Voice of the Arts

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 Gentili conducting a chamber choir and soloists in the Requiem. Audience members can light a candle to remember lost family and friends. A free will offering is encouraged with donations to the Women’s Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh. Check their website for any urgent needs - https://wcspittsburgh.org/ways-to-give/ Sydney joined Jim Cunningham to talk about the work of Opus:Impact and her studies at Duquesne University and performing with the Tamburitzans. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene. Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region.  Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Now Hear This, a Great Performances miniseries, returns for its seventh season tonight! Scott Yoo, creator and host, spoke with Jim Cunningham about the highlights. Season seven explores the lives and works of Johannes Brahms and Scott Joplin, two celebrated composers whose careers did not go as planned; alongside the music scene of two major musical epicenters: Istanbul and Iceland. Tonight's show features Brahms: a visit to his country house in Baden-Baden, listening to the Brahms Piano Trio No. 3, the Clarinet Trio and a piano sonata. Next week's show focuses on from Scott Joplin with Treemonisha, the Joplin opera and keyboard virtuoso John Novacek. Scott visits Istanbul and the Bue Mosque, with his wife, Alice Dade, playing flute, The Turkish Rondo, and Dave Brubeck with his Blue Rondo. And you'll see volcanic craters enter into the Icelandic music scene. The new season of Now Hear This premieres tonight at 9:00pm. Watch it on WQED13 and on demand through PBS Passport on WQED+. New episodes every Friday night, culminating with the season finale on May 1st. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Bands and Bids fundraising campaign benefits the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank through both an online auction and a live music event. Lance Jones, the events organizer, stopped by WQED-FM to talk to Jim Cunningham about the event, which features performances from the Polkamaniacs, the Jig-Offs and Ben Forbeck. The event takes place on Thursday April 16th at the Penn Hebron Garden Club in Penn Hills from 6:30pm to 10pm. Now until 10pm on April 16th, you can also bid for auction items including a behind-the-scenes tour of Rich Engler's autographed guitar collection; a Robert Plant autographed poster; a $300 gift certificate for redeeming on Pittsburgh Cultural Trust 2026/2027 shows; a chance to DJ at Independent Brewing with Rick Sebak and much more. To bid now on the auction items and to get your tickets for the April 16th event, visit: http://www.pittsburghfoodbank.org/bands Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene. Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region.  Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Three Rivers Community Band Festival returns for their 20th year! East Winds Symphonic Band Conductor Susan Sands and co-founder of the festival and EWSB Roger Schneider spoke to Jim Cunningham live on the QED Morning Show about the festival. Hosted by WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham, the festival is a celebration of the best of community band music from around the region, including performances by the 2026 Festival Band, Scottdale Concert Band, Community Band South, and the East Winds Symphonic Band. Roger explains the history and growth of the festival. Susan talks about East Winds' program, this year's festival band conductor, Dr. Christopher Marra, and the festival's finale performance of The Stars and Stripes Forever. Roger and Susan are also both FM Angels, and they tell Jim how important WQED is to them and the community, and why they give to the station. Jim, Susan, and Roger also listen to a recording of the East Winds Symphonic Band playing Shostakovich's Festive Overture. The Three Rivers Community Band Festival will be held at Franklin Regional High School this Saturday, April 11th, starting at 2:00pm. Auditorium doors will open at 1:00pm. The festival is free to attend. More information can be found on the East Winds Symphonic Band website. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chatham Baroque presents Czech a cappella ensemble Tiburtina for Celestial Harmony, a concert of music written by Hildegard von Bingen. Director and soprano, Barbora Kabátková, joined QED's Anna Singer from Prague to chat about the program. Tiburtina is a group of female voices that specializes in interpreting Gregorian chant, Medieval polyphony, and contemporary music. They'll bring a program of music by a female composer, abbess Hildegard von Bingen. Barbora recounts her musical journey and attraction to early music. She tells Anna how she chose the repertoire for this concert and discusses Hildegard's situation writing in the twelfth century. You can hear Tiburtina sing Hildegard von Bingen on Sunday, April 26th at 2:30pm at Calvary Episcopal Church. More information and tickets can be found on Chatham Baroque's website. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pittsburgh Baroque Orchestra have an upcoming concert titled "Bouquet de Baroque," a candlelit evening of music and dance! Soprano Sarah Richards stopped by the QED studio to talk live with Anna Singer. PBO is a community ensemble that performs original or reproduction instruments, in historical dress, and in historical venues. The program includes pieces never before performed in Pittsburgh, works by Vivaldi, Telemann, and Bach, and some Celtic music. Sarah talks about her pieces, performing in period costume, and why she became a singer. "Bouquet de Baroque" will take place at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church's Brooks Hall on Saturday, April 11th at 7:00pm. Light refreshments will be provided during intermission. More information and tickets are available on Pittsburgh Baroque Orchestra's website.  Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Confluence Ballet Co. presents Images, an evening of storytelling which will feature a performance by pianist Amaury Morales and new ballet works. Amaury, joined by Confluence's Resident Composer and Music Director Joshua Malavé, Co-Artistic Director Keeley Hernández, and Guest Composer Ayca Akin, spoke with QED's Anna Singer about the program. Josh, who wrote the piano concerto Amaury will perform, explains the conception of the program, which highlights Confluence's music ensemble, as well as his journey to composition. Ayca composed two pieces for the program; she talks about the inspiration and process, and recounts her own roundabout path to music. Keeley talks about choreographing the ballet works and the opportunities afforded to artists when joining Confluence. Images will take place this Thursday, April 9th at 7:00pm at Rodef Shalom's Levy Hall. More information and tickets can be found on Confluence's website. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lindsay Theater & Cultural Center's Director of Communications and Media Relations, Josh Axelrod, talks upcoming Lindsay events with QED's Melissa Black! The Lindsay is hosting two upcoming Emerging Filmmakers Showcases. The first, on April 9th at 7:00pm, highlights the work of women in Pittsburgh's film industry. It will include 13 short films created by members of Women in Film & Media Pittsburgh, and covers a wide variety of genres. The second showcase, on April 16th at 7:00pm, is the Pittsburgh premiere of The Haunting of Prince Dom Pedro, a film conceived and written by Butler native Joe Fishel and directed by Don Swanson, of Ebensburg. The film is described as a genre-mashing comedy that follows a group of high school students who fail to take their Latin American history studies seriously. Both showcases are free to attend and will feature filmmaker Q&As after the screenings. There will also be a sensory friendly screening of the Super Mario Galaxy movie on Saturday, April 11th at 10:00am. House lights will be brighter, the movie will be quieter, and there will be constant access to the rest of the theater through an open exit. Josh emphasizes the Lindsay's commitment to providing a low-stress environment for families, children, and adults impacted by autism and other special needs to watch films together. Josh and Melissa, who both read the Andy Weir novel, also gush about Project Hail Mary, which is still playing at the Lindsay through April 9th. More information, RSVP links, and tickets to these events and other films can be found on the Lindsay Theater's website. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rick Sebak joined Jim Cunningham on the QED Morning Show to preview his latest Lucky to Live in Pittsburgh program, focused on Switzerland-born Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin as he arrived in western Pennsylvania. The episode features a band called Gallatin Hall and a high school named for him. Rick explains how Lewis and Clark are involved, General Lafayette, and the beloved dog Seaman (who boasts multiple statues in his honor, representing the Newfoundland breed). All this and more woven together in the program, which airs at 9:00pm on Monday, April 6th on WQED's channel 13. It will also be streaming on YouTube and WQED+. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh will premiere Yvar Mikhashoff’s Viola Concerto on Saturday, April 4th at 7:00pm at Rodef Shalom's Levy Hall! Artistic Director Edward Leonard and PSO violist Tatjana Mead Chamis joined Jim Cunningham live on the QED Morning Show to talk about the concert. Tatjana and Eddie explain how the premiere came about, including the reconstruction of the concerto, which was originally written in 1968. Also included on the program are Khachaturian's "Gayane's Adagio" (which was featured in 2001: A Space Odyssey), Peggy Glanville-Hicks' "Gymnopedie No. 1," the Adagietto from Mahler's 5th symphony, and Ravel's Introduction and Allegro. Don't miss your chance to hear the world premiere of Yvar Mikhashoff's Viola Concert tomorrow, April 4th at 7:00pm at Rodef Shalom's Levy Hall. More information and tickets are available on Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh's website. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mai Khôi & the Dissidents are bringing their album release tour for Five Years in Exile to the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall! Mai Khôi, her creative partner and husband, Mark Micchelli, and the Carnegie Carnegie's Director of the Music Hall, Heidi Matthews, spoke with QED's Melissa Black about it. Mai Khôi talks about her career in Vietnam, encountering censorship from the government, and her activism. She nominated herself for the National Assembly with the aim of changing the system from the inside, after which she was blacklisted, banned from performing, isolated, and harassed. In 2019, to avoid imprisonment, she fled Vietnam and came to the United States, where she later had a residency at SHIM:NYC. She came to Pittsburgh through a residency with City of Asylum, where she met Mark. Mai Khôi and Mark walk Melissa through the album's journey and highlight some of the songs, which examine topics like climate change and unjust imprisonment. Heidi provides the Carnegie Carnegie's perspective as one of the venues on the release tour. All three provide their thoughts on releasing this album in the U.S. at a time like this. Don't miss Mai Khôi & the Dissidents at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall for the release of their new album, Five Years in Exile. The concert takes place on Friday, April 10th at 8:00pm. More information and tickets are available on the Carnegie Carnegie's website. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Frick Pittsburgh presents "Borealis," a contemporary multimedia concert conceived by soprano Lilly Abreu and media artist Andrés Tapia-Urzúa, featuring members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Cello Quartet, and Cello Fury, conducted by Flávio Chamis. Lilly Abreu and pianist Rodrigo Ojeda joined QED's Jim Cunningham to talk about the concert details. The program brings together works by Couperin, Dvorák, Gardel, Ginastera, Mozart, Villa-Lobos, Cummings, and others, alongside the world premiere of a new work, "Borealis," by internationally acclaimed Chilean composer Boris Alvarado, written especially for this event. Both Lilly and Rodrigo speak about their study of music and becoming Pittsburghers after life in Brazil and Venezuela, respectively. Both now have affiliations with CMU. Lilly and Rodrigo also recorded "Melodia Sentimental" by Heitor Villa-Lobos in the WQED-FM studio. Don't miss this evocative program at the Frick Art Museum Auditorium on Sunday, April 12th at 7:30pm. More information and tickets can be found on the Frick's website. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The New Hazlett Theater is presenting Erin Kouwe's GRAPPLING as part of their Community Supported Art series! Erin, Choreographic Assistant Teena Marie Custer, and Lighting Designer Andrew David Ostrowski spoke with QED's Emily Brunner about the show. Erin explains the construction of GRAPPLING, calling it a lecture-demonstration of a scientific experiment, in which a researcher uploads their family history and consciousness to human subjects and sends them into space to study. It was built from her own family archive of letters and documents, exploring a network of love, work, and connection. She was also inspired by a love of space to incorporate the piece's science-fiction elements. Teena talks about working with Erin to choreograph the show, creating a character out of a staircase, and using the unique architecture of the New Hazlett in the movement. Andy discusses his approach to lighting this show, balancing the needs of a dance-theater production with the scenery of space and the show's message. GRAPPLING opens at the New Hazlett Theater on April 16th at 7:30pm, with performances on April 17th at 10:00am and 7:30pm. More information and tickets can be found on the New Hazlett's website. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist Shannon Crowley is one of only six Grand Finals winners of the Metropolitan Opera's Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition! She sat down with QED's Anna Singer to talk about the competition process and her finals experience, which took place on Sunday, March 22nd. Shannon explains how she entered the competition, progressing from qualifying to Districts (which were held in Pittsburgh), Regionals, and all the way to the finals at the Met. She recounts what it was like to sing on that iconic stage and all the emotions surrounding her finals performance. For the competition, she prepared four arias, including "No Word from Tom" from Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress, Handel's "Da tempeste il legno infranto" from Giulio Cesare, "Adieu notre petite table" from Manon, and "Regnava nel silenzio" from Lucia di Mammermoor. Anna asks Shannon about her opera journey, which started with her mother, the Virginia Children's Chorus, and community theater. She began studying opera from a young age at the Governor School for the Arts in Norfolk, Virgina. Join us in congratulating Shannon, and you'll have a chance to see her with the Pittsburgh Opera as Nanetta in Verdi's Falstaff, coming up April 28th through May 3rd. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kathleen Dean, Director of Administration and Governance at Washington National Opera, sat down with QED's Jim Cunningham to talk about the WNO's split from the Kennedy Center, their current season, financing opera, and more. The company is currently showing a hit production of The Crucible, which received high praise from the Wall Street Journal and elsewhere. It is the first show they've produced in a new venue since leaving the Kennedy Center. The WNO's spring shows celebrate America's 250th birthday, featuring American operas by American composers. Kathleen explains the separation, citing incompatible funding models and reduced attendance. She is excited about the opera's administrative reorganization and consolidation and is happy to report an extremely successful start to their spring 2026 season. Kathleen is also optimistic about the general state of the opera world these days (contrary to actor Timothee Chalamet's disdain!). She goes on to explain the WNO's growing audience and positive interactions with the DC community. In addition to working in Washington, D.C., Kathleen also has strong ties to the Pittsburgh arts community. Her parents were a major artistic influence for her, and her father serves of the board of the Mendelssohn Choir. She also attended Carnegie Mellon University, where she completed a Master of Arts Management. You can find more information about the Washington National Opera's new chapter and tickets to upcoming performances on the WNO's website. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Juilliard Quartet returns to Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland on March 30th at 7:30pm! All four members joined QED's Jim Cunningham via Zoom to talk about the concert, presented by Chamber Music Pittsburgh. The current members of the Juilliard String Quartet are violinists Areta Zhulla and Leonard Fu, violist Molly Carr, and cellist Astrid Schween. They were the first ensemble presented by Chamber Music Pittsburgh in its inaugural season of October 1961. The current members explain the quartet's focus on American music, carrying on the spirit of the group from founder Robert Mann. They remember their influences, including cellist Jacqueline du Pré, Violinist Donald Weilerstein, violist Michael Tree, Pinchas Zukerman, and the many members of the Juilliard who have made contributions.  On the program for their upcoming concert are Michelle Barzel Ross' Birds on the Run, her arrangement of Bach's Prelude in E-flat Major, plus Shostakovich's Seventh Quartet and Dvořák's American Quintet. Don't miss the Juilliard String Quartet at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland on Monday, March 30th at 7:30pm. More information and tickets can be found on Chamber Music Pittsburgh's website. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pittsburgh contemporary ensemble, the IonSound Project, have an upcoming concert titled "Respite and Reflection" at St. Vincent's Basilica crypt. Cellist Elisa Kohanski and clarinetist Kathleen Costello spoke with QED's Jim Cunningham about the concert. Included on the program for "Respite and Reflection" are Robert Muczynski, Jessie Montgomery, Mark Abel, Connor Chee, and James MacMillan. Elisa and Kathleen will play a few duos by Georgina Sanchez Torres; their pianist Jack Kurutz will join them Paul Juon's Trio Miniatures for clarinet, cello, and piano. IonSound also commissioned a new arrangement of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" for this concert. Kathleen and Elisa also talk about each of their individual careers. Kathleen plays in the Alabama Symphony in Birmingham and is also a visual artist, and Elisa is the principal cellist in the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra, and play with the Wheeling Symphony, the PSO, and various other ensembles in the area. Join IonSound Project for "Respite and Reflection" at the St. Vincent Basilica Crypt on Friday, March 27th at 7:30pm. More information about the concert can be found on IonSound's website. IonSound also recently released a new CD called "Inspired By..." featuring newly commissioned music inspired by and alongside two pieces by Beethoven and Brahms, which will be featured on an upcoming Performance in Pittsburgh Friday evening program. Stay tuned! Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Andy Warhol Museum and Carnegie Mellon University School of Art's MFA program continue their collaboration to present the class of 2026's thesis exhibition at the Warhol. Katie Briski, Associate Registrar of Exhibitions and Loans at the Warhol, and CMU School of Art's Elizabeth Chodos talked with QED's Anna singer about the exhibition. Elizabeth introduces the artists. They include Naomi Chambers, a mixed-media artist who hails from Pittsburgh; Afrooz Partovi, an Iranian artist who is using 3D-animated videos to explore space in 1980s Iran; and Bulumko Mbete, an African artist working with ceramics, textiles, and beading centered on craft-based practices in South Africa. Katie talks about bringing each artists' work into the Warhol. Katie and Elizabeth also each explain their own work. Katie helps with the museum's art loans, often traveling with the art and supervising installation. Elizabeth, who is an associate professor of Curatorial Studies at CMU, talks Anna through curatorial processes, how art can be a resource for interpretation, and how she prepares her students for the professional world. There will be a public opening reception on Friday, March 27th from 5:00-8:00pm. Time-Honored Non-Specifics will be on view at The Andy Warhol Museum until April 12th. More information and tickets can be found on the Warhol's website. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Music for Food returns with Romantic Masterpieces, featuring the music of the Mendelssohn siblings. Pianist Nanette Kaplan Solomon, cellist Paula Tuttle, and violinist Alison Fujito spoke with QED's Jim Cunningham about the program. Felix Mendelssohn's Piano Trio in D minor will serve as the cornerstone of the concert. Nanette recounts the relationship between Fanny and Felix, including Fanny's pursuit of music against the expectations of women at the time. Nanette, Paula, and Alison will be joined by soprano Colleen Gray singing four pieces from Fanny Mendelssohn. Fanny's four-hand Piano Duets will also be featured, with Amy Simpson joining Nanette. Paula, Nanette, and Alison also perform two pieces in the QED studio: Paula and Nanette play Felix Mendelssohn's The Song Without Words, written for Lisa Christiani, the first woman to sit at the cello and one of the earliest professional female musicians. Alison and Nanette play Fanny Mendelssohn's Adagio in E major for violin and piano. Hear Nanette, Alison, and Paula at Music for Food: Romantic Masterpieces on Saturday, March 28th at 3:00pm, at Chatham University's James Laughlin Music Hall. Admission is free, but at-will donations will be accepted to support the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. More information can be found on Music for Food's website. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alaine Fink, pianist and Minister of Music at First Presbyterian Church downtown, is starting a new concert series called First with Friends! She spoke with Jim Cunningham about the creation of the series. First with Friends will take place on Tuesdays at 12:00pm at the church. Alaine explains the motivation for the series, focusing on revitalizing Pittsburgh's downtown area. She encourages residents and professionals to attend, and they are welcome to bring their own lunch and eat in the sanctuary. She hopes to expand the series to include not just classical music, but also jazz, solo organ, and Pittsburgh area student concerts. The first concert will take place on March 24th and will feature Christopher Wilson, principal trumpet of the PSO. He will play a Torelli sonata to open his program, with Alaine accompanying on organ. PSO principal harpist Gretchen Van Hoeson will perform for the series on April 14th, and PSO associate principal cellist Dale Jeong follows on May 12th. Alaine also teases the programs for those concerts. Make your way downtown to First Presbyterian Church on 6th Avenue for the inaugural First with Friends concert with Christopher Wilson on Tuesday, March 24th at noon! Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.