In this wide ranging interview, Pianist Christopher O'Riley talks about his newest CD "The Well Tempered Clavier Book 2" and his personal ties to Pittsburgh.  

Chris explains his approach to selecting the best tempo in Book 2. He also compares both books with special attention to individual preludes and fugues. He finds Book 2 to more challenging than those in Book One. Chris explains why he likes the Boesendorfer compared to the Steinway, and reflects on what Bach experienced in his life.  

Later in the interview, Chis talks about his friendship with Andy Warhol and his work with musician James Galway. He reminisces on his past Heinz Hall appearances, studying at Taylor Alderdice High School, and his friends at WQED. The next CD for Chris is in the works! Titled "Lotus Land," it's an album of arrangements that includes Billy Strayhorn, Joni Mitchell, Radiohead, Harold Arlen and many mor. It will be out on November 7.  

Life in Los Angeles is good for the former Pittsburgher who hasn't forgotten Mineo's Pizza and hopes to return soon!

You can learn more about Christopher O'Riley at https://christopheroriley.com/. You can find his newest CD with Navona Records, or listen to WQED-FM to hear the latest release!

Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.

Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. 

Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts.

It's time to step into a world of art, this time in Washington County!

Former Bethel Park Librarian and award winning teacher Denice Pazuchanics from WQED Education about Washington Park's Arts in the Park. With over 25 art activities, there will be lots to do! The Washington Symphony, The Andy Warhol Museum, The Frick Pittsburgh, will all be there with activities. Denice also highlights dance and music performances. The first 200 kids will receive free snacks too!  

Denice discusses how to instill in your youngest family members a love for the arts, why that matters and as a University of Pittsburgh library science degree holding professional how to keep your family reading in a world of screens, smart phones and electronic devices.  

Visit Washington Park on Saturday, September 6th from 11 am to 3 pm. To enter the on-site art contest, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSerUPJF-ZxuZz12McbNny7RXx3K5YNEzAs7BxTUZXflpYbrQw/viewform?pli=1

To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/main-pavilion-washington-park/arts-in-the-park/740495621710969/.

Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.

Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. 

Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts.

Since its foundation in 1998, the School of Rock franchise has taught performance based music education. There are two schools in the Greater Pittsburgh area that have been around for nearly twelve years. One is in Wexford, and the other in Castle Shannon.

Giovanni Mori, former School of Rock student and one of WQED’s summer interns, sits with the co-owners of the Pittsburgh schools, Quinn Lukas and Dan Moore. They discuss what School of Rock is, what students can learn, and what their experience has been like before acquiring ownership.

The schools have many exciting things coming up for the rest of 2025. This includes their Grand Re-Opening events on October 10th in Wexford, and October 17th in Castle Shannon. These events will have many fun activities for new and current students. View trial lessons, mock band rehearsals and performances, and more! There is lot's to do at Pittsburgh's School of Rock!

Visit https://www.schoolofrock.com/ for more information and ways to get involved!

Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.

Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. 

Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts.

Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Festival Opera, Marianne Cornetti, talks about their upcoming event, "An Evening Under the Stars with Our Stars".

The concert presents seven singers individually and as ensembles with pianist, Maeve Berry, for an evening of the most beloved operatic arias and Broadway tunes. Marianne will sing an aria from "Il Trovatore" by Verdi and "Memory" from Cats.  Benjamin Werley sings "Maria" from "West Side Story" and "Vesti la giubba" from "I Pagliacci" by Leoncavallo.  

Sadie Cheslak sings Wagner’s "Weiche, Wotan!" From "Das Rheingold" and Sondheim’s "Losing My Mind" from "Follies."  Thomas Shivone sings several favorites, and joins Victor Cardamone for "au fond de Temple Saint" by George Bizet from "The Pearl Fishers." Alexa Frankian performs "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from the "Wizard of Oz" and "Quando M’en vo" from "La Boheme." Megan Cumming sings "Wo bin Ich" from "Hansel and Gretel" by Humperdinck. 

Lastly, Kevin Glavin sings "La culunnia" from the "Barber of Seville" by Rossini and Frank Sinatra’s classic hit "My Way."  It will be an exciting evening in the perfect of settings!

You can see "An Evening Under the Stars with Our Stars" at the Schenley Tent in Oakland's Schenley Plaza on August 27th at 7pm. Visit PittsburghFestivalOpera.org for more information.  Tickets are $55 or $45 for young professionals.   

Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.

Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. 

Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts.

Music Director and Conductor of the Washington Symphony Orchestra, Yugo Ikach, discusses their new season.

Their upcoming season includes a celebration of the United States 250th Anniversary, a John Williams concert, and a holiday concert with an island twist. He highlights their listener friendly approach to programming music.

Yugo also talks about Washington County's Arts in the Park celebration. Arts in the park celebrates the county wide array of arts groups with over 25 artist activities, and a brass quintet from the Washington Symphony.

Yugo Ikach loves his work as Associate Dean of the College of Education, Arts and Humanities at California University of PA. He also talks about his own educational path.

You can meet Yugo and members of the Washington Symphony Orchestra at Arts in the Park at Washington Park on September 6th from 11 am to 3 pm. To learn more about their upcoming season, visit https://www.washsym.org/. 

Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.

Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. 

Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts.

Kweilin Nassar, Vice President of the South Side Community Council, and Susan Anderson, East Carson Street Business District Manager, joined Jim Cunningham to invite you to the Fifth Annual South Side Community Yard Sale and Shop, Sip and Stroll taking place Saturday August 23rd from 11am till 5pm on East Carson and throughout the South Side.

The event features over 65 South Side locations and more than 45 East Carson Street businesses with live entertainment, treasure hunting, architecture, good food, great coffee and refreshments - plus, two chances to win $250 by looking for QR codes at participating locations.

Susan, a CMU grad who has become a South Side home owner, and long time South Side resident Kweilin, share their passion for the neighborhood. Kweilin Nassar is WQED family having served as Director of Corporate Support and worked in marketing and community relations. Kweilin was the Executive Director of River City Brass and served at the Carnegie Science Center and Highmark. Her broadcast experience stretches back to KDKA, but she is best known as a regular on-camera host with Chis Fennimore for QED cooks.  

Visit the South Side Facebook events page and the Visit Pittsburgh website for more information.

Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.

Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. 

Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts.

The Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center is back at it again for their 3rd Annual Documentary Series!

Director of Communications and Media Relations, Josh Axelrod, talks about the 6 films showcased in the upcoming series. The films include a grammar documentary, two art-focused ones, two environmental documentaries, and one focused on caregiving.

"Rebel Without a Clause" follows Ellen Jovin's experiences behind her public 'Grammar Tables' around the country. There will be a Q&A with Ellen on August 29th. "Art for Everybody" documents Thomas Kinkade's life as one of the most commercially successful artists in American history. "Sanibel" follows seashell culture in Florida, that suddenly gets hit by Hurricane Ian. A virtual Q&A with the director will be on September 1st.

"Single Use Planet" dives into the political and economic factors in single use plastic becoming a major pollutant. The director of programs at Pittsburgh-based Breathe Project will host a Q&A on August 30th. "Caregiving" spotlights the challenges and triumphs of everyday caregiving that millions of Americans experience. Josh highlights that the 30-minute version of the film previously aired at the Lindsay, but this will be the full 2 hour version.

The last documentary showcases artist Georgia O'Keeffe's complete life, and will have a virtual Q&A on August 31st. Josh also shares the coming lineup at the Lindsay, which includes the last Downtown Abbey movie, and much more.

Visit https://thelindsaytheater.org/event/the-lindsays-third-annual-documentary-series/ to learn more about the series. 

Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.

Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. 

Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts.

The Agatha Christie classic novel comes to life on stage at Little Lake Theater!

Director and Resident Scenic Designer Tucker Topel, Stage Manager Andi Tageser, and actor Sean Barrett, talk about the upcoming show. "Murder on the Orient Express" follows a luxurious train, that just witnessed a murder. Sean talks about playing the infamous Hercule Poirot in this adaptation. He loves the politeness, shrewdness, and humor of this character, and looks forward to bringing him to life.

Andi talks about running the lights and sound for her first Little Lake production. Both Sean and Andi's first production at the Lake is due to doing shows in the past with Tucker. Tucker is excited to bring them both to Little Lake, and explore this famous novel. He also highlights the challenges of producing this show in the round style.

The audience is a part of the train ride and close to the action in this production! All aboard this murder mystery!

You can see Little Lake Theater Company's "Murder on the Orient Express" from August 28th to September 14th. Tickets are going fast!

Visit https://www.littlelake.org/ to learn more about the production, and see upcoming shows for the rest of the year!

Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.

Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. 

Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts.