Voice of the Arts

It is time for the 4th Benefit Concert for Ukraine! Organizers Cheryl Redmond and Marta Krechkovsky talk about the upcoming concert that have all proceeds benefiting DTCare. Marta highlights the program which features solo and chamber performances by vocalists from Ukraine, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra members, and many others. William Caballero, Cynthia Koledo DeAlmedia, Nick Myers, David McCaroll, Victoria Luperi, and many more will be joining! Cheryl talks about the organization benefiting from the concert, DTCare. DTCare is an organization with an office based in Pittsburgh that delivers vital aid to the Ukrainian frontline. This aid can be medical supplies, food...

Conductor of Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestra (TRYPO), Brian Worsdale, talks live with Jim Cunningham about their upcoming spring concert. The weekend of concerts showcases talent of over 200 young musicians across multiple ensembles. The first concert features the Wind Symphony and Percussion Ensemble. The second features the Tutti Strings and Symphonette. The final concert is a performance by the Young Peoples Orchestra, with this year's concerto competition winner, Wesley Madge. Brian talks about the theme of this year's concerts, "How Suite It Is". The first concert will have special guest performances by trombonist Jim Nova, and guest conductor Eryn Carranza...

It is time to dust off those ruby red shoes and follow the yellow brick road! Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Nicholas Dragga, talks about their upcoming Pittsburgh premiere of "The Wizard of Oz". This new ballet first premiered in 2018 by the Colorado, Kansas City, and Royal Winnipeg ballet's. There will be special effects, projections, flying, and much more! Nick highlights the different musical themes for each character, like disco for the Lion and soulful music for the Tin Man. There will also be over 40 students from PBT's school playing Munchkins! Nick emphasizes PBT's participation in upcoming downtown...

The Masterworks Concert Chorale presents "The Killer B's and the Broadway Steve's"! Conductor, Erich Lascek details the program in this conversation with Jim Cunningham. The program includes Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, as well as Stephen Sondheim, Steven Flaherty and Steven Schwarz. Bob Dylan's The Times They are A'Changin' will feature WQED Education's Liz Kostandinu. Errol Garner's Take the A Train will also be a highlight. Erich explores the choir's history, it's members, Erich's deep devotion to music with his degrees from Grove City College and Messsiah, his teaching at Gateway High School, and why we need this concert right now. You...

A native of Washington, PA, organist Paul Jacobs returns to the area for a performance with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra! Paul talks about the program, which features Alexandre Guilmant's Symphony No. 1 in D Minor. Manfred Honeck will conduct the show at the St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe. Paul talks about the musical appeal of the symphony, and the balance between organ and orchestra. He also talks about his past performances of the Symphony, including with the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra in Houston. Paul reflects on his past schooling, and how Julliard is fairing today with it's organist training. Now currently...

The South Hills Chorale's spring concert will be celebrating Pittsburgh's musical legacy! Executive Director of the Chorale, Rick Smith, and his wife, Debbie Smith, talk about the upcoming concert in May. Rick highlights the concerts program, which honors Pittsburgh musicians across genres. Some honorees include Errol Garner, Billy Porter, Henry Mancini, Nancy Galbraith, and Fred Rogers. The group hosts weekly rehearsals on Monday nights, and function as a close-knit family. Rick also emphasizes the chorale aspect of the singing, making sure not to have solos throughout the concert. Rick and Debbie talk about celebrating 25 years with the choir, and how...

The Pittsburgh Youth Concert Orchestra is finishing it's 2025 season with Broadway! Artistic Director Pablo Ardiles and Assistant Conductor Sean Radermacher talk about PYCO's upcoming spring concerts. Entitled "Broadway and Beyond" the finale concerts feature a Medley of Broadway Music, Mars from The Planets by Holst, Star Wars, Uptown Funk, and some Beatles. Pablo highlights that the two concerts each feature different groups of students. The 2:30 pm concert features the Junior Wind Symphony, Junior String Orchestra, and the Chamber String Orchestra. The 6 pm concert features the older students in the Wind Symphony, Symphony Strings, and Symphony Orchestra. The older students will...

Get your forks and taste buds ready! Pittsburgh Musical Theater's upcoming professional production is "Waitress"! Actress playing the starring role, Zanny Laird, talks about her role in the upcoming production. Her character, Jenna, takes an emotional journey throughout the story, as she comes to grips with her stalling career and marriage. With dreams of one day opening up her own pie shop, an unexpected pregnancy brings changes to her life. Zanny highlights how she is approaching this show. It is a full circle moment for her, as she auditioned for the role years ago for a different theater, and now...

The Pittsburgh Opera is premiering a brand new opera, "Woman with Eyes Closed" this weekend! Composer of the opera, Jennifer Higdon, talks with Jim Cunningham live about her work on the new opera. The story is inspired by a real 2012 art heist in Rotterdam, involving works by Picasso, Monet, Matisse, and many others. The thief hid the paintings from his mother, who then burned them to protect him. Higdon talks about how the opera explores themes of art's value, mortality, and sacrifice. Jennifer highlights the three unique endings the opera could have when audience members see it. She doesn't know...

The spring semester is wrapping up across college's in Pittsburgh. One Carnegie Mellon University student, Logan Williams, will perform his end of year recital. Logan, soprano Sarah Austin, and pianist Billie Miller, talk with Jim Cunningham live about their upcoming concert. Logan talks about his studies at CMU as an Advanced Musical Studies Certificate student. He explains how creating this concert was for him to explore and celebrate oratorio repertoire alongside opera music. The flexibility of his program allows him to get into works that interest him the most. He also shares how he met Sarah at the Pittsburgh Opera...