Celebrate the holiday season with the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Mendelssohn Choir, and guest vocalist Blaine Alden Krauss in this annual offering of music for the season! Conductor Daniel joined Jim Cunningham live on the QED Morning Show to talk about Holiday Pops.
Daniel details all of the special performances in the program, including appearances from The Tamburitzans and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker. Jim and Daniel also play past holiday pieces from Daniel’s career. Additionally, Daniel gave his reaction to the PSO’s recent return to Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Holiday Pops opens this weekend and runs through December 21st. Performance details and tickets are available on the Pittsburgh Symphony’s website.
Ponchielli’s four-act masterwork makes its Pittsburgh concert opera debut in the highlight of Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s season! Artistic director and mezzo-soprano Marianne Cornetti, soprano Csilla Boross, and mezzo-soprano Alice Chung joined Anna Singer live to talk about the show.
Marianne spoke about bringing La Gioconda to Pittsburgh, and their spectacular cast and chorus. Csilla, who plays Gioconda, hints at her character’s story and what it’s like to sing this role. And Christopher talked about the opera’s instrumentation and exciting orchestration
You can see La Gioconda at 4:00pm on Sunday, December 14th at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland. Tickets are available at https://pittsburghfestivalopera.org/upcoming/2025-season/la-gioconda/.
Calvary United Methodist Church presents their annual Messiah sing-along concert! Music Director Brian Burns joined Anna Singer live to talk about the performance.
Calvary is celebrating their 13th year with the Messiah, and this year they’ve invited members of the community, regardless of singing experience, to join the choir. The congregation will be joined by singers Kara Cornell, Kirk Dougherty, Matthew Hunt, and Classical QED’s Anna Singer. Brian and Anna discuss the unique atmosphere created by the candlelit evening, upgrades made to the choir and orchestra, and Brian’s musical journey.
You can hear Handel’s “Messiah” at Calvary United Methodist Church on Saturday, December 13th and Sunday, December 14th at 4:00pm. Tickets are going fast–visit Calvary’s website to get yours.
Rick Sebak has a new show! Don’t miss Lucky to Live in Pittsburgh’s fourth episode, subtitled Luscious Local Chocolate Shops. Rick joined Jim Cunningham live on the QED Morning Show to talk about the show.
The show will feature Pink House Chocolates in Finleyville, Clark Candies in Tarentum, Dorothy’s Candies in White Oak, Anderson’s Candies in Baden. Rick also includes previous stories on Betsy Ann Chocolates in Westview and Yetter’s Candies in Millvale. Each chocolate shop also features an I Love Lucy connection!
Lucky to Live in Pittsburgh’s new episode airs live on Channel 13 on Thursday, December 11th at 8:00pm. If you can’t watch live, you can find the show on WQED+ after air time.
East Liberty Presbyterian Church hosts a holiday favorite, Christmas in East Liberty, on Friday, December 12th at 7:30pm! Director of Music and Arts Dr. Edward Alan Moore and percussionist Abby Langhorst joined Jim Cunningham live on the QED Morning Show to chat about the concert.
This annual East Liberty tradition will feature holiday favorites, along with performances by The Brass Roots with conductor Daniel Curtis, the ELPC Chancel Choir under the direction of Dr. Edward Alan Moore, guest organist Ethan LaPlaca, saxophonist Mike Tomaro, and QED’s own Jim Cunningham as narrator. The concert also will include a new setting of It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Mike Tomaro.
Don’t miss out on this holiday celebration! The concert will be at East Liberty Presbyterian Church on Friday, December 12th at 7:30pm. It is free and open to all. For more information, visit https://cathedralofhope.org/event/cathedral-concert-christmas-in-east-liberty-2/.
The Pittsburgh Symphony made a triumphant return to Carnegie Hall in New York City with Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5! Classical QED’s Jim Cunningham was in attendance and captured reactions from the audience after the concert.
Hear thoughts from WQXR’s Jeff Spurgeon, who broadcast the concert live, PSO President and CEO Melia Tourangeau, maestro Manfred Honeck, composer Lera Auerbach, and more. PSO members Craig Knox and Jim Rodgers also shared their experience of playing at Carnegie Hall.
The concert will be re-broadcast on WQED-FM as part of the Carnegie Hall Tonight series. Stay tuned for broadcast details.
The River City Brass presented their 2025 Christmas Brasstacular concert at Bethel Park High School on Tuesday December 9, 2025. WQED-FM broadcast the concert live! During intermission, WQED-FM’s Jim Cunningham spoke with two new members of the band. First, he interviewed Brooke Boehmer (horn), who spoke about her work around town, attending the New England Conservatory of Music, and how she enjoys the local brewing scene in Pittsburgh.
Jim was then joined by First Cornet Alex Perez, who recently graduated from Duquesne University, and was part of the River City Brass Youth Brass. He talks about his love of jazz and what people can listen for in the second half of the concert.
Artistic Director James Gourlay then joined Jim to talk about the first of the concert, his plans for the holiday, and what surprises he has in store for the second half of the concert.
Pittsburgh Opera’s Director of Education Marilyn Egan and Education Committee Chair Dr. Eugene Myers took QED’s Jim Cunningham on a tour of their building back in October.
Marilyn spoke about their education program, Opera Trunks, which are teaching residencies sent out to educators to introduce their students to opera. They are colorful steamer trunks on wheels filled with books, costumes, music, and lesson activities. Pittsburgh Opera’s five versions include a Madama Butterfly Trunk, Opera Improv Trunk, Carmen Trunk, Bravi Tutti Trunk, and a Tot Trunk.
Dr. Myers talked through his opera journey alongside his medical career, and his involvement with the Education Committee.
For more information about Pittsburgh Opera’s education efforts, visit https://pittsburghopera.org/education.
On Friday December 5, 2025, WQED-FM broadcast the 2025 Heinz Chapel Choir Holiday concert live from Heinz Chapel. WQED-FM’s Anna Singer spoke with organist J.R. Daniels about the music he was playing on the concert. At the end of the concert, Anna spoke with the Choir’s Director Dr. Susan Rice about how she put this year’s program together, going on tour this Spring and enjoying finding new, young composers to include in her concert. Anna then spoke with two members of the Choir – Choir President Patrick Diamond (senior), and Jackson Aiosa (freshman), to get their thoughts on the concert, their excitement for the tour in May and fitting in 5 concerts near their finals!!
Slippery Rock University’s Pop Music Ensembles are hosting an end-of-semester concert on Monday, December 8th! SRU Professor Dr. Cassandra Eisenreich, and student members Ethan Aeschbacher and Chrystal Sircely met with Emily Brunner on Zoom to talk about the concert.
Cassandra explains what sets SRU’s pop ensembles apart and the importance of academic diversity in music education. Chrystal and Ethan talk about their roles in the ensembles, student leadership, and collaboration. They also give a run-down on SRU’s music program, and how their semesters have been.
The pop ensembles’ concert on December 8th will have three sets, each featuring a different group. It’s an eclectic program, with music from Evanescence, Bon Jovi, Meghan Trainor, the Spice Girls, Bruno Mars and more. One of the ensembles will also experiment with technology, using drum machines and loopers for a DJ set.
Slippery Rock University’s Pop Ensembles perform at North Country Brewing canning facility in Slippery Rock on Monday, December 8th at 7:30pm. Tickets are available at https://sru.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=2152.
Tuesday Musical Club’s String Ensemble invite you to their concert on Tuesday, December 9th!
Conductor Edward Leonard joined Melissa Black to talk about the program, which features spectacular pieces by Elgar, Gershwin, Bartok, and more. Eddie also spoke about the ensemble’s rehearsal schedule and flexible nature.
The concert will be held at Rodef Shalom’s Levy Hall on Tuesday, December 9th at 1:00pm. It is free, and concertgoers are encouraged to join the string ensemble for a holiday reception after the program. Visit Tuesday Musical Club’s website for more information.
The New Hazlett Theater presents Sounds of the Season on Saturday, December 13th at 7:30pm! Featured artist, Dr. Zuly Inirio, spoke with Emily Brunner about the evening.
The concert will feature a variety of holiday tunes that blend jazz, soul, and global rhythms. Zuly mentions her performances, including Baby Please Come Home, Ave Maria, and collaborating with fellow artists for songs like O Holy Night. She also talks about how this concert rose from a collaboration between the New Hazlett’s Melissa Cardello-Linton and beloved Pittsburgh artists Hugo Cruz, Dr. Kendra Ross, Brendan Williams, and Zuly herself.
Enjoy the Sounds of the Season at the New Hazlett Theater on Saturday, December 13th at 7:30pm. Tickets are available at https://newhazletttheater.org/events/sounds-of-the-season-2/.