It's the start of Little Lake Theatre's 2025 season, and it will be starting off with a fun one!

Director of "9 to 5", Kathy Hawk, and the actress playing Doralee, Alexis Hawk, talk about their collaboration in this upcoming musical. Kathy talks about the story behind the musical, which is similar to the movie. They reveal their favorite parts in the show, and how working as a mother/daughter duo can be easy and fun! Kathy talks about working with Little Lake over the years, and how it has become a second home and community for her.

They also talk about the challenges of staging in a round for a musical, and the incredible stage design for the show. They hope everyone comes out to have some fun with this show!

You can see Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" musical at Little Lake Theatre from April 10th to 27th.

Visit https://www.littlelake.org/. Adventure Awaits at Little Lake!

Attack Theatre has a new executive director!

Well known Pittsburgh conductor, Andres Franco, talks with Anna Singer live about his new role in the city. He talks about how he first met co-founders Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope on stage during a Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Fiddlesticks concert. When he saw the role open for executive director, Andres jumped at the opportunity to continue working with Michele and Peter.

Andres also talks about their upcoming production of "Someplace Not Here" which features a Miami-based Cuban Roots funk band, Mama Fuma. He talks about the collaboration between live musicians and dance is the forefront of Attack Theatre. He also hopes people will stay tuned for their announcement for next season.

You can see Attack Theatre's "Someplace Not Here" this weekend. Shows are April 4th and 5th at 7:30 pm, and April 6th at 2 pm.

Visit https://www.attacktheatre.com/ to learn more.

It's another episode about JS Bach's lost Markus Passion, presented by Chatham Baroque!

Bill Barclay, Artistic Director of Concert Theatre Works and Music Before 1800, talks about the upcoming world premiere. Bill highlights the significance of performing this new edition in Pittsburgh. He also talks about his involvement in the project with Malcolm Bruno. Concert Theatre Works strives to demonstrate the relevance of live music to a new audience through innovative programs.

Bill talks about his vision for this staged premiere as the Director. He hopes having the role of the Evangelist be a spoken actor, and having it be a staged production, will bring this story to life for a modern audience. He also highlights the difference in Malcolm Bruno's edition to previous ones.

Bill looks forward to working with all of the instrumentalists, including those of Chatham Baroque, in two weeks for rehearsal.

Hungry for more? Check out WQED's short film about the premiere of the Markus Passion on our YouTube! And stay tuned for one more episode!

The world premiere presented by Chatham Baroque is on Friday, April 11th at the Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland.

Visit https://www.chathambaroque.org/ to learn more.

It is that time of year again! The Three Rivers Community Band Festival will be at the Franklin Regional High School this Saturday!

Festival Band Chair Nanette Mancuso, and East Winds Symphonic Band conductor Susan Sands, talks about the festivals' highlights this year. They talk about the four performances in the festival, with three from community area bands, and one festival band! They also talk about the director of the Buffalo Wind Symphony, Amy Steiner, who will direct this year's festival band. She will be the second female to conduct the group ever in the history of the festival!

They also highlight the start of the Festival 19 years ago, and how it has stayed as a free concert all these years. Susan also talks about how she finds new pieces for community bands as the conductor of the East Winds Symphonic Band. She gives a teaser of what they will be playing in the festival too!

It's a don't want to miss crowd pleaser!

You can hear the Three Rivers Community Band Festival this Saturday, April 5th at 2 pm at Franklin Regional High School. It's completely free!

Visit https://ewsb.org/festival/ to learn more.

Pittsburgh Musical Theater is keeping the tradition alive with its next rendition of "Jesus Christ Superstar" at the Byham Theater.

Director and Choreographer, Lucas Fedele, talks about his role in bringing this rock opera about Christ's last days on Earth alive. One of three co-directors and choreographers, Lucas highlights the unique opportunity to work with his previous mentors on this show. He also talks about his previous work with PMT that spans over 20 years, going all the way back to when he was a student.

Hear all about this amazing rock opera, and why everyone should come!

Pittsburgh Musical Theater's "Jesus Christ Superstar" will be at the Byham Theater from April 3rd to 13th.

To learn more and find tickets, visit https://pittsburghmusicals.com/superstar/

A unique piano group in Pittsburgh is hosting a concert at the August Wilson Center!

Piano4te is a group of 4 pianists that each play a piano. Jimmy Liu, Becky Billock, Jack Kurutz, and Uliana Kozhevnikova, talk with Jim Cunningham live on the WQED Classical morning show about their upcoming concert. Jack talks about creating the group with the three others. Uliana talks about the program which includes pieces by Liszt, Fitkin, Beatles, and even Queen!

Jack hopes the variety of music intrigues people to come to the concert. They have 80% of the tickets sold, so they are going fast!

All the members also talk about their own personal stories of becoming pianists, and how they all knew each other before joining the group.

They played a recording of a piece by Pagani during a recent rehearsal. They also play another piece from the Netherlands!

You can hear Piano4te this Saturday, March 29th at 7:30 pm at the August Wilson Center.

Visit https://piano4te.live/index.html to learn more and find tickets.

There is a special discount code for WQED listeners. Use the code WQED when buying tickets!

Pittsburgh's own contemporary music ensemble, Nat 28, is hosting its annual Pittsburgh Composers' Project soon!

Executive Director and clarinetist, Allyson Huneycutt, talks about the group's mission to showcase contemporary classical music from the Greater Pittsburgh area. Allyson highlights this years winners from their open call for scores. They will be featured in this years Pittsburgh Composers' Project concert on March 29th.

The composers include Emma Berkowitz, Victoria Fraser, Jordan Speranzo, and a piece by established composer, Matthew Rosenblum. Allyson talks about the pieces, and how they span from thematic works to more freestyle works. She also highlights the use of video prior the performance, to help provide context behind each piece.

Finally, Allyson talks about her work as a clarinetist, including a recent performance at the New Hazlett Theater's CSA piece, Ego.

You can hear and see Allyson at the Pittsburgh Composers' Project this Saturday, March 29th at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater. Performance starts at 7:30 pm.

Visit https://www.nat28.org/events to learn more.

Pianist Tamami Honma is an acclaimed performer and recording artist, and recently released a complete collection of Beethoven's Piano Sonatas on the recording label Divine Art.

Tamami talks with WQED Classical's Anna Singer about these collections of recordings she has made over the past couple of years. She also talks about her research, her students, and how she recorded this album out of order.

She also talks about her mentor, Byron Janis, born in McKeesport, who died at the age of 95 last March. He performed his first piano recital in 1937 at the Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh. Tamami highlights the impact he had on her as a pianist.

Listen to WQED-FM 89.3 on the radio, or on our website, to hear Tamami Honma's newest recording of Beethoven's Piano Sonatas.

There is a world premiere coming to Pittsburgh, presented by Chatham Baroque!

Musicologist Malcolm Bruno talks with WQED Classical's Anna Singer about his role in creating a new edition of JS Bach's lost Markus Passion. Originally performed for Good Friday in the early 1700s, Bach's Markus Passion has been the topic of conversation for many early music historians. Bach's publisher lost the manuscript, with only the libretto and original instruments list left. Today, there have been many attempts at recreating the Passion.

Malcolm talks about his discovery of the lost Passion, and what made him decide to try writing a new edition. Malcolm also highlights what makes his edition different from previous ones. New arias and added sinfonias are in this edition. Malcolm's biggest addition is having a professional actor speak the role of the Evangelist in English instead of singing it in German.

Hungry for more? Stay tuned as we release two more interviews about the Markus Passion on Voice of the Arts. And make sure to keep an eye on our YouTube channel on April 2nd!

Chatham Baroque's world premiere is on Friday, April 11th at the Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland.

Visit https://www.chathambaroque.org/ to learn more.