PODCAST

Piedmont Arts Podcast

WDAV Classical Public Radio

Interviews with artists, performers and community arts leaders.

music performing arts

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Steven LaCosse on the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont...

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/12/15

Pop singers have “American Idol” and “The Voice.” Country singers are competing on a new show called “The Road.” For up-and-coming opera talent, it’s all about the Laffont Competition. We talk with Artistic Director and Professor Steven LaCosse about the Metropolitan Opera’s annual search for the next great singers, and the North Carolina District portion of the Laffont Competition that’s coming to Charlotte in January.

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Exploring Jack Boul’s Legacy in a New Blowing Rock...

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/12/08

Artist Jack Boul loved to paint the world around him: people sitting on benches, urban streetscapes, cows in a pasture, and the mountain scenery of western North Carolina. Boul's work is included in collections at the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian, and the Library of Congress as well as other private and public collections. And now there’s an exhibition of his art at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum that highlights his special connection to the Blowing Rock/Boone area. It’s called

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Holiday Preview: Your Guide to Music, Theater, and...

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/12/01

On this Piedmont Arts podcast, Phil Vavra and Dan Drayer preview concerts, opera and dance performances, plays and musicals, as well as where to take in the big displays of festive lights across the region.

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Rory D. Sheriff on the Magic and Legacy of Be A Lion

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/11/24

BNS Productions (Brand New Sheriff Productions) is theater company based in Charlotte that presents award-winning performances highlighting the African American experience. They'll perform Be A Lion at the Booth Playhouse, a production that has been a favorite with Charlotte audiences for years. Inspired by The Wiz, Be A Lion is the creation of award-winning playwright, producer, and director Rory D. Sheriff, who is our guest on this Piedmont Arts podcast episode.

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Makayla Binter on Charlotte’s Murals, Plus an...

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/11/17

Drive around many Charlotte neighborhoods, and you’re likely to see murals. There are hundreds of them across the city bringing a vibrant quality to the urban landscape. For art lovers, they turn the city into an open-air gallery that can be enjoyed for free. On this episode, you can take a tour of some murals with Charlotte is Creative’s Makayla Binter, who is herself an artist. She shows us around Luminous Lane, a once grim alleyway between 3rd and 4th Streets in Uptown that has been transformed

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Kevin Hammonds and Tom Gabbard on 'The Magicians Table'

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/11/10

The Magicians Table is making its North American debut this month at Charlotte’s new venue, Blume Studios. Created in London, it’s a show about a legendary illusionist, his loving widow, and a cast of magicians who perform at your table. It may change your idea of what a magic show can be. Artist Kevin Hammonds and Blumenthal Arts’ CEO Tom Gabbard talk about this immersive experience.

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Clint Smith on "With These Hands", Plus "Mad About...

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/11/03

On October 24th, Davidson College dedicated a new sculpture called “With These Hands: A Memorial to the Enslaved and Exploited” by artist Hank Willis Thomas. It acknowledges those individuals who built the college and served the institution in numerous ways but whose story has rarely been included in the college’s history. Davidson graduate Clint Smith, an award-winning poet and author, talks about the sculpture’s significance for Davidson and the larger community. We also learn about the 2025 “Mad

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Eastern Music Festival’s Farewell and Opera...

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/10/27

After 64 years, the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro is closing. The festival, which has been an important part of the Triad and the state’s cultural life, is ending due to failed negotiations between faculty artists, staff, and the EMF Board. We get the perspectives of both faculty and staff representatives on why talks broke down. We also talk with Dr. Shanté Williams of Opera Carolina about their “Night to Remember” concert that features arias by Puccini’s heroines.

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Mthuthuzeli November on the Charlotte Ballet

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/10/20

Charlotte Ballet kicks off a new season with "Fall Works," a program of three contemporary ballets at the Knight Theater. The show includes the world premiere of "As I Am" by South African choreographer Mthuthuzeli November. We talked with November about the inspiration for the ballet and preview the program's other exciting works.

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Sean Smith on "The Wolf" & "Art on Prescription"

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/10/13

A new symphony takes the spotlight as the Charlotte Civic Orchestra presents the premiere of Symphony No. 1, “The Wolf” by rising local composer Sean Michael Smith at Central Piedmont’s Dale Halton Theater. We talk with Smith about his creative journey and debut work, then hear how the Bechtler Museum and Novant Health are blending art and wellness through their inspiring new “Art on Prescription” partnership.

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Spotlighting Theatre Charlotte & Tango CLT

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/10/06

Theatre Charlotte is now in its 98th season of engaging, entertaining, and enlightening audiences of all ages. Artistic Director Chris Timmons talks about which shows are hitting the stage this season, including a special appearance at WDAV’s Small Batch Concert. Plus, hear an interview with the folks organizing Una Noche Entre Suenos, an afternoon of Tango music and dance coming to Charlotte.

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Liz Brigham and Rick Thurmond on Confluence and...

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/09/29

Confluence, the Carolinas’ music industry conference, brings together artists, entrepreneurs, and fans for daytime panels and nightly concerts across Charlotte. Host Rachel Stewart talks with organizers Rick Thurmond and Liz Brigham about how the event supports the region’s thriving independent music scene, the collaborative spirit behind its growth, and the mix of live showcases. Highlights include a keynote with Grammy president Panos Panay and performances by emerging artists you’ll want to

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David Gordon on the Stateline Community Orchestra

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/09/22

Founded in 2022, the Stateline Community Orchestra is based in Pineville, North Carolina. On this episode of Piedmont Arts, Phil Vavra speaks with the orchestra’s conductor, David Gordon, about what it’s like to work with a talented and dedicated group of volunteer musicians who come from all walks of life. You’ll also get a preview of their upcoming schedule and hear about other cultural happenings to put on your calendar in the Charlotte region.

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A Preview of Indie Films and Small Batch Baroque

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/09/15

The Charlotte Film Festival was started in 2006 to give established and emerging filmmakers a place to showcase their work. After 19 years, it’s still going strong. This year’s festival is at the International Picture House and promises a diverse line up of full and short-length features, documentaries, and animated films. Host Rachel Stewart talks with festival organizers Jay Morong and Taylor Montalto about what’s on offer this year. She also chats with David Wilson, concertmaster of North

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David Fisk on the Charlotte Symphony Season, Plus a...

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/09/08

The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra’s 2025-26 season gets underway at its annual Gala concert on September 18th with a very special guest. The CSO’s President and Chief Executive Officer, David Fisk, tells us all about that and some other upcoming highlights from the season. Plus, a preview of new Visual Arts offerings across our region and the weekly FanFare segment to help you fill out your events calendar.Learn more about the Charlotte Symphony

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Alejandro Cerrudo on the Charlotte Ballet

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/09/01

Charlotte Ballet's new season begins in October. We talk with artistic director Alejandro Cerrudo about what you'll see - from a world premiere by a South African choreographer to "The Nutcracker" to Cerrudo's own full length ballet, "One Thousand Pieces" in May.

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Joseph Mechavich and Opera in the Carolinas

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/08/25

Piedmont Opera has a new interim artistic director, Joseph Mechavich, who has put together a varied and innovative ‘25/’26 season. It includes everything from an unusual, immersive production of Pagliacci to a concert by Grammy-award winning soprano Karen Slack. We talk with Mechavich about the season and the importance of opera and the arts to our communities. Rachel Stewart and Phil Vavra also preview the seasons of other opera companies in the region.

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Three Bone Theater on "Electricidad"

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/08/18

Three Bone Theatre’s mission is unique among Charlotte’s theater companies. They focus on contemporary works centered around diversity and social justice that can be a catalyst for change in the community. Three Bone’s current production is “Electricidad,” a retelling of the ancient Greek tragedy, “Elektra,” in a modern-day Chicano setting. We talk to “Electricidad’s” director, Glynnis O’Donoghue, and Three Bone leaders Robin Tynes-Miller and Tiffany Bryant-Jackson.Learn more about Three Bone

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Meredith Thompson on 25 Years of Charlotte Pride

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/08/11

In 2025, Charlotte Pride celebrates 25 years of LGBTQ arts and culture with the annual Charlotte Pride Festival in its new location at First Ward Park. On this Piedmont Arts podcast, we hear from the Managing Director of Charlotte Pride, Meredith Thompson, about what we can expect during the 2025 festival and parade.Learn more about the Charlotte Pride Parade

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Jen McGivney on “Finding Your Walden”

Piedmont Arts Podcast ·

2025/08/04

Henry David Thoreau’s Walden was written in 1854 but has lessons for life in the 21st century. In her new book Finding Your Walden, Charlotte author Jen McGivney explores how the ideas in Walden can help people navigate modern life—from career crossroads to everyday overwhelm—with more clarity and intention.

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