"I feel like it (National Youth Orchestra) brings a new energy with the youth, and so I think that’s why the reason it’s so important, and with youth orchestras across America," says clarinetist Christopher Dechant, a native of Lucas Texas. Dechant is one of five DFW teens in the coast-to-coast tour with the NYO, which includes a stop at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas. He chatted with WRR's Amy Bishop about his musical path, which is leading him to Juilliard this August.

WRR 101 Focus on the Arts: Meet one of the DFW teens on tour with the National Youth Orchestra

After 40 years as founding Executive Director of the Dallas Winds, Kim Campbell has retired. Stepping in as his successor is Michelle Hall, who formerly managed the Victoria Symphony. In this conversation with WRR's Amy Bishop, Campbell and Hall talk more about the early days of the Dallas Winds, their impact on the band community, Michelle’s story of how she got to this role, and what Kim is doing now during retirement.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: A look at past, present & future for Dallas Winds

Familiar warhorse classical works are abundant this season, but the DSO is taking a great effort to incorporate works by contemporary composers - including multiple world premieres. In this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop, DSO VP of Artistic Operations Katie McGuinness gives a sampling of their offerings.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: A balance of the old and new for DSO's 2024-25 classical season

Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth welcomes the Dover Quartet to perform a newly commissioned work by Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, a Chickasaw American Indian classical composer and pianist. In this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop, CMSFW Artistic Director Gary Levinson talks more about the concert, which includes a chance to meet the composer.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate is coming to Fort Worth

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 Amy Beach concerto is the newest love of my life," says American classical pianist Anne-Marie McDermott, who will perform the piece with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Nov. 1-3, 2024. In this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop, McDermott explains why she has been quick to adore the piece.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Anne-Marie McDermott's newest musical love

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

“We are going to transform Dallas City Hall, the J. Erik Jonsson Library, and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention (Center) into an outside, open air exhibition of light, video, and sound-based art works,” explains Joshua King, co-founder and Executive Director of the Aurora Biennial – a one-night-only public art event involving light, sound, and video in the heart of downtown Dallas. In this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop, King and artist Tramaine Townsend give a glimpse into this year's theme of future, present, and past.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Aurora Biennial will soon illuminate downtown Dallas

Now entering its 30th year as a piano quartet, the Faure Quartett is bringing its renowned musicianship to Dallas for a program of Brahms, Schubert, and Enescu. In this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop, violinist Erika Geldsetzer talks about the thrill of performing each work, and the group's commitment to lifting up its audience with each performance.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Germany's Faure Quartett brings its performance passion to Dallas

The Dallas-based Bruce Wood Dance company is kicking off its 15-anniversary season with the Dallas premiere of Jiri Kylian's "Songs of a Wayfarer" in a program that also includes two audience favorites by Bruce Wood, plus a Mozart-inspired work by Lar Lubovitch. In this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop, the company's Artistic Director Joy Bollinger gives the backstories of each piece and explains how Bruce Wood Dance has carved its unique niche in the DFW arts community.

WRR 101 Focus on the Arts: Meet one of the DFW teens on tour with the National Youth Orchestra

Classical 101 WRR