Piedmont Arts

Guest conductor Erina Yashima leads the Charlotte Symphony in a program that includes Beethoven's Triple Concerto and Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique . Yashima recently finished her tenure as Assistant Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. And she recently started in her new position as First Kapellmeister at the Komische Oper Berlin. She talks about the works on the orchestra program, the differences between American and European orchestras, and the importance of music education in her native Germany. Pictured: Erina Yashima by Todd Rosenberg Photography/ Askonas Holt .

WDAV and the Fair Play Music Equity Initiative launch another video in the NoteWorthy concert series, which teams local pop musicians of color with classically-trained musicians. Singer/songwriter Nathan Kam talks about his approach to performing his songs, and how it felt to collaborate with classical musicians Alice Silva, violin, Mira Frisch, cello, and arranger Madison Bush. His collaborators also speak about the ease of working with Nathan and blending musical genres. Nathan Kam, Alice Silva, Mira Frisch on Noteworthy Nathan Kam Mira Frisch Alice Silva

The Mint Museum Uptown in Charlotte is hosting an exhibition called "American Made: Paintings and Sculpture from the DeMell Jacobsen Collection." The collection features more than 100 paintings and sculptures from the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen PhD Foundation. And it surveys more than two centuries of American art. Listen to Dr. Diane Jacobsen describe the collection she has been painstakingly building for many years. She explains why she is so passionate about putting a spotlight on American creations and how they help us understand our history and culture. Pictured: "School's Out" by By Allan Crite - Smithsonian American Art Museum , Public Domain . Learn more about " American Made: Paintings and Sculpture from the DeMell Jacobsen Collection "

Conductor Marcelo Lehninger will return to the Charlotte podium to lead the Charlotte Symphony in a program of music by Beethoven, Lili Boulanger, and Manuel da Falla. Lehninger explains how the works on the program relate to one another. Plus, he talks about finding his own interpretation of a familiar work like Beethoven's "Pastoral" Symphony which has been interpreted hundreds of times before. Pictured: Marcelo Lehninger. Photo by Andy Terzes.

The UNC School of the Arts Chamber Music Festival is led by artistic directors and faculty members violinist Ida Bieler and pianist Dmitri Vorobiev. The two talk about why they founded the festival which will bring students together with faculty members and special guests for several days of focused music making and learning. Learn more about UNC School of the Arts Chamber Music Festival Pictured (l-r): Ida Bieler and Dmitri Vorobiev. Ida Bieler , violin Dmitri Vorobiev , piano

The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO) season opens with concerts featuring Elgar's Cello Concerto, Strauss's symphonic poem Aus Italien , and Anna Clyne's Pivot . Inbal Segev will be the soloist for the Cello Concerto, and the performances will be led by Andrew Grams who has been guest conductor with the CSO on a couple of occasions. Grams talks about the works on the upcoming program which he says are all built around the creators' impressions of a place, time, or life in general. He also talks about how he approaches the role of guest conductor. Learn more about the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra's Classical Series Pictured: Andrew Grams by Masataka Suemitsu/courtesy of Charlotte Symphony.

This season marks the 75th anniversary of the Charlotte chapter of the American Guild of Organists. To celebrate they are teaming with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra to present concerts that include Saint-Saëns’ beloved “Organ” Symphony, as well as a solo organ recital, all featuring Grammy-winning organist Paul Jacobs. He and Mark Johanson, Dean of the Charlotte AGO chapter, talk about the celebratory events. Learn more about the AGO Organ Concerts

This winter the Lake Norman area will see the opening of a new cultural arts facility that promises to enrich the cultural life of the region. The Cain Center for the Arts in Cornelius will house a 400-seat theater, two visual arts classrooms, a dance studio, gallery space and more. Although the building isn't quite finished, the Cain Center has already begun offering art and music classes, and this fall it launches an inaugural season of performances. Justin Dionne, the center's executive director, gives us a look at the year to come and talks about ways the Cain Center plans to serve the community including providing access to all regardless of financial means.

As Charlotte’s music scene grows, musicians are finding new ways to connect. We talk with Justin Honigstein, the general manager of Jambox, a “co-musicing space” where musicians can find rehearsal space and be part of a diverse music community. Justin shares his observations on the current state of music-making in the Charlotte area and the types of cross-pollination he sees happening across genres from rock to hip hop to classical and jazz. Pictured: Justin Honigstein; photo courtesy of Justin Honigstein.

The Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra is one of the newer professional music ensembles in our region having been established in 2017. It kicks off its new season with a concert called "A Musical Tapestry of Folk & Classical Traditions" with guest conductor and Rock Hill native Kellen Gray. Gray currently serves as Assistant Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Associate Conductor of the Charleston Symphony. He talks about the music on the program and the opportunity to conduct in his hometown. He also reflects on his journey as a Black conductor and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the classical music world.