Piedmont Arts

On this Piedmont Arts podcast, Charlotte-based photographer Alvin Jacobs talks about his exhibit at the Gantt Center in Charlotte titled "Black Behind Bars." It's a look at Black biker culture.

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 conductor.

On this Piedmont Arts, we chat with Charlotte Symphony’s Christopher James Lees about the 2025 Summer Pops, Symphony Park updates, and life as an in-demand conductor.

Pianist Jeffrey Biegel talks about commissioning composer Peter Boyer to create "Rhapsody in Red, White and Blue" to mark the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." And we talk with one of the leaders of the 2025 Charlotte Bach Festival.

A new North Carolina theater group called Piedmont Shakespeare company makes its debut in June 2025 with a touring production of "Hamlet." All nine performances at indoor and outdoor venues are free. On this episode of Piedmont Arts, we sit down with the company's three founders to talk about their plans.

Learn more about Piedmont Shakespeare Company

A new North Carolina theater group called Piedmont Shakespeare company makes its debut in June 2025 with a touring production of "Hamlet." All nine performances at indoor and outdoor venues are free. On this episode of Piedmont Arts, we sit down with the company's three founders to talk about their plans.

Providing students with music education opportunities is the mission of North Carolina Youth Orchestra. Based in the Lake Norman area, the organization has seen rapid growth in recent years and offers kids a range of options from beginning classes to full orchestras. They now serve about 225 students. On this Piedmont Arts podcast, executive director Eric Boruff talks about how North Carolina is working to meet the growing demand for music instruction in our region and about what’s next.

By David Boraks

Photographer Annie Leibovitz is legendary for her iconic photos of celebrities - from professional athletes and politicians to entertainers and artists. Many of those photos, plus a few you haven't seen, are in the exhibit "Annie Leibovitz/WORK" at the Mint Museum Uptown through the end of August. Jen Sudul-Edwards chief curator for the Mint talks about Leibovitz's style and career.

Learn more about the Annie Leibovitz/WORK exhibit at the Mint Museum.

Mint Chief Curator Jen Sudul Edwards talks to reporters and staff at the press opening for "Annie Leibovitz / Work" at the Mint Museum Uptown in Charlotte on 4/25/25. This set of photos (left) depicts celebrities in their cars.David Boraks/WDAV

Top: A photo of soldiers at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, with Mary, "Queen of the Negritos" on the base. 1968Bottom: Leibovitz's grandmother in her house in Waterbury, Connecticut, early 70s.David Boraks/WDAV

Chief curator Jen Sudul Edwards talks to staff and reporters at the press opening of Annie Leibovitz's retrospective at the Mint Museum Uptown.David Boraks/WDAV

Leibovitz's photo of Georgia O'Keeffe on a big screen, next to a "salon wall" of her other portraits of the famous. At the Mint Museum Uptown.David Boraks/WDAV

Photographer Annie Leibovitz is known for her iconic photos which are featured in the exhibit "Annie Leibovitz/WORK" at the Mint Museum Uptown. Jen Sudul-Edwards chief curator for the Mint talks about the exhibit and Leibovitz's style and career.

After the beloved Manor Theater closed its doors in 2020, there weren’t many places to see art house and foreign films on the big screen in the Charlotte area. On top of that, the COVID-19 pandemic had put the entire movie theater industry in jeopardy. But that’s exactly when the Charlotte Film Society made the bold decision to find investors and start a new, not-for-profit, multi-screen cinema. The Independent Picture House opened its doors in 2022 and hasn’t looked back. We talk to executive director Brad Ritter about the early days of this destination for film lovers, as well as what we can look forward to seeing at the Independent Picture House in the weeks and months ahead.

Pictured: Executive director Brad Ritter or the Independent Picture House. Phil Vavra/WDAV

Pictured: Brad Ritter in the lobby of the Independent Picture House theater. Phil Vavra/WDAV