Back in 2019, John Slate and Kristi Nedderman from Dallas Municipal Archives found an old reel to reel recording from 1967 of Van Cliburn performing Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at SMU's McFarlin Auditorium. This is the only known recording of the concert, and was only aired once on WRR in 1977. In this special program, you'll hear that performance - as well as the backstory of the discovery.

Classical 101.1 WRR presents Cliburn Uncovered: A lost recording... rediscovered!

"As a person who gets the chance to go to the places like Whitmore, Carnegie, and take the music of Mozart, Strauss, Schumann, and Schubert, it would also be a good thing if I could take the music of young African American composers who had voices, who had something to say,” says American tenor Lawrence Brownlee, talking about the genesis of "Rising," his new album featuring poetry of the Harlem Renaissance set to music. DFW native Jeremiah Evans is one of the six composers who was commissioned for the project. WRR's Amy Bishop spoke with Brownlee and Evans about the special collaboration and their mission of uniting people.

WRR 101 Focus on the Arts: DFW composer and renowned tenor join forces to unite through music

"Any time that we can, we love to use the organ in the Meyerson because that Fisk organ is such an amazing instrument. It works so well with the wind band….just the combination of forces is really thrilling," explains Jerry Junkin, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Dallas Winds. The Dallas Winds open their 2023-24 season in a colossal way with Saint Saens' radiant "Organ" Symphony No. 3 with special guest Bradley Hunter Welch in a program that also includes a contemporary work by Valerie Coleman, a splashy Mexican-flavored number by Moncayo, and a footstomper by Grafulla. Hear more in this Focus on the Arts feature with WRR's Amy Bishop.

WRR 101 Focus on the Arts: Seriously, this Dallas Winds season opener is HUGE

"I always hope that my shows can be a way in for some people," says singer/songwriter/pianist Ben Folds. "What I want is for people to see the orchestra in the best possible light and then come back and see Prokofiev, or Ravel or Beethoven or Mozart or Mahler. There’s really insanely good music right around the corner and sometimes people don’t know about it.”  Ben Folds will join the Dallas Symphony Orchestra to perform his music for two nights in Dallas and recently chatted with WRR's Amy Bishop about the shows and his possible plans when the tour wraps up in December.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: How Ben Folds is bridging rock and classical

"It's incredibly danceable music," says Katie Puder, Avant Chamber Ballet's Artistic Director, describing Philip Glass' music to "Dracula." The ballet company will bring the story to life on stage at Moody Performance Hall in October, just in time for Halloween. Puder gives more details on her vision for the production in this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Dracula comes to life through dance with Avant Chamber Ballet

In a recent conversation with WRR's Kurt Rongey, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra's President and CEO Keith Cerny gives a detailed overview of the 2024-25 FWSO season, including opera and dance on stage, a major work by Jake Heggie, plus more about soloists, guest conductors and their chamber music series at the Kimbell.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: A preview of FWSO's 24-25 season - it's BIG!

"Elementary music teachers often get overlooked with the hard work that they’re doing to educate our children, and so we wanted to give a time to recognize them and celebrate their accomplishments,” says Jennifer Guzman, Director of Education for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. The DSO has tapped Chris Drews from Leslie A. Stemmons Elementary School in Dallas to be this year's recipient, coinciding with Music in our Schools Month. In this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop, Guzman discusses the importance of music education, plus gives an overview of the DSO's own very active education outreach initiatives.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: And the DSO Music Teacher of the Year award goes to...

"The orchestra just keeps getting better and better, and the European tour demonstrated the depth of admiration in Europe for the Dallas Symphony, which is so special to see,” says Kim Noltemy, whose last day as President and CEO of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra was June 28th. She has gone on to assume the role as the new CEO of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop, Noltemy reflects on her six years with the DSO, and her optimism for the organization's future under her successor.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: A farewell interview with DSO's Kim Noltemy

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra's Principal Cello Allan Steele has been playing cello since the age of four, but this weekend will be his first time to play Schumann's Cello Concerto. In this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop, he talks about his favorite part of the work, and the enduring popularity of the other piece on the program, Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: FW Symphony's Principal Cello brings a Schumann favorite to Bass Hall

Every year, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents a pops season to complement their classical concerts by offering a variety of other genres -from pop music, movie scores, Broadway, and more.  In this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop, DSO’s director of orchestra operations and pops programming Tom Brekhus gives an overview of the concerts planned this year.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: How DSO's Pops season aims to reach more audiences

Art Worth is Fort Worth’s newest art festival with its own unique characteristics. The three-day juried festival at the Shops at Clear Fork includes numerous artist demonstrations and live classical music performances. In this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop, the festival's coordinator Greg Belz expands upon some of this year's offerings.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Art & classical music prevail at the Art Worth Fest

The Dallas Opera has announced its 68th season, which includes four mainstage productions, all new to Dallas as company or U.S. premieres. WRR's Amy Bishop recently caught up with Ian Derrer, TDO's Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO, for an overview of the season, which includes a version of Bizet's "Carmen" that may only be seen once in a lifetime. 

Dallas Opera announces 25-26 season, which includes a once-in-a-lifetime production of 'Carmen'

Nearing his 6th season as Music Director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Fabio Luisi has reached a new level of oneness with the musicians, to the point of almost "reading each other's minds." In this conversation with WRR's Amy Bishop, Luisi joins DSO's Chief Artistic Officer Katie McGuinness for an overview of the organization's milestone 125th anniversary season for 2025-26.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: DSO's mastery of Mahler & mindreading

“I think it’s the only dance company that I know of, that’s constantly working in South Dallas. People have come and gone and I’m still there,” says Loris Anthony Beckles, Artistic Director of Beckles Dancing Company, which is planning a very special celebration of its 30th anniversary May 30-31, 2025. In this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop, Loris gives a sneak peek of the program, which includes an adaptation of a Donald McKayle classic. 


WRR101 Focus on the Arts: 30 Years of Dallas' Beckles Dancing Company

“It’s such a special ensemble because it carries on the legend of the great jazz pianist, Dave Brubeck, led by two of his sons," says Kira Goidel, the Artist Experience Manager at Windmills Craftworks in The Colony. The venue will welcome the Brubeck Brothers Quartet June 7th and 8th, 2025 in a dining setting reminiscent of New York's Birdland or Blue Note.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Brubeck Brothers are North Texas-bound this weekend

"Her rediscovery has really been the biggest rediscovery of a composer," says Maestro John Jeter, referencing the music of 20th century African-American composer Florence Price. Jeter is the only music director who has recorded Price's repertoire in its entirety, and his new album on Naxos includes her concerti for violin, piano, and orchestral snapshots of Southern life. In this interview with WRR's Brooke Scholl, Jeter gives a sneak peek into the new recordings and shares why he is drawn to Price's music. 

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: John Jeter discusses his new Naxos release of works by Florence Price

During its 28-year history, Fort Worth's Mimir Chamber Music Festival has become a destination for classical music lovers every summer.  In this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop, Mimir Founder and Executive Director Curt Thompson shares some of the highlights this year, which includes a bonus concert in collaboration with the Amon Carter Museum.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Mimir Fest returns with 7 concerts + 1 bonus program

“When we’re talking about local musicians, we’re talking about high level local musicians,” says Morgan Vaughan, Executive Director of Basically Beethoven, which is opening its annual summer festival of free chamber music performances in Dallas on Sunday, July 13, 2025. In this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop, Vaughan joins the organization's Production & Education Manager Jeff Tullis for an overview of the festival and the impact they're having on local music education.


WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Why Basically Beethoven is a summer staple in DFW

“These two people lift up the arts ecosystem and they are the ones that deserve recognition," says Mike Dilbeck, Deputy Director of The Arts Community Alliance, commonly known as TACA. "A lot of the times, it’s the people behind the scenes that you don’t see, don’t hear about, but they are the ones that are most deserving.” This year's honorees are Gayle Halperin and Jim Nugent, who have been pillars of the North Texas arts community for decades. In this feature with Amy Bishop, Gayle and Jim share stories of receiving the news - and how they've seen the arts in Dallas flourish through the years.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Meet TACA's 2025 Silver Cup recipients

"Twenty five cellists all playing together is a really unusual, beautiful sound," says Joseph Kuipers, Creative Director of Texas Cellos. In this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop, Kuipers gives an overview of the group's upcoming series of concerts, which includes a rousing rendition of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" and a marathon performance of the composer's complete sonatas for cello and piano.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Texas Cellos and their ability to resonate with DFW audiences

The Plano Symphony will perform in the Meyerson with Bernadette Peters on August 30. Here's Kurt Rongey in conversation with the Broadway star to give you a preview. She discusses what it’s like to sing with a large orchestra, her experiences working with Jerry Herman and Stephen Sondheim, and more.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Chatting with Bernadette Peters ahead of her Plano Symphony concert

The Waco Symphony Orchestra opens their season with GRAMMY Award-winning violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, who will perform Barber's Violin Concerto in a program that also includes Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances and Dvorak's Carnival Overture. Ahead of Meyers' visit, she chatted with WRR's Brooke Scholl for a deeper dive into the music.
Photo by Dina Douglass

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Chatting with Anne Akiko Meyers ahead of her Texas visit

Now in its fourth year, the Art Worth Festival has established itself as an annual arts and music destination for North Texas. In this conversation with the festival's founder Greg Belz, he talks about how Art Worth differs from the rest of the arts festivals in the region. 

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: This Fort Worth art fest continues to broaden its reach

Fort Worth Opera opens its 80th anniversary season with a rare stateside appearance by internationally acclaimed tenor Jonathan Tetelman. A Deutsche Grammophon recording artist and jet-setting leading man, Tetelman has captivated audiences with his warm, full-bodied tenor and ardent stage presence. On October 10, he takes the stage at Van Cliburn Concert Hall for a one-night-only event. Kurt Rongey spoke with Jonathan Tetelman about the early development of his voice, the challenges of opera singing and his links to Texas

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Tenor Jonathan Tetelman previews his Fort Worth concert

Trinidad-born trumpeter Etienne Charles fuses Caribbean melodies with jazz to create his own distinct sound. He'll bring his Creole Soul group to Windmills Craftworks in The Colony October 11-12, 2025. In this feature, WRR's Amy Bishop speaks with the venue's Kira Goidel about the unique concert and dinner experience.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Windmills welcomes Caribbean jazz trumpeter Etienne Charles

Cellist Matt Haimovitz has earned a reputation as a musical pioneer in today's classical music sphere. Two albums by the internationally renowned musician were recently nominated for GRAMMYs: "Schnittke Cello Concerto No.1" with the Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dennis Russell Davies, and  "Jacqueline," Luna Pearl Woolf's opera with soprano Marnie Breckenridge. In this interview with WRR's Brooke Scholl, Haimovitz discusses the joys of playing these works, his special friendship with the late Jaqueline du Pre, and more.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: This cellist has two albums up for a GRAMMY this year

In November 1957, the Dallas Civic Opera (now The Dallas Opera) officially opened with a headlining concert starring Maria Callas at the State Fair Music Hall (now Music Hall at Fair Park).  Audiences have a chance to see Maria Callas once again via a hologram concert at the Music Hall in Fair Park, featuring The Dallas Opera Orchestra on Friday, October 31st, 2025. The event commemorates the 100th anniversary of the venue and is co-presented by Broadway Dallas. Amy Bishop recently spoke with Ian Derrer, TDO's Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO, about what to expect in this very unique event.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Maria Callas makes her Dallas return (sort of)

Hailed as the "Monet of the classical guitar" by Atlanta Journal, Sharon Isbin is a longtime fixture in the genre with multiple GRAMMY awards and an ever-growing list of accolades. WRR's Brooke Scholl recently sat down with Isbin to talk about the artist's latest release, "Romantico," featuring world premiere recordings of joyous Latin dance-inspired music for guitar by Karen LeFrak.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Guitarist Sharon Isbin and her latest release, 'Romantico'

Wilhelmina Smith is regarded as a cellist whose artistic mission embraces a conversation through music, one that enthusiastically encompasses the music of the present placed within the context of a living past. In this podcast with WRR's Brooke Scholl, she talks about her new album, "Sweetgrass," which features music by Indigenous composer/cellist Dawn Avery.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Wilhelmina Smith's new release featuring works by Indigenous composer/cellist Dawn Avery

Arsentiy Kharitonov, a composer and pianist based here in North Texas, has just had his impressive and dramatic Concerto for Piano and Orchestra recorded with the Kandinsky Symphony Orchestra and released by the Sound Atlas label. WRR's Kurt Rongey spoke with Arsentiy about the genesis of the concerto, his musical development and how his studies and experiences here in Texas influenced his music-making.

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