Voice of the Arts

Director of Education and Public Programs at the Carnegie Museum of Art, Dana Bishop-Root, discusses the many exciting things happening this month at the Museum, just in time for the cold weather and holiday season. The museum will hold a free Winter Exhibit Celebration on December 14th at 6 pm with a soundscape in the Hall of Sculpture. Meet the curators of all the present exhibits in the museum, and see the exhibits before many leave the museum in January. The museum will also host the River City Brass on December 9th for a free concert as a part of their Sounds of the Season concert series. Visit https://carnegieart.org/ to learn more

Associate Director of Music at the St. Paul's Cathedral and organist, Ken Danchik, as well as Director of Music, Brian Gurley, highlights their last Organ Series Concert of the 2023 season, with a concert by Ken this Sunday afternoon, that includes Christmas Music, original compositions, and French contemporary music. Ken also talks about his teaching methods with his students at University of Pittsburgh. The concert is free to attend. Visit https://saintpaulcathedral.org/cathedral-concert-series to learn more.

Native of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, bass-baritone David Crawford and Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Festival Opera, Marianne Cornetti, discuss with Anna Singer their upcoming "Legends in the Limelight" concert on Friday, December 1st at the Carnegie Music Hall in Carnegie, PA. Featuring David Crawford with pianist Kate Wogoman, David will perform some Christmas music, some musical theater numbers, and some of his favorite arias. David, Marianne and Anna also talk about how their careers intertwined. Visit https://pittsburghfestivalopera.org/ to learn more about the concert and get tickets.

Artistic Director of Little Lake Theater, Patrick Cannon, is back to talk about Little Lake's upcoming 2024 season, Escape to the Lake, which features 10 unique shows. Starting in April of 2024, the Season of 2024 has something for everyone. From Matilda, to School House Rock, to Wait Until Dark, to Escape to Margaritaville, the 2024 season will be jam packed! Patrick also discusses Little Lake's increase in summer camps and their apprenticeships. Visit https://www.littlelake.org/ to learn more about the 2024 season.

Retired Detroit Symphony Orchestra bassist and composer, Rick Robinson AKA Mr. Cut Time, discusses with Anna Singer about his upcoming Pittsburgh debut concert at Rodef Shalom Congregation on Monday, December 4th at 7pm. Rick talks about his recent decision to move to Pittsburgh, who Mr. Cut Time is, and how he continues to try to bring classical music to a wider, more casual audience. Visit https://cuttime.com/ to learn more about Rick and his concert on Monday."

It is time to get in the holiday spirit! Executive Director of the South Hills Chorale, Rick Smith, discusses with Anna Singer about the chorales upcoming holiday concert, Sound of the Season, on December 15th and 16th at the Christ United Methodist Church. Take a tour of holiday music from around the world, no passport required! Also enjoy a new musical composition by Music Director, Skylar Bunk, who is enjoying his first season as the Music Director of the Chorale. Visit https://www.southhillschorale.org to learn more and find tickets!

It's a holiday classic! Violinist and one of the Artistic Directors at Chatham Baroque, Andrew Fouts, as well as Director of Music at the Calvary Episcopal Church, Alan Lewis, talk about their upcoming concert together on Friday, December 8th at 7:30pm. They discuss how and why they will be performing the entirety of Handel's Messiah with original Baroque instruments in a smaller chamber setting. Visit https://www.calvarypgh.org/ to learn more.

Anna Singer talks with the Mendelssohn Choir's newest Music Director, Daniel Singer (no they are not related!). Daniel discusses his excitement for next years concerts, as well as three upcoming ones for the holiday season with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the first of which is Brahms' Requiem on December 1st. It's the busiest time of year for the choir, but Daniel is looking forward to bringing holiday cheer this year. Visit https://www.themendelssohn.org/ to learn more about their upcoming concerts and get tickets.

Former KDKA-TV anchorman and U.S. Congressmen, Ron Klink, discusses his new role as Board Member of the emerging National Museum of Broadcasting that is hoping to open its doors in the Pittsburgh area. Ron talks about his experience as a broadcasting professional, the history of broadcasting in the Pittsburgh area, and how the Museum will work to serve the community of Pittsburgh and relate its history. You can find more information about the Museum, including its proposed site in East Pittsburgh on Braddock Avenue, at https://nmbpitt.org/.

Director of Person-Centered Support at Achieva, Jack Butler, discusses his role at Achieva in helping people with disabilities lead a life of personal significance in the community. Jack highlights the services Achieva offers to people with a wide range of disabilities, and how person center support enables a wide range of diversity in the support that is offered to those in need. Jack also discusses Achieva's latest award from Giant Eagle and WQED as one of the Community Champions of 2023. Visit https://www.wqed.org/champions to learn more about the community champions award, and https://www.achieva.info/ to learn more about Achieva.

Executive Director of Silver Eye Center for Photography, Leo Hsu, gives WQED an in-depth tour of their newest exhibit, Radial Survey Volume 3. This new free exhibit is open until February 3rd and features work from 7 emerging or mid-career artists from a 300 miles radius around Pittsburgh. Artists in Radial Survey Vol.3 are Eduardo L. Rivera, Share Rocheleau, Alanna Fields, Akea Brionne, Larry W. Cook, Marissa Long, and Lisa Toby. Leo Hsu also discusses the many other facets of Silver Eye and their continued efforts to raise and celebrate the art of photography in the Pittsburgh community. Visit https://silvereye.org to learn more.

Robert Aubry Davis, veteran host of Millenium of Music on Sirius XM and public radio nationwide joins the Baltimore Consort in Pittsburgh at Calvary Episcopal Church Saturday November 18th at Calvary Episcopal Church to present a concert of music with Mary Queen of Scots at the center In Angel's Wede. Davis in this conversation with Jim Cunningham looks from his vantage point as a legendary figure in the nation's capital as a host of multiple musical organizations including the Smithsonian, Dumbarton Oaks and on WETA's arts program Around Town. Robert talks about his fascination with the music of 1000 years before JS Bach, chant, Josquin Despres and where we are as Americans with support for the arts noting Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and other Washingtonians as special champions of the arts.

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with Andres Franco, a nonprofit executive and orchestral conductor. He is the first Executive Director of DNAWORKS, an organization dedicated to dialogue and healing through the arts. DNAWORKS is an arts and service organization dedicated to dialogue and healing through the arts. Founded in New York City in 2006 by Daniel Banks and Adam W. McKinney, DNAWORKS centers Global Majority and LGBTQQ2SPIAA+ voices and experiences to create more complex representations of identity, culture, class, and heritage through theatre, dance, film, writing, and art installation. DNAWORKS is based in Fort Worth, TX; New York, NY; and Pittsburgh, PA.

Extraordinary harpist, Bridget Kibbey, discusses her newest release, Crossing the Ocean, and the concept behind the album. Bridget also talks about her lifelong curiosity of the harp, her astounding technical skills, and drive to continue to push the boundaries of harp playing and enjoyment. Visit https://www.bridgetkibbey.com/ to learn more and https://lnk.to/CrossingtheOcean to listen to the album.

Violinist and founding member of the Kronos Quartet, David Harrington, speaks with Jim Cunningham about the fifty year anniversary of the group. Topics include how the group was named, listening to George Crumb’s Black Angels on the radio and deciding he must play it, the Pittsburgh concert for Chamber Music Pittsburgh with Stacy Garrop utilizing Mahalia Jackson’s voice, his admiration for composer David Stock, love of jazz including Bill Evans and Thelonius Monk, the many influences of world music and how it all ties together, his optimistic view of the music scene and working with a quartet at CMU in the Kresge Theater where the interview took place, the New York and DC 50th celebrations, the influence of radio on composers and more. After the interview ended, David told Jim Cunningham that Kronos had played Jimi Hendrix’ Foxy Lady for David Stock’s wife Celia because one of their earlier concerts took place on her birthday.

Stage Director Sam Helfrich spoke with WQED-FM's Anna Singer about Pittsburgh Opera's production of Wagner's "The Flying Dutchman," running November 11th through 19th, 2023 at the Benedum Center.

Marjorie Owens, who sings the role of Senta, spoke with WQED-FM's Anna Singer about Pittsburgh Opera's production of Wagner's "The Flying Dutchman," running November 11th through 19th, 2023 at the Benedum Center.

Kyle Albertson, who sings the role of the Dutchman spoke with WQED-FM's Anna Singer about Pittsburgh Opera's production of Wagner's "The Flying Dutchman," running November 11th through 19th, 2023 at the Benedum Center.

Pittsburgh Opera Music Director spoke with WQED-FM's Anna Singer about Pittsburgh Opera's production of Wagner's "The Flying Dutchman," running November 11th through 19th, 2023 at the Benedum Center.

Tenor Bryan Register spoke with Anna Singer about his role as Erik in the Pittsburgh Opera's upcoming production of The Flying Dutchman from November 11th to the 19th at the Benedum Center. Bryan also discussed his journey to become a classically trained tenor, and how a very special someone paid for his schooling. Visit https://www.pittsburghopera.org/ to learn more about The Flying Dutchman.