At the intersection of music and technology, there is Ego.

Director and composer, Ramin Akhavijou, actress Hazel Leroy, and lighting designer Rianne Lindsey, talks about their work together for New Hazlett Theater's next Community Supported Artist Series work, Ego.

Ramin discusses the main theme of a journey through the intersection of identity, music, and technology. He talks about his inspiration for the piece coming from his interest in Freud's psychological theories. The dynamic between Id, Ego, and Superego, is something that he wanted to explore further with dance, projections, and music.

Rianne talks about her work as a lighting designer, and the tight timeline she has to bring some color into the world. Plus, she shares her excitement about working with Ramin and the director, Melissa Cardello-Linton.

Hazel talks about her role as Ego, and describe her interaction with the dancers that embody Id and Superego. She highlights the wonderful atmosphere Melissa and Ramin have made in creating this piece.

You can see Ego at the New Hazlett Theater on March 20th at 8 pm, and on March 21st at 10 am and 8 pm.

Visit https://newhazletttheater.org/events/ego/ to learn more.

The sounds of South Africa's indigenous peoples are coming to Pittsburgh!

Executive Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Youth Chorus, Lee Saville-Iksic, talks about the group hosting Thula Sizwe. A Zulu group from South Africa, Thula Sizwe will be performing on March 15th as a part of PYC's BIPOC Artist in Residence program for 2025.

Lee highlights PYC's mission, and why they decided to start the Artist in Residence program. He also talks about his introduction to Thula Sizwe, and why he wanted to bring them to Pittsburgh.

He hopes that the students learn something from the group that has been in existence for almost 40 years. Lee also hopes the community embraces the sound of Zulu and come prepared to have fun.

You can hear Thula Sizwe on Saturday, March 15th at 2:30 pm for a community sing with choristers, and 4 pm for a community concert, at the First Unitarian Universalist Church.

Visit https://www.pittsburghyouthchorus.org/thula-sizwe to learn more.

The Chautauqua Institution is celebrating over 150 years with a lot of great programming for 2025!

Senior Vice President and Chief Program Officer at Chautauqua Institution, Deborah Sunya Moore, spoke with Jim Cunningham about the recent screening of "Chautauqua at 150: Wynton Marsalis' All Rise", and upcoming events happening this summer. There were various screenings across the area, culminating in one held by WQED at City Theatre on the South Side. Deborah shares that the film is celebrating the creativity and collaboration prevalent at the Institution. It was also a great way to end their 150th season last year.

Deborah then gives Voice of the Arts a review of the entire 2025 summer season, which includes Laufey with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and Morgan Freeman celebrating the Delta Blues. The summer season starts with an opening lecture by James Carville and Mary Matalin. Kennedy Center Honoree Bonnie Raitt will also be coming in September for a concert.

Other highlights include opera singer, Denyce Graves, performing a concert and giving a lecture about her foundation. The 4th of July concert will feature Capathia Jenkins, a soloist that performed last year at the Institution. Jim also highlights WQED's upcoming bus tour trip to Chautauqua on August 16th to hear Gershwin live with the Orchestra.

So much musical history, and so many wonderful concerts and lectures to see!

You can learn more about Chautauqua's upcoming season at https://www.chq.org/.

You can also find "Chautauqua at 150: Wynton Marsali's All Rise" on PBS's website and Passport at https://www.pbs.org/video/chautauqua-at-150-wynton-marsalis-all-rise-fpkj0n/.

Board the HMS Pinafore and see if love wins in this wildly popular and comedic Gilbert and Sullivan show!

Stage Director Melissa Grande, and cast member and coordinator extraordinaire Lynette Garlan, talk about the Pittsburgh Savoyards upcoming production of HMS Pinafore. Melissa talks about the story that revolves around a captain's daughter who is in love with a lowly sailor, despite being promised for marriage to a higher ranking officer.

Melissa talks about her work as a director in the Pittsburgh area, and the transition to directing. This is her first production with the Savoyards! Lynette talks about her experience being in the cast of this show, for only the second time since working with the Savoyards.

The 50 person cast and 40 person orchestra is sure to fill the hall of the Carnegie Stage!

You can see the Savoyard's production of HMS Pinafore from March 14th to 16th and 21st to 23rd at the Carnegie Stage. There are also livestream tickets available for the 16th and 23rd.

Visit https://pittsburghsavoyards.org/hms-pinafore-spring-2025/ to learn more and find tickets!

Tuesday Musical Club is back at it again, with a concert to celebrate the 150th birthday of Maurice Ravel!

Organizer Nanette Kaplan Solomon, and soprano Colleen Gray, talk about the concert's program and the legendary composer behind it all. Nanette gives a history lesson about Maruice Ravel, and why he disliked the label of "Impressionist", which many associated with his music. Colleen talks her part of the program.

Colleen performs two pieces live in our studios from the program. She performs "Chanson de la mariee" and "La-bas, vers l'eglise" from Ravel's Greek Melodies. She will perform all 6 Greek Melodies during the concert on March 11th, and "Tripatos" and "Noel des jouets".

Nanette highlights the rest of the program of all Ravel pieces. Lastly, Colleen and Nanette reminisce about their time together as friends and co-workers at Slippery Rock University.

You can hear Tuesday Musical Club's "Ravel Revelry" on Tuesday, March 11th at 1 pm at Rodef Shalom's Levy Hall. The concert is free and there will be cake at the end!

Visit https://www.tuesdaymusicalclub.org/events/public/article/ravel-revelry-a-150th-birthday-tribute-to-the-french-master/5863/c15/ to learn more and find the livestream link.

What would it mean for us to “dwell together in unity”?

Artistic Director of Resonance Works, Maria Sensi Sellner, spoke live with Anna Singer about their upcoming choral piece, Dwell Together. This work is in collaboration with Dr. Herbert Jones, and centers around three main choral orchestral pieces.

Some of the pieces include Joel Thompson's "Seven Last Words of the Unarmed", which ties into the Black Lives Matter Movement from 2020, and Julia Perry's "Stabat Mater". The program also includes Leonard Bernstein's "Chichester Psalms", and a world premiere of Brittany J. Green's "Speak".

Maria also talks about the soloists in this program, including Lucia Bradford, and Victory Brinker. Maria highlights her work with Herbert Jones, and how they collaborated together to create the program and find the soloists.

There will also be a 30-minute pre-concert panel conversation explores the role of art in confronting systemic injustice. The panelists include Muhammad Ali Nasir and Tanisha Long, with moderator Dr. Zuly E. Inirio.

It's a beautiful concert with an exploration into how we dwell together in unity throughout the arts and our community.

You can hear Resonance Works "Dwell Together" on Friday, March 7th at 8 pm at the First Baptist Church, and on Sunday, March 9th at 4 pm at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church. Finally, visit https://www.resonanceworks.org/dwell-together.

Chatham Baroque is returning to its musical roots!

Co-Artistic Director and theorbo player, Scott Pauley, talks about their upcoming concert, "Quintessential Chatham Baroque" with returning member, Julie Andrijeski. Julie left the group in 2008 to teach at Case Western University, but is returning for this series of concerts.

Scott reminisces about the beginning of the group, which included Julie on the violin, and second violinist Emily Davidson. In the concert, they will be playing trio sonatas, which has three parts.

These parts are shared between two violins, and a bass part. For the first time in a while, the group will have two violins playing with Andrew Fouts and Julie, and Scott and Patricia Halverson will play the bass part.

Scott highlights why these Italian sonatas had two violins, and why it became fashionable in house music. He shares information about the program, which includes music by Vivaldi, Corelli, Purcell, and many others. He also shares his favorite pieces to 'jam out to' on the baroque guitar.

You can hear "Quintessential Chatham Baroque" with Julie Andrijeski from March 14th to March 16th, with a Peanut Butter and Jam session on March 15th.

Visit https://www.chathambaroque.org/concert/quintessential-chatham-baroque/# to learn more.

It is time to go dancing and get some steps in with North Pittsburgh Symphonic Band!

Musical Director and Conductor of the band, Dr. Tad Greig, talks about their upcoming concert on Sunday, March 9th. The concert's program, entitled "Dancing in Air" features a diverse mixture of dance songs. Tad highlights each piece in the program, and why he picked the piece.

The North Pittsburgh Symphonic Band is one of many community bands in the region that spans each corner on the compass.

Tad gives us a sneak peak at their next concert on May 4th, entitled "Strike Up the Band". He also talks about playing the trombone for the Butler Symphony Orchestra and the Greenville Symphony Orchestra.

Tad hopes people will come out to see their concert to experience their community and the music it has to offer.

You can hear the North Pittsburgh Symphonic Band perform on Sunday, March 9th at 3 pm (don't forget to turn your clocks ahead!) at the North Hills Middle School Auditorium. You can find more information at https://www.npsband.org/.

Chamber Music Pittsburgh is hosting another concert!

It brings together music from composers like Julia Perry, Duke Ellington, Vijay Iyer, Henry Threadgill, Sun Ra, Tina Turner, Alice Coltrane, and asks the question: What is American? Quartet members and violinists Curtis Stewart and Jannina Norpoth talk about the program.

They talk about the special focus of the group which has taken them to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and National Sawdust. Curtis has performed Julia Perry with the Johnstown Symphony and on a CD with James Blachley, which was nominated for a Grammy. Jannina and Curtis talk about their work with young musicians and reflect on the 2025 Grammy winners for outstanding score.

They also talk about their improvisations in the concert, including one on Tina Turner's "Black Coffee".

You can hear the PubliQuartet at the PNC Recital Hall at Point Park University on Monday, March 10th at 7:30pm.

You can find more information at https://www.chambermusicpittsburgh.org/publiquartet/.

City Theatre is celebrating 50 years, and their next production appropriately is all about celebrating birthdays.

Director and previous Co-Artistic Director at City Theatre, Marc Masterson, spoke about the production of Birthday Candles at City Theatre. This play written by Noah Haidle, explores one woman's birthday over 100 years, in 90 minutes of course.

Marc talks about the challenges of the play, including baking a real life cake on stage throughout the whole play. He also discusses the minimalism that is present in this play, in an effort to immerse the audience into the story. The all-star cast and designers tackle this challenging play, making Marc's job as a director easy to do.

He hopes people come to the play in an effort to escape the outside world, but also to support local arts groups in the Pittsburgh region during this difficult time. It's a comedy, its a conversation about rituals, family, and the passage of time.

Marc also talks about his retirement life, which includes traveling to Panama to 2 months.

You can see Birthday Candles at City Theatre on the South Side from March 8th to 30th. Visit https://citytheatrecompany.org/play/birthday-candles/ to learn more information.