Voice of the Arts

Ginger Brooks Takahashi is the only Pittsburgh-based artist that will be featured in the 59th Carnegie International! WQED Digital Correspondent Nick Tommarello ventured down to the Carnegie Museum of Art to speak with Ginger about her International exhibition. Ginger's work for the exhibition includes a garden of perilla frutescens, a plant in the mint family that is a staple of Japanese and Korean cuisine. Through her art, she examines the importance of perilla to the Japanese and Korean diaspora. Perilla is considered an invasive species to many areas in the United States, and Ginger has created a companion piece that will be featured inside the museum, which compares language used in reference to invasive species to the xenophobic language used in reference to migration. You can see Ginger's garden and companion artwork as part of the 59th Carnegie International. The International opens May 2nd and runs through January 3rd, 2027. Learn more about Ginger's work and explore other featured artists on the CMOA's website. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh have commissioned a new piece for their 2026 season finale concert! Composer Trevor Weston, Artistic Director Edward Leonard, and Executive Director Andrew Swensen sat down with Anna Singer live on the QED Afternoon Show to talk about the program. Trevor speaks about his piece, Steel City Sounds, which draws inspiration from August Wilson, Billy Strayhorn, and Franco Harris's Immaculate Reception. The concert will also feature performances from COP's two Young Artist Concerto Competition winners and Beethoven's Symphony No. 2. Eddie and Andrew give a run-down of COP's upcoming season, which has just been announced. Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh will wrap up their season this Saturday, May 2nd at 7:30pm at Rodef Shalom's Levy Hall. Performance details and tickets can be found on COP's website. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Christine Brondyke, Executive Director of the Sweetwater Center for the Arts in Sewickley, stopped by the WQED-FM studio to chat with Anna Singer about the organization. Sweetwater celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, and it continues to be the epicenter of Northwest Pittsburgh's arts community. Christine talks about their recent move into the old Sewickley post office, their new brand campaign, and their mission as a nonprofit to serve all members of the community. She also discusses Sweetwater's mobile art unit, SweetRide, a retrofitted truck that takes their programming out into the community. Christine takes Anna through the different programs offered by the center, including summer camps, and a multitude of classes. Their new space has multiple galleries inside, one of which featured an exhibition of Anna's own art. Their current Mezzanine Gallery exhibition is called Crafted in the Valley: Contemporary Voices in Appalachia and includes the work of 38 local, regional, and national artists. You can learn more about the Sweetwater Center for the Arts, explore programs & classes, and make a donation on their website. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SERIO has an upcoming production of Gaetano Donizetti's opera, Don Pasquale, opening May 8th! Founder Louisa Jonason, director Rebecca Kerr, and tenor George Milosh sat down with Anna Singer live on the QED Afternoon Show to talk about the show. Louisa, who will be leading the production from the keyboard, explains her history with Don Pasquale and praises the cast's talents. George is returning to SERIO after appearing in their production of La Bohème as Rudolfo. He will sing Ernesto in this opera. The production will be at the Cultural Trust's newest venue, Three Stories, on Liberty Ave. Rebecka talks about moving into that space and opera's place in Pittsburgh's arts community. SERIO will be at Three Stories in the Cultural District with Donizetti's Don Pasquale May 8th-10th. Friday and Saturday's performances are at 7:30pm, with Sunday's matinee at 2:00pm. Get tickets here. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Prime Stage Theatre will present the world premiere of the stage adaptation of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Playwright Tammy Ryan sat down with Melissa Black to talk about the show. Speak follows Melinda, a teenage girl who struggles with sexual assault and uses art to find her voice. Tammy talks about adapting the story for the stage, working with the production's director, Dana Hardy Bingham, and how the cast of young actors has taken on the project. She details the decision to cast both sides of Melinda, having one actor for her outward self and one for her inner voice. You can see Speak, opening this weekend, at the New Hazlett Theater. Friday, May 1st is a pay-what-you-can preview night, with the official opening night on Saturday, May 2nd at 7:30pm. A discussion with the author of the book will following the opening performance. Speak returns the following weekend, May 8th-10th. More details and tickets can be found on both Prime Stage Theatre's website and the New Hazlett's website. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The 59th Carnegie International, If the word we, opens this weekend on Saturday, May 2nd and will run until January 3rd, 2027. Senior Director of Marketing and Communications for the Art and History Museums Stefanie Cedro Mohr and Carnegie Museum of Art Director of Education and Public Programming Dana Bishop-Root spoke with Jim Cunningham live on the QED Morning Show about the exhibition. Dana explains the meaning of the exhibition's title, If the word we, as an intentional vehicle for communal listening and learning. The Museum of Art is collaborating with the Children's Museum, Kamin Science Center, the Mattress Factory, and the Thelma Lovette YMCA for this year's International. Stefanie and Dana talk about participating artists and artwork, including sculpture, installation, musical performances, and animation. Jim, Stefanie, and Dana also listen to excerpts from Bizet's Carmen, which features in the International. Learn more about the 59th Carnegie International at the Carnegie Museum of Art's website. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Joe Calarco's vibrant adaptation of Romeo & Juliet comes to the City Theatre Mainstage, blurring the line between dreams and reality! The show's co-producers, Julia He and Alexander Farrell, and scenic designer, Sebastian Zavalza, spoke with Melissa Black about it. Shakespeare's R&J follows four male students, living under strict rules, who defiantly and curiously act out Shakespeare's play. Alexander and Sebastian talk about the students' interaction with the play as they discover and identify with Shakespeare's words. Julia tells Melissa how she put the show together and her love for City Theatre's space. Sebastian explains how the set imagery reflects and inspires the emotions felt by the characters. All three encourage audiences to reflect on the adaptation's message--whether to take control of our voices or remain compliant through silence. Shakespeare's R&J runs at City Theatre from May 8th-10th. Friday's performance is at 7:30pm. There are two performances on Saturday, at 2:00pm and 7:30pm, and the Sunday matinee is at 2:00pm. More information and tickets are available on City Theatre's website. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene.Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For their upcoming 2025-2026 Season, the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra is celebrating America's 250th, as well at the 10th Anniversary of James Blachly as Music Director. WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with JSO Executive Director Erin Codey about their upcoming season. It kicks off October 25th, 2025 with Part 1 of the America 250 Celebration, and continues with their annual Holiday Pops concert, a Johnstown's Got Talent concert, music of Aaron Copland and the concluding concert in April 2026 with "Carmina Burana." Erin explains why it's worth the trip to Johnstown to see the orchestra, the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center where their concerts take place, their Candlelight concert at the Grand Halle in November and more. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene. Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region.  Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.