Voice of the Arts

QED's Jim Cunningham ventured to City of Asylum's campus to speak with their recently appointed Executive Director, Andrés Franco, about his transition, the organization's mission, and their 2026 Jazz Poetry programming. Andrés previously served as the organization's Executive Director from 2020-2023, and comes back to City of Asylum after wrapping up his role as Executive Director of Attack Theat...

The North Hills Chorale has their 2026 spring concert this weekend at St. Vincent Hall at the Vincentian Learning and Engagement Institute. The choir's manager Tara Berdik speaks with Jim Cunningham about their program, "America in Harmony, 250 Years of Song." Featured on the program are American favorites, including the Star-Spangled Banner, God Bless America, and Shenandoah. Tara's favorite is "...

Beth Corning, Artistic Director, choreographer, and performer for Corningworks, presents the latest installment of her Glue Factory Projects, Foolish Assumptions . Beth sat down with Anna Singer to speak about the production. The Glue Factory Projects are original productions created by Beth that feature dancers over 40 years old. Foolish Assumptions examines the "foolish assumptions" we as people...

The Bach Choir recently wrapped up their 2025-2026 season with "Oscar Nods!" Assistant Director Jon Erik Schreiber and Choir President Tybe Brett spoke with Anna Singer live on the QED Afternoon Show about their upcoming event, Sing Democracy 250. Sing Democracy 250 is a national choral odyssey commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It will feature p...

Ginger Brooks Takahashi is the only Pittsburgh-based artist that will be featured in the 59th Carnegie International! WQED Digital Correspondent Nick Tommarello ventured down to the Carnegie Museum of Art to speak with Ginger about her International exhibition. Ginger's work for the exhibition includes a garden of perilla frutescens , a plant in the mint family that is a staple of Japanese and Kor...

Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh have commissioned a new piece for their 2026 season finale concert! Composer Trevor Weston, Artistic Director Edward Leonard, and Executive Director Andrew Swensen sat down with Anna Singer live on the QED Afternoon Show to talk about the program. Trevor speaks about his piece, Steel City Sounds, which draws inspiration from August Wilson, Billy Strayhorn, and Franc...

Christine Brondyke, Executive Director of the Sweetwater Center for the Arts in Sewickley, stopped by the WQED-FM studio to chat with Anna Singer about the organization. Sweetwater celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, and it continues to be the epicenter of Northwest Pittsburgh's arts community. Christine talks about their recent move into the old Sewickley post office, their new brand campa...

SERIO has an upcoming production of Gaetano Donizetti's opera, Don Pasquale , opening May 8th! Founder Louisa Jonason, director Rebecca Kerr, and tenor George Milosh sat down with Anna Singer live on the QED Afternoon Show to talk about the show. Louisa, who will be leading the production from the keyboard, explains her history with Don Pasquale and praises the cast's talents. George is returning...

Prime Stage Theatre will present the world premiere of the stage adaptation of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Playwright Tammy Ryan sat down with Melissa Black to talk about the show. Speak follows Melinda, a teenage girl who struggles with sexual assault and uses art to find her voice. Tammy talks about adapting the story for the stage, working with the production's director, Dana Hardy Bingham,...

The 59th Carnegie International, If the word we, opens this weekend on Saturday, May 2nd and will run until January 3rd, 2027. Senior Director of Marketing and Communications for the Art and History Museums Stefanie Cedro Mohr and Carnegie Museum of Art Director of Education and Public Programming Dana Bishop-Root spoke with Jim Cunningham live on the QED Morning Show about the exhibition. Dana ex...

Joe Calarco's vibrant adaptation of Romeo & Juliet comes to the City Theatre Mainstage, blurring the line between dreams and reality! The show's co-producers, Julia He and Alexander Farrell, and scenic designer, Sebastian Zavalza, spoke with Melissa Black about it. Shakespeare's R&J follows four male students, living under strict rules, who defiantly and curiously act out Shakespeare's play. Alexa...

Chief Naturalist Brian Cunningham of Wild Birds Unlimited speaks with Jim Cunningham about birdsong in music and nature with references to Vivaldi's Goldfinch Concerto and Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony. Brian tells Jim how to attract hummingbirds, a good starter kit to bring birds to your back yard, and what birds are in Western PA now. He discusses whether bird feeders interfere with Mother Natur...

Hold On to Your Music: A Mother's Legacy with pianist Mona Golabek will be screened for the JFilm Festival on Saturday, May 2nd at 6:30pm in McConomy Auditorium at CMU. Mona joined Jim Cunningham to chat about the documentary. Mona will play the piano with selections from the documentary inspired by her book The Children of Willesden Lane and the Hershey Felder-directed play, The Pianist of Willes...

North Pittsburgh Symphonic Band's spring concert is coming up on May 3rd, 2026! Conductor & Musical Director Tad Greig and President, Board Chari, & French horn Melissa Corso spoke with Anna Singer live on the QED Afternoon Show to talk about the program. The band will play excerpts from Copland's Appalachian Spring, Sousa's Manhattan Beach March, Naohiro Iwai's arrangement of El Cumbanchero by Ra...

Written and performed by Yvonne Hudson, Mrs. Shakespeare returns for William Shakespeare's birthday this Thursday, April 23rd! Yvonne talks to Anna Singer about her ever-evolving solo show, which she will perform at the Shakespeare statue outside the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Yvonne has been performing as Agnes "Anne" Hathaway for almost 40 years. She was inspired to create this labor of lov...

Pittsburgh Opera presents Verdi's "Falstaff" April 28th through May 3rd at the Benedum Center. It's the final production of their 2025-2026 Season, as well as Christopher Hahn's final opera as General Director. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with Michael Chioldi about his role as Falstaff; growing up in Pittsburgh; how he ended up in opera and working with Marianne Cornetti for 30 years. Thanks for t...

Pittsburgh Opera presents Verdi's "Falstaff" April 28th through May 3rd at the Benedum Center. It's the final production of their 2025-2026 Season, as well as Christopher Hahn's final opera as General Director. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with Marianne Cornetti about her role as Mistress Quickly; how the role fits her voice perfectly, although it's still a difficult sing; and how Verdi is her favo...

Pittsburgh Opera presents Verdi's "Falstaff" April 28th through May 3rd at the Benedum Center. It's the final production of their 2025-2026 Season, as well as Christopher Hahn's final opera as General Director. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with Stage Director Crystal Manich about this being Verdi's final opera; enjoying the play within the play aspect of the opera; and working with a bunch of Pitts...

Pittsburgh Opera presents Verdi's "Falstaff" April 28th through May 3rd at the Benedum Center. It's the final production of their 2025-2026 Season, as well as Christopher Hahn's final opera as General Director. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with Music Director Antony Walker who says it's one of his favorite opera's. He also talks about the Pittsburgh-centric cast and how's it's an opera that is alwa...

On Sunday April 19th, 2026, WQED-FM broadcast the 2026 Heinz Chapel Choir Spring Concert titled "The Heavenward Path." The concert served as a warm up for the choir's tour to Estonia and Latvia in May 2026. After the concert, host Anna Singer spoke with Heinz Chapel Choir Director Dr. Susan Rice about putting the program together and her thoughts on the upcoming tour. Anna also spoke with Alto Lyd...

Ahead of the NFL Draft, WQED traveled down to city hall for a chat with Mayor Corey O'Connor. He spoke with Jim Cunningham about the draft, Pittsburgh's arts community, and his vision for the city's future. Mayor O'Connor talks about how Pittsburgh has prepared to host the draft, and the opportunities to show off the city's culture, arts, and businesses. He highlights the various projects being co...

The Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall are hosting a day of commemoration for the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. Library Director Walker Evans and photographer Mike Haritan speak with QED's Melissa Black about the event program and Mike's work. Walker details what the Carnegie Carnegie has planned for the day. They'll kick off with a film screening of The Babushkas of Chernobyl...

Calgary, Canada-born pianist Jan Lisiecki has been a favorite at Heinz Hall playing with the Pittsburgh Symphony. He speaks with Jim Cunningham about his latest release on Deutsche Grammophon with two Mozart Concertos, the 9th and 22nd. It was recorded with the Bamberg Symphony and Pittsburgh Symphony Music Director Manfred Honeck. Jan also describes his recording Chopin's complete Nocturnes, whic...

Join the University of Pittsburgh Bands for an exciting evening of music at the Spring Festival of Bands, featuring performances by the Franklin Regional High School Wind Ensemble, the Allegheny Brass Band, and the University of Pittsburgh Symphonic Band! Pitt Director of Bands Brad Townsend, Assistant Director of Bands Michael Buckstein, and Allegheny Brass Band Director Steve Baldanzi spoke with...

Church of the Redeemer in Squirrel Hill joins with Opus:Impact in the Sanctuary at 8pm on Saturday April 18th to present the Faure "Requiem" and music for solo harp played by recent Pittsburgh Concert Society Competition winner Lace Hilboky. The program also includes the Schubert "Notturno." Soprano Sydney Kaczorowski will sing the Pie Jesu and join baritone Adriel Baralt Jimenez with Fabio Gentil...