Tuesday Musical Club’s upcoming concert celebrates composers born in March, featuring music from Bach, Haydn, Chopin, Bartók, and Barber. WQED volunteer Giovanni Mori spoke with organizer Catherine Crotty and pianist Vanessa Schmithorst about the program.
Catherine explains how the concert idea came to fruition and points out highlights on the program. Vanessa will play Bach’s Partita in C minor for the concert–she talks about the piece’s intricate counterpoint and fugal style. Catherine will also play on the program in addition to organizing the concert, accompanying oboist Risé Kostilnik for Bartók’s “An Evening in the Village” on piano.
Vanessa also recorded the first movement, Sinfonia, of the Partita, in WQED’s studio, featured in this interview.
Celebrate March birthdays with Tuesday Musical Club on Tuesday, March 10th at 1:00pm at Rodef Shalom’s Levy Hall. The concert is free and open to the public. More information can be found on Tuesday Musical Club’s website.
Resonance Works presents the Pittsburgh premiere of Reena Esmail’s Malhaar: A Requiem for Water and the return of Nancy Galbraith’s Flute Concerto, which Resonance Works commissioned and premiered in 2019. Conductor/producer Maria Sensi Sellner, Hindustani vocalist Vidita Kanniks, and flutist Lindsey Goodman joined Jim Cunningham live on the QED Morning Show to talk about the program.
Vidita and Maria provide background on Malhaar, which is associated with the Indian monsoon season. This raga, an Indian classical music tradition, takes on the theme of rain. Esmail was inspired by the California droughts and global water bankruptcy to write this requiem, intertwining Hindustani and Western classical music.
Nancy Galbraith, a Millvale native, wrote her Flute Concerto for Lindsey, who talks about its magnificence. Also on the program are Copland’s Quiet City and the Andante from Bach’s Violion Sonata No. 2.
Jim, Maria, Vidita, and Lindsey also listen to an excerpt from the 2019 premiere of Galbraith’s Flute Concerto and a recording of Copland’s Quiet City from Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic.
There are two opportunities to hear this program: Friday, March 6 at 8:00 pm at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall in Carnegie, PA and on Sunday, March 8 at 4:00 pm at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh in Shadyside. For information and tickets, visit the Resonance Works website.
The Bruckner Society of America President Benjamin Korstvedt joins Jim Cunningham to recall the presentation of the Kilenyi Award from the Bruckner Society to Manfred Honeck on February 21, 2026, at Heinz Hall. The Pittsburgh Symphony followed the presentation with a performance of Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony, which was recorded for broadcast on WQED-FM and for a Reference CD.
Manfred Honeck had already received an award from the Society for Recording of the Year when the Bruckner Seventh appeared on disc. Pittsburgh conductors Otto Klemperer, Fritz Reiner, and William Steinberg had preceded Manfred Honeck in winning the Kilenyi prize. Benjamin suggests that among the special features of Manfred Honeck’s interpretation was the vast dynamic range from the extremely quiet playing to the roaring fortissimo of many passages.
Dr. Korstvedt teaches at Clark University, where he received his undergraduate degree. He later attended the University of Pennsylvania for his PhD. He has written two award-winning books on Bruckner and won the Claude V Palisca prize for extensive research into the three versions of the Fourth Symphony. In his book on the Eighth, he dives into “the Adagio and the sublime” as a key feature of the Eighth. Dr. Korstvedt has also written and conducted research regarding the complex and troubling relationship of the Third Reich to Bruckner’s music. He’s thought about how to make the Bruckner Symphonies come alive for modern audiences, jazz interpretations of Bruckner in Europe, and details such as the cymbal crash and percussion in the Seventh Symphony that some claim never existed.
Last week, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast returned to Pittsburgh’s Benedum Center for its first North American production in over 25 years! WQED Digital Correspondent Nick Tommarello spoke with Assistant Conductor and keyboardist Connor Doran about this very special occasion.
Connor talks about the timeless nature of the story and its music, his role in performances, and the joy of interacting with audiences. Born in Pittsburgh, Connor tells Nick about growing up in Baldwin and finding music through his father and his education. Connor and Nick wrap up with a discussion about Pittsburgh’s arts community and how vital the arts are to personal development.
Slippery Rock University recently hosted their 11th annual Honors Flute Ensemble on February 21st-22nd. Dr. Cassandra Eisenreich, composer Greg Lutz, and SRU sophomore Ben Bellomo joined Jim Cunningham live on the QED Morning Show to give a recap of the concert.
Cassandra talks about the Honors Flute Ensemble, which brought high school students to SRU for two days of rehearsals, workshops, and the concert. Greg, who was commissioned to write for flute and percussion for this concert, provided background on his piece and his position teaching music at Kiski Area. Ben talks about getting degrees in Music Therapy and Flute Performance. The three discuss SRU’s music department, the area of Slippery Rock, and the joys of music education.
Jim, Cassandra, Greg, and Ben also listen Greg’s piece, “Kitchen Kalypso,” and a solo performance from Ben of Paul Wetzger’s “By the Forest Brook.”
Pittsburgh Opera presents the World Premiere of “Time to Act” at the Bitz Opera Factory from February 28th through March 8th. The opera follows a group of high school students preparing for a production of Sophocles’ Antigone, who are joined by a new student, Alona, who comes with a formidable secret.
WQED-FM’s Anna Singer spoke with Timothi Williams, who sings the role of Alona. Timothi talks about her character, what its like to be back in high school; and how its an interesting time to be doing this opera since her child has just begun going to school.
Pittsburgh Opera presents the World Premiere of “Time to Act” at the Bitz Opera Factory from February 28th through March 8th. The opera follows a group of high school students preparing for a production of Sophocles’ Antigone, who are joined by a new student, Alona, who comes with a formidable secret.
WQED-FM’s Anna Singer spoke with Shannon Crowley, who sings the role of Bailey. Shannon talks about her character; learning a brand new opera, and her costume.
Pittsburgh Opera presents the World Premiere of “Time to Act” at the Bitz Opera Factory from February 28th through March 8th. The opera follows a group of high school students preparing for a production of Sophocles’ Antigone, who are joined by a new student, Alona, who comes with a formidable secret.
WQED-FM’s Anna Singer spoke with conductor Michael Sakir. Michael talked about working with composer Laura Kaminsky in the past; the orchestration of the opera; and where he will be set up in the production.
Pittsburgh Opera presents the World Premiere of “Time to Act” at the Bitz Opera Factory from February 28th through March 8th. The opera follows a group of high school students preparing for a production of Sophocles’ Antigone, who are joined by a new student, Alona, who comes with a formidable secret.
WQED-FM’s Anna Singer spoke with composer Laura Kaminsky, who talked about her initial reluctance to compose the music; being back in Pittsburgh to present this World Premiere; and how her psychology degree helps her in composition.
Pittsburgh Opera presents the World Premiere of “Time to Act” at the Bitz Opera Factory from February 28th through March 8th. The opera follows a group of high school students preparing for a production of Sophocles’ Antigone, who are joined by a new student, Alona, who comes with a formidable secret.
WQED-FM’s Anna Singer spoke with Crystal Manich, the opera’s librettist. Crystal talked about the origins of the story; working the composer Laura Kaminsky; and being able to present this in Pittsburgh.
Jim Cunningham speaks with Charlie Peck, now in his second year on the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh Music Department. Two of his latest creations will be played by the The Bergamot Quartet, a rising star on the American contemporary music scene, joined by virtuoso percussionist Ji Hye Jung for a concert of new acoustic and electronic music. The event marks the world premiere of a kinetic, new multimedia project by Peck, where the musicians perform impossible music by augmenting their live performance with video. The program will also include dynamic works by Tania León, Joseph Schwantner, and native Pittsburgher Reza Vali. Reza will be there to take a bow after one of his Calligraphy pieces. The concert takes place Sunday March 1st, 7pm at the New Hazlett Theater.
Charles talks about his work at Lorin Maazel’s Castleton Festival in Northern Virginia where he met Maestro Maazel and how his view of technology intersecting with music came together in his early experience in Eastern Pennsylvania.
Third Presbyterian Church’s Spring 2026 Music at Third series continues with “Ché Bandonéon!” Music Director Lenny Young joined QED’s Anna Singer live to talk about the program.
The bandonéon is the instrument of the tango, a concertina instrument which resembles the accordion. “Ché Bandonéon!” will be a solo recital featuring Argentinian bandonéon player Rodolfo Zanetti. On the program are traditional Argentinian songs, as well as classical pieces from Bach and Schubert. Lenny talks about bringing Rodolfo to Pittsburgh through his wife, Raquel, who is also from Argentina, and Third Presbyterian’s collaboration with Pittsburgh Tango Connection guest dancers.
Don’t miss “Ché Bandonéon!” at Third Presbyterian Church in Shadyside this Friday, February 20th at 7:30pm. Admission is by free will donation. More information is available on Third Presbyterian’s website.