Voice of the Arts

Musical Director Ron Brooks, Music Vice President Pete Kennaday, and the voice of the chorus Ken Israel, talk about the Cranberry Men's Chorus' upcoming October concert. "The Golden Oldies: Memories of the 50s and 60s" will be a 90-minute show featuring 27 songs. Ron highlights his desire to connect the audience emotionally to the songs. The styles include doo-wop, love ballads, pop, and rock.    ...

There is a new play festival in Pittsburgh this year! Directors Jeremy Seghers and Olivia Hartle, and actor Johnny Patalano, talk about their work in the new Bridges and Stages Festival. The Becoming Arts Collective in partnership with Broken Arts Entertainment, bring these new 10-minute plays to life at the Carnegie Stage. The festival focuses on emerging playwrights from across the country, incl...

Get ready to hear beautiful music! In this episode, soprano Chantal Braziel talks about her upcoming recital concert with Tuesday Musical Club in October.   She discusses the program, which features spiritual's and classical solos. The program features several works by African American composers, and includes a piece inspired by the poetry of Langston Hughes. Chantal performs a piece from the prog...

Join WQED, Fred Rogers Productions, and PNC Grow Up Great for another Be My Neighbor Day, this time in Etna!   Executive Director at the Etna's Community Organization, Megan Tuñón, talks about all the wonderful partnerships, free activities, and more at the event. Etna is the first Northern Learning Neighborhood to host a Be My Neighbor Day, and it will be big! With over 30 organizations participa...

Another season of Chamber Music Pittsburgh is coming soon!   Executive Director of Chamber Music Pittsburgh, Martha Bonta, guides us through the upcoming 65th anniversary season, which starts at Carnegie Music Hall on September 16 with Brooklyn Rider presenting Citizenship Notes. October 21st brings Sphinx Virtuosi and cellist Sterling Elliott. November sees the complete Brandenburg Concertos with...

The Pittsburgh Symphony Musicians are hosting several fundraisers this month! Assistant Concertmaster Dylan Naroff, Principal Bass Clarinet Jack Howell, and Mr. Cut Time himself, Rick Robinson, discuss the many different functions coming up.   The first event is a free concert, Running For Rhythm, which features an hour of interactive music. A pre-cursor to the annual Musicians of Steel 5K, this c...

Another season of music starts in Pittsburgh, and today we talk to saxophonist Jeff Siegfried and pianist Ellen Fast. They will open the season for Music in a Great Space at Shadyside Presbyterian Church this September.     The repertoire includes works by beloved classics and contemporary innovators alike. Composers such as Steven Banks, Amy Beach, Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Jeff Siegfri...

WQED’s award-winning documentarian, Rick Sebak, introduces his latest program "Lucky to Live in Pittsburgh Episode 3" which airs Thursday, September 4th at 8 pm on WQED TV.   Rick visits Weirton, West Virginia for the Serbian Chicken Blast on summer Wednesdays. He also stops at Community Kitchen Pittsburgh in Hazelwood for their famous fish fry for Lent. He completes the program  with a visit to B...

Have you ever wondered what the local concert scene is in Saxonburg, PA? We do too!   Director of Music Ministry at Saxonburg Memorial Presbyterian Church, Dan Byerly, talks about the second season of Saxonburg concerts. The first event takes place September 7th at 4 pm with the Gibbons Big Band at the close of the Artisans Market.     The next concert on September 25th at 7 pm features The Beo Qu...

With the cooler weather rolling in, it is the perfect time to see Shakespeare outside, under the stars. Even better when it's at a local Pittsburgh theater.   Husband and wife co-directors, Jeff Boles and Julie Ann, talk about their production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at South Park Theatre. Ann discusses the multi-faceted plot, which includes love triangles, running away to the forest, and m...

In this wide ranging interview, Pianist Christopher O'Riley talks about his newest CD "The Well Tempered Clavier Book 2" and his personal ties to Pittsburgh.   Chris explains his approach to selecting the best tempo in Book 2. He also compares both books with special attention to individual preludes and fugues. He finds Book 2 to more challenging than those in Book One. Chris explains why he likes...

It's time to step into a world of art, this time in Washington County! Former Bethel Park Librarian and award winning teacher Denice Pazuchanics from WQED Education about Washington Park's Arts in the Park. With over 25 art activities, there will be lots to do! The Washington Symphony, The Andy Warhol Museum, The Frick Pittsburgh, will all be there with activities. Denice also highlights dance and...

Since its foundation in 1998, the School of Rock franchise has taught performance based music education. There are two schools in the Greater Pittsburgh area that have been around for nearly twelve years. One is in Wexford, and the other in Castle Shannon. Giovanni Mori, former School of Rock student and one of WQED’s summer interns, sits with the co-owners of the Pittsburgh schools, Quinn Lukas a...

Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Festival Opera, Marianne Cornetti, talks about their upcoming event, "An Evening Under the Stars with Our Stars". The concert presents seven singers individually and as ensembles with pianist, Maeve Berry, for an evening of the most beloved operatic arias and Broadway tunes. Marianne will sing an aria from "Il Trovatore" by Verdi and "Memory" from Cats.  Benjami...

Rosemary Pawlowski is a powerhouse for the arts in Johnstown. She started the Bottleworks Ethnic Arts Center and is now involved with "Gallery on Gazebo" which offers visitors, tourists, local residents and downtown workers a friendly and convenient gathering space, combined ever-changing exhibits of art and a wide variety of special events. In this wide-ranging interview, Jim Cunningham spoke wit...

Music Director and Conductor of the Washington Symphony Orchestra, Yugo Ikach, discusses their new season. Their upcoming season includes a celebration of the United States 250th Anniversary, a John Williams concert, and a holiday concert with an island twist. He highlights their listener friendly approach to programming music. Yugo also talks about Washington County's Arts in the Park celebration...

Kweilin Nassar, Vice President of the South Side Community Council, and Susan Anderson, East Carson Street Business District Manager, joined Jim Cunningham to invite you to the Fifth Annual South Side Community Yard Sale and Shop, Sip and Stroll taking place Saturday August 23rd from 11am till 5pm on East Carson and throughout the South Side. The event features over 65 South Side locations and mor...

The First Lutheran Church in Johnstown hosts the Tuesday Noon Recital Series. These free concerts are held each Tuesday in the months of October, April and July. Each recital lasts about 25 minutes followed by a free lunch in the church's Social Hall. WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with the series founder Kim Rauch. He spoke about the origins of the series, the joy he gets from playing the organ a...

The Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center is back at it again for their 3rd Annual Documentary Series! Director of Communications and Media Relations, Josh Axelrod, talks about the 6 films showcased in the upcoming series. The films include a grammar documentary, two art-focused ones, two environmental documentaries, and one focused on caregiving. "Rebel Without a Clause" follows Ellen Jovin's exper...

The Agatha Christie classic novel comes to life on stage at Little Lake Theater! Director and Resident Scenic Designer Tucker Topel, Stage Manager Andi Tageser, and actor Sean Barrett, talk about the upcoming show. "Murder on the Orient Express" follows a luxurious train, that just witnessed a murder. Sean talks about playing the infamous Hercule Poirot in this adaptation. He loves the politeness,...

Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks is back for another season! But first, a benefit! Founder of Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks, Jennifer Tober, and playwright and actor Charles David "Stoney" Richards, talk with Anna Singer about their upcoming benefit performance of "Friended by Shakespeare". Stoney talks about his motivation for writing this one-man play. The story focuses on the friendshi...

WQED Channel 13 is diving into the history of American Motors Corporation with a new series! Co-Producers Joe Ligo and Jimm Needle talk with Anna Singer about their 6-part documentary series, "The Last Independent Automaker". Joe and Jimm talk about first meeting back in 2015 through a mutual professor. Joe read books about American Motors Corporation and thought it would be a perfect subject for...

Located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the Community Arts Center of Cambria County reaches out to a community of 250,000 people, as well as thousands of tourists each year from around the world. Their mission is to provide an inspiring and creative gathering place where the arts improve the quality of life for everyone. The Arts Center consists of the M. Josephine Paul Family Museum, Goldhaber-Fend F...

For their upcoming 2025-2026 Season, the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra is celebrating America's 250th, as well at the 10th Anniversary of James Blachly as Music Director. WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with JSO Executive Director Erin Codey about their upcoming season. It kicks off October 25th, 2025 with Part 1 of the America 250 Celebration, and continues with their annual Holiday Pops concert, a...

It's a culmination of 5 years of hard work. Founder of Garfield's Irma Freeman Center of Imagination, Shelia Ali, highlights her new book "Pittsburgh's Avant-Gard: 60 Years Inside the Underground Art Scene". Shelia and collaborator Joelle Killebrew talk about the book's release and forthcoming mini book tour. Shelia talks about first being inspired to write the book, and the grant that helped her...