Voice of the Arts

Violinist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Marta Krechkovsky, and concert organizer, Cheryl Redmond, highlights the 3rd Benefit for Ukraine Concert on Sunday, December 10th at 5pm at the Park Presbyterian Church in Beaver. This benefit concert will host several PSO musicians and a reception afterwards with food donated from local restaurants. Marta and Cheryl both talk about how DTCare and NovaUkraine help those in need in Ukraine, and why continuing to support Ukraine is still needed. Donations are welcome at the door, by mailed check, and online at https://www.dtcare.org/ukraine-benefit.

Director of Education and Public Programs at the Carnegie Museum of Art, Dana Bishop-Root, discusses the many exciting things happening this month at the Museum, just in time for the cold weather and holiday season. The museum will hold a free Winter Exhibit Celebration on December 14th at 6 pm with a soundscape in the Hall of Sculpture. Meet the curators of all the present exhibits in the museum, and see the exhibits before many leave the museum in January. The museum will also host the River City Brass on December 9th for a free concert as a part of their Sounds of the Season concert series. Visit https://carnegieart.org/ to learn more.

Retired Detroit Symphony Orchestra bassist and composer, Rick Robinson AKA Mr. Cut Time, discusses with Anna Singer about his upcoming Pittsburgh debut concert at Rodef Shalom Congregation on Monday, December 4th at 7pm. Rick talks about his recent decision to move to Pittsburgh, who Mr. Cut Time is, and how he continues to try to bring classical music to a wider, more casual audience. Visit https://cuttime.com/ to learn more about Rick and his concert on Monday.

Artistic Director of Little Lake Theater, Patrick Cannon, is back to talk about Little Lake’s upcoming 2024 season, Escape to the Lake, which features 10 unique shows. Starting in April of 2024, the Season of 2024 has something for everyone. From Matilda, to School House Rock, to Wait Until Dark, to Escape to Margaritaville, the 2024 season will be jam packed! Patrick also discusses Little Lake’s increase in summer camps and their apprenticeships. Visit https://www.littlelake.org/ to learn more about the 2024 season.

Native of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, bass-baritone David Crawford and Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Festival Opera, Marianne Cornetti, discuss with Anna Singer their upcoming “Legends in the Limelight” concert on Friday, December 1st at the Carnegie Music Hall in Carnegie, PA. Featuring David Crawford with pianist Kate Wogoman, David will perform some Christmas music, some musical theater numbers, and some of his favorite arias. David, Marianne and Anna also talk about how their careers intertwined. Visit https://pittsburghfestivalopera.org/ to learn more about the concert and get tickets.

Associate Director of Music at the St. Paul’s Cathedral and organist, Ken Danchik, as well as Director of Music, Brian Gurley, highlights their last Organ Series Concert of the 2023 season, with a concert by Ken this Sunday afternoon, that includes Christmas Music, original compositions, and French contemporary music. Ken also talks about his teaching methods with his students at University of Pittsburgh. The concert is free to attend. Visit https://saintpaulcathedral.org/cathedral-concert-series to learn more.

It’s a holiday classic! Violinist and one of the Artistic Directors at Chatham Baroque, Andrew Fouts, as well as Director of Music at the Calvary Episcopal Church, Alan Lewis, talk about their upcoming concert together on Friday, December 8th at 7:30pm. They discuss how and why they will be performing the entirety of Handel’s Messiah with original Baroque instruments in a smaller chamber setting. Visit https://www.calvarypgh.org/ to learn more.

It is time to get in the holiday spirit! Executive Director of the South Hills Chorale, Rick Smith, discusses with Anna Singer about the chorales upcoming holiday concert, Sound of the Season, on December 15th and 16th at the Christ United Methodist Church. Take a tour of holiday music from around the world, no passport required! Also enjoy a new musical composition by Music Director, Skylar Bunk, who is enjoying his first season as the Music Director of the Chorale. Visit https://www.southhillschorale.org to learn more and find tickets!

Former KDKA-TV anchorman and U.S. Congressmen, Ron Klink, discusses his new role as Board Member of the emerging National Museum of Broadcasting that is hoping to open its doors in the Pittsburgh area. Ron talks about his experience as a broadcasting professional, the history of broadcasting in the Pittsburgh area, and how the Museum will work to serve the community of Pittsburgh and relate its history. You can find more information about the Museum, including its proposed site in East Pittsburgh on Braddock Avenue, at https://nmbpitt.org/.

Anna Singer talks with the Mendelssohn Choir’s newest Music Director, Daniel Singer (no they are not related!). Daniel discusses his excitement for next years concerts, as well as three upcoming ones for the holiday season with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the first of which is Brahms’ Requiem on December 1st. It’s the busiest time of year for the choir, but Daniel is looking forward to bringing holiday cheer this year. Visit https://www.themendelssohn.org/ to learn more about their upcoming concerts and get tickets.

Executive Director of Silver Eye Center for Photography, Leo Hsu, gives WQED an in-depth tour of their newest exhibit, Radial Survey Volume 3. This new free exhibit is open until February 3rd and features work from 7 emerging or mid-career artists from a 300 miles radius around Pittsburgh. Artists in Radial Survey Vol.3 are Eduardo L. Rivera, Share Rocheleau, Alanna Fields, Akea Brionne, Larry W. Cook, Marissa Long, and Lisa Toby. Leo Hsu also discusses the many other facets of Silver Eye and their continued efforts to raise and celebrate the art of photography in the Pittsburgh community. Visit https://silvereye.org to learn more.

Robert Aubry Davis, veteran host of Millenium of Music on Sirius XM and public radio nationwide joins the Baltimore Consort in Pittsburgh at Calvary Episcopal Church Saturday November 18th at Calvary Episcopal Church to present a concert of music with Mary Queen of Scots at the center In Angel’s Wede. Davis in this conversation with Jim Cunningham looks from his vantage point as a legendary figure in the nation’s capital as a host of multiple musical organizations including the Smithsonian, Dumbarton Oaks and on WETA’s arts program Around Town. Robert talks about his fascination with the music of 1000 years before JS Bach, chant, Josquin Despres and where we are as Americans with support for the arts noting Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and other Washingtonians as special champions of the arts.