Interviews with artists, performers and community arts leaders.
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WDAV Classical Public Radio Podcasts
WDAV invites artist and musicians to the John Clark performance studio to share their thoughts and talents.
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Join Alexander McCall, Themba Searles and Kali Blevins as they take you on a journey through different periods and styles of classical music. Along the way we’ll share interesting facts and expose you to a diverse range of pieces to increase your knowledge and appreciation of the different forms of classical music.
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WDAV's Biscuits and Bach host, Rachel Stewart, talks with musicians, artists, chefs, foodies and others about everybody's favorite topic - food.
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The Magicians Table is making its North American debut this month at Charlotte’s new venue, Blume Studios. Created in London, it’s a show about a legendary illusionist, his loving widow, and a cast of magicians who perform at your table. It may change your idea of what a magic show can be. Artist Kevin Hammonds and Blumenthal Arts’ CEO Tom Gabbard …
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On October 24th, Davidson College dedicated a new sculpture called “With These Hands: A Memorial to the Enslaved and Exploited” by artist Hank Willis Thomas. It acknowledges those individuals who built the college and served the institution in numerous ways but whose story has rarely been included in the college’s history. Davidson graduate Clint S…
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WDAV celebrates the vital role public radio plays in supporting musicians and music lovers by spotlighting local talent, including this session with Charlotte-based Phoenix Down RPG from the John Clark Performance Studio. Featuring Teil Taliesin, oboe; Dr. Dylan Taliesin, clarinet; and Nicholas Ritter, bassoon.…
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WDAV celebrates the vital role public radio plays in supporting musicians and music lovers by spotlighting local talent, including this session with Charlotte-based Chamber Music for All from the John Clark Performance Studio.By WDAV Classical Public Radio
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After 64 years, the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro is closing. The festival, which has been an important part of the Triad and the state’s cultural life, is ending due to failed negotiations between faculty artists, staff, and the EMF Board. We get the perspectives of both faculty and staff representatives on why talks broke down. We also tal…
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Charlotte Ballet kicks off a new season with "Fall Works," a program of three contemporary ballets at the Knight Theater. The show includes the world premiere of "As I Am" by South African choreographer Mthuthuzeli November. We talked with November about the inspiration for the ballet and preview the program's other exciting works.…
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A new symphony takes the spotlight as the Charlotte Civic Orchestra presents the premiere of Symphony No. 1, “The Wolf” by rising local composer Sean Michael Smith at Central Piedmont’s Dale Halton Theater. We talk with Smith about his creative journey and debut work, then hear how the Bechtler Museum and Novant Health are blending art and wellness…
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Theatre Charlotte is now in its 98th season of engaging, entertaining, and enlightening audiences of all ages. Artistic Director Chris Timmons talks about which shows are hitting the stage this season, including a special appearance at WDAV’s Small Batch Concert. Plus, hear an interview with the folks organizing Una Noche Entre Suenos, an afternoon…
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Confluence, the Carolinas’ music industry conference, brings together artists, entrepreneurs, and fans for daytime panels and nightly concerts across Charlotte. Host Rachel Stewart talks with organizers Rick Thurmond and Liz Brigham about how the event supports the region’s thriving independent music scene, the collaborative spirit behind its growt…
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Founded in 2022, the Stateline Community Orchestra is based in Pineville, North Carolina. On this episode of Piedmont Arts, Phil Vavra speaks with the orchestra’s conductor, David Gordon, about what it’s like to work with a talented and dedicated group of volunteer musicians who come from all walks of life. You’ll also get a preview of their upcomi…
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The Charlotte Film Festival was started in 2006 to give established and emerging filmmakers a place to showcase their work. After 19 years, it’s still going strong. This year’s festival is at the International Picture House and promises a diverse line up of full and short-length features, documentaries, and animated films. Host Rachel Stewart talks…
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The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra’s 2025-26 season gets underway at its annual Gala concert on September 18th with a very special guest. The CSO’s President and Chief Executive Officer, David Fisk, tells us all about that and some other upcoming highlights from the season. Plus, a preview of new Visual Arts offerings across our region and the weekly…
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Charlotte Ballet's new season begins in October. We talk with artistic director Alejandro Cerrudo about what you'll see - from a world premiere by a South African choreographer to "The Nutcracker" to Cerrudo's own full length ballet, "One Thousand Pieces" in May.By WDAV Classical Public Radio
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Piedmont Opera has a new interim artistic director, Joseph Mechavich, who has put together a varied and innovative ‘25/’26 season. It includes everything from an unusual, immersive production of Pagliacci to a concert by Grammy-award winning soprano Karen Slack. We talk with Mechavich about the season and the importance of opera and the arts to our…
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Three Bone Theatre’s mission is unique among Charlotte’s theater companies. They focus on contemporary works centered around diversity and social justice that can be a catalyst for change in the community. Three Bone’s current production is “Electricidad,” a retelling of the ancient Greek tragedy, “Elektra,” in a modern-day Chicano setting. We talk…
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In 2025, Charlotte Pride celebrates 25 years of LGBTQ arts and culture with the annual Charlotte Pride Festival in its new location at First Ward Park. On this Piedmont Arts podcast, we hear from the Managing Director of Charlotte Pride, Meredith Thompson, about what we can expect during the 2025 festival and parade.Learn more about the Charlotte P…
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Henry David Thoreau’s Walden was written in 1854 but has lessons for life in the 21st century. In her new book Finding Your Walden, Charlotte author Jen McGivney explores how the ideas in Walden can help people navigate modern life—from career crossroads to everyday overwhelm—with more clarity and intention.…
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Since 1937, visitors to North Carolina’s Outer Banks have been enhancing their beach vacations by taking in a performance of The Lost Colony at the Waterside Theater in Manteo. We talk to Chuck Still, the Executive Director of the Roanoke Island Historical Association, about the beloved play, how the production has evolved through the years, and th…
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Charlotte Strings Collective was formed five years ago, in the midst of Black Lives Matter protests, to promote the music of Black composers. On this Piedmont Arts podcast, we talk with three members of the group about its origins and its role in the Charlotte region.By WDAV Classical Public Radio
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Charlotte will become the home to the first ever International Choral Composers Institute, a 5-day immersive program dedicated to nurturing and teaching choral composers and lyricists of all levels. It’s the brainchild of award-winning composer Sherry Blevins. Through the Institute, she hopes to provide an opportunity for composers in our area and …
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Ever since pianist Simone Dinnerstein released her recording of Bach's "Goldberg Variations" back in 2007, she's had a reputation as singular interpreter of Bach. Since then, Dinnerstein has explored wide ranging musical interests, but her album, "Complicité," with her ensemble Baroklyn, brings her back to Bach and some highly original performances…
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Charlotte is home to a growing community of music creators of all types. It’s a collaborative community where musicians work across genres, as evidenced by WDAV’s own NoteWorthy and Small Batch concerts. On this Piedmont Arts podcast, we talk with Charlotte Hip Hop artist YUNG Citizen who has worked with many local musicians including Charlotte Str…
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Did you know the city of Charlotte has its own Poet Laureate? If not, that might be because there has only been one so far. His name is Junious “Jay” Ward, and you’ll get to know him on this episode of the Piedmont Arts podcast. Jay talks about his journey with poetry, what it means to be Charlotte’s first Poet Laureate, and you’ll get to hear some…
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There's a new weekly email newsletter in Charlotte focusing on local people and issues. The Charlotte Optimist is published by longtime local writer and editor Michael Graff. On this Piedmont Arts he shares his vision for the new venture.Learn more about The Charlotte OptimistBy WDAV Classical Public Radio
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Broadway is bigger than ever. For the 2024-25 season, Broadway took in $1.9 billion across all productions, which is a record and a 23% increase from the previous year. Many of those shows come to Charlotte as part of Blumenthal Arts’ Broadway Lights Series. Blumenthal Arts’ president and CEO Tom Gabbard talks about the exciting productions coming …
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Alvin C. Jacobs is a Charlotte-based photographer and image activist. His new exhibit "Black Behind Bars" about Black biker culture is on display at the Gantt Center in uptown Charlotte through September 21st, 2025.Learn more about “Black Behind Bars: The Untold Story of Black Biker Culture” at the Harvey B. Gantt Center"Black"Alvin C. Jacobs, Jr."…
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The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra is ready to kick off its 2025 Summer Pops season. On this Piedmont Arts, we ask the CSO’s resident conductor, Christopher James Lees, about what we can expect to hear this month at Symphony Park. We also talk about recent news regarding the beloved outdoor venue, as well as what life is like for an in-demand conduct…
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Pianist Jeffrey Biegel wanted to mark the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." So, he commissioned a new work by composer Peter Boyer called "Rhapsody in Red, White and Blue." On this Piedmont Arts podcast, Biegel talks about the work, and we also talk with one of the leaders of the Charlotte Bach Festival about the multi-day …
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Organist and keyboardist Clara Bartz, a Davidson native, play Bach selections before her performance of the Goldberg Variations at the Davidson Bach Festival.Learn more about the Davidson Bach Festival (PDF)By WDAV Classical Public Radio
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The Poiesis Quartet—winners of the prestigious Fischoff Competition—performs a program called The Poetry of Music for the Seventh Street Concerts at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Charlotte. Charlotte poet laureate Junious Ward joins the group, which also features former Charlottean Drew Dansby on cello. They preview the performance From the John …
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Mark and Maggie O’Connor kick off a national tour in support of their new album, Life after Life, at The Cain Center for the Arts in Cornelius, NC. Before that, they perform a few tracks for us and speak to Frank Dominguez about how the pandemic isolation allowed them to focus on songwriting, much of which forms the basis of the new release.Learn m…
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We end our Classical Road Trip by learning from our hosts how they became interested in classical music.By WDAV Classical Public Radio
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The Classical Road Trip crew takes a look at the incredible, complex and decorated Baroque period. We examine the new forms and instruments used by composers like Bach and Vivaldi to cement their place in the history books.Still life, Attributes of Music, 1770 by Anne Vallayer-Coster.By WDAV Classical Public Radio
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On this episode we take a look at the Classical period, which defined one of the major musical forms of the genre – the symphony.By WDAV Classical Public Radio
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The lush expressive soundscapes of the romantic era are the subject of discussion on this episode. We take a look at the stars of the Romantic era including Berlioz, Tchaikovsky and Liszt.By WDAV Classical Public Radio
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Classical Road Trip takes an interesting turn as we examine pieces from the 20th century that flipped classical music on its head. Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring is highlighted, as well as, works from Shostakovich and Debussy.Photoportrait of Igor Stravinsky; Wikipedia.By WDAV Classical Public Radio
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We start the road trip by taking a look at the most interesting and groundbreaking contemporary composers, including Mason Bates, and Philip Glass.Image of Philip Glass; philipglass.com.By WDAV Classical Public Radio
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You might know more about classical music than you think you do! Alex and Themba help you pack your bags for the trip as well as play some well known tunes.By WDAV Classical Public Radio
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