Piedmont Arts

The Metropolitan Opera's Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition has auditions across the country. The competition is designed to discover promising young opera singers and assist the development of their careers. The North Carolina District holds auditions and approximately 25 singers will compete to move on to Regionals in Atlanta. The event is open to the public. Steven LaCosse, Auditions Director for the Met Competition in North Carolina, explains why the competition is such an important opportunity for young artists to grow and why it’s a great event to attend. Learn more about The Metropolitan Opera's Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition -->

After a search that has lasted more than two years, the Charlotte Symphony has announced their next Music Director: Kwamé Ryan. Originally from Trinidad, Ryan has an impressive resume and has worked around the globe. He was General Music Director of the Freiburg Opera from 1999 to 2003 and Musical and Artistic Director of the National Orchestra of Bordeaux Aquitaine between 2007 and 2013. His most recent appointment is Director of the Academy for the Performing Arts at the University of Trinidad and Tobago.  Ryan will start his tenure with the Charlotte Symphony in the 2024 - 2025 season. On this edition of Piedmont Arts, we talk with Kwamé Ryan about his new appointment. He talks about why he wanted to come to Charlotte, what to expect in the coming season, and how he approaches life and work in general. Pictured: Kwamé Ryan/courtesy Charlotte Symphony.

Caritas a Cappella ensemble presents a concert of Christmas and holiday music in Charlotte. The set will include settings of familiar carols as well as beautiful motets written by modern and Renaissance composers. And this time, the ensemble will be led by their new artistic director, Dr. Jeremy Mims. By day, Jeremy is Associate Professor and Director of Choral Activities at Wintrhop University, but he recently stepped in to take the helm from Caritas founder, Cathy Youngblood. He talks with WDAV about the unique qualities of the group which specializes in a cappella singing and about the music on their Christmas with Caritas: A Season of Light program. Learn more about Christmas with Caritas: A Season of Light

The Charlotte Civic Orchestra presents its annual Christmas Extravaganza at the Halton Theater at CPCC’s Uptown Campus. The program features a sixty-piece orchestra, performances by the Charlotte Youth Ballet and Diamond Elite Dancers, the Holiday Singers, and soloists, plus the combined choirs of the Marvin Ridge and Porter Ridge High Schools. Dr. Geoffrey Whitehead, the music director of the Charlotte Civic Orchestra, and Jeff Andler, a member of the Holiday Singers, speak about the challenges and the extraordinary rewards of this yearly labor of love. Learn more about the Charlotte Civic Orchestra's Christmas Extravaganza

Composer, pianist, and social justice activist Margaret Bonds is one of the twentieth century's more remarkable American artists, and her reputation is growing in stature among twenty-first century music lovers. There's a terrific opportunity to learn more about this remarkable woman and her music when Queens University hosts the Margaret Bonds Symposium . Learn more about her by listening to guests Dr. John Michael Cooper, an expert on Bonds' life and music; Dr. Sequina Dubose, who will perform during symposium concerts; and Dr. Justin Smith of Queens who helped organize the Margaret Bonds Symposium. Learn more about the Margaret Bonds Symposium at Queens University

Piedmont Opera in Winston-Salem is opening their new season with Verdi's Il Trovatore and they're welcoming home Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano Tichina Vaughn. Vaughn was raised in Winston-Salem, and she is a graduate of UNC School of the Arts. After getting her start with the Metropolitan Opera, she went on to international acclaim performing many years with Staatstheater Stuttgart as principal artist. She talks about how it feels to perform in her hometown, when she discovered she was meant to sing opera, and why she believes anyone can sing with the right training. Learn more about Piedmont Opera's Il Trovatore Pictured: Tichina Vaughn by Bashstint - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0 .

In the month of October, Davidson College will present several great concerts. Renowned vocal group Stile Antico performs a program celebrating William Byrd. And the Amerigo Trio, whose members are all internationally acclaimed musicians, is in concert. And later in the month, Davidson faculty members will present a benefit tribute to Burt Bacharach. On this episode of Piedmont Arts, we talk to artists who will be appearing in two of those concerts. Amerigo Trio members Glenn Dicterow, former concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic, and Karen Dreyfus, Grammy-nominated violist, tell us about the unique experience of playing in a string trio.  And emeritus Davidson faculty members Cynthia and Bill Lawing talk about why they wanted to honor legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach. Learn more about the concerts : Davidson College Choirs & Stile Antico: The Byrd & The Bees Davidson College Concert Series: Amerigo Trio with Glenn Dicterow, Karen Dreyfus, and Inbal Segev What the World Needs Now: A Tribute to Burt Bacharach

The Charlotte Master Chorale comes to the Cain Center in Cornelius and Queens University in Charlotte respectively this fall. The theme of the concerts is freedom and oppression across communities and features the North Carolina premiere of R. Nathaniel Dett's The Ordering of Mose s as well as Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. Dr. Marques L.A. Garrett, associate professor of choral studies at the University of North Texas and an expert in the music of Nathaniel Dett, a Black Canadian-American composer from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Garrett will give pre-concert talks at both events. He's the guest on this episode of the Piedmont Arts podcast where he explains Dett's importance and legacy. Pictured: Dr. Marques L.A. Garrett by Justin S. Robinson.

Heartland Baroque is an ensemble specializing in music of the 17th and 18th centuries. They perform regularly in our region and will give a concert at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Davidson. Violinist Martie Perry is founder and artistic director of Heartland Baroque. She explains how Heartland Baroque's historically informed performances provide context around the music and give modern audiences insight into the music-making of the past. Learn more about Heartland Baroque at the Music at St. Alban's

Charlotte Ballet is gearing up for the 2023-2024 season which will be the first one fully curated by artistic director Alejandro Cerrudo. Several world premieres by notable choreographers are highlights, and the season kicks off with a performance in Toronto, the first time since 1981 Charlotte Ballet is traveling abroad. Cerrudo describes some of the innovative and traditional works audiences can expect to see as well as why he is passionate about the artform of dance. Learn more about the Charlotte Ballet season . Pictured: Alejandro Cerrudo by Richard Israel.