KSRO's Michelle Marquez talks with Quetzal Flores of the East-L.A. based rock band Quetzal about their upcoming online performance on March 11.

3/4/21 – KSRO's Center Stage with Quetzal Flores

News Director Michelle Marques talks with Bob Martin about Ezell: Ballad of a Land Man which is part of The Green Room series at the Green Music Center on April 1st.

3/26/21 KSRO'S Center Stage with Bob Martin of Clear Creek Creative

Center Stage, a celebration of performing arts in Sonoma County, brought to you by the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University. The acclaimed Irish ensemble, Danú, celebrates Christmas and the New Year in an all new concert for the holidays – An Emerald Isle Christmas. Celtic music lovers around the globe have been thrilled by Danú’s virtuosic players on fiddle, flutes, button accordion, percussion, and pipes, and the gorgeous voice of Nell Ní Chróinín. Colorful Irish step-dancers add to the festivities. Winners of major awards from the BBC and Irish Music Magazine, Danú celebrates its 25th anniversary with a new celebration of the holidays from their homeland.
Daniel speaks with Benny McCarthy about the background of the band, placed they’ve played, what they want audiences to feel and their current tour:

Center Stage BennyMcCarthy

Center Stage, a celebration of performing arts in Sonoma County, brought to you by the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University.

Spanish Harlem Orchestra, the three-time Grammy winning Salsa and Latin Jazz band, sets the standard for excellence in authentic, New York-style, hardcore salsa. Their energy on stage, rich sound, and musical precision leave audiences mesmerized until the last note is played. With an unwavering respect for the music’s rich history, 13 world-class musicians and vocalists come together to create an unparalleled musical experience.

Daniel talks to Oscar Hernandez, Band Leader of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, about the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, their New York style hardcore salsa, the tradition of music and music appreciation.

KSRO's Center Stage with Oscar Hernandez

Center Stage, a celebration of performing arts in Sonoma County, brought to you by the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University.

A cappella sensation VOCTAVE bring their amazing arrangements to Christmas favorites! The group has performed with Grammy, Dove, and American Music Award recipients including Sandi Patty, Pentatonix’s Kirstin Maldonado, Mark Lowry, and Jody McBrayer. Between Facebook and YouTube, the group has received more than 100 million views on their videos. Pat speaks with Jamey Ray, one of the Founders and Tenors of VOCTAVE, about the forming of the group, the importance of social media and their upcoming show at the Green Music Center.

KSRO's Center Stage with Jamey Ray from Voctave

Center Stage, a celebration of performing arts in Sonoma County, brought to you by the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University.

Guitarist Sérgio Assad, pianist and vocalist Clarice Assad, and Third Coast Percussion join forces for a new project that explores the universal symbolic archetypes that appear in stories, legends, and myths throughout the world. Together they will explore global traditions, taking the audience on a vast musical journey grounded in familiar stories.

Brazilian-born Sérgio Assad has created a new standard of guitar innovation, ingenuity, and expression. His exceptional artistry comes from a family rich in Brazilian musical tradition. Clarice Assad is a significant artistic voice in the classical, world music, pop, and jazz genres. Third Coast Percussion is a Grammy-winning quartet of classically-trained percussionists who have forged a unique path in the musical landscape with virtuosic, energetic performances that celebrate the extraordinary depth and breadth of musical possibilities in the world of percussion.

Daniel talks with David Skidmore of Third Coast Percussion about what Archetypes is, what to expect at the show, their approach to music, and his favorite archetype to play.

Center Stage: David Skidmore of Third Coast Percussion

Lauded as one of America’s foremost pianists, and winner of a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship and the Avery Fisher Prize, Jeremy Denk has become one of his generation’s most in-demand instrumentalists. His expertise has gone beyond the music as he continues to garnish praise for his original and insightful music critiques in the New Yorker, the New York Times, and more. He has toured the world with leading musicians such as Joshua Bell, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and Stefan Jackiw, and served as music director of the world-famous Ojai Music Festival. The New York Times praises Denk as “a model of how performers can both inform and entertain an audience.”

Pat talks with Jeremy about his earliest musical memories, his connection to the piano and what to expect at his show.

KSRO's Center Stage with Jeremy Denk

t’s Leap Year! And our bonus day falls on a Saturday. Make the most of an extra Saturday by spending it at the Green! Las Cafeteras are remixing roots music with traditional son jarocho instruments. Their Afro-Mexican beats, rhythms, and rhymes deliver inspiring stories to build bridges between cultures and communities, and create ‘a world where many worlds fit.’

Leap Day will also include food trucks, face painters, a balloon artist, workshops/activities (k-12), and an on-stage workshop with Play Marimba!. Play Marimba! uses enormous African marimbas to play beautiful songs from around the world. Founded at Loma Vista Immersion Academy in Petaluma, the program offers a joyful music making experience for children, teens, and adults.

Pat talks with Jacob Yarrow, Executive Director of the Green Music Center, about the Leap Day Celebration:

KSRO's Center Stage: Leap Day

KSRO's Michelle Marques talks with Michael Mwenso, Musician, Artist and Social Commentator, ahead of episode 4 of his virtual Black Music Series at the Green Music Center. Listen to him speak on his adaptions amid COVID, his James Brown connection & teaching in Buffalo:

KSRO's Center Stage: Michael Mwenso – 2/4/2021

KSRO's Michelle Marques talks with David Harrington, Member of the Kronos Quartet, about the Kronos Quartet, what their upcoming online event for the Green Music CEnter will look like, the various musicians, influences, group dynamics/relationships & other upcoming projects.