Wrcj In-studio Guests

Violinist Angèle Dubeau and her ensemble La Pietà have just released their newest recording entitled Elle. The all-women orchestra presents music composed by women from the 12 century’s Hildegard Von Bingen to present day artists. 90.9’s Peter Whorf recently spoke with Dubeau about her recent collection. She started with its earliest composer…

Detroit is blessed to have so many fine musicians who are a resource of students wishing to study classical instruments like the oboe and English horn. Dave Wagner talks with one of those musicians, Dr. Ann Lemke and about her new recording of music featuring women composers, released early, just in time for Women's History Month.

The International Symphony Orchestra returns to in-person performance this Friday at 7:30pm at Port Huron’s McMorran Place Theatre. Douglas Bianchi leads the ensemble in the program of Mozart, Mendelssohn and more. 90.9’s Peter Whorf speaks with ISO Executive Director Anthony Wing about the homecoming, which also features a work by ISO principal French horn, composer Dinah Bianchi… Photo caption: Peter Whorf, Anthony Wing and Douglas Bianchi

Our own Dave Wagner continues his talk with Professor Thomas Bara from the Interlochen Arts Academy, about his program and his love of introducing people to “The King of Instruments”.

Earlier this week, WRCJ’s Peter Whorf spoke with pianist Lara Downes about her role in this weekend’s DSO Classical Roots concerts. Now, Peter talks with conductor William Eddins for a further concert preview of what’s ahead in this Friday’s DSO Live broadcast on 90.9FM…with music by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Quinn Mason and Florence Price…

Pianist Lara Downes is the featured soloist in this Friday morning’s DSO Live broadcast at 10:40am on WRCJ and the Michigan Classical Network. Downes speaks with Peter Whorf about the music she’ll perform at Orchestra Hall. She’ll focus on two composers – Scott Joplin and Florence Price – the latter representing an important discovery in Lara’s early musical life…

In this clip from "Live with C#" Cecelia speaks with author Brendan Slocumb about his debut book "The Violin Conspiracy".

Jauron Perry and William Hill III are students at Detroit School of Arts. Jauron plays trumpet and William is a pianist. Both of the talented young musicians aim to further their lives in music after their senior year at DSA. The two are well on their way. William has been busy the past few years performing at music camps at Interlochen Arts Academy, Berklee College of Music and the Juilliard School. Jauron is a veteran of MSU’s Community Music School-Detroit and says he hopes to attend Michigan State next year. Jauron and Will visited with WRCJ’s Peter Whorf this week. Jauron started the conversation, reflecting on his many relationships with DSA and CMSD musicians.

Dr. Dave speaks with Detroit’s own Damien Crutcher, an MSU alumnus and arts leader, who will be guest conducting the Michigan State University Wind Symphony this Sunday at the Detroit School of Arts. The concert will be re-broadcast on Sunday, Feb. 13 at noon on 90.9 WRCJ.

Cecelia Sharpe speaks with Afa Dworkin ahead of this Saturday's 25th Annual Sphinx Organization's Junior and Senior Finals Concert, in which musicians perform for prizes and the opportunity to launch a career.

In this interview from Live with C#, Cecelia speaks with 22 year old cellist Joshua McClendon who is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree at Juilliard. He is a founding member of the Isidore String Quartet, and recently made his debut with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

JoAnn Falletta is Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic. She’s also one of the founding board members of the Claudette Sorel Organization. Sorel was a pianist, teacher and music philanthropist who advocated a higher profile for contemporary music – particularly by women composers. Falletta and WRCJ’s Peter Whorf speak about the remarkable life of Claudette Sorel – commemorated in the recent re-release of classic recordings: Claudette Sorel: Rediscovered.

Detroit’s Barry Harris was without argument the greatest teacher in jazz, a brilliant pianist and all-round musician. His house in Detroit was a salon where everybody went to learn and play in the 40’s and 50’s. He moved to NYC in the early 60’s and continued to teach around the world for the rest of his life. In 2007 the Arts League of Michigan, now https://thecarrcenter.org/ , brought Barry to Detroit for a performance at the Detroit Festival of the Arts. He also came to the WRCJ studios for an interview, hosted by Karen Dumas and produced by John Penney. He tells the story of jazz in Detroit, stories about the musicians, and reflects on his life.

Each year organist James Kibbie has a tradition of creating an audio holiday card! Listen to this interview with Dave Wagner as he tells us more about it. This year’s recording is Karl Osterland’s Personent hodie, which you can listen to here: www.umich.edu/~jkibbie.

Steven Jarvi, Music Director of the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra, stops by to speak with Dave Wagner about the symphony's holiday performance on December 17, 2021 at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center.

DSO Music Director Laureate Leonard Slatkin recently returned to Detroit to lead the ensemble at Orchestra Hall. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf spoke with the Maestro from his St. Louis home about his recent book "Classical Crossroads" and his DSO reunion performance…

Dave Wagner talks with Damien Crutcher, the Managing Director of Detroit Harmony at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He talks about getting instruments into the hands of young students in Detroit in a joint effort with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra and Band Directors.

Maybe you’ve experienced Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s beloved opera The Marriage of Figaro before – but probably never like this. This Saturday in downtown Detroit, Michigan Opera Theatre plays host to the Mozart masterpiece in a startling new way. WRCJ’s Dave Wagner speaks with MOT Artistic Director Yuval Sharon and new Director of Innovation, Matthew Principe about Bliss – the reimagining of one music’s most sublime moments.

In this interview from "Live With C#", cellist and music educator Cecelia Sharpe speaks with her special guest, the legendary bassist from Detroit Michigan, Ralphe Armstrong.

Peter Whorf speaks with Michigan native cellist and UT-Austin Professor Bion Tsang about his new release of Bach Cello Suites - performed on a very special instrument.