Cleveland trumpeter Theresa May talks about the challenges of navigating a classical music career for Black women, and a new nonprofit she helped create to break down those barriers. The Chromatic Brass Collective (CBC) is a national group of brass musicians that celebrates, performs, mentors and educates to increase the visibility of racially and ethnically underrepresented women and gender non-conforming people throughout the brass world.CBC recently launched $25,000 fundraising campaign to fund a mentor program, provide concerts, commission underrepresented composers and provide educational presentations. Contributions are being accepted through Oct. 4.

Amanda Rabinowitz and Brittany Nader each share the new albums and music they're most looking forward to this fall. Featured in this episode: Free Black! Marc Lee Shannon, Jeff Klemm, JD Eicher, Samantha Grace/Big Pop.

When musicians Ruby Rendrag and Suki Kuehn moved to Akron in August 2020, it marked 15 years since they experienced the devastation of Hurricane Katrina firsthand.

Cleveland singer-songwriter Emily Keener grabbed the nation's attention in 2016 as a finalist on The Voice. Now, she's serving with AmeriCorps and keeping the spirit of her music alive during this new adventure. Brittany Nader talked with Keener about her journey, her new album, "I Do Not Have to Be Good," and what's next for the indie-folk artist.

On Aug. 18, more than a dozen venues across Cleveland, Akron and Youngstown announced they would require that attendees show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of entering their doors.We look into how the policy will work, how it's being received and how some other upcoming events in the region are taking a slightly different approach.

Hear details about Akron's outdoor music festival, PorchRokr, which returns to the Highland Square neighborhood Saturday, Aug. 21. We also go through every hour of the schedule with our must-see picks!

A Cleveland artist described as a one-woman choir is out with an album that combines experimental music, guided meditation and breathing exercises. Listen back to our January conversation with Christa Ebert, who performs as Uno Lady. She says she hopes “GROUNDED” will help listeners find peace amid the stresses and anxieties of the pandemic.

Brittany Nader talks with contributor Larry Gargus, who has been active in the Northeast Ohio music scene for decades, playing in bands like Persistent Aggressor and The Unholy Three. Larry started his own podcast, "Bleachmouth Post Script," during lockdown in 2020 to replicate the conversations he'd have at the bar or after concerts with other music fans. He also reflects on Akron's music scene past and present, and shares some of his local musical influences.

Children and their parents flocked to Akron’s Hardesty Park to attend a hip-hop “boot camp” this July. The event was hosted by Alien Arts, a new Akron nonprofit founded by Ameer Williamson, who performs as Minus the Alien. Williamson's organization is working with kids in the city to help them experience the four elements of hip-hop culture: DJing, MCing, breakdancing and graffiti art.

On this week’s Shuffle, we catch up with Cleveland pianist Rob Kovacs. He's also known as 88-bit for his piano arrangements of classic Nintendo video game themes. This past year, he launched a solo career with an album 10 years in the making, 'Let Go.'