Claim OwnershipArts Blast on the Air with Willi Miller
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I began covering the arts on Florida's Treasure Coast almost 25 years ago after working in Miami with WTMI-FM. Before Miami, I spent 16 unforgettable years in the U.S. Virgin Islands, getting my feet wet in broadcasting at WVWI, as program director and host of a radio talk show, and learning how to live in the Caribbean - not easy but so worth the effort.
When I made my way north to the Treasure Coast, I landed at WQCS, the regional NPR affiliate, producing Arts Spotlight and arts-related special programs for 15 years or so. I tried retirement, but that wasn't for me. Soon I was tapped to produce a weekly radio segment for the Cultural Council of Indian River County. My arts coverage spilled over from radio to print when I was asked to write an arts and entertainment column for TCPalm.com. At the end of 2018, I tried retirement again, and immediately realized there was no retiring from spreading the word about the wealth of arts, culture, and entertainment we have to offer.
Over the years, I've met hundreds of interesting and talented people and discovered places to go and things to do that I just have to share. From Brevard County to North Palm Beach County and looking west, Willi Miller's Arts Blast will keep you moving, learning, and having fun. Subscribe to the free weekly eMagazine at willimiller.com or just check back here every week for the latest issue. On Facebook, it's Willi Miller's Arts Blast and Willi Miller's Arts Blast Extras. Come explore with me.
When I made my way north to the Treasure Coast, I landed at WQCS, the regional NPR affiliate, producing Arts Spotlight and arts-related special programs for 15 years or so. I tried retirement, but that wasn't for me. Soon I was tapped to produce a weekly radio segment for the Cultural Council of Indian River County. My arts coverage spilled over from radio to print when I was asked to write an arts and entertainment column for TCPalm.com. At the end of 2018, I tried retirement again, and immediately realized there was no retiring from spreading the word about the wealth of arts, culture, and entertainment we have to offer.
Over the years, I've met hundreds of interesting and talented people and discovered places to go and things to do that I just have to share. From Brevard County to North Palm Beach County and looking west, Willi Miller's Arts Blast will keep you moving, learning, and having fun. Subscribe to the free weekly eMagazine at willimiller.com or just check back here every week for the latest issue. On Facebook, it's Willi Miller's Arts Blast and Willi Miller's Arts Blast Extras. Come explore with me.
223 Episodes
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John Bolton joins the show to discuss the "sheep to sweater" knitting and crochet process, how he founded Long Thread Media, a majority-women owned small business dedicated to hand crafts and publisher of independent handcraft magazines. He also founded BeerandBrewing.com and the Beer and Brewing Podcast.Warren Obluck is another interesting guest; he has worked in foreign service for thirty-two years. Today, he's the Cultural Coordinator for the Center for Spiritual Care at 1550 24th Street in Vero Beach. Online at CenterSpiritualCare.org. He's excited to show us the works of painter Madeline Long, as "Splash & Blooms, Pools, Plants and Places" appears in January 2026.
Larry Brown and his Quintet are back in Vero Beach! See them perform Friday, January 16th at 7pm at the Vero Beach Theatre Guild. Enjoy performances of music made famous by the likes of by Miles Davis, George Gershwin, and Cole Porter. Kids are welcome, and in fact, encouraged to attend. Get tickets and info at VeroBeachTheatreGuild.com. We also talk about the Summer Jazz Camp in June; find details online at JazzSociety.org. Sara Klein of Vero Beach Museum of Art joins us to discuss Holidays at the Museum, a free event this Saturday, December 13th, 2025, from 10am-3pm, with artistry, fun and food trucks. We also discuss the 44th season of the International Lecture Series. This year's theme is "American Made" showcasing 250 years of American art. Get memberships, registration and details online at VBMuseum.org.
Adam Schnell joins us to talk about Ballet Vero Beach and their production of Nutcracker on the Indian River, December 11-14, 2025, featuring a cast of 40 kids and 20 professionals. The VIP Add-On Experience is still available. We also discuss the Dance Education Program at Riverside Theatre. Be sure to get tickets to Nutcracker on the Indian River at BalletVeroBeach.org or RiversideTheatre.comMike Block joins us to discuss a new kids program, MikeBlockStringCamp.com. The Mike Block Trio will perform on January 8th at First Presbyterian Church in Vero Beach. And Mike talks about his recent appearance on "Shark Tank", where he talks about 3D-printed cellos and his website, forte3d.com.
Elise Mahovlich joins the show to tell us about the wonderful events happening at the ELC, including Wintergreen Night Lights, December 12th and 13th. You'll enjoy illuminated canoe trips through the mangrove tunnels, s'mores by the fire, aquariums and touch tank, a campfir and music, and on Friday 12/12 only, there's a special performance by Aerial Antics! Additional events include Family Fishing Day (Nov. 29, 8:30-10:30), Kids Winter Break Camps (Dec 22, Dec 29), Artist Meet & Greet (Jan 9), Lagoonapalooza (Jan 24, 10a-5, admission is FREE). Find details and registration pages at DiscoverELC.org
J. Marshall Adams of the A.E. Backus Museum and Gallery joins the show to tell us about their new exhibit, "Glory in the Glass: The Conrad Pickel Studio." This enjoyable exhibit will focus on stained glass art with images and tools on display to showcase the whole process. The exhibit runs November 21 - January 4, 2025. Become a member and get details online at BackusMuseum.org.We're also joined by Jeffery Backwell, actor in "Dancing on the Dingle," an Original Irish Christmas Musical, November 29th & 30th. You'll love this secular story of how Christmas came to be in the North Pole, set in Dingle, Ireland. This show is also a fundraiser for the Theatre Guild, so get tickets online at VeroBeachTheatreGuild.com or by calling 772-562-8300.
Marcos Flores joins us to talk about the 20th Anniversary of the Concert Series at Christ By The Sea United Methodist Church. The new season starts Sunday, November 23rd, with a Piano Concert featuring Grand Piano renditions of the majestic Liszt’s Sonata in B Minor, and other jewels from the piano literature such as Debussy’s Clair de Lune and Malagueña by Lecuona. We also discuss Marco's brother, Jose Daniel Flores, formerly of Community Church, Albany Pro Musica, the Christmas cantata and more upcoming concerts. Tickets and details are online at cbtsumc.orgOscar Sales joins us to talk about "Alice in Wonderland, JR" featuring a cast of 52 kids, ages 11-18 years old, recreating the animated Disney classic on stage. It's all on the main stage with big sets and grand costumes, November 20th-22nd. We also discuss the next show, "A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder" and how backstage passes and tours would make wonderful Christmas gifts. Find tickets and details online at RiversideTheatre.com
Adam Schnell invites us to "An Interpratation of Double Portraits," a collaboration of Ballet Vero Beach and Vero Beach Museum of Art. Enjoy two shows on Saturday, November 15th. Tickets and details can be found at BalletVeroBeach.org. We also discuss BVB Films and the documentary now available online, as well as "Nutcracker on the Indian River," December 11-14 at Riverside Theatre.We're then joined by Rob Volsky of the Vero Beach Theatre Guild, who gets us excited to see "Dancing on the Dingle," an original Irish Christmas Musical on the last week of November. We also dicuss a collaboration with the Vero Opera. Details can be found at VeroBeachTheatreGuild.com
We speak with Chief Curator at Vero Beach Museum of Art, Caitlin Swindell, about "Second Saturday," a FREE event with family activities, tours, film screening, art viewing, and even a performance by the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra. The next "Second Saturday" is November 8th at 11am at Vero Beach Museum of Art.Staci Rosbury joins the show by phone to tell us about "Spooks and Spells," a special concert on Thursday, November 6th at 7pm, with an informal pre-show by 321 Jazz Orchestra at 6pm. "Spooks and Spells" is at Melbourne Auditorium at 625 East Hibiscus Blvd. We also discuss the New Horizons Band which is comprised of adults with beginning and intermediate musical skills, perfect for anyone who wants to learn or pick up that instrument they haven't played in years. Details can be found online at MelbourneMunicipalBand.org
Rachel Carter Murphy of Community Church of Vero Beach joins the show to talk about "Tricks and Treats," a special concert this Saturday, October 25th, 2025, at 3pm, with pianist Jacob Craig at Grace Chapel. It features everything from early boroque music to modern times. We also discuss the Church's Holiday plans, including the Free Christmas Ensemble Celebration, December 7th.We then speak with Larry Strauss about Vero Beach Theatre Guild's production of "Dancing on the Dingle," November 29th and 30th at 2pm, with music by Jacob Craig and storybooks and lyrics by Larry Strauss. We also discuss the upcoming Irish Christmas Musical. Get tickets and details at the box office, 772-562-8300, or VeroBeachTheatreGuild.com
Indian River Clay is the epi-center of the Soup Bowl fundraiser for the Samaritan Center, producing over 1,000 hand-made soup bowls each year for their worthy cause. The 33rd Annual Samaritan Center Soup Bowl is November 6th, 2025, and guests are invited to make donations in exchange for their soup and pottery, with all proceeds supporting Samaritan Center’s mission of assisting homeless families in Indian River County. Contact the Samaritan Center to volnunteer.Indian River Clay has 65 members and they're hoping to expand soon. Classes are offered multiple days per week to people of all ages and abililties. Details can be found at indianriverclay.org
The President of the Board of the Vero Beach Theatre Guild, Dee Rose, joins the show. We talk about Dee's beginings, the history of Vero Beach Theatre Guild, and the progress of the new building and the new Black Box Studio. "Young Frankenstein" starts October 17th, and you won't want to miss Robin Volsky's "Creature Feature Monster Make-Up Show" October 25th from 10am-12pm in the Black Box. Auditions for Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew" run October 27-29 and the public is encouraged to make reservations to audition. We also discuss upcoming shows "The Last Five Years", "A Christmas Carol" and "Dancing in the Dingle." For tickets and information, call the box office at 772-562-830 or visit VeroBeachTheatreGuild.com
Aaron Collins joins the show to discuss "Back Home Again: A Tribute to John Denver and the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra," a special benefit concert for the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra in conjunction with Music Works, November 22nd, 2025 at the Emerson Center in Vero Beach. Get tickets at MusicWorksConcerts.com.Performers Clint Hromsco and Nicholas Ward then join us in studio to tell us about their roles in "Little Shop of Horrors" on the main stage at Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach October 16th - November 9th. Nicholas is the voice of "Audrey II" (The Big Men-Eating Plant) and Clint is the puppeteer of "Audrey II." Get tickets at RiversideTheatre.com
Andrew Kato tells us about the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, its new addition of 8,500 square feet of state-of-the-art classrooms, it's upcoming shows of "Misery" based on the Stephen King novel, and "Million Dollar Quartet." Find more details online at JupiterTheatre.orgAnd we speak with Maddie Williams of the Saint Lucie Cultural Alliance. Maddie tells us about Art Walk on the 3rd Friday of every month, how the St Lucie Cultural Alliance is collaborating with other artistic entities in Fort PIerce, and more. The building is at 111 Orange Avenue in Fort PIerce and you will find more details at ArtStLucie.org
Barbara Hammett Glover joins the show to talk about the Artists Guild Gallery, in business for 35 years, and her work in oil and cold wax. The discussion includes cold wax and oil paints vs encaustic painting as well as using acrylics and tapestry. The gallery is found at 1974 14th avenue in Vero Beach, online at ArtistsGuildGalleryofVeroBeach.com and Barbara's website is BarbaraGloverArt.comCasey Lunceford joins us to introduce Terry Kavalec, and we discuss the Gifford Academy for the Performing Arts (Formerly the Gifford Youth Orchestra). Mr. Kavalec, who has recently discovered the organization, has authenticated a 1737 Stradivarius violin, which will be auctioned off in Palm Beach at the end of September. Fundraising for the Gifford Academy for the Performing Arts focuses on auctioning instruments to enhance arts education, while insights into violin making reveal its materials and history. Discover more at GiffordAcademy.org
Elise Mahovlich of the Environmental Learning Center joins the show to talk about ELC's free fiber art exhibit, featuring pieces by the Florida Gator Group, working in a traditional form of rug hooking. See the free demo October 19th from 2-3pm. Find out more at DiscoverELC.org. Lynn Jackson joins us to talk about the Vero Beach Theatre Guild's production, "Rumors",a Neil Simon comedy running through September 21st. Auditions for "A Christmas Carol” are coming up, "Dancing on the Dingle" is set for special performances Thanksgiving weekend, and more!
Arts Blast highlights exciting upcoming events in Florida's arts community. A Nutcracker performance and a special concert for Marie Jureit-Beamish's birthday are on the horizon, according to guest Lindsay Garritson. The concert, featuring former and current students, takes place at St. Mary's Episcopal Church September 6th at 4pm in Stuart. Additionally, we speak with Paul Tardiff as the Melbourne Chamber Music Society kicks off its 48th season with a diverse concert series starting November 7th, showcasing renowned artists and outreach programs for students. Details can be found online at MelbourneChamberMusicSociety.org.
Musicians Manny Moreira and Lou Wilkin join the show to tell us about their musical careers and their upcoming show, "Beatles and Bossa," which combines the amazing music of the Beatles with the beautiful rhythm of Bossa Nova from Brazil. "Beatles and Bossa" plays two shows on September 25th and October 9th, 2025 at the Waxlax Stage at Riverside Theatre. Get tickets at the Riverside website, box office, or at BeatlesAndBossa.com.
Jon Bell, the "Singing Astronomer" and Associate Astronomy Professor at Indian River State College and Hallstrom Planetarium Director joins the show to tell us about the FREE Open House at the Planetarium on Saturday, August 30th from 6-9pm. For details, call the box office in Fort Pierce at 772-462-4750 or visit irsc.edu.Rob Volsky tells us about his upcoming show, "Rob Volsky's Creature Feature Halloween Monster Makeup Show" on Saturday, October 25th at 10am at Vero Beach Theatre Guild.
Domenic Del Brocco tells us about the Henegar Center For the Arts in Melbourne. The opening show, "Hairspray" is playing August 15th through September 7th. They're also hosting a fundraiser September 12th. Tickets and details for the entire season can be found at HenegarCenter.com. Rosemary Knight then invites us to the Treasure Coast Theatre in Port St Lucie. Their 6th season starts with a comedy, "Boeing Boeing." Discounted ticket packages are available online at TreasureCoastTheatre.com.
Barbara DeMartis Bucci of the Martin Artisans Guild discusses her Mermaid Boxes, as well as the Summer Salon at Palm Room Art Gallery. Details can be found at BarbBucciCreations.com.Danielle Ziss joins us to talk about the Central Florida Vocal Arts, a non-profit music advancement organization. "Music Man" is performing at the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center on August 17th at 3pm. Discover more at CentralFloridaVocalArts.org.
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