Special Programs: Upcoming Community and Cultural Programs

Airs Monday, May 20 at 11 a.m. This week on the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra conductor  Manfred Honeck is joined by violinist Nikolaij Znaider for a performance of the Violin Concerto by Jean Sibelius. Also on the program Steven Stucky’s Silent Spring and the Symphony No. 6, “Pathetique” by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Airs Tuesday, April 30 at 9 p.m. A powerhouse behind the drum kit, John Hollenbeck is also becoming one of the great composer-bandleaders of the age. After last year's large ensemble show, he returns to Newport with his unusual small group, the Claudia Quintet (and a sixth member on piano). The band's latest release What Is The Beautiful? sets poems by Kenneth Patchen to music; much like the album, vocalists Kurt Elling and Theo Bleckmann stand and deliver on stage.

Airs Monday, April 29 at 11 a.m.  This week conductor Manfred Honeck is joined on stage by baritone Thomas Hampson and soprano Chen Reiss for Antonin Dvorak’s Biblical Songs and Johannes Brahms’ A German Requiem.

Airs Thursday, April 25 at 8 p.m. The sound of the Hammond B3 organ with a Leslie speaker evolved in mid 20th century America through a range of music genre's that included blues, rock, gospel and most notably, jazz. Many of the finest players on the instrument were jazz musicians and the trail they blazed is still being traveled today. During this hour we'll hear from one of today's masters, Ike Stubblefield, whose original sound on the instrument reflects not only his love for jazz but also the influence of the church, R&B, and his years play with Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. He'll be joined for this concert by his trio and Marcus Printup on Trumpet and Wycliff Gordon on Trombone.

Bill Beckett is joined by Gloria Gipson, Executive Director of the Theatre of the Performing Arts of Shreveport, Jazz Violinist Michael Ward and Jazz Saxophonist Pamela Williams to talk about the 11th annual Yazzy Youth Celebration Jazz Concert which takes place Friday, April 26th at 7  p.m. at the Riverview Theatre in Shreveport.