook Live event at noteworthyclassical.org . Thank you all for speaking with me. For WDAV’s Piedmont Arts, I’m Frank Dominguez.
Since 1950, the Symphony Guild of Charlotte has been supporting the Charlotte Symphony and Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestras and promoting interest in symphonic music in the Charlotte region. Both the Symphony Guild and the CSO are working on strategic plans which prioritize inclusivity. Debbie Abels, president of the Symphony Guild, and David Fisk, CEO of the Charlotte Symphony, talk about their two organizations' symbiotic relationship and the ways they want to reach new audiences and serve all members of the community. Pictured: David Fisk, photo credit Keitaro Harada.
The NoteWorthy concert series is presented by WDAV in partnership with the FAIR PLAY Music Equity Alliance. The series brings together gifted Black and brown artists from the Charlotte music scene with classical musicians for some genre-blending, community building music. Singer-songwriter Arsena Schroeder talks about the concert and collaborating with pianist Leonard Mark Lewis, violinist Lenora Cox Legatt, and guitarist Chris Suter, who also join the conversation. Arsena Schroeder Lenora Cox Legatt Leonard Mark Lewis Chris Suter Transcript: Frank : This is Frank Dominguez for WDAV’s Piedmont Arts. On Wednesday, April 14 at 7:30 PM, the NoteWorthy concert series debuts on Facebook Live. It’s presented by WDAV in partnership with FAIR PLAY Music Equity [Initiative] and brings together gifted Black and brown artists from the Charlotte music scene with classical musicians for some genre-bending, community building music. The first concert in the series features singer-songwriter Arsena Schroeder with musical guests pianist Leonard Mark Lewis, violinist Lenora Cox Leggatt, and guitarist Chris Suter. All of them are joining me now via Zoom to talk about the concert. Welcome, everybody. Great to have you all here! Arsena, I'll start with you. Your music is influenced by R&B, pop, and folk, and it's been described as tackling topics of personal healing and empowerment. I’m curious about how you arrived at your sound in general and those particular themes. Arsena : That's a good question. Well, I actually started music kind of late in college. I had a friend who asked me to sing on a project of his, and I thought, “I don't sing.” That’s what I told him, and he said, “You do.” So, that was my first time writing and recording, and I fell in love with it. And then shortly after, I got a hold of Lauryn Hill's MTV Unplugged performance, and it was very ‘singer-songwriter’ - her, her guitar, and storytelling - and I thought, “Oh, if I can do it that way, then I do sing, and I can do music.” So, I kind of just pull from inspiration that is soulful, but still very simple and self-reflective in content. Frank : Mark, let me ask you about your work. You’re a composer as well as a pianist, and your works have been commissioned by orchestras such as the Charlotte Symphony. How did you get involved in this particular project, and what's the collaboration been like? Mark : I was super pumped, because initially I wasn't even going to be involved. I found out that I was going to be involved three hours before the first rehearsal. I was told, “Oh, you have to be at this rehearsal.” So I [thought], “Where’s a keyboard?” So I drove around trying to find a keyboard and drive to Arsena’s loft. I had heard her music before, and I probably got involved because I told the person in charge [of recruiting the classical artists], who happened to be my wife, “I love this music. I want to play with her.” And so, that’s probably how it happened. It’s been a wonderful experience. It’s so musical and lyrical and rhythmic and lush that it was easy - I just came in and did my thing, and [Arsena] was open to new ideas and all those things, and it’s been wonderful from start to finish. Frank : Lenora, let me ask you: you have ties to the Charlotte Symphony, too, as a violinist in the orchestra. Apart from the stylistic differences, how is working with Arsena in this concert different from the classical fare that you normally rehearse and perform? Lenora : I’m used to somebody writing my notes for me, and I work hard at that, and I’m good at that, so just having to go with my own instincts was a new experience. And it was really exciting and really fun and I really enjoyed it, mostly because Arsena just made it so easy and relaxed and she was open to any ideas I wanted to try, or not try, or just explore, and she just made it. Frank : Arsena, let me go back to you for a moment and ask if there was any kind of trepidation - especially now that I've learned that you came to music rather late in life - about heading into this project with classically trained musicians such as Mark and and Lenora. Arsena : Yeah, I mean, in the back of my mind, I’m like, “I don't know how this is going to work,” because we come from two different worlds. I come from the world of improv, just going with what feels good, just kind of playing it by ear, and then also just not having that formal training and being self-taught. And knowing from experience that it normally can take months or years for a band to gel well, I’m going to have to have chemistry, and so I think we kind of hit the jackpot and it worked. But I did think, “We’re really rolling the dice here. This could either go really good or really bad.” [laughs] Frank : Well, I saw a little bit of the rehearsal, so I can attest to the fact that it's going really well. Arsena : Yeah, it went really great. Frank : Chris, let me bring you in on this and ask how you came to work with Arsena. Chris : I’ve known Arsena for a few years now. She worked with a friend of mine on, I think, one of her earlier EPs, and then long story short, he kind of stepped out of the engineering game and recommended me. We talked and seemed to have a good rapport and seemed to work together, and it just kind of all fell into place from there. Frank : It sounds as if many of our listeners might be surprised at just what an active music scene there is in Charlotte. Chris : I think you have to maybe look for it a little bit, but once you do discover it, you can find that there's a pretty lush community of musicians and artists all kind of working to help each other out. I think because it is a little bit it - it can be a little bit of a struggle, so you kind of find that when you do discover and break your way into the music scene, that everyone is really, really open to helping each other out and working together. Frank : That's great to know. This next question is really for all of you. I'd be interested in your individual thoughts on this. Genres, such as classical or pop or R&B, are handy things for recording labels (and for radio stations, I’ll admit). But what do you, as musicians and creatives, think of that term, “genre”? Arsena, let’s start with you. Arsena : I hate it, because I want to play them all, but I do understand, having a business mind, that marketing-wise, it’s helpful for the audience to know if they're going to be drawn or attracted to what you create. But I mean, I pull from so many different aspects, and one song could be one genre, and another song can be another genre when you’re creating freely, so I don't necessarily care for that label. Frank : Mark, how about you? Mark : I agree with Arsena. Postmodernism is alive and well, and I don’t think there’s any one particular music that stands above another, and it’s all there for the exact same reason. Frank : Lenora? Lenora : I don’t mind it. I like the idea of blending genres more than anything. Composers have always borrowed from each other, and I think exploring and being open to new genres is important. I have students that I was telling them - well, somehow it came up that they don’t think a violin would go in a rock band, and I said, “Actually, I’m playing in a rock band next week.” [Arsena laughs] Lenora : They were so excited by that. And so I think exploring new genres is important, and I have experience with that, mostly because my husband’s a rock musician, and my son is 9 and he’s always showing me new things to listen to on YouTube. So it helps to explore. Frank : And Chris, what's your experience been with that term as a working musician here in town? Chris : It's kind of a love-hate relationship. I mean, it obviously works and it has its purpose, but one of the most frustrating things is when you're working on an original project and then someone asks you, “What kind of genre is it?,” and it's like, “I don't know, I haven't thought about it. Now let me try to force it into this box.” Into, “Oh, I guess it's rock, but it's also kind of pop,” and then it can give people the wrong or right idea. So it has its utility, but it definitely kind of forces you think in a weird way sometimes. Frank : Arsena, I’m going to give you the last word and ask you to tell me a little bit, or give the listeners a little bit of an expectation of what they can encounter when they tune in for this concert stream. What’s the program going to be like? Arsena : I feel relaxed. Kind of like Mark said, it’s pretty relaxed. I do some storytelling in between the songs. We’ve got some solos, everybody gets a little solo and a moment. I think it’s something that you might find interesting and pleasing to your ear, just because we’ve got the violin, which I’ve never had. Now I feel like I need violin on every single one of my songs moving forward, so Lenora, I’ll be hitting you up. And we’ve got Chris on electric, and I pulled Chris in because we’ve been playing together for years, and I felt like he could fill in some of the areas that I couldn’t. But I go from electric guitar to acoustic guitar to tambourine, Mark is on electric piano and grand piano, so we really get a really good palate of music for your ears, I think. Frank : That sounds very tempting, and I know hearing that, a lot of folks are going to be interested in checking it out. My guests have been the performers for the first virtual concert in the new NoteWorthy series from WDAV and FAIR PLAY Music Equity Initiative. Singer-songwriter Arsena Schroeder (whose latest release, [Unplugged+Live: Remixed & Remastered], is available for download at arsenamusic.com), pianist and composer Leonard Mark Lewis, violinist Lenora Cox Leggatt, and guitarist Chris Suter. The concert streams on Wednesday, April 14 at 7:30 PM, and you can get more information and find a link to the Facebook Live event at noteworthyclassical.org. Everybody, thanks so much for speaking with me! Arsena : Thank you for having us. Frank : For WDAV’s Piedmont Arts, I’m Frank Dominguez.
Timothy Redmond, artistic director of the Winston-Salem Symphony, talks about the symphony’s new on-demand concert Center Stage . The concert features Lukas Foss's Renaissance Concerto and Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto . Redmond discusses the many ways the orchestra has had to adapt and change this year -- everything from producing videos to performing while keeping musicians six feet apart. Pictured: Tim Redmond; courtesy of the Winston-Salem Symphony.
Normally during the spring of the year, Charlotte Ballet would be presenting their Innovative Works series which brings in outside guest choreographers. Due to the ongoing pandemic, that wasn't possible this year. So instead, they're presenting the work of Charlotte Ballet staff and artists in a specially renamed series called Works: Direct from the Lab . Artistic director Hope Muir explains the personal nature of these locally created works and how they connect to the Charlotte community.
Cynthia and Bill Lawing have crafted a program spanning the centuries as part of the Music at St. Alban’s series in Davidson, NC. The husband and wife duo, which has extensive performing experience in the Charlotte area and around the country, has crafted a diverse program of music for trumpet and piano that ranges from Scarlatti to Ginastera. They talk about the concert, their year navigating COVID, and share the story of how they met as conservatory students many years ago. Learn more about Music @ St. Alban's and WDAV present Cynthia and William Lawing
The Charlotte Symphony will celebrate the arrival of 2021 with a New Year’s Day concert featuring Baroque music. Resident Conductor Christopher James Lees explains how the lively and joyful sounds of Baroque music may be the unexpected, but perfect, way to turn a new page after the tumult of 2020. He also reflects on what performing arts organizations have learned this year and what it means for them going forward. Learn more about A Baroque Celebration: Old World / New Year
In a Christmas season like no other, Bach Akademie Charlotte will be making merry on Zoom with their “Familie Christmas Partie”. The musical centerpiece of the gathering will be J.S. Bach’s Magnificat in D recorded during the 2019 Charlotte Bach Festival. Artistic Director Scott Allen Jarrett talks about Bach Akademie Charlotte’s unusual season and shares a personal reflection on what the isolation of the pandemic has meant to him as a musician. Learn more about “Familie Christmas Partie”
Opera Carolina teams up with D9 Brewing to bring holiday cheer with an event called Tinsel Town. The festivities happen throughout the day at D9 Brewing Company in Cornelius, NC, and will feature Opera Carolina Carolers with singers from the Opera Carolina Kids Academy. Hear Megan Miller talk about this event as well as how Opera Carolina and individual singers have been adjusting to pandemic restrictions this year. Learn more about Tinsel Town Pictured: Megan Miller/photo courtesy of Megan Miller.
WDAV’s annual broadcast of Charlotte Lessons and Carols from St. John’s celebrates its tenth anniversary with a two-hour retrospective . Hear music director David Tang, and other event partners from St. John’s and the McClatchy Foundation, speak about what the community celebration means to them, and how it will be different this year. Learn more about the Charlotte Lessons and Carols 10th Anniversary Special
Mandolin and guitar virtuoso Robin Bullock, who is based in the Asheville area, has found himself working in new ways in recent months. One big difference -- he's giving virtual concerts - like the one coming up as part of Music at St. Alban's performance series. Hear Robin talk about the challenges and surprising benefits of being a musician during the pandemic. Learn more about Music @ St. Alban's with Robin Bullock Pictured: Robin Bullock/courtesy of Robin Bullock
The pandemic forced the Western Piedmont Symphony to rethink their concert season. They decided to create concerts and events that speak directly to the moment we're living in, including a multimedia project, "2020: A Musical Response," and a roundtable discussion on race in classical music. Music Director Matthew Troy talks about these and other events, and he'll explain why music is such a powerful means of communication in times like these. Watch "2020: A Musical Response" Learn more about the Roundtable on Race in Classical Music Pictured: Matthew Troy/courtesy of the Western Piedmont Symphony
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO) welcomed their new President and CEO, David Fisk, on September 1, 2020. He's joining the CSO at a critical time as they learn new ways to share their music safely in the midst of a pandemic. David Fisk talks about getting to know his new city and organization in a socially distanced way. He also shares his thoughts on the importance of the CSO's role in our community in times like these. Pictured: David Fisk; photo by Keitaro-Harada.
For the Winston-Salem Symphony and conductor Timothy Redmond, the motto "The show must go on" has taken on new meaning in the year 2020. They have reimagined their new season to deal with the realities of social distancing. And they have also learned to share their music online in new and creative ways. Timothy Redmond talks about how they've adapted and what the new reality means for musicians and audiences. Pictured: Tim Redmond; courtesy of the Winston-Salem Symphony.
Artistic Director James Allbritten talks about the search to find works that allow for social distancing, and composer Kenneth Frazelle describes his composition, From Appalachia , which is one part of the concert entitled Echoes from Carolina . Learn more about Piedmont Opera Pictured (l-r): James Allbritten and Kenneth Frazelle.
Organist Joby Bell will give the first recital in this year's Organ at Davidson series at Davidson College Presbyterian Church. Bell is in the process of recording the complete solo organ works of Charles-Marie Widor. Find out more about Bell's exploration of Widor and how he decided to pursue a career as an organist. Learn more about the Organ at Davidson Series
Visual artist Bethany Collins finds words and texts fascinating for what they reveal about us as a people. Her recent creation “Dixie’s Land” is part of Davidson College’s exhibition “From Pandemic to Protests”. “Dixie’s Land” is centered around the many different, often contradictory lyrics which have been used with the tune “Dixie”. Bethany talks about this new work and her creative process. Learn more about " From Pandemic to Protest " Pictured: Bethany Collins; Courtesy of the Artist and PATRON Gallery, Chicago Photo by: Chris Edward
Charlotte Symphony violinists Monica Boboc and Calin Lupanu are the founders of "Chamber Music for All" which presents chamber music concerts around the Piedmont region. Their new season begins with a virtual concert that's part of the CPCC Connor Chamber Music Series. They discuss how putting together a season during a pandemic has been challenging. Hear how they've adapted and how they are planning for the future. Monica Boboc Calin Lupanu
Davis Tapp is the new Executive Director of The Choir School at St. Peters. He has joined the organization at an unprecedented time when everything has to be done differently because of the pandemic. He talks about how The Choir School is adapting and continuing their mission of providing musical education to children. And he’ll talk about the challenges of producing virtual concerts and events. Picture: Davis Tapp/Twitter.
Like every other organization, Piedmont Opera in Winston-Salem has had to pivot quickly during the coronavirus pandemic and find new ways to provide their service. On this episode, artistic director James Allbritten talks about some of the innovative ways they've responded to the crisis, including starting a daily opera show on Facebook Live.
The Colour of Music Festivals were founded to recognize and provide a platform for classical composers and musicians of African descent. Artistic director Lee Pringle joins us to talk about how the classical music world can create more opportunities for artists of color and about how the upcoming festivals may function in the time of COVID-19. Learn more about the Colour of Music Festival 2017 Commemorative Poster By Colin Quashie Pictured: Lee Pringle; photo by Jonathan Riess
The Sphere Series, a Charlotte-based discussion and lecture series that focuses on compelling arts-related topics, is hosting a panel discussion at the Mint Uptown called "Angels to Anathema: What Do We Do When Beloved Artists Behave Badly?" It will consider whether or not art can be separated from the artist. Series co-founders Hilary Burt, Jen Sudul Edwards and Neely Verano explain the origins of the series and why this topic was chosen. Learn more about Angels to Anathema: What Do We Do When Beloved Artists Behave Badly?
Artistic Director Kenney Potter of the Charlotte Master Chorale talks about a Unity Concert in the First United Methodist Church in Charlotte. The program focuses on African American Spirituals, and features the Charlotte Contemporary Ensemble and their director, Frank Williams. Learn more about the Unity Concert: African American Spirituals
Choir manager Tina Sipp of the African Children’s Choir previews their performance at the New Life Baptist Church in Concord, NC. Learn more about the African Children's Choir at New Life Baptist Church
L’Academie du Roi Soleil so far has presented concerts of early music in the region. The founders of the group, conductor Nicholas Haigh and soprano Margaret Carpenter-Haigh, discuss their next program titled Take Him, Earth, for Cherishing . It features music that’s timely to observe Veterans Day. Learn more about Take Him, Earth, for Cherishing
Artist Bethany Collins, who has exhibited at the Studio Museum of Harlem in New York City and the Birmingham Museum of Art, talks with WDAV on this episode of Piedmont Arts. She speaks about her signature works, in which she alters words and printed texts in order to stimulate viewers to consider social issues. Learn more about her artist talk Coffee and Conversation with Bethany Collins at Davidson College .
Charlotte’s Three Bone Theatre presents the premiere of a play based on the memoir of a well-known Charlotte holocaust survivor. Protective Custody: Prisoner 34042 tells the story of Dr. Susan Cernyak Spatz, who survived Auschwitz to become Professor Emerita at UNC-Charlotte. This episode of Piedmont Arts features interviews with playwright Charles LaBorde and actor Leslie Ann Giles. Learn more about Protective Custody: Prisoner 34042 Leslie Giles Charles LaBorde
Davidson College music department chair Neil Lerner talks about the seminar he’s teaching on horror movie music. To read more about how he came to study music in horror films and posts on the topic from his seminar students, click here .
The latest Classics Series season from the Winston-Salem Symphony opens with a program conducted by the orchestra’s new Music Director, Timothy Redmond. He talks about the upcoming concerts as the orchestra’s new artistic leader.
Piedmont Opera begins a new season with Donizetti’s Bel Canto setting of the historic tale of Mary, Queen of Scots at the Stevens Center in Winston-Salem, NC. Artistic director, James Allbritten, speaks about why he chose this work to open the season. Learn more about Piedmont Opera's “Mary, Queen of Scots”
For more than twenty years, the Sphinx Organization has been dedicated to the development of young African-American and LatinX musicians. The annual Sphinx Competition recognizes rising young classical musicians of color, and the Sphinx Virtuosi is a chamber orchestra that features recent contestants. Afa Dworkin, the group’s artistic director, talks about the ensemble's performance in Watson Hall at UNC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, NC. Learn more about the Sphinx Virtuosi in Concert Pictured: Afa Dworkin; by Kevin Kennedy
Acclaimed choral conductor Craig Hella Johnson is the composer of Considering Matthew Shepard , a “fusion oratorio” that examines the notorious 1998 hate crime that triggered a new era of activism. He talks about the work and its regional premiere by the Charlotte Master Chorale. Learn more about the Charlotte Master Chorale's performance of Considering Matthew Shepard
Since 2006, Charlotte Symphony concertgoers have heard the sound of trombonist Tom Burge playing in the brass section of the orchestra, and for more than ten years WDAV listeners could also enjoy the Australian musician’s cheery “G’day” greeting when he welcomed them to his Sunday Evening with Tom Burge program. He’ll be leading a quartet of trombones unofficially known as “The Four Horsemen” when they appear for the Music at St. Alban’s concert series.
UNC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem is renowned for its success in preparing young people for careers in the performing arts, not only in music, but also in dance, drama and design as well as filmmaking. The Community Music School’s artistic director Cameron McManus and Dmitri Shteinberg of UNCSA’s piano faculty stop by to discuss the program and Open House for interested students and parents. Learn more about UNCSA's Community Music School and Open House
International celebrated soloist Horacio Gutierrez talks about his performance with the Eastern Festival Orchestra at the grand finale of the Eastern Music Festival at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC. The concert includes Richard Strauss’ An Alpine Symphony, as well as the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 .
After a concert season during which five conductors vied for the position of Music Director, the Winston-Salem Symphony announced its new leader . Timothy Redmond, the final candidate to take the podium during the “tryout” season, will lead the orchestra for the first time as the symphony’s new Music Director for the season opening concert in late October 2019. Pictured: Timothy Redmond
The Carolinas boast more than their share of summer arts festivals, but few can claim the variety of An Appalachian Summer Festival in Boone. Allison West with the Office of Arts and Cultural Programs at Appalachian State University speaks about the festival.
Bach Akademie Charlotte – an organization devoted to historically informed performances of music by Bach and other Baroque composers – received resounding enthusiasm and acclaim for its inaugural Bach Festival in the Summer of 2018. Artistic Director Scott Allen Jarrett explains why he thinks the Bach Akademie and the Festival have been so successful. Learn more about the Bach Festival
Pianist Rick Bean and VOX conductor David Tang talk about their collaborative concert Pass Me the Jazz . The concert pays tribute to North Carolina-born jazz legends such as John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, and Charlotte’s own Loonis McGlohan. Learn more about Pass Me the Jazz
Caritas director Cathy Youngblood talks about “Sing Out for Children,” a concert to benefit the Council for Children’s Rights. The program also features the Rick Bean Jazz Ensemble and the Charlotte Children’s Choir. Youngblood previews the concert program and tells us about the chorus’ unique mission.
For more than two decades, the Choir School at St. Peter’s has been enriching young lives through rigorous music education and performances. The school’s artistic director Elizabeth Lenti speaks about their Spring concert concert program, and the value a music education has beyond performance.
Arts Plus is a venerable Charlotte cultural institution that celebrates its 50 th anniversary in 2019. Founded as Community School of the Arts, the organization recently received a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts. The director of Arts Plus, Devlin McNeil, speaks about the Chroma Festival – a celebration of music and art through color, and why the organization changed its name. Learn more about Arts+ and the Chroma Festival
Clarinetist Richard Spece of the ensemble Mannheim Rocket talks about their performance as part of the Music at St. Alban’s series, which includes a program of Mozart and Beethoven played on period instruments. Learn more about Mannheim Rocket at the Music at St. Alban’s
Charlotte BOOM returns to the Plaza Midwood neighborhood of the Queen City for three days of art, performance and the unexpected. The event offers a variety of performances, including dance, spoken word, performance art, comedy, theater and music of all kinds. Manoj Kesavan, the festival’s founder and director, talks about how the event is designed to bring together creators and citizens from different communities. Learn more about the BOOM festival Pictured: Manoj Kesavan; photo by Jeff-Cravotta.
Pictured: Paul Huang; Photo by Marco Borggreve. The Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient Paul Huang speaks about playing the Dvořák Violin Concerto. He joins the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra under the direction of guest conductor Gemma New.
Ben Outen, Director of Music and Organist at Christ Church (Episcopal) of Charlotte speaks about why he’s excited to have a rare visit from Clare College Choir of Cambridge, England, and how the distinctive power of choral music touches listeners and performers on multiple levels. Learn more about “A Lenten Sequence” at Christ Church (Episcopal)
Paris-born Mélisse Brunet is among the conductors seeking to become the next music director for the Western Piedmont Symphony Orchestra. She speaks with WDAV about leading the Orchestra in a program entitled Enigma . Learn more about Masterworks IV: Enigma
Londoner George Jackson speaks with WDAV about being a candidate for Music Director for the Winston-Salem Symphony. He leads a program featuring music by György Ligeti, Mozart—with guest pianist Clara Yang—and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 . Learn more about Classics IV: George Jackson conducts Dvorak
Grammy-nominated Lawrence Brownlee speaks about his success singing bel canto opera. That music is part of his recital as part of the Secrest Artist Series at Wake Forest University. But the performance also includes spirituals, American popular songs, and gospel selections, and he talks about singing that repertory, as well. Learn more about the Secrest Artists Series
Metropolitan Opera soprano Jennifer Rowley talks about the recital she’s prepared for the Salisbury Symphony’s “A Night at the Met” gala, which ranges from bel canto to art song and verismo styles. And Matthew Brown of the Salisbury Symphony board speaks about the education and outreach initiatives the gala benefits. Learn more about “A Night at the Met” Jennifer Rowley Matthew Brown
Adam Snow, director of the Winthrop Percussion Collective, talks about their program of contemporary and classic works as part of WDAV’s Small Batch concert series, and the excitement of performing in a non-traditional brewery space. Watch Shared Space Learn more about the Small Batch Concert Series
Charlotte Symphony Orchestra’s music director Christopher Warren-Green, as well as President and CEO Mary Deissler, discuss the variety of series in the 2019-2020 season, and also how the orchestra has grown over the past decade of Warren-Green’s tenure. Christopher Warren-Green Mary Deissler
Bruce Anthony Kiesling is among the candidates looking to become the next Music Director of the Western Piedmont Symphony. He talks about his concert program entitled “Shades of Red,” which includes works by Bernstein, Gershwin and Shostakovich. Learn more about Masterworks III: Shades of Red
Since joining Charlotte Ballet as Artistic Director in 2017, Hope Muir has been introducing new choreographers to the company, and creating new ballets. Shakespeare Reinvented: A New Take on the Works of William Shakespeare through Contemporary Dance is part of the company’s latest Innovative Works series. Muir speaks about the rich source for storytelling provided by Shakespeare’s works, and the opportunities provided by choreography that’s driven by text as much as music. Learn more about Shakespeare Reinvented: A New Take on the Works of William Shakespeare through Contemporary Dance
Robert Franz, who is having a homecoming of sorts, is among the candidates for the Winston-Salem Symphony's search for its next music director. Raised in Davidson, he studied music at North Carolina School of the Arts. He speaks about the concert program, as well as the experience with building partnerships and youth education that he could bring to the music director position. Learn more about Robert Franz Conducting Rachmaninoff
Handel’s oratorio Messiah is a cultural perennial that has numerous performances every holiday season. Barbara Krumdieck, director of the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra, and choral conductor Kenney Potter are collaborating on performances featuring the Charlotte Master Chorale. They speak about the historically informed approach they take to the familiar favorite, and why it keeps drawing them back year after year. Learn more about Charlotte Master Chorale's performance of Handel's Messiah
Music and imagery combine in a Charlotte Symphony concert program that brings together Holst’s beloved masterwork, The Planets , with a new work by the popular living composer Eric Whitacre called Deep Field . Music director Christopher Warren-Green describes the technological innovations in the Whitacre piece, which includes projected images from the Hubble Space Telescope and incorporates a phone app into the orchestration. The maestro also tells us about the astrological origins of Holst’s most famous work.
Kenney Potter, one of the area’s most popular choral conductors, talks about the Brahms Requiem performance by the Charlotte Master Chorale at First United Methodist Church. He tells us about the works unusual power to heal and console, and about his artistic goals for the ensemble in the future. Learn more about the Charlotte Master Chorale performance of Brahms' Requiem
Western Piedmont Music Director candidate Arthur Post speaks about the concert he’ll conduct at Lenoir Rhyne University. For this “audition” of his talents, he’s selected a varied program of Copland, Haydn and Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances . Learn more about Masterworks II: Fall
The 2018 Colour of Music Festival will take place at various venues throughout historic Charleston, SC. The festival highlights classical composers, musicians and vocalists of African descent. Lee Pringle, founder and artistic director of the Colour of Music Festival, speaks about the importance of this type of music series; the highlights of the current season; and the music teacher who inspired his love of classical music. Learn more about The Color of Music Festival
After years under the leadership of maestro John Gordon Ross, this season the Western Piedmont Symphony is searching for a new music director. A number of promising prospects will be visiting to lead the orchestra in performances, and the first is a conductor familiar to music lovers in North Carolina. Matthew Troy will lead the orchestra in the first Masterworks Concert of the 2018 - 2019 season in P. E. Monroe Auditorium at Lenoir-Rhyne University. He speaks with WDAV about the wide-ranging program he’ll conduct, titled “Mystery, Science and Theater,” with selections from Liszt and Weber, to Rimsky-Korsakov and Bernard Hermann. Learn more about “Mystery, Science and Theater”
UNC School of the Arts marks the Bernstein centennial with an ambitious production of the composer’s theatrical work, Mass . Music director Karin Hendrickson, and stage director Douglas Webster speak about why Mass was commissioned to dedicate the Kennedy Center in Washington; the challenges of mounting a production with 200 performers onstage; and about the work’s timely message of coming together during turbulent times. Learn more about WDAV's 40th Anniversary Reception & Bernstein's Mass in Winston-Salem Learn more about the University of North Carolina School of the Arts Photo Credit: Paul de Hueck, courtesy the Leonard Bernstein Office, Inc.
Our region welcomes a new orchestra to the cultural scene — The Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra of South Carolina. Music Director David Rudge speaks about the enthusiastic response the orchestra has received even before its first program. He also shares details about their inaugural concert, and tells us how the new orchestra will contribute to Rock Hill’s sense of civic pride. Learn more about the Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra’s inaugural season Pictured: David Rudge; photo by Danielle Bock.
After 43 years as the principal clarinetist with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Gene Kavadlo is retiring. He began his career as a music educator in the Manhasset Public Schools on Long Island before taking a gamble to become a symphony musician. He talks with WDAV about his musical journey, living in Charlotte and what will come next as he turns the page on an incredible career.
Since 2010, Charlotte has hosted a unique film festival with a very important mission. The Joedance Film Festival exists to raise funds and awareness for research into rare pediatric cancers, and focuses on the work of North Carolina filmmakers. Diane Restaino tells us why her family devised a film festival as way to raise funds for this cause, and the inspiration provided by the festival’s namesake, her son Joe. Learn more about the JoeDance Festival Pictured: Joe Restaino from joedance.org
Guest Gil Morgenstern is violinist and director of the Broyhill Chamber Ensemble, which is featured every year in the chamber music series that launched the Appalachian Summer Festival 34 years ago. He speaks with WDAV about his cross- disciplinary approach to programming the concerts, and about the highlights of the chamber series this season. Learn more about An Appalachian Summer Festival Pictured: Gil Morgenstern; photo by Natasha Patel
Bach Akademie Charlotte aims to be the premier voice for Bach and Baroque music in the Charlotte region, specializing in the historically informed performances with a focus on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. They’re presenting their inaugural Bach Festival in June 2018. Artistic Director Scott Allen Jarrett and Artistic Administrator Margaret Carpenter Haigh visit WDAV to talk about why they’re doing a Bach Festival in their first year of existence, the value such a festival can bring to the community and the performances and performers you can expect to hear. Learn more about the Charlotte Bach Festival
The Spoleto Festival USA is one of the leading arts festivals in the country, and a highlight of the cultural scene in the Carolinas. Festival director Nigel Redden speaks with WDAV about how the festival makes the city of Charleston “come alive” for seventeen days each year with “an embarrassment of artistic riches.” He also recommends some of the events this season that are of particular interest to classical music lovers. Learn more about this year's Spoleto Festival USA
Charlotte Symphony Music Director Christopher Warren-Green has become the “go-to” conductor for British royal weddings. The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday, May 19 marks his third time on the podium leading the orchestra for royal nuptials. (Previously, he conducted at the ceremonies for Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles and for Prince William and Kate Middleton.) Although he’s now a royal ceremony veteran, Warren-Green shares with WDAV a few of his (minor) worries for what could go wrong. He also gives some hints about the music for the ceremony. And he gives insights on being a musical liaison to the royal family, including his 35+ year association with Prince Charles.
The Queen City’s venerable opera company is departing from its familiar repertory to present something timely and powerful – a rhythm & blues opera called I Dream . James Meena, general director and principal conductor of Opera Carolina, talk about his aspirations for this new work, and composer Douglas Tappin speaks about how his musical hybrid is ideal for telling the story of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Learn more about Opera Carolina's performance of I Dream James Meena Douglas Tappin
As the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO) wraps up its latest Classical Series, there will be a rare opportunity to hear a Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra written by contemporary composer Mark Petering. We speak with Mark about his work "Lament" from Concerto for Tuba, and some of his earlier work – including a composition for orchestra and locomotive. We also speak with soloist Aubrey Foard, the CSO’s Principal “Tubist,” about playing Petering’s work for the first time, his musical origins and the challenges of the work. Learn more about the Charlotte Symphony Mozart's Jupiter program. Mark Petering Aubrey Foard View Mark Petering's Train and Tower for orchestra and locomotive .
On this edition two guests speak about the End-of-Year Masterworks Performance by the Choral Arts Society of Davidson. The concert features the latest work by prolific composer Dan Forrest. It’s called Jubilate Deo, and uses texts in several languages including Latin, Mandarin and Zulu. The composer speaks about the inspiration for this new piece, as well as “the supremacy of the human voice,” and Choral Arts Society director Christopher Gilliam tells us how the ensemble works to give audiences unique artistic experiences. Learn more about the End-of-Year Masterworks Performance: Jubilate Deo by Dan Forrest . Dan Forrest Christopher Gilliam
Conductor John Gordon Ross of the Western Piedmont Symphony bids farewell to the podium after twenty-seven years. He spoke with WDAV about his plans for retirement, how the orchestra has changed over the years, and what he’s enjoyed about living in Hickory. Gordon's farewell concert will be held at Lenoir Rhine University in Hickory. The concert features Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 , with the Hickory Choral Society, Lenoir Rhyne A Capella Choir, and Catawba Valley Community College Chamber Singers. Learn more about the concert at the Western Piedmont Symphony website .
New Yorker cartoonist Matthew Diffee speaks with WDAV about his exhibit “One Man Group Show” at the Hickory Museum of Art. He talks about his training in fine art, and about how standup comedy led him to drawing cartoons. Pictured: Matthew Diffie self-portrait/ matthewdiffee.com Learn more about the One Man Group Show
Linda Weisbruch of the Symphony Guild of Charlotte speaks about the popular, yearly "Heart of the Home" Kitchen Tour. In addition to details about the six homes that are part of the event, she also discusses the positive impact the Guild has on the Charlotte Symphony, and why the orchestra is so important to her.
Artistic Director and Conductor Cathy Youngblood of the Caritas Ensemble talks with WDAV about upcoming concerts at Davidson College Presbyterian Church and Christ Episcopal in Charlotte. She talks about the group’s purpose, and why she believes choral music is “the deepest expression of the soul.”
Singers from Opera Carolina's production of Verdi’s Rigoletto talk with WDAV about their upcoming performances at the Belk Theater in the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. Magali Simard-Galdés, who performs the role of Gilda, and tenor Raffaele Abbate, who plays the Duke, speak about their characters, their favorite moments in the opera, and their impressions of the Queen City. There's also bonus audio of the singers in rehearsal at Toledo Opera, which partnered on this production, performing two famous arias from the work: La dona e mobile and Tutte le feste al tempio . Visit Opera Carolina to learn more Magali Simard-Galdés Raffaele Abbate
Christopher Warren-Green, music director of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO), speaks with WDAV about the concerts and guest artist in its 2018-2019 season. Maestro Warren-Green describes his excitement for the new season and how the concerts will mix the traditional with the new. For more information about the season, visit the Charlotte Symphony website .
Scott Allen Jarrett speaks with WDAV about the Bach Akademie of Charlotte’s upcoming concerts in Davidson and Charlotte. Scott spoke about the program of sacred music by the Bach Family, which also features renowned countertenor Reginal Mobley and the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra. Pictured: Scott Allen Jarrett Learn more about the Bach Family Motets and Cantatas concerts
Choral director Kenney Potter speaks to WDAV about conducting the Wingate University Singers for the Music at St. Alban’s in Davidson Series on Sunday afternoon January 21st at 3 p.m. He talks about getting chorus members to sing with passion, authenticity and sincerity, and the human impulse to find community through singing. Visit Music at St. Alban's to learn more Pictured: Kenney Potter
Christopher Warren-Green, music director of the Charlotte Symphony, speaks about the perennial holiday favorite, Handel’s oratorio Messiah. He talks about the dramatic and spiritual qualities that make Messiah one of the greatest musical works of all time. Pictured: Christopher Warren-Green
Brian Cole, Dean of the School of Music at UNC School of the Arts, speaks with Frank Dominguez about the school’s ambitious annual staging of the immortal holiday ballet, T he Nutcracker . He talks about the magic of Tchaikovsky’s music, how the production brings together all of the programs at UNCSA, and what drew him to the institution. Pictured: Brian Cole/uncsa.edu
Grammy-winning fiddlers Mark and Maggie O’Connor visit WDAV again to chat with Frank Dominguez about their appearance in the Charlotte Symphony’s annual Magic of Christmas concert. They’ll also speak about Mark’s work as Artist in Residence with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, what it’s like to come home to Charlotte after touring, and share what aspect of the season gives them special pleasure. Pictured (l-r): Maggie O'Connor, Frank Dominguez and Mark O'Connor at WDAV.
Calin Lupanu, concertmaster of the Charlotte Symphony, will lead a string quartet of Charlotte Symphony Orchestra musicians to perform for WDAV’s first Small Batch Concert at Free Range Brewing in Charlotte’s NoDa district. Calin speaks about the unique appeal of performing in a brewery, and how playing chamber music makes him a better orchestra musician. Learn more about WDAV's Small Batch Concert Series Pictured: Calin Lupanu
Conductor Hugh Wolff, and pianist and Mozart scholar Robert Levin speak about improvising cadenzas, and how Beethoven’s impressive run of symphonies got started. Pictured: (l-r) Hugh Wolff, host Frank Dominguez and Robert Levin.
Piedmont Opera’s General Director and Artistic Director James Allbritten previews the Opera's 40th anniversary season with host Frank Dominguez. Visit Piedmont Opera to learn more Pictured: James Allbritten; piedmontopera.org.
Matt Rogers speaks with Charlotte Ballet’s new artistic director, Hope Muir, about the future of the company and their first show this season, Fall Works . VIDEO: Fall Works Performance Preview of Johan Inger’s Walking Mad Pictured: Hope Muir, Artistic Director of the Charlotte Ballet; charlotteballet.org.
Guest conductor William "Bill" Osborne speaks with WDAV’s Frank Dominguez about a program titled Two Prodigies and an Homage for the Center City Concerts at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Charlotte. The program features music for organ, strings and – in a couple of selections – percussion, with pieces ranging from the 18th century to the present day. Learn more about the Center City Concerts at St. Peter’s Pictured: William Osborne; centercityconcerts.org
Mary A. Deissler, Charlotte Symphony President and CEO, visits the WDAV studios to talk about “Listen Up, Charlotte.” The musical collaboration seeks to continue the conversation surrounding the tragic events and unrest in Charlotte after a police-related shooting. Learn more about "Listen Up, Charlotte"
Kenney Potter, Director of Choruses for the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, talks with WDAV’s Frank Dominguez about the Charlotte Symphony Chorus’ upcoming performances of Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah .
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Calin Lupanu, concert master for the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, and principal violist Benjamin Geller talk with WDAV about the Charlotte Symphony Classical Series concerts in which they are featured as soloists. Calin Lupanu Benjamin Geller
Timpanist Leo Soto stops by the WDAV studio to talk about the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra's premiere of Leonard Mark Lewis' percussion concerto.
Frank Dominguez speaks with Arturo Sandoval about his beginnings studying classical trumpet in Havana, an apprenticeship with the legendary Dizzy Gillespie and the highlights of his spectacular career. Sandoval will give a free jazz concert in the courtyard at Phillips Place in Southeast Charlotte at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15th.
Robert Moody talks about upcoming concerts of the Winston-Salem Symphony, including "Mahler and More," November 15 and 17.
Robert Moody reflects on ten years with the Winston-Salem Symphony and offers a preview of this season's final concert featuring Mahler's First.
Sir James Galway, the virtuoso flute player known as “The Man with the Golden Flute,” visits Charlotte to perform a special Charlotte Symphony Orchestra event, conducted by Christopher Warren-Green. Before his performance with the CSO, Sir James Galway took a moment to speak with WDAV's Rachel Stewart, chatting about topics such as Mozart, Bach, and his favorite band, Pink Floyd.
Myelita Melton chats with conductor David Hagy about his 25 seasons as conductor of the Salisbury Symphony.
Composer John Allemeier and choreographer/dancer E. E. Balcos talk about thier collaboration on "Deep Water: The Murder Ballads." A program of three original dance pieces set to new music, based on murders in 19th-century North Carolina.
Founder Elizabeth Kowalski and composer Orlando Cela speak with Matt Rogers about the Charlotte New Music Festival. The festival lasts June 17th - 29 th with a variety of cutting-edge performers and composers at different venues.
Get a sneak preview of the first concert in the summer recital series for the Charlotte chapter of the American Guild of Organists. WDAV's Matt Rogers talks with organist Todd Wilson, who heads up the program this Sunday at 7 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian in Charlotte.
Frank Dominguez chats with organist Susan Talley about her upcoming concert, Magnificence of the Organ II: The Seasons, which combines organ, brass, violin, and percussion. The concert will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC.
Frank Dominguez welcomes Dr. Kathleen Jameson, President and CEO of the Mint Museum, of Art about their upcoming exhibit, The Panama Canal at 100 . Listen to the interview below and learn how this exhibit came to Charlotte.
The project Violins of Hope displayed violins that had survived the concentration camps of the Holocaust, and had been lovingly restored by Israeli craftsman Amnon Weinstein. Now UNC Charlotte music professor James Grymes has published a book about the Violins of Hope, and the inspiring stories behind them. He discusses the book and the project with WDAV’s Frank Dominguez.
Frank Dominguez talks to Andrew Griffiths and Kate Ashby, members of Stile Antico about their music and also about how they collaborate as a self-directed group without a conductor. Andrew and Kate also share stories about their recent experiences, including touring internationally with Sting.
It's a perennial favorite, and it’s back: Charlotte Ballet’s Innovative Works runs through February 21 st . Each performance features four new contemporary ballets set to music by Bach, Verdi, and more. Matt Rogers talks to dancer Anna Gerberich and David Ingram, a former dancer with the company who is back as a choreographer, about this year’s program.
In advance of Charlotte Ballet's production of "Dangerous Liaisons," Matt Rogers interviewed Associate Artistic Director Sasha Janes and dancers Anna Gerberich and Josh Hall. The original music for the show is by cellist Ben Sollee.
Alan Black, Artistic Director of the Davidson College Concert Series, gives WDAV's Matt Rogers a preview of what the upcoming series has in store, starting with pianist Blair McMillen.
The music students of the Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte will present a Spring Recital including an exciting first for the school: the premiere of a new work by the acclaimed Charlotte-born composer Dan Locklair, commissioned on behalf of the school by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Before they present this performance, Dan Locklair and the students will be in WDAV's John Clark Performance Studio to give us a preview.
WDAV's Matt Rogers talks to Martha Connerton, director of Kinetic Works about "The Season Ballet" featuring the score by Alexander Glazunov.
Frank Dominguez talks with Richard Rosenberg, Artistic Director of the Union Symphony, about the upcoming Czech & Balances performance at The Batte Center at Wingate University.
WDAV's Matt Rogers talks with North Carolina Dance Theatre's artistic director Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and dancer Pete Leo Walker about their production, Innovative Works. The popular series challenges the dancers and audiences with new choreography of diverse styles.
WDAV’s Matt Rogers talks with Charlotte Civic Orchestra's conductor Geoffrey Whitehead and local composer Dean Kluesner about the performance, “A Symphony and a Movie.”
Kenney Potter, Director of Choruses for the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, talks with WDAV’s Matt Rogers about the upcoming performances of Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem.
On October 30, Christ Church Episcopal in Charlotte will show the 1925 silent version of Phantom of the Opera with organ accompaniment by Rob Ridgell, Director of Music. WDAV's Matt Rogers talks with Rob Ridgell about the event and about the evocative qualities -- both religious and secular -- of the organ.
WDAV's Matt Rogers features the North Carolina Dance Theatre's production of Carmen. He speaks with dancers Melissa Anduiza (Carmen) and Naseeb Culpepper (Joe), plus Associate Artistic Director and Choreographer Sasha Janes.
Dongho Lee, a celebrated organist and the Associate Director of Music at Christ Church Episcopal in Charlotte, spoke with Frank Dominguez for a WDAV special arts feature. Ms. Lee has toured throughout the United States, Europe, and South Korea, and she has earned numerous awards, including First Prize in the 2001 Klais Jang Cheon Organ Competition (Seoul) and Finalist standing in the 2008 Canadian International Organ Competition (Montreal). She will play the inaugural concert of the series "Beauty to be Heard" at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlotte on September 8.
Robert Moody dropped by WDAV to give us a preview of the upcoming 2016 – 2017 Classics Series of the Winston-Salem Symphony.
Caroline Calouche and Company, Charlotte's aerial and contemporary dance company and school, are presenting their interpretation of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana on April 17 and 18 in Charlotte. WDAV's Matt Rogers sat down with dancers Caroline Calouche, Javier Gonzalez, and Stephanie Cantrell to find out more about the show.