"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

"You can only cram so much art in one night," say Maura Sheffler, the Donna Wilhelm Family President and Executive Director of TACA - The Arts Community Alliance. "So we decided to create this theory, The Fall Arts Crawl." Taking place over the course of multiple evenings at various locations with various artists, the events will raise money for the Dallas arts community. WRR's Nikki Velonis chatted with Sheffler to get all the details on what will be one of the most engaging events of the season.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: TACA's new fundraising concept is progressive...literally

"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

"I honestly think that when the Trains open, it tells you that the holidays are approaching," says Jill Cumnock, CEO of the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. Since 1987, The Trains at NorthPark have raised more than $18 million in support of the Ronald McDonald House, a non-profit providing a home and services for families of children who come to Dallas for essential medical care. In this feature, WRR's Amy Bishop chats with Cumnock and RMHD Board Chair Pat Staudt about the awe-inspiring exhibit that powers their organization.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: How these little trains make a huge impact every Christmas

"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

WRR's Kurt Rongey spoke to conductor JoAnn Falletta about the Award of Excellence she’s being presented with at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Women in Classical Music Symposium. She discusses gender representation on the podium and among composers, her success in bringing the Buffalo Philharmonic to higher performance levels than ever before, and a Career Advancement Award she’s presenting herself to young conductor Fernanda Lastra.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: JoAnn Falletta to be honored with Award of Excellence from DSO

“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

“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.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Meet the DFW composer with a brand new piano concerto

Dallas-based Chamber Music International presents three all-star musicians– violinist Cho-Liang Lin, cellist Clive Greensmith, and pianist Jon Kimura Parker – for an evening of works by Brahms and Tchaikovsky  In this podcast, WRR's Amy Bishop  chats with CMI’s Artistic Director Phil Lewis to get some insight into the pieces, and how these three musicians will bring them to life onstage. The conversation also takes a look at the remainder of CMI's milestone 40th season. 

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: A 40th anniversary milestone for Chamber Music International

From Mozart, to Steve Reich, to Chet Baker, Bruce Wood Dance's season opener should live up to its title: "Glow." In this conversation with WRR's Amy Bishop, BWD Artistic Director Joy Bollinger gives a sneak peek into the pieces on the program. They also discuss a wide range of other dance topics:
What its like to work with a living choreographer to premiere their work? What are the differences of dancing to live music as opposed to recorded? How is dance choreography chronicled, so that it can be passed down generation from generation? If you love all things dance, you'll enjoy this conversation!

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Bruce Wood Dance's 16th season is ready to 'Glow'

Praised for her “impressive artistry” and “wonderful bowing technique” (San Francisco Classical Voice), French cellist Juliette Herlin has performed throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, and South America. As a soloist, chamber musician, and recitalist, she has appeared in prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Alice Tully Hall in New York, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and the Musée du Louvre in Paris, as well as the Zhuhai and Chongqin Grand Theaters in China. Juliette is honored to have been named a Bärenreiter Jubilee Ambassador. Currently, she serves as Assistant Professor of Cello at Texas Christian University. In this podcast with WRR's Brooke Scholl, Herlin discusses her debut album, Dialogue: Debussy & Schumann, which includes pianist Kevin Ahfat. 

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Cellist Juliette Herlin's debut album is out

WRR weekend host Brooke Scholl sits down with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's assistant conductor Shira Samuels-Shragg to unpack her remarkable, last-minute debut leading the Dallas Symphony Orchestra after Music Director Fabio Luisi had to pull out due to a family emergency. With only days to prepare, Shira stepped onto the Meyerson podium to conduct a vivid program spanning Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3, Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, and not one but two world premieres: Jonathan Cziner’s powerful new Clarinet Concerto, written for DSO principal clarinetist Gregory Raden, and Jasmine Guo’s evocative The Sound of Where I Came From. We’ll hear how she navigated the intensity, the inspiration, and the whirlwind of bringing complex new music to life—while earning an ovation for her clarity, confidence, and artistry on a night that became newsworthy for all the right reasons.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: This young conductor got the call, and she delivered

In an evening of classical Christmas carols performed by Dallas String Quartet, to a genre-crossing repertoire of more contemporary holiday tunes, Ion Zanca describes Christmas at the Winspear as a pop/rock holiday spectacular. The evening includes special guests Sons of Serendip (America's Got Talent) and Anja Nissen (The Voice Australia.) In this interview with Amy Bishop, Ion gives a sneak peek into the program that he hopes will be DFW's newest family friendly holiday tradition.

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