The Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations recently announced the winners of the 2021 Youth Arts Contest with Vice Chair Tracy Baton and Adjoa Opuku Dakwa from Capa 6th grade, Lucy Ingram, 11 years old in 6th grade from Colfax;  Ayah Arafeh (15) in 10th grade from Brashear; Madison Clark from Capa, 9th grade; Hannah Paras (16) from Capa 11th grade; and 11 year old Liban Abdullahi from Pittsburgh King. They were charged with creating an artistic response to the work of the New Pittsburgh Courier and the work the paper has done over more than the last half century to champion human rights.  Tracy Baton discusses with Jim Cunningham how the young people of Pittsburgh fit in to the work of the commission and notes the deep connections the participants made to the Courier history in their submissions.

The Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra presents their next concert at Heinz Hall this Sunday, February 27th at 2pm.  The Orchestra will perform Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances, de Falla's Three Cornered Hat, and selections from Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout by Gabriela Lena Frank.  New conductor Jacob Joyce is joined by Executive Director William Powers and Program Director Eve Goodman to talk about this concert titled "Three Dances."

Chatham Baroque's next concert, titled "Les Nations" takes place February 25-27 at Westminster Presbyterian Church (2/25) and Calvary Episcopal Church (2/26 & 2/27).  The Ensemble will be joined by Caroline Giassi, baroque oboe; Justin Wallace, harpsichord; and Stephen Schultz, baroque flute.  WQED-FM's Anna Singer chatted with Stephen from California about this concert, how he got interested in Baroque flute, teaching at CMU and more.

Pittsburgh Opera presents the World Premiere of "In a Grove" by Christopher Cerrone - February 19th through March 3rd at the Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters.  WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with the composer about the opera; the inspiration behind the work; how he wants the audience to leave humming tunes from the opera, and more.

Pittsburgh Opera presents the World Premiere of "In a Grove" by Christopher Cerrone - February 19th through March 3rd at the Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters.  WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with Stage Director Mary Birnbaum about the opera; her look for the production; working with Christopher Cerrone, and more.

The new book "Movement+Music=Medicine" by Dr. Jem Spectar, President of the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown, gathers available research to suggest how dance may help slow the onset of Alzherimer's and Parkinson's disease. He has specific suggestions on how to adhere to a prescription for success after tracing the history of dance and mental health over centuries. Does listening to music reduce the need for psychotropic drugs and does Mozart make you smarter? Dr. Spectar has the answer in this interview with Jim Cunningham. Dr. Spectar also discusses his recent opinion page article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette suggesting how Americans should participate in a Democracy Corps similar to the Peace Corps to help heal the divide in America between rural and urban views which threaten the American way of life. Dr. Spectar is a lawyer and professor who has served institutions in Oregon, Scranton and Princeton. He has been President of UPJ Johnstown for more than a decade presiding over substantial growth of academic programs and facilities.

Pittsburgh Opera presents the World Premiere of "In a Grove" by Christopher Cerrone - February 19th through March 3rd at the Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters.  WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with Pittsburgh Opera General Director Christopher Hahn about deciding to commission a world premiere; how he met the composer; how he hopes the production will have a life beyond Pittsburgh and more.

Pittsburgh Opera presents the World Premiere of "In a Grove" by Christopher Cerrone - February 19th through March 3rd at the Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters.  WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with the librettist Stephanie Fleischmann about the opera; her inspiration for the libretto; working with the composer; and more.

Pittsburgh Opera presents the World Premiere of "In a Grove" by Christopher Cerrone - February 19th through March 3rd at the Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters.  WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with Pittsburgh Opera Music Director Antony Walker about the opera; what it's like conducting a world premiere; the use of electronics in the work and more.

Charlene Foggie- Barnett, Community Archivist for the Charles “Teenie” Harris Archive at the Carnegie Museum of Art, discusses the exhibits in the Museum and at the City County Building in downtown Pittsburgh with Jim Cunningham.  Topics include Teenie’s special talent, who he photographed and their significance to Pittsburgh and historians, genealogists, filmmakers like Denzel Washington and the producers of "Finding Your Roots" with over 80,000 negatives in the collection. Charles “Teenie” Harris (1908–1998) was the preeminent photographer for The Pittsburgh Courier, one of the nation’s most prominent Black newspapers photographing Pittsburgh’s historic African American community from 1935 to 1975. His archive  is one of the most detailed and intimate records of the Black urban experience known today. Charlene discusses her work as archivist studying the photos of Pittsburghers including musicians like Patricia Prattis Jennings who is captured at several places in her career as well as her father who was an important figure at the Pittsburgh Courier. The Teenie Harris gallery at the Carnegie with In Sharp Focus: Charles “Teenie” Harris  is open during regular hours at the CMOA.  You  can visit  visit Teenie Harris: The Man Behind the Lens at the City County Building.