Voice of the Arts

Attack Theatre is celebrating it's 30th Season this year, and they have an exciting lineup to kick it all off!

Executive Director, Andres Franco, talks about his first 6 months on the job, and the all the exciting events coming up at Attack Theatre. Their first performance of the season, "Some Assembly Required: At Home" was first commissioned by the Carnegie Museum of Art in 1996, is a signature Attack Theatre experience. The show...

Want to hear local chamber music this fall? Academy Concerts has you covered!

Artistic Director and violist, Warren Davidson, talks about the upcoming season for the Academy Concerts and the Academy String Quartet. Spread across four church's across the Pittsburgh area, Warren's goal is to bring great classical chamber music to the Pittsburgh area. Warren talks about a series of concerts with the Academy String Quartet, which he is...

A new season of Academy Concerts is about to be underway!

Violist in Academy String Quartet, and Artistic Director of the Academy Concerts, Warren Davidson, talks about their first upcoming concert on Sunday, September 28th. Warren discusses the concert, called 'The Sounds of Elegance' which features harpist Marissa Knaub Avon. She, Tom Godfrey (flute), and Warren (viola) will perform some colorful and romantic music, mostly from F...

The Pittsburgh Savoyards are continuing their 88th season with a 'forgotten' Gilbert and Sullivan's show Utopia, Limited.

Stage Director Robert Hockenberry, and Production Manager Lynette Garlan, talk about the upcoming show. Utopia, Limited is Gilbert and Sullivan's 13th operetta, their second to last one. It is about a small island that decides to copy Victorian England to ensure the greatness of their civilization. Comedy, polit...

In this live interview, Anna Singer talks with members of Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Park's Macbeth, which runs outdoors over six weekends until October 12th.

Music Director Matt Calvetti talks about the unique live sound design that is prevalent throughout the show. He uses unconventional instruments, demonstrated live, to create tension and atmosphere in this chilling play. Actor Aaron Crutchfield plays Macbeth, and reflects o...

Celebrating it's 29th season, Prime Stage Theatre presents an exciting lineup of upcoming productions and community events! Producing Artistic Director Wayne Brinda, and PR Director, Lawrence McCullough, talk about these events.  

On September 27th, it's the annual Homewood Cemetery Walk! Larry highlights the seven historical figures that will be portrayed by professional actors. The figures include Michael Benedum, Irene Peacock, ...

Artistic Director of Resonance Works, Maria Sensi Sellner, discusses live with Anna Singer about the Reson8 Vocal Octet's upcoming season launch.

The season launches with "Hero Songs", a concert featuring a five-song cycle by Peter Hilliard and Matt Boresi. The cycle explores the themes of heroism through different time periods and perspectives. The concert also features a piece by Reena Esmail, with local sitar player Michael Gris...

When did Pittsburgh Symphony Music Director Lorin Maazel dine alone? What did he think of the cheese heads in Wisconsin?  

The Principal Horn of the Pittsburgh Symphony, William Caballero, and Principal Oboe Cynthia Koledo de Almeida talk about it all. Cynthia and Bill talk when they joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Maazel. They also talk live on the QED Morning show about the season opening gala for the Pitts...

Musical Director Ron Brooks, Music Vice President Pete Kennaday, and the voice of the chorus Ken Israel, talk about the Cranberry Men's Chorus' upcoming October concert. "The Golden Oldies: Memories of the 50s and 60s" will be a 90-minute show featuring 27 songs. Ron highlights his desire to connect the audience emotionally to the songs. The styles include doo-wop, love ballads, pop, and rock.  

The concert mimics a Casey-Kasem sty...

There is a new play festival in Pittsburgh this year!

Directors Jeremy Seghers and Olivia Hartle, and actor Johnny Patalano, talk about their work in the new Bridges and Stages Festival. The Becoming Arts Collective in partnership with Broken Arts Entertainment, bring these new 10-minute plays to life at the Carnegie Stage. The festival focuses on emerging playwrights from across the country, including Pittsburgh.

Olivia talks about...

Get ready to hear beautiful music! In this episode, soprano Chantal Braziel talks about her upcoming recital concert with Tuesday Musical Club in October.

She discusses the program, which features spiritual's and classical solos. The program features several works by African American composers, and includes a piece inspired by the poetry of Langston Hughes. Chantal performs a piece from the program live in our studios with pianist ...

Join WQED, Fred Rogers Productions, and PNC Grow Up Great for another Be My Neighbor Day, this time in Etna!

Executive Director at the Etna's Community Organization, Megan Tuñón, talks about all the wonderful partnerships, free activities, and more at the event. Etna is the first Northern Learning Neighborhood to host a Be My Neighbor Day, and it will be big! With over 30 organizations participating, Megan knows that there is somet...

Another season of Chamber Music Pittsburgh is coming soon!

Executive Director of Chamber Music Pittsburgh, Martha Bonta, guides us through the upcoming 65th anniversary season, which starts at Carnegie Music Hall on September 16 with Brooklyn Rider presenting Citizenship Notes. October 21st brings Sphinx Virtuosi and cellist Sterling Elliott. November sees the complete Brandenburg Concertos with Pittsburgh Symphony members and CMU ...

The Pittsburgh Symphony Musicians are hosting several fundraisers this month! Assistant Concertmaster Dylan Naroff, Principal Bass Clarinet Jack Howell, and Mr. Cut Time himself, Rick Robinson, discuss the many different functions coming up.

The first event is a free concert, Running For Rhythm, which features an hour of interactive music. A pre-cursor to the annual Musicians of Steel 5K, this concert showcases everything from jazz...

Another season of music starts in Pittsburgh, and today we talk to saxophonist Jeff Siegfried and pianist Ellen Fast. They will open the season for Music in a Great Space at Shadyside Presbyterian Church this September.  

The repertoire includes works by beloved classics and contemporary innovators alike. Composers such as Steven Banks, Amy Beach, Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Jeff Siegfried, William Grant Still, and Gwyneth ...

WQED’s award-winning documentarian, Rick Sebak, introduces his latest program "Lucky to Live in Pittsburgh Episode 3" which airs Thursday, September 4th at 8 pm on WQED TV.

Rick visits Weirton, West Virginia for the Serbian Chicken Blast on summer Wednesdays. He also stops at Community Kitchen Pittsburgh in Hazelwood for their famous fish fry for Lent. He completes the program  with a visit to Bottlerocket Social Hall in the neighb...

Have you ever wondered what the local concert scene is in Saxonburg, PA? We do too!

Director of Music Ministry at Saxonburg Memorial Presbyterian Church, Dan Byerly, talks about the second season of Saxonburg concerts. The first event takes place September 7th at 4 pm with the Gibbons Big Band at the close of the Artisans Market.  

The next concert on September 25th at 7 pm features The Beo Quartet, followed by a bluegrass concert ...

With the cooler weather rolling in, it is the perfect time to see Shakespeare outside, under the stars. Even better when it's at a local Pittsburgh theater.

Husband and wife co-directors, Jeff Boles and Julie Ann, talk about their production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at South Park Theatre. Ann discusses the multi-faceted plot, which includes love triangles, running away to the forest, and many mischievous fairies. The duo also...