Light the Night is more than just a holiday performance, it’s a celebration of community, creativity, and the transformative power of the arts.
In this episode, Urban Impact’s Performing Arts Academy Senior Director Tammy Glover, and Director Eric Anderson, share how over 300 young performers bring the Christmas story to life in this beloved annual production.
Tammy and her husband, founded Urban Impact with a mission to support the holistic spirit of youths on Pittsburgh’s North Side. Tammy highlights that since then, the organization has grown into a dynamic ministry with programs for performing arts, education, athletics, and career readiness. Eric talks about how Light the Night went from a small choir group singing outdoors, to the full-scale production it is today with students involved in every aspect, on stage and off.
Light the Night will be on December 6th and 7th at 7 pm at the Christ Church at Grove Farm. It is free, but Tammy recommends to get there early to get a good seat!
Visit https://uifpgh.org/ to learn more.
Looking for a concert that isn’t holiday themed just yet? Well Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh’s upcoming concert might be perfect for you!
In this live conversation, Artistic Director Edward Leonard, and harpist Marissa Knaub Avon, discuss their upcoming concert this weekend called Symphonies and Dances. The conversation dives into the fascinating program featuring music by Mozart, Sibelius, Debussy, and Chevalier de Saint-Georges.
Edward shares insights into the pieces the Chamber Orchestra will perform, and Marissa highlights her piece, Debussy’s Sacred and Profane Dances. She also talks about her role in the upcoming holiday Harp ensemble performance with 29 other harpists from Carnegie Mellon University, and her musical background at the Berklee College of Music, where she performed with Ray Charles!
The concerts are on Saturday, November 23rd at 7:30 pm at Rodef Shalom, and on Sunday, November 24th at 3 pm at the Sixth Presbyterian Church.
Visit https://copgh.org/concerts-1 to learn more and find tickets.
In this episode, Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Camerata, Mark Anderson, shares the details of the ensemble’s upcoming holiday concert, Christmas with the Camerata 2024: O Magnum Mysterium: The Animals at the Creche. This program, inspired by the ancient Roman text that celebrates the animals who witnessed the newborn king in a manger, features works by Scarlatti, Poulenc, Daniel Pinkham, and more. The concert blends some familiar melodies with new arrangements.
Mark also discusses the collaboration with the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School choir during the concert, and reflects on his roles with the Camerata and the choir at Shadyside Presbyterian.
Mark also touches on the 2025 season, which includes a special concert inspired by the Soul’s Shot art exhibition, which addresses themes of gun violence and healing.
The concert is on Friday, December 6th at 7:30 pm at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, and on Sunday, December 8th at 3 pm at Shadyside Presbyterian Church.
Visit https://pittsburghcamerata.org/ to learn more and find tickets.
Talented pianist Albert Cano Smit prepares for his Pittsburgh debut on Sunday, November 24th at 3 pm at the Kresge Theater on Carnegie Mellon’s Campus, presented by the Steinway Society of Western Pennsylvania. Albert discusses his upcoming program, which features works by Bach, Liszt, Granados, and Schubert.
Albert shares insights into his career, from his keyboard competition successes to tips for overcoming stage fright. He also highlights his musical journey from Geneva to the US, and his current work at the Colburn School in Los Angeles. He remembers one connection to Pittsburgh, his friendship with Pittsburgh Symphony cellist Karissa Shivone.
Visit https://www.sswpa.org/ to learn more about the Steinway Society, and see Albert’s program.
You can find more information about Albert on his website: https://www.albertcanosmit.com/
Ready, set, cookoff!
In this episode, Allegheny City Brewing Co-owners Amy and Matt Yurkovich, and Pittsburgh bluegrass bassist Trish Imbrogno discuss the brewery’s 7th Annual Chili Cookoff!
There are new and exciting traditions in this year’s contest! From a brand new tap room that opened on 510 East Ohio Street earlier this year, to teaming up with Trish to bring a Bluegrass Jam session to the event, Allegheny City Brewing is set for another great Chili Cookoff!
Check it out this Sunday, November 24th, at the Allegheny City Brewing 510 East Ohio Street Taproom, running from 1 to 3 PM.
You can find out more about the cookoff and all upcoming events on the ACB website: https://www.alleghenycitybrewing.com/
In this episode, we explore Resonance Works’ upcoming production of The Little Prince, with insights from the creative team and singers behind the opera. Baritone Daniel Teadt (who plays the Pilot), Stage Director Keturah Stickann, and Artistic Director Maria Sensi Sellner, discuss the themes and artistry of this opera adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s beloved novella.
The team shares how Rachel Portman’s beautiful score complements these themes. Maria also highlights the inclusion of puppets representing key characters, and the collaboration with the Pittsburgh Youth Chorus to add a layer of magic to the performance. All discuss the impact the novella had on their childhood.
The Little Prince is playing on Friday, November 22nd at 7:30 pm and Sunday, November 24th at 3 pm at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library Music Hall. Visit https://www.resonanceworks.org/the-little-prince to learn more and find tickets.
Do you know what death by incarceration is? Well our guests today do!
In this episode, Jasmine Mao and Tricia Burmeister from Let’s Get Free: Women and Trans Prison Defense Committee, talk about their upcoming seventh annual art exhibition and auction, This is Me Art Show, at the Irma Freeman Center, running until November 26th.
Jasmine and Tricia discuss the inspiration behind the exhibition, which showcases over 200 works from incarcerated artists, poets, and allies, and how the event serves as a platform for raising awareness about Pennsylvania’s harsh sentencing laws that are called death by incarceration. They also share stories behind some of the pieces, including a 30-piece puzzle self-portrait, and sketches made on leaves.
Gallery hours are Fridays 12-7pm, Saturdays 12-5pm, and Sundays 12-5pm. They also have crafting activities available with a special guest on Saturday, November 23rd at 2 pm.
To learn more about Let’s Get Free visit https://letsgetfree.info/.
To find information about This is Me Art Show, you can visit https://creative-resistance.org/events-this-is-me/.
In this episode, Exhibition Curator Wintis Gibson, and Assistant Gallery Manager Stephany Delsignore, discuss inspiration and what the audience can expect to see in their upcoming exhibition titled “Mythos – Mythology, Monsters, and Gods”, showing until Saturday, December 7th at RedFishBowl Studios.
You can learn more about RedFishBowl upcoming exhibtions at: https://www.redfishbowl.com/
It’s the Bach Choir in stereo!
Artistic Director of the Bach Choir, Thomas Douglas, spoke with Anna Singer live about the choir’s upcoming start of their season. They are opening with an antiphonal concert called The Choir in Stereo at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral on November 16th and 17th.
Thomas discusses what antiphonal acapella singing is, and why the choir is doing it this time around. He also talks about the challenges of antiphonal singing, and about the rest of the season, which includes Music of Adolphus Hailstork and Motown Mania.
Visit https://www.bachchoirpittsburgh.org/programs/ to learn more and find tickets.
A new Ken Burns film about Leonardo da Vinci airs on WQED-TV on November 18th and 19th at 8pm. Marty Moss-Coane, host of WHYY’s The Connection, talks about the new documentary and about da Vinci’s genius and imagination with two of the filmmakers and an art historian.
Leonardo da Vinci was more than a great artist, famous for The Last Supper and Mona Lisa. He was a draughtsman, an engineer, a scientist, a sculptor, and an architect. He had a voracious curiosity and believed that real understanding was best found in nature, not in a musty library. He didn’t complete half the paintings he started and left behind thousands of pages of drawings.
Filmmakers Sarah Burns and David McMahon, who lived in Florence where Leonardo lived, talk about how they brought this 15th century genius to life. Joining them is Jack Hinton, curator at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Music and women’s healthcare go hand in hand in this episode!
Founder of Women Who Rock, Melinda Colaizzi, talks about the organization’s mission and how she decided to create it after her and her mother’s health troubles. Melinda highlights their annual benefit concert, which showcases women musical artists and donates proceeds to the Magee-Womens Research Institute.
Melinda also discusses her career as a musician and singer and hopes research into women’s health will continue to grow in the coming years.
Visit https://womenwhorock.info/ to learn more about the organization, and find them on social media.
Ever wonder what a loop machine is?
Co-Artistic Director’s from Chatham Baroque, Scott Pauley and Andrew Fouts, do! They discuss how they use loop machines in their upcoming concert, In the Loop with Fouts and Pauley on Saturday, November 16th and Sunday, November 17th. They talk about how the concert will truly be a live performance, as the loop machine makes every performance of a song different.
Audience will be amazed with selections of popular music across the ages. Visit https://www.chathambaroque.org/concert/in-the-loop-with-fouts-pauley/ to find more information and tickets.