The Second Street Dreams Audio Network

There is always much concern about the future audiences for classical music. The New York Philharmonic may have found the solution.  It’s their 100-year-old Young People’s Concerts.  A new one is coming up this month called the Young People’s Concert: Symphonies! Stories! Sibelius! It’ll tell an elaborate tale about the investigation of Sibelius’ Second Symphony written by classical music expert a...

In observance of National Native American Heritage Month, White Snake Projects, has introduced the Indigenous Directory for Musical Storytelling.  It names Native American musicians, artists, and crew members who are available for work. Some of them are Grammy award winners.  The co-founder and Artistic Director of White Snake Projects, Cerise Lim Jacobs says Native American artists were initially...

With the federal government shut down, (as of this writing)  it’s difficult to say if there will be a federal observance of Veteran’s Day on November 11th.  So, In gratitude for their service, the podcast this week is all about the music composed to honor them. The men and one woman featured in this show are just a few of the Veteran composers who wrote music for and about Veterans.  One piece was...

When you took your shower today did you think about where the water came from?  The source of it?  Probably Not.  There’s at least one arts organization in Austin, Texas, Forklift Danceworks,  led by Allison Orr, that wants you to know and maybe learn how to help keep the clean water flowing.

One man, a conductor,  has such love for the music of British composer Samuel Coleridge Taylor (August 15, 1875 – September 1, 1912) that he made it his mission to find his manuscripts.  The album, produced by conductor Michael Repper and performed by the National Philharmonic with violinist Curtis Stewart is a love note to Coleridge Taylor on the 150th anniversary of his birth.  Much of the music...

While we all get accustomed to Classical Music in ColorS, let’s move on to Segment 2 of 2 of the October 2025 edition. This time we’re talking about a woman who was most likely the first African American hired by a mainstream orchestra, the 93-year-old South Bend, Indiana Symphony Orchestra.  Her name is Rosemary Sanders, whose name and history was found as many items are, in the archives.    This...

Welcome to a new version of Classical Music in Color.  The first change?  The name.  It’s now plural, CLASSICAL MUSIC IN COLORS.  This is the result of Staccato; my other podcast being cancelled by the radio station that aired it for 10 plus years.  I’m folding Staccato into Classical Music In Colors.  The second change.  Segments.  I’ll be producing one segment with one topic a week. This first s...

Jazz pianist and composer ArcoIris Sandoval spent her summer all over the place.  We met her in July at the Zinc Bar in New York’s The Village where she was performing over a couple of nights before heading off to Massachusetts and other venues around the country.    Sandoval took the time to learn more about her craft with her master’s degree in jazz piano performance from the Manhattan School of...

RAMPD.  It’s the latest indication that disabled musicians are emerging as bonafide able musicians.    The Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities was started in 2021.  Two handicapped musicians got tired of venues that were not ADA compliant. Founders Gaelynn Lea and Lachi also got tired of those who couldn’t see past the musician’s disability.    Watch Gaelynn play the violin...

We’re introducing you again to composer/singer Molly Joyce.  She’s the disabled musician who has been featured on Staccato before.     This Julliard grad returns with a new album STATE CHANGE with an unusual lyrical content: That of her medical records regarding the near decade long treatment for her disabled left hand.   The music is all her compositions via some new technology she had to learn t...

Every year Art Sp ark Texas chooses five or more artists who are disabled as winners of their annual awards.    Celia Hughes, Executive Director, says the categories range from Artist of the Year Award,  the Gloria Bond Creative Aging Award, the Creative Veteran Service Award and several others.    In this Staccato, we focus on the 2025 SPARK Award winner Zachary LaViola of Austin whose autism an...

It’s that time of year again.   Each summer, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute chooses the brightest young players from across the country to form the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America.   This year 15 of the 96 student musicians chosen are from Texas.  Two are from Austin.    Dorian Herri is a double bass player and Lerchen Zhang is a violinist.    Before heading out for...

Another Austin, Texas arts organization has lost its NEA grant.   However, the Tapestry Dance Company is taking it, in as much stride as possible.   Instead of their annual 3 day tap extravaganza, the Soul 2 Sole Festival, they are holding a one-day event.       Acia Gray, the Executive Artistic Director and Co-Founder of the Tapestry Dance Company, says they are treating the Tap Jam as a fundrais...

This is a very exciting time for the Texas State International Piano Festival.  They are holding this year’s event in Seoul, South Korea.  It is the first time they will be “off campus” for the 15 year old competition.  It’s usually held at Texas State University in San Marcos, but it’s always been a dream of the co-founder Dr. Jason Kwak and some of his colleagues,  Dr. SungEun Park and Dr. Marti...

An increasing number of orchestras are taking it upon themselves to ensure the health of their musicians. They’re setting up a program called physio toolkit. The latest is the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic in the UK.   Dr. John Chong, one of the founders of the Performing Arts Medicine Association or PAMA, in Canada says musicians face a number of specialized ailments.    This comes just as HAAM Th...

The firings and resignations continue in all parts of the American universe.  National Endowment for the Arts grants have been slashed, leaving arts and music organizations scrambling for funds.    With memories of Memorial Day still with us, two new albums have been released honoring the fallen. A Symphony For Vietnam Veterans tells the musical tale about the trauma and some joy in that war.  The...

There will be many honors this Memorial Day week for the military men and women who lost their lives while serving their country.  Music will be a large part of that.    One of them is the world premiere recording of the opera An American Soldier.  It’s the true story of the young Chinese-American Army Pvt. Danny Chen who committed suicide because he  was beaten every day by his fellow soldiers an...

In Part Two of Summer Music Camps for Adults we focus on musicians.  There are more than a few camps all over the country.  Some with a focus on your instrument.  There’s the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan  and the Austin, Texas Chamber Music Center has several Workshops. 

Many of Austin’s music groups are ending their 2024-2025 seasons this month.    One is ATX Chamber Music and Jazz.  It’s closing the season with a performance of the Julliard String Quartet.  Co-Artistic Director Anna Petrova says it’ll be like old home week for her and a friend.    Prepare for your summer by attending the season closer of the  Austin Gay Men’s Chorus.  They want you to help them...

How about spending part of your summer elevating your skills at a music camp for adults?  There are plenty of choices, here in Austin, in Texas and all over the US.  There is, of course, the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan.  Gary Gatzke Associate Director of Continuing and Community Education says there’s a wait list for many of the camps they offer.  There’s also Berkshire Choral Inte...

There’s a young woman in the Dallas area who is introducing at risk and low-income kids to classical music through a program called Miles for Music.  Emma Fossum, a 17-year-old high school student says the idea for the free program started with her youngest sister, who is autistic.  Fossum, a pianist and a beauty queen has been traveling to schools in North Texas presenting the program for the las...

To steal a phrase from a big budget movie:  There is a disturbance in the force.  Many if not all of DEI programs have been cut by the federal government.  Harpist Ashley Jackson has a new album that will soothe your soul.  Make an effort to see and/or hear one of two shows now in circulation: The Equity Arc Wind Symphony and Words and Music of Black America. There are some competitions to enter. ...

There is something to be said for “togetherness” .   It’s the running theme in a recent study about the positive effects on young people who play in a classical music ensemble or orchestra. Dr Anna Bussu of Edge Hill University near Liverpool, England, is a psychologist and a senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice. She conducted the study called:  Playing music together: Exploring the impact of a cla...

Back in October, 340 pianists applied for the 2025 Cliburn International Piano Competition.   Only 30 were granted entry.   They will be coming from 17 countries when the competition begins on May 21st in Fort Worth. All of them are hoping to win Gold, but there’s the silver and bronze medals, special awards and cash prizes of over half a million dollars.    This is also the first competition for...

A Cancer diagnosis changes everything.    Pianist Yoko Misumi knows that first hand, which led to the album she and her colleague from the Greenwich Trio, cellist Heather Tuach curated and produced.  It’s called IN THE MIRROR, an emotional journey born of reflection, healing, and hope.   There are original works and new arrangements by 11 composers, all women on the album.  They include Jennifer H...