Voice of the Arts

Executive Director of Brew House Arts, Natalie Sweet, and 2023-2024 Distillery Emerging Artists in Residence, Imani Batts and Armanis Fuentes, spoke with WQED-FM about their upcoming free exhibition, Getting the Spirit Out, at Brew House Arts in the South Side, opening Thursday, May 9th at 6 pm, and running until June 22nd. Imani talks about her Get Ready With Me fashion collective that celebrates black hair and beauty salons. Armanis highlights their foray into oil-based paintings and frescos that investigate domestic work, in one instance posing a mop as a female in the nude. Natalie also talks about the Artist Panel Talk on May 30th that will feature all of the 7 artists in the exhibition, and will announce next years Artists in Residency. Lastly, Brew House Arts will host a RAD Staycation on June 15th for their annual open house! Visit brewhousearts.org to learn more.

Dr. Rachel Berger sat down with WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham live to talk about her wind quintet, Desperate Measures, performing in Tuesday Musical Club's free Wind Power concert at Rodef Shalom's Levy Hall on Tuesday, May 14th at 1pm. Rachel talks about the program that includes Gershwin, Kaspar Kummer, and new works by Alexandra Molnar-Suhajda and Peter Schickele. Rachel also highlights her 15 years of performing with Tuesday Musical Club and how her background in medicine connects with her musical interests. Rachel and Jim play two selections of the program from the Quintet's rehearsal, "Autumn Woods" by Alexandra Molnar-Suhajda, and an excerpt of the second movement from Endre Szervankszky's "Blaserquintett"(Quintet for Winds) piece. Visit https://www.tuesdaymusicalclub.org/events/public/article/-wind-power-tmc-winds-in-concert-/5217/c15/ to learn more about the concert.

Director Nancy McNulty McGeever, Music Director, Deana Muro, and Producer Nancy Zionts, spoke with WQED-FM about Front Porch Theatrical's upcoming summer shows. "A...My Name is Still Alice" will run at the New Hazlett Theater from May 17th to 26th, and "Bandstand" will run August 16th to the 25th. Nancy McNulty highlights her role as the Director of "A...My Name is Still Alice" that is a 90's musical sequel. Deana Muro talks about her challenging role as Music Director for of the Pittsburgh premiere of "Bandstand" with two bands! Nancy Zionts spoke about how Front Porch Theatricals picks out the two musicals they do each year, and what is so special about this year's lineup. All three women highlight the importance of female representation in theatre and how they all started with Front Porch Theatricals. Visit https://www.frontporchpgh.com/ to learn more and find tickets for their upcoming summer season.

Opera superstar Renee Fleming will be on the air for the Saturday Metropolitan Opera broadcasts with the Hours by Kevin Puts on May 18 at 1pm but less two days before her return in the role at the Met, she spoke with Jim Cunningham about her new book "Music and Mind" published by Viking on April 9th, 2024. She has donated a copy of the book with a cd of the Hours and tickets to The Hours at the Met to the silent auction and Franck Conrad Birthday Party at the Train Station in Wilkinsburg just a few blocks from where broadcasting began on Penn Avenue in Wilkinsburg on May 4th from 1 till 4pm. With multiple contributions from experts in the field of music and wellness and over 540 pages, she spoke of her long exploration of the growing field. Renee Fleming also talked about her visit to Chautauqua on July 27th, 2024 and her work in putting together a week at Chautauqua on the Transformative Power of Music which includes a Monday morning lecture she will give in the Amphitheater. Renee Fleming speaks about her work with broadcasting on PBS, her family ties in Western Pennsylvania dating back to her birthplace in Indiana, PA and other family in Coraopolis, her husband from Pittsburgh and her brother-in-law, Harry Jessell, who was the Editor of Broadcasting Magazine and now serves on the board of the Museum of Broadcasting in Pittsburgh.

Pianist and musicologist Robert Levin with the Academy of Ancient Music discusses with Jim Cunningham the 30 year project to record the complete Mozart Piano Concertos with original instruments and multiple pianos. Robert Levin explains which new additions to the set involved his research and completions. Robert explains how improvisations were added that resemble the technique of jazz players like Art Tatum, He also remembers his colleague Christopher Hogwood, describes the extra detail for notes and art with the packaging of each hard bound booklet, and suggests why classical radio has spotlight hours of Mozart. He remembers his own experience as a dj with a good reason why listeners should help out during the fundraising drives.

Reverend Dr. Shelia Johnson-Hunt sat down with WQED-FM's Anna Singer to talk about the City Wide Revival on May 7th and 8th at Petra International Ministries. This event includes multiple styles of African American music, dance, preaching, and much more. This free event will also feature Bishop Lisa Weah and Elder Justin Hunt from Baltimore, MD. Dr. Hunt talked about her three compositions that will be featured in this program, including her Billboard Single Hit, "Freedom", her musical family, and her background. This event and interview are part of WQED's Gospel programming that highlights local concerts in the Western Pennsylvania area.

Jim Cunningham spoke with broadcasting legend Susie Barbour about the National Museum of Broadcasting event on Saturday May 4th from 1-4pm at the Wilkinsburg Train Station celebrating the 150th birthday of Frank Conrad. The event includes birthday festivities, music by DJ Sims, a silent auction, historical displays, broadcast personalities, the beautifully restored train station and more! The key presentation will be an engaging panel with distinguished broadcasters, past and present — Jack Bogut, Sally Wiggin and Bill Flanagan—moderated by our own Jim Cunningham!

DONATE NOW FOR PUBLIC MEDIA DAYS 2024 - MAY 1&2 - Have your donation matched DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR up to $15,000 PLUS receive a complimentary Mister Rogers vinyl sticker! Donate: www.wqed.org/pmgd

World renowned pianist, composer, and recording artist, John Bayless, and award-winning director, Stewart M. Schulman, spoke live with Anna Singer about their new documentary, Left Alone Rhapsody, that will have its Pittsburgh premiere as a part of the Jewish Film Festival's opening night on Thursday May 2nd at the Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland. Left Alone Rhapsody chronicles John Bayless's rise from a young musical prodigy to an internationally renowned recording artist, and his courageous struggle post-stroke to reinvent himself. The gala will include a screening of the film, a live Q&A with John and Stewart, a live performance by John, and a dessert reception. Charitable proceeds benefit Film Pittsburgh and the John Bayless Fund for Brain Research. John discusses his struggles after his stroke and reminisces about his 2006 album, The Puccini Album: Arias for Piano. Visit https://filmpittsburgh.org/films/left-alone-rhapsody to learn more about the film and find tickets for Thursday night.

Director Andy Hickly and Board Treasurer and Production Manager, Lynette Garlan, from the Pittsburgh Savoyards discuss their upcoming production of Sleeping Beauty at the Margaret Partee Performing Arts Center May 3rd to 11th. Andy talks about his adaptation of the well-known fairytale, and how he decided to focus on the love story between Rose and her Princeling. Lynette also highlights an art reception on May 19th from 3 to 5 pm in Bellevue to showcase 3 Savoyard visual artists. She then leaks the Savoyards upcoming 87th season starting this summer with A Flea in Her Ear and ending with HMS Pinafore in March of 2025. Visit https://pittsburghsavoyards.org/ to learn more about their upcoming events and find tickets for Sleeping Beauty.

Artistic Director and Founder of Resonance Works, Maria Sensi Sellner, and soprano Zuly Inirio, discuss with Anna Singer live about their upcoming program, Tumbao! A Celebration of Afro-Latin Music, this Sunday, April 28th at 3 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Bloomfield. Zuly discusses how the program originated from a recording project she did and her passion for exploring works by Afro-Latin music makers, and Maria highlights the rest of the wonderful ensemble in the program that includes Amaury Morales on piano, and Hugo Cruz on percussion. Visit https://www.resonanceworks.org/tumbao to learn more about the program and find tickets.

Music Director and Conductor of the Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras (TRYPO), Brian Worsdale, spoke with Anna Singer and Jim Cunningham about their upcoming concert, Cheers to 50 Years! on May 5th at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland. Brian highlights the two concerts on the 5th, one at 1:15 pm that showcases all four symphonic groups and the other at 6 pm that features the Young Peoples Orchestra with Broadway star Norm Lewis. Brian also talks about the very special award that TRYPO will be giving to WQED-FM's own Jim Cunningham and Anna Singer. Visit https://trypo.org/ to find the program and tickets!

Artistic Director and Conductor of Bach Choir of Pittsburgh, Thomas Douglas, spoke with WQED-FM's afternoon host, Anna Singer, about their upcoming concert, A Satire: Carmina Burana Africana, on Friday, April 26th and Saturday, April 27th at the Campbell Memorial Chapel at Chatham University. Thomas discusses how this version of Carmina Burana differs slightly with the inclusion of an African drum ensemble from West Virginia University and dancing with K-Theatre Dance Complex. Thomas also introduces a very special guest, his dog, Betty Davis. Visit https://www.bachchoirpittsburgh.org/ to learn more and find tickets.

Producing Artistic Director of Prime Stage Theatre, Wayne Brinda, spoke with WQED-FM about Prime Stage's upcoming production of Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution running from May 3rd to May 12th at the New Hazlett Theater. Wayne talks about the shows intrigue and drama, as a man is put on trial for murder with his wife being a witness for the prosecution! Wayne also highlights their special post-show discussion on May 4th with New York Times bestselling author and Pittsburgh native, Marie Benedict, whose historical fiction novels explore many people including Agatha Christie. Visit https://primestage.com/events/witness/ to learn more about the show and find tickets.

Founder of Aria412 Desiree Soteres and Board Chair, Dr. Mildred Myers, spoke with Jim Cunningham about several upcoming events for the group. The first event features a program entitled Bad Company, on May 7th at 7 pm at Hop Farm Brewing Company. Following that event, Aria412 will present I Hear America Singing, May 9th to the 11th at the Rauh Studio Theatre on University of Pittsburgh's campus. Desiree highlights how they will also be producing a filmed version of I Hear America Singing. They both also briefly discuss their new full length opera performance based on Thomas the Rhymer in October of this year. Visit https://www.aria412pgh.com/ to learn more about Aria412 and find tickets.

Pittsburgh Opera presents "The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson" at the Byham Theater from April 27th through May 5th. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with Meroe Khalia Adeeb, who sings the role of Isabelle.

Pittsburgh Opera presents "The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson" at the Byham Theater from April 27th through May 5th. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with stage director Kimille Howard.

Pittsburgh Opera presents "The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson" at the Byham Theater from April 27th through May 5th. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with Christian Mark Gibbs, who sings the role of Frank.

Pittsburgh Opera presents "The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson" at the Byham Theater from April 27th through May 5th. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with Alyson Cambridge, who sings the role of Mary Cardwell Dawson.

The 2nd annual Vanka Block Party takes place on Sunday, April 28, 2024 from 12-4pm at the St. Nicholas Croation Catholic Parish in Millvale. Becky Gaugler, Director of Education & Interpretation for the Maxo Vanka Murals, and Rick Robinson, aka CutTime Simfonica, spoke with Jim Cunningham about the Murals, the event and more.