PBT's accessibility initiatives include live audio description for the visually impaired at one performance of each ballet production. PBT's Alyssa Herzog Melby demonstrates the process of describing The Nutcracker, and talks about PBT's first autism-friendly performance on Dec. 27, 2013.

Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theater presents another Sherlock Holmes adventure for the holiday season. Co-stars David Whalen (Holmes) and Justin Holcomb (Watson) provide a glimpse into this adaptation that has a beautiful woman, exotic locales, a boat chase in the fog, and delightful Victorian staging.

University of Pittsburgh's Mark Nordenberg hosts one of the Heinz Chapel Choir's holiday concerts (Dec. 4, live at 7:30 pm on WQED-FM) for the final time as Chancellor. He shares with fellow Thiel College graduate Jim Cunningham his memories of these annual holiday concerts and the many accomplishments of the University through its history and during his tenure as Chancellor.

80 year old dancer, choreographer and artistic director Nicholas Petrov has devoted his life to dance, most of it in Pittsburgh. Born in Yugoslavia, he came to Pittsburgh 47 years ago to teach dance and to launch Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. At Point Park University, his swan song will be Romeo & Juliet, one of the ballets he introduced to America. It runs Dec. 10-15.

In 2013, Craig Cannon retired after 34 years as choral director at Fox Chapel Area High School. Instead of resting on his laurels, he founded a women's choir named Belle Voci and stepped in as interim director of choral organizations at Duquesne University. Belle Voci welcomes Duquesne's Voices of Spirit on Dec. 7th at St. Stanislaus in the Strip.

Countertenor and conductor John Goldsmith will retire from his post as director of the Heinz Chapel Choir in 2014 after 25 years. He talks about the choir's Holiday Concerts, and his early interest in a capella music, his work with Chanticleer, insights into ear training, and more.

City Theatre presents the smash comedy 2 Pianos 4 Hands, described as "a melodic adventure featuring music ranging from Bach to Billy Joel and Elton John." Director Tom Frey and actors/pianists Bob Stillman and Christopher Tocco talk about this humorous and poignant play about personal quests for perfection.

This holiday season includes three performances by the Pittsburgh Concert Chorale, Dec. 6, 7 & 8. Music Director Susan Medley talked with QED's Stephen Baum about the music for these concerts.

Ensemble Ripieno is Pittsburgh's chamber orchestra of young professionals which gives its members opportunities to perform as soloists. Its Nov. 23rd concert features four local players in a Mozart Sinfonia Concertante, followed by Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez with Mexican guest guitarist Dieter Hennings, who describes this best-loved concerto to QED's Ted Sohier.

At the American Musicological Society's national convention in Pittsburgh in November 2013, Dr. Julia Ronge, a researcher at the Beethoven Archives in Bonn, shares new discoveries from her study of Beethoven's papers.