WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

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WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR 101.1

120 episodes

2 days ago

WRR weekend host Brooke Scholl sits down with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's assistant conductor Shira Samuels-Shragg to unpack her remarkable, last-minute debut leading the Dallas Symphony Orchestra after Music Director Fabio Luisi had to pull out due to a family emergency. With only days to prepare, Shira stepped onto the Meyerson podium to conduct a vivid program spanning Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3, Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, and not one but two world premieres: Jonathan Cziner’s powerful new Clarinet Concerto, written for DSO principal clarinetist Gregory Raden, and Jasmine Guo’s evocative The Sound of Where I Came From. We’ll hear how she navigated the intensity, the inspiration, and the whirlwind of bringing complex new music to life—while earning an ovation for her clarity, confidence, and artistry on a night that became newsworthy for all the right reasons.

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WRR weekend host Brooke Scholl sits down with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's assistant conductor Shira Samuels-Shragg to unpack her remarkable, last-minute debut leading the Dallas Symphony Orchestra after Music Director Fabio Luisi had to pull out due to a family emergency. With only days to prepare, Shira stepped onto the Meyerson podium to conduct a vivid program spanning Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3, Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, and not one but two world premieres: Jonathan Cziner’s powerful new Clarinet Concerto, written for DSO principal clarinetist Gregory Raden, and Jasmine Guo’s evocative The Sound of Where I Came From. We’ll hear how she navigated the intensity, the inspiration, and the whirlwind of bringing complex new music to life—while earning an ovation for her clarity, confidence, and artistry on a night that became newsworthy for all the right reasons.

Show more...

Episodes (20/120)

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: This young conductor got the call, and she delivered

WRR weekend host Brooke Scholl sits down with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's assistant conductor Shira Samuels-Shragg to unpack her remarkable, last-minute debut leading the Dallas Symphony Orchestra after Music Director Fabio Luisi had to pull out due to a family emergency. With only days to prepare, Shira stepped onto the Meyerson podium to conduct a vivid program spanning Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3, Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, and not one but two world premieres: Jonathan Cziner’s powerful new Clarinet Concerto, written for DSO principal clarinetist Gregory Raden, and Jasmine Guo’s evocative The Sound of Where I Came From. We’ll hear how she navigated the intensity, the inspiration, and the whirlwind of bringing complex new music to life—while earning an ovation for her clarity, confidence, and artistry on a night that became newsworthy for all the right reasons.

2 days ago

18 minutes 40 seconds

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Cellist Juliette Herlin's debut album is out

Praised for her “impressive artistry” and “wonderful bowing technique” (San Francisco Classical Voice), French cellist Juliette Herlin has performed throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, and South America. As a soloist, chamber musician, and recitalist, she has appeared in prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Alice Tully Hall in New York, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and the Musée du Louvre in Paris, as well as the Zhuhai and Chongqin Grand Theaters in China. Juliette is honored to have been named a Bärenreiter Jubilee Ambassador. Currently, she serves as Assistant Professor of Cello at Texas Christian University. In this podcast with WRR's Brooke Scholl, Herlin discusses her debut album, Dialogue: Debussy & Schumann, which includes pianist Kevin Ahfat.

1 week ago

3 minutes 36 seconds

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Bruce Wood Dance's 16th season is ready to 'Glow'

From Mozart, to Steve Reich, to Chet Baker, Bruce Wood Dance's season opener should live up to its title: "Glow." In this conversation with WRR's Amy Bishop, BWD Artistic Director Joy Bollinger gives a sneak peek into the pieces on the program. They also discuss a wide range of other dance topics: What its like to work with a living choreographer to premiere their work? What are the differences of dancing to live music as opposed to recorded? How is dance choreography chronicled, so that it can be passed down generation from generation? If you love all things dance, you'll enjoy this conversation!

2 weeks ago

38 minutes 29 seconds

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: A 40th anniversary milestone for Chamber Music International

Dallas-based Chamber Music International presents three all-star musicians– violinist Cho-Liang Lin, cellist Clive Greensmith, and pianist Jon Kimura Parker – for an evening of works by Brahms and Tchaikovsky In this podcast, WRR's Amy Bishop chats with CMI’s Artistic Director Phil Lewis to get some insight into the pieces, and how these three musicians will bring them to life onstage. The conversation also takes a look at the remainder of CMI's milestone 40th season.

2 weeks ago

26 minutes 53 seconds

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Meet the DFW composer with a brand new piano concerto

Arsentiy Kharitonov, a composer and pianist based here in North Texas, has just had his impressive and dramatic Concerto for Piano and Orchestra recorded with the Kandinsky Symphony Orchestra and released by the Sound Atlas label. WRR's Kurt Rongey spoke with Arsentiy about the genesis of the concerto, his musical development and how his studies and experiences here in Texas influenced his music-making.

1 month ago

11 minutes 32 seconds

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Wilhelmina Smith's new release featuring works by Indigenous composer/cellist Dawn Avery

Wilhelmina Smith is regarded as a cellist whose artistic mission embraces a conversation through music, one that enthusiastically encompasses the music of the present placed within the context of a living past. In this podcast with WRR's Brooke Scholl, she talks about her new album, "Sweetgrass," which features music by Indigenous composer/cellist Dawn Avery.

1 month ago

6 minutes 39 seconds

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Guitarist Sharon Isbin and her latest release, 'Romantico'

Hailed as the "Monet of the classical guitar" by Atlanta Journal, Sharon Isbin is a longtime fixture in the genre with multiple GRAMMY awards and an ever-growing list of accolades. WRR's Brooke Scholl recently sat down with Isbin to talk about the artist's latest release, "Romantico," featuring world premiere recordings of joyous Latin dance-inspired music for guitar by Karen LeFrak.

1 month ago

4 minutes 55 seconds

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Maria Callas makes her Dallas return (sort of)

In November 1957, the Dallas Civic Opera (now The Dallas Opera) officially opened with a headlining concert starring Maria Callas at the State Fair Music Hall (now Music Hall at Fair Park). Audiences have a chance to see Maria Callas once again via a hologram concert at the Music Hall in Fair Park, featuring The Dallas Opera Orchestra on Friday, October 31st, 2025. The event commemorates the 100th anniversary of the venue and is co-presented by Broadway Dallas. Amy Bishop recently spoke with Ian Derrer, TDO's Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO, about what to expect in this very unique event.

1 month ago

15 minutes 42 seconds

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: This cellist has two albums up for a GRAMMY this year

Cellist Matt Haimovitz has earned a reputation as a musical pioneer in today's classical music sphere. Two albums by the internationally renowned musician were recently nominated for GRAMMYs: "Schnittke Cello Concerto No.1" with the Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dennis Russell Davies, and "Jacqueline," Luna Pearl Woolf's opera with soprano Marnie Breckenridge. In this interview with WRR's Brooke Scholl, Haimovitz discusses the joys of playing these works, his special friendship with the late Jaqueline du Pre, and more.

1 month ago

17 minutes 58 seconds

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Windmills welcomes Caribbean jazz trumpeter Etienne Charles

Trinidad-born trumpeter Etienne Charles fuses Caribbean melodies with jazz to create his own distinct sound. He'll bring his Creole Soul group to Windmills Craftworks in The Colony October 11-12, 2025. In this feature, WRR's Amy Bishop speaks with the venue's Kira Goidel about the unique concert and dinner experience.

1 month ago

3 minutes 2 seconds

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Tenor Jonathan Tetelman previews his Fort Worth concert

Fort Worth Opera opens its 80th anniversary season with a rare stateside appearance by internationally acclaimed tenor Jonathan Tetelman. A Deutsche Grammophon recording artist and jet-setting leading man, Tetelman has captivated audiences with his warm, full-bodied tenor and ardent stage presence. On October 10, he takes the stage at Van Cliburn Concert Hall for a one-night-only event. Kurt Rongey spoke with Jonathan Tetelman about the early development of his voice, the challenges of opera singing and his links to Texas

1 month ago

5 minutes 22 seconds

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: This Fort Worth art fest continues to broaden its reach

Now in its fourth year, the Art Worth Festival has established itself as an annual arts and music destination for North Texas. In this conversation with the festival's founder Greg Belz, he talks about how Art Worth differs from the rest of the arts festivals in the region.

1 month ago

2 minutes 49 seconds

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Chatting with Anne Akiko Meyers ahead of her Texas visit

The Waco Symphony Orchestra opens their season with GRAMMY Award-winning violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, who will perform Barber's Violin Concerto in a program that also includes Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances and Dvorak's Carnival Overture. Ahead of Meyers' visit, she chatted with WRR's Brooke Scholl for a deeper dive into the music. Photo by Dina Douglass

1 month ago

22 minutes 17 seconds

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Chatting with Bernadette Peters ahead of her Plano Symphony concert

The Plano Symphony will perform in the Meyerson with Bernadette Peters on August 30. Here's Kurt Rongey in conversation with the Broadway star to give you a preview. She discusses what it’s like to sing with a large orchestra, her experiences working with Jerry Herman and Stephen Sondheim, and more.

3 months ago

3 minutes 55 seconds

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Texas Cellos and their ability to resonate with DFW audiences

"Twenty five cellists all playing together is a really unusual, beautiful sound," says Joseph Kuipers, Creative Director of Texas Cellos. In this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop, Kuipers gives an overview of the group's upcoming series of concerts, which includes a rousing rendition of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" and a marathon performance of the composer's complete sonatas for cello and piano.

4 months ago

2 minutes 57 seconds

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Meet TACA's 2025 Silver Cup recipients

“These two people lift up the arts ecosystem and they are the ones that deserve recognition," says Mike Dilbeck, Deputy Director of The Arts Community Alliance, commonly known as TACA. "A lot of the times, it’s the people behind the scenes that you don’t see, don’t hear about, but they are the ones that are most deserving.” This year's honorees are Gayle Halperin and Jim Nugent, who have been pillars of the North Texas arts community for decades. In this feature with Amy Bishop, Gayle and Jim share stories of receiving the news - and how they've seen the arts in Dallas flourish through the years.

4 months ago

3 minutes 58 seconds

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Why Basically Beethoven is a summer staple in DFW

“When we’re talking about local musicians, we’re talking about high level local musicians,” says Morgan Vaughan, Executive Director of Basically Beethoven, which is opening its annual summer festival of free chamber music performances in Dallas on Sunday, July 13, 2025. In this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop, Vaughan joins the organization's Production & Education Manager Jeff Tullis for an overview of the festival and the impact they're having on local music education.

4 months ago

4 minutes 3 seconds

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Mimir Fest returns with 7 concerts + 1 bonus program

During its 28-year history, Fort Worth's Mimir Chamber Music Festival has become a destination for classical music lovers every summer. In this feature with WRR's Amy Bishop, Mimir Founder and Executive Director Curt Thompson shares some of the highlights this year, which includes a bonus concert in collaboration with the Amon Carter Museum.

5 months ago

3 minutes 52 seconds

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: The Wilde side of Shakespeare in the Park 2025

Every summer, Shakespeare Dallas offers two very different shows during their Shakespeare in the Park series. This year, they're presenting a classic Shakespeare tragedy paired with a lighthearted "rom com" by Oscar Wilde. In this podcast, Shakespeare Dallas' Interim Executive & Artistic Director Jenni Stewart joins WRR's Amy Bishop for a deep dive into each production.

5 months ago

13 minutes 25 seconds

WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: John Jeter discusses his new Naxos release of works by Florence Price

"Her rediscovery has really been the biggest rediscovery of a composer," says Maestro John Jeter, referencing the music of 20th century African-American composer Florence Price. Jeter is the only music director who has recorded Price's repertoire in its entirety, and his new album on Naxos includes her concerti for violin, piano, and orchestral snapshots of Southern life. In this interview with WRR's Brooke Scholl, Jeter gives a sneak peek into the new recordings and shares why he is drawn to Price's music.

5 months ago

2 minutes 42 seconds