"It’s music that is this mixture of contemporary classical music, with jazz, with R&B, with hip hop, with fusion," says Kevin Day, describing his Pulitzer Prize-nominated Concerto for Wind Ensemble. "It’s just telling a narrative about how fun this music is -  It’s meant to be fun, it’s meant to be enjoyable." The Dallas Winds are bringing the work to DFW audiences on April 25 at the Meyerson Symphony Center. In this feature, Day visits with WRR's Amy Bishop about his meteoric path to success as a composer still in his 20s.

WRR 101 Focus on the Arts: The 27-year-old composer from Arlington and his Dallas Winds debut

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.

WRR 101 Focus on the Arts: The 27-year-old composer from Arlington and his Dallas Winds debut

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