WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham interviews pianist Yekwon Sunwoo - winner of the 2017 Van Cliburn Competition and the first South Korean to win the prize.  

Mayor Bill Peduto has proclaimed August 8th to be PianoDay in Pittsburgh.  On that day, a new Steinway Concert and Artist grand piano will be transported around the city for a series of outdoor concerts and photo opportunities.  The organizer of the event, Peter Stumpf, stopped by WQED-FM to talk about the event.

Hear the Allegheny Brass Band this Sunday August 6th at Bach, Beethoven and Brunch.  Jim Muchoney, business manager, and Rick Bloom, tenor horn and treasurer of the band, sit down with WQED-FM's Phoebe Trogolo to discuss the program for Bach, Beethoven and Brunch and their love of the band.  

The Flood City Music Festival takes place this weekend in Johnstown, PA.  Richard Burkert, President and CEO of the Johnstown Area Heritage Association, stopped by WQED-FM to talk about this year's Festival, along with many other exciting things taking place in the Johnstown area, including a planned renovation of the Johnstown Flood Museum.

This Sunday (7/30), the Mon Valley Community Band conducted by Max Ganano will perform at Bach, Beethoven and Brunch - 10:30am at Mellon Park.  Max stopped by the QED Morning Show to talk about the band, what they'll play and living in Washington, PA.

Dance superstar Lucinda Childs joins the new Blanket Dance Company to present three free performances this weekend - July 28th, 29th and 30th in Point State Park close to the Block House downtown. Matt Pardo and Caitlin Scranton, the Co Directors and Founders of the company, stopped by to share the plans. Lucinda recalls her work in the premiere of Philip Glass' "Einstein on the Beach" and her own dance company and post modern classics with architect Frank Gehry, John Cage and Merce Cunningham as well as her dance collaborations with the premiere of John Adams' "Dr. Atomic" and many others.

McKeesport born pianist Byron Janis discusses his new release of live concert recordings Byron Janis On Tour.  It is Maestro Janis’ first release of new material in twenty years and celebrates the 70 th anniversary of hisvery first RCA LP recording in 1947 at the age of 19   Byron last visited Pittsburgh in 2016 to give a mastger class at CMU.  Byron went to elementary school in Squirrel Hill. He  turned up at a Pittsburgh Symphony concert at the Syria Mosque with Lorin Maazel and Vlaimir Horowitz as a teenager. His parents lived on Fifth Avenue later in their lives just a few blocks from WQED. He discusses his life long love affair with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the venues around the world including Cuba where the music in the first of a planned three part series was recorded.

Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble clarinetist Eric Jacobs stopped by the WQED-FM studio to talk about his upcoming solo concert “Got Reeds?” Luke Campayno sat down with Jacobs to discuss his career, the importance of new music, and tacos.  Lastly, Jacobs gave an in-studio performance of David Lang’s masterful bass clarinet work “Press Release.” 

WQED-FM’s Luke Campayno sits down with Aeolian Winds oboist and colleague at Duquesne University Amelia Van Howe.  The Aeolian Winds will be performing at the Sunday June, 23 Bach, Beethoven and Brunch Concert.  Amelia discusses what the wind quintet will be playing, how the group was started, the necessity to play in multiple musical groups, and dealing with a hot summer day as a performer.

It’s a birthday party for Viennese pianist Rudolf Buchbinder as he plays the Haydn Piano Concerto in D major, the Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20 and the Beethoven Emperor Concerto – No. 5.  Manfred Honeck conducts.