“I like to really show the diversity of the cello, and of music...  basically, the history of music in one night," says Stjepan Hauser (known professionally as HAUSER), the international cello sensation and former member of classical crossover group 2CELLOS. In this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop, Hauser gives a preview of what to expect for the evening at Irving's Toyota Music Factory.... which will likely include the unexpected. 

WRR101 FOCUS ON THE ARTS: Expect the unexpected when HAUSER returns to DFW

"We tell them, 'You're going to get emotionally involved and it's going to be hard - or it's going to be glorious,'" says Adelaide Leavens, chair of the Cliburn's host family committee. Every four years, thirty local households open their homes to competitors in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth. Here are a few who are hosting this year.

A day in the life of the Cliburn host families

"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

Every summer, Shakespeare Dallas offers two very different shows during their Shakespeare in the Park series. This year, they're presenting a classic Shakespeare tragedy paired with a lighthearted "rom com" by Oscar Wilde. In this podcast, Shakespeare Dallas' Interim Executive & Artistic Director Jenni Stewart joins WRR's Amy Bishop for a deep dive into each production.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: The Wilde side of Shakespeare in the Park 2025

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: Expect the unexpected when HAUSER returns to DFW

Classical 101 WRR