Piedmont Arts

By WDAVArts Music Music Interviews

Piedmont Arts episodes

September 07 Inside the Nation’s First Public Arts Conservatory with UNCSA Dance Dean Endalyn Taylor Outlaw
The North Carolina School of the Arts opened in 1965 as America’s first public arts conservatory and become part of the University of North Carolina system in 1972 with programs in music, drama, dance, filmmaking, and more. UNCSA’s Dean of Dance, Endalyn Taylor Outlaw, is our guest on this episode of Piedmont Arts and she shares an overview of the school’s ballet and contemporary dance programs. You’ll also hear about upcoming dance performances in our region and the latest installment of FanFare to fill out your calendar.
17 min
August 31 Piedmont Opera's 50th Season Debut and NC Symphony Comes to Davidson College
Piedmont Opera launches their 50th season with performances that include Rossini’s Barber of Seville and an appearance by Renee Fleming. Their emphasis this season is on celebrating and fostering community. General Director and Principal Conductor Joseph Mechavich share on this Piedmont Arts podcast details about the season. We also speak to Maggie Pate, Director of Communications for the North Carolina Symphony, about their performance happening at Davidson College.
24 min
August 31 Piedmont Opera’s 50th Season Debut and NC Symphony Comes to Davidson College
Piedmont Opera launches their 50th season with performances that include Rossini’s Barber of Seville and an appearance by Renee Fleming. Their emphasis this season is on celebrating and fostering community. General Director and Principal Conductor Joseph Mechavich share on this Piedmont Arts podcast details about the season. We also speak to Maggie Pate, Director of Communications for the North Carolina Symphony, about their performance happening at Davidson College.
24 min
August 24 Artistic Director Kenney Potter Previews the Charlotte Master Chorale 76th Season
Charlotte Master Chorale is about to launch its 76th season, and their chamber choir kicks off WDAV’s new Small Batch concert series season. This year the group will celebrate community, belonging, and the power of voices singing together through a variety of concerts that include recent choral compositions as well as classics like Faure’s Requiem. Artistic Director Kenney Potter is the guest on this episode of Piedmont Arts. He tells us about the season and other interesting projects the organization is undertaking. Plus, plenty of fun activities are recommended in our FanFare segment.
19 min
August 17 Inside Children’s Theatre of Charlotte: New Season Reveal with Adam Burke
The Children’s Theatre of Charlotte got its start shortly after World War II. After many years on Morehead Street, the theater company moved to ImaginOn, where they’ve been delighting audiences since 2005. On this Piedmont Arts, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte Artistic Director Adam Burke talks about their exciting new season. You’ll also get a preview of our region’s other theatrical offerings, plus a quick look at even more events and activities with FanFare.
24 min
August 10 Herb Jackson and Lia Newman on Davidson’s National Art Legacy
The nation’s largest print and drawing competition in the early 1970s was held at Davidson College. Organized by renowned artist Herb Jackson, the competition drew submissions from across the country and brought some of the most compelling works on paper to campus. Davidson is celebrating the 50th anniversary with a new competition and exhibition called “50 Years Later: Davidson National Print and Drawing Competition.” On this Piedmont Arts episode we talk to Herb Jackson and curator Lia Newman about the competition’s legacy.
22 min
August 06 Herb Jackson and Lia Newman on Davidson’s National Art Legacy
Explore the history and return of Davidson College's iconic art competition. Founder Herb Jackson and curator Lia Newman discuss the 1970s print and drawing landmark and its 50th-anniversary rebirth on Piedmont Arts.
22 min
August 03 Charlotte Area Arts Guide: Previewing the 2026-2027 Regional Orchestra Seasons
A new season of orchestral performances will start in a few weeks, and that includes the 62nd season for the Western Piedmont Symphony. Maestro Matthew Troy has been the Hickory-based orchestra’s Music Director and Conductor since 2019 and he talks on this Piedmont Arts about what we’ll be hearing from them in 2026-2027. You’ll also get a preview of other regional orchestras’ upcoming seasons, plus a quick look at more events and activities with FanFare.
WPS Masterworks Symphony Swings with Doreen Ketchens, clarinet. Credit Paul van Breemen Photography
Western Piedmont Symphony performs the music of Pink Floyd. Credit Tom Devlin Photography
0 min
July 31 Charlotte Area Arts Guide: Previewing the 2026-2027 Regional Orchestra Seasons
Discover what's coming to the stage for Western Piedmont Symphony's 62nd season! Maestro Matthew Troy previews the 2026-2027 lineup, plus hear other regional orchestra highlights and upcoming arts events with FanFare.
23 min
July 27 Master Storyteller Donna Washington & Inside The World's Largest Black Theatre Festival
Storyteller Donna Washington has been weaving tales for audiences of all ages for more than 38 years. On this Piedmont Arts podcast episode, she shares what makes a good story and a good storyteller, and she even tells us a story or two. Plus, a look at the largest Black theatre festival in the world, the International Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem. One of the organizers, Brittany Giles-Jones, helps us parse the more than 100 offerings. And hear interesting things to do for fun in the FanFare segment.
31 min