Keep in touch with upcoming musical events as local, regional, national, and international musicians and artists visit the Classic FM studios. Interviews and live performances inform and entertain you! Follow WCNY on Facebook and Twitter to learn of upcoming Live at WCNY Radio Events, with host Diane Jones.
Live at WCNY – On the Radio!
Diane Jones Diane Jones is your mid-day host weekdays from 10 am to 2 pm. An active composer, she has received commissions from nationally and internationally-recognized musicians and ensembles, as well as completing 5 residencies in Syracuse area schools, introducing young musicians to composition. Diane performs regularly with Samba Laranja and the Central New York Flute Choir, and her music has been featured on two SAMMY-award winning CDs. Follow Diane on Twitter (@ComposerJones) and Facebook (PetDragonMusic) for more about her programming and her music.
Barry Torres Founder & Director of Schola Cantorum
Barry Torres joined mid-day host Diane Jones live via phone to talk about the next concert from Schola Cantorum of Syracuse, Salve Regina. He talked about the history of these settings of the Marian Antiphon, and their place in the liturgy. Also on tap is the Summer Workshop for Singers hosted by the ensemble every year, and Barry gave us an idea of what his “dream concert” would be.
More information on Schola Cantorum can be found here.
Allan Kolsky, principal clarinet with Symphoria, stopped into the Classic FM studios to talk about his concert titled “Music of Love and Loss.” The concert honors loved ones who have passed on, and each piece has a deep meeting for Kolsky. Also in the studio, composer Marc Satterwhite, who composed two of the works Kolsky will perform. They shared some of their music with mid-day host Diane Jones, and talked about about other performances that have moved them.
Details about the concert at Temple Concord are available here.
The LaVeck Concert Series is dedicated to ensuring classical music is available to everyone. Their concerts are casual, come-as-you-are events, in a friendly atmosphere. Pianists and LaVeck artistic director Robert Auler came to the Classic FM studios with three other outstanding musicians, all of whom will be performing on the next concert. Mid-day host Diane Jones welcomed the group for conversation and a live preview of just a few of the works from the concert. We welcomed:
Robert Auler, pianist and artistic director, LaVeck Concerts
Jillian Honn, oboe
Trevor Jorgensen, clarinet
Tim Lanigan, vocalist
Also performing on the next concert are Duo Canfield, and Lauren Becker, horn.
You can learn more about LaVeck Concerts on their website.
Barb Bridgers conducts the Central New York Flute Choir
Flutist and musical director Barbara Bridgers of the Central New York Flute Choir joined mid-day host Diane Jones to chat about the group’s upcoming Annual Spring Concert. We talked about the program (including a world premiere for Contrabass Flute and Flute Choir), and the joys of playing in an ensemble like this.
You can learn more about the Central New York Flute Choir on their Facebook page and their website.
The Geneva Music Festival begins its seventh season on June 1st, and festival founder and artistic director Geoffrey Herd joined mid-day host Diane Jones to talk about what’s in store. Also joining the conversation were GMF musicians Eliot Heaton, violin; Eric Wong, viola; and Max Geissler, cello. They are in town early for several outreach programs in conjunction with the festival. Take a listen, and you’ll even find out about the time Eric performed with former Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice!
Many thanks to Greg Cotterill at WEOS for hosting the GMF guests at their station, and setting up our remote feed.
You can find out more about the Geneva Music Festival at their website.
(Due to a minor technical error, the audio for this interview begins immediately after our introductions. But don’t worry — the details of the festival are recapped at the end of the interview!)
Liamna Pestana and Daniel Yost joined mid-day host Diane Jones in the WCNY Studios, sharing music and conversation with the Classic FM listeners. Playing a Spanish Baroque guitar and vihuela that Daniel made, they sang and played several Spanish Renaissance works. They will be the guest artists at the next Schola Cantorum concert, and Maria De Angelis from Schola Cantorum spoke to us about the ensemble and what is next for them.
To learn more about Schola Cantorum, visit their website here. You may also learn more about Liamna and Daniel on their Facebook page, here.
The Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Chorus is presenting a concert of “Women In Song” this weekend, and member Earl Taylor stopped by the Classic FM studios to talk to mid-day host Diane Jones about the concert, and about the chorus.
Symphoria ends it’s 2016-17 concert season with guest Philippe Quint, playing the Barber Violin Concerto. Philippe has 15 CDs, two of which received Grammy nominations. He stopped into the Classic FM studios to chat with mid-day host Diane Jones about the concert, and his 1708 Stradivarius violin, “Ruby.”
Learn more about Philippe Quint here, and the Symphoria concert here.
Linda Chesis Founder & Artistic Director Cooperstown Summer Music Festival
The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival opens with it’s Spring Concert this weekend. Founder and Artistic Director Linda Chesis joined mid-day host Diane Jones to talk about the upcoming concert, as well as the summer season of music at the festival. It’s an exciting season ahead, and you can learn all about it right here!
The American String Quartet will be closing the season with the Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music this weekend. Violist Daniel Avshalomov joined mid-day host Diane Jones live via telephone to talk about the concert, including the Syracuse premiere of George Tsontakis’ “String Quartet 7.5”
As sometimes happens with remote interviews, the technology gremlins pounced, and Daniel was, unfortunately, disconnected. But not before providing some wonderful insight into this concert, collaborating with guest pianist Anton Nel, and the balance of music both new and familiar.
You can learn more about this concert at www.SyracuseFriendsOfChamberMusic.org, and about the American String Quartet at www.AmericanStringQuartet.com
We welcomed pianist Jon Kimura Parker to the WCNY studios, to talk about his concerts with Symphoria this weekend. Jon talked with mid-day host Diane Jones about the Grieg Piano Concerto, and about his experiences performing in war-torn Sarajevo in 1995. Be sure to listen to this marvelous interview.
More information about this concert is available at ExperienceSymphoria.org. Learn more about Jon Kimura Parker at www.JonKimuraParker.com
Maestro Lawrence Loh of Symphoria stopped into the Classic FM studios to chat with mid-day host Diane Jones. Find out about the concerts coming up for the rest of this season, and about the exciting 2017-18 season for Symphoria. Maestro Loh also tells us a bit about just how a season of music is planned, and the challenges of performing in unusual spaces,
Jeffrey Siegel returns to Utica this weekend for another Keyboard Conversations. He spoke with mid-day host Diane Jones about “Keys to the Classics,” and the marvelous relationships between Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.
Albert Nocciolino is not only president and CEO of Famous Artists Broadway in Syracuse, he is also a Tony Award-winning producer! He stopped into the Classic FM studios to talk to mid-day host Diane Jones about the next shows coming to town, and why these touring shows are a great economic benefit to Syracuse.
Director Valerie Rachelle has returned to Syracuse for the third time, to direct the Syracuse Opera production of “Eugene Onegin.” She stopped into the studio to chat with mid-day host Diane Jones about this production, as well as her directing style.
The Syracuse Opera presents “Eugene Onegin” this Friday and Sunday. For details and tickets, visit www.SyracuseOpera.org.
One of the most versatile and prolific composers of the Renaissance, Orlando di Lasso, is the focus of the next Schola Cantorum concert. Founder and Music Director Barry Torres spoke to mid-day host Diane Jones about this concert, about Lassus, and gave us a peek into what is next for Schola.
Kathleen Rathbun Founder/Artistic Director Syracuse City Ballet
The Syracuse City Ballet celebrates its 20th season with a step back in time. “Snow White” was the very first production of the SCB, and is an original ballet conceived and choreographed by founder and artistic director, Kathleen Rathbun. Two of the lead dancers in this production were in that original production, and mid-day host Diane Jones had a chance to chat with Kathleen about this production and how it has evolved over time.
For tickets and information about this production, visit the Syracuse City Ballet website.
The Chamber Music Society of Utica will be hosting the Minetti Quartet and guest artist Andreas Klein in concert on Sunday, February 26th. Mid-day host Diane Jones had the chance to speak to Andreas about the Robert Schumann Piano Quintet, as well as his time spent in the recording studio and on the road.
For tickets and information about this and upcoming Chamber Music Society of Utica concerts, visit their website.
With three opportunities to see this year’s Vision of Sound program, it was great to have composer Paul Leary stop into the WCNY studios to talk about his piece, collaborating with choreographer Rose Beauchamp, and what it takes to compose electronic versus acoustic music. It’s all part of this year’s collaboration with the Society for New Music and Syracuse Symposium. If you missed the live broadcast, be sure to take a listen!
Vision of Sound: (Making) Place has three upcoming performances: Friday 2/17 at 7:30pm in Syracuse, Sunday 2/19 at 3:00pm at SUNY-Oswego, and Sunday 2/26 at 3:00pm at Hamilton College. Details can be found right here.
Christian Capocaccia In rehearsal for Syracuse Opera’s “Rigoletto” Photo by Steven Stull
Christian Capocaccia, music director for the upcoming Syracuse Opera production of Verdi’s Rigoletto, chatted with mid-day host Diane Jones about this exciting production. This is his second collaboration with Syracuse Opera (he conducted “La Boheme” last season), and he is thrilled with the talented cast that has been assembled. He also spoke about the importance of arts in the community and in our lives!
More information about Syracuse Opera can be found here.
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra violinist Shem Guibbory and Hamilton College pianist Sar-Shalom Strong visited the WCNY studios to talk about their upcoming residency at Hamilton. Collaborating with photographer Peter Laytin, Shem has programmed a wonderful concert including Georges Enescu’s “Impressions d’enfance” in a multi-media performance with Laytin’s works. We also talked about Shem’s “Journey of 100,” and the time Sar judged a competition sponsored by NASA.
More information about the residency at Hamilton College can be found here. You may also learn more about “Memories and Reflections,” the collaboration with Peter Laytin, as well as “A Journey of 100” here.
Erik Kibelsbeck Musical Director, Onondaga Civic Symphony Orchestra
Maestro Erik Kibelsbeck joined mid-day host Diane Jones via phone to tell us all about the upcoming concert from the Onondaga Civic Symphony Orchestra. This community orchestra presents four concerts every year, and the next concert will be performed in Syracuse and in Ithaca! The concert is titled “One, Two, Three” (you’ll have to listen to find out why!), and features organist Jeffrey Snedeker, as well as violinists Steve Levine and Brenna Ogilvie.
For information about the Onondaga Civic Symphony Orchestra season, visit their website here.
It was a full house in the FM studios! Saturday evening, the Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music will be presenting their Mid-Winter Concert, and Diane Jones welcomed John Oberbrunner and Barbara Haas from the SFCM board, along with Jon Garland, horn, and Jon English, tenor, to learn more. The concert features 3 Bs – but not the ones you may be thinking of! Music of Leonard Bernstein, Benjamin Britten, and Johannes Brahms, presented by an incredibly talented group of Central New York musicians will fill the stage.
Visit the Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music website (here) for tickets and more information.
Composer Tom Cipullo stopped in to the FM studios today. He is here as part of the Baker Guest Artist Series at Syracuse University as they present a program of three short operas by leading American composers this weekend. Tom’s 10-minute opera, “Lucy,” will be included the program. “Lucy” is the story of “an elderly woman visited by a strange apparition.” Tom will also be conducting a forum and masterclass on Wednesday, January 25.
We spoke about the residency, as well as his opera “Glory Denied” (which opened Syracuse Opera’s 2015-16 season), and what draws him to vocal music. Eric Johnson from Syracuse University joined Tom and mid-day host Diane Jones.
Details on this weekend’s performances are available at: vpa.syr.edu/calendar.
Composer and Brian Israel Prizewinner Ryan Chase joined host Diane Jones in the Classic FM studios. He talked about his music, and the challenges of balancing composing, conducting, and performing. He also explained the origin of his piece, “repeat a lie often enough,” which will be performed live on Sunday, January 22 at 2:30 at the Society for New Music concert, “Music Here & Now.”
Barry Torres Founder & Director of Schola Cantorum
Barry Torres stopped by the Classic FM studios to chat with Diane Jones about the upcoming Schola Cantorum concert. We also talked about the joys and challenges of putting together an early music concert, and some of the differences in style from the classical works we hear so often in a concert hall. You’ll also hear a bit of music from last year’s Christmas concert. Take a listen!
Kathleen Rathbun, founder and artistic director of the Syracuse City Ballet, visited the Classic FM studios to chat about this weekend’s performances of The Nutcracker Ballet. She and mid-day host Diane Jones talked about some of updates she has incorporated into this year’s performance, including the addition of brother Fritz in Clara’s adventures, and the addition of the Spanish dance. We also talked about the Outreach efforts of SCB – did you know this year over 3,500 school children will experience “The Children’s Nutcracker,” a one-hour abbreviated presentation that introduces them to the ballet?
Jay Campbell, cello; David Fulmer, violin; Robert Auler, piano
The LaVeck Concert Series is going strong in Pulaski, NY. Founder and Artistic Director Robert Auler, along with violinist/composer/conductor David Fulmer, stopped by the WCNY studios to chat about the next concert in the series, and to entertain us with a bit of Mozart while they were here. Take a listen, and get some insight into performing as a trio, and find out David’s thoughts about the pros and cons of electronic and acoustic music.
On Thursday evening, audiences can enjoy the one-act opera, “The Classical Style,” with music by Steven Stucky and libretto by Jeremy Denk. (This is the last large-scale work by Stucky prior to his death in 2016.) This is the third performance presented by the Society for New Music, and Eric Johnson (who plays Beethoven) and Danan Tsan (who plays Sub-Dominant) joined mid-day host Diane Jones in the studio to chat about this production. Listen in to find out what makes this opera unique!
Soprano Janet Brown and pianist Ida Tili-Trebicka stopped into the Classic FM studios this morning to chat about this Sunday’s tribute concert, presented by Civic Morning Musicals. A tribute to the Centenary of Helen Boatwright’s birth, the concert features former students, friends, and relatives of this wonderful Soprano and Syracuse arts advocate. We also played a couple of short works recorded by Helen. Diane Jones is your host!
Bass-baritone David John Pike divides his time between Canada and Luxembourg. This week, he will be back in Kingston, ON, for a concert of both pop and classical music, called “Your Songs.” Take a listen as he tells mid-day host Diane Jones just how that program came o be, and the differences in how he approaches these works.
Yunn-Shan Ma New Artistic Director of the Syracuse Vocal Ensemble
The Syracuse Vocal Ensemble welcomes their new Artistic Director to the podium this weekend! Yunn-Shan Ma stopped by the WCNY-FM Studios to chat with mid-day host Diane Jones about the concert, the upcoming season, and tell us how a chance encounter put a baton in her hand and introduced her into the world of conducting.
We welcomed David Neal to the Classic FM studios on Thursday. David is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Arts at Grace in Cortland, and has been presenting concerts there for 13 seasons. He talked with mid-day host Diane Jones about the upcoming concert of music by composer Robert Paterson (including a world premiere!), the current season of the Arts at Grace, and brought some music for us to enjoy.
Maestro Fabio Mechetti (photo credit: Andre Fossati)
Maestro Fabio Mechetti took time out from rehearsals with Symphoria to stop by the Classic FM studios for a chat. We talked about tomorrow’s concert, working with soloists, and building an orchestra from the ground up! Take a listen….
Maestro Mechetti conducts Symphoria, with guest artist, pianist Valentina Lisitsa, on Saturday, October 8 at 7:30 pm. Details are here.
Mid-day host Diane Jones welcomed Jonathan Chai, Artistic Director, and Barbara Haas, Publicity Director, from the Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music for a noontime chat at the Classic FM studios. They spoke about the upcoming season, including the 23rd appearance of the Juilliard String Quartet, who will once again present the opening concert for this season.
The concert is Saturday, October 1 at 7:30 pm. Details are here.
Heldentenor Jon Fredric West joined mid-day host Diane Jones in the Classic FM studios to talk about his celebration of 50 years of performing! He tells the listeners about learning to care for his voice as a teenager, singing six performances of the Ring Cycle at the Met, and shares a little of his Irish heritage through song.
Jon will be giving a recital at Hamilton College on Saturday, 9/24 at 7:30 pm. Details are here.
The Syracuse City Ballet celebrates its 20th Anniversary Season this year, and they are kicking it off with an “Intimate Evening with the Syracuse City Ballet” this Thursday night. SCB Founder & Artistic Director, Kathleen Rathbun, and Stephanie Dattellas, Ballet Mistress & Company Manager, joined Diane Jones in the Classic FM studio to talk about this event, and the upcoming SCB season.
To learn more about the Syracuse City Ballet, including details and tickets for any of their events, visit their website.
Stephanie Dattellas (L) and Kathleen Rathbun in the Classic FM studio.
Eric Reed and John Rojak from the American Brass Quintet joined host Diane Jones by phone from their classroom at Juilliard in advance of their Sunday concert at Colgate University. Listen as they describe how they plan a program, mentor young musicians, and more.
The American Brass Quintet website can be viewed here.
We welcomed Bob Oddy from Civic Morning Musicals into the Classic FM studios to bring us up to date on the new season. CMM brings you free noontime recitals every Wednesday at the Everson Museum of Art, and a regular season of full concerts, along with youth competitions every year. And this season, they are celebrating the recently refurbished Steinway pianos (yes, two of them!) that are used at almost every concert! Visit the Civic Morning Musicals website right here.
Jeffrey Siegel will be bringing his Keyboard Conversations to Central New York again this coming Saturday, 9/10. Mid-day host Diane Jones had a chance to chat with Jeffrey about his 26th season at the Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute, and this Saturday’s concert, “Fiesta!” You can learn more about Jeffrey Siegel and Keyboard Conversations here.
The Jewell Trio has been a fixture at A Little Summer Music in Vienna since it’s founding 8 years ago. The members of the Jewell Trio – Peter Rovit, violin; Sar Shalom Strong, piano; and Gregory Wood, cello – chatted with host Diane Jones in the WCNY studios and gave a wonderful performance! Some of our WCNY staff were in the audience, and were treated to excerpts from Debussy, Babandjanian, and a rousing Beethoven finale. Details on the concert series can be found on their Facebook page.
Now in it’s 8th season, A Little Summer Music in Vienna brings a varied concert series to Vienna, NY every Sunday in August. Steve Carpenter and Sar Shalom Strong, organizers of the festival, dropped into the WCNY studios to chat with host Diane Jones about this week’s concert. Sar even brought along some excerpts from the Lafayette Road Chamber Players’ rehearsal a few days ago, just to whet your appetite for Sunday’s concert. Details on the concert series can be found on their Facebook page.
The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival goes into full swing beginning August 5, 2016. Festival founder and artistic director Linda Chesis joins host Diane Jones to talk about this year’s events. There’s Elizabethan lute music, a 100th birthday celebration of Frank Sinatra, a troupe of Flamenco dancers, and a marvelous gathering of musicians performing chamber works – something to please everyone! Listen to the interview, then head to www.CooperstownMusicFest.org for complete festival information and tickets.
Every year, the Cazenovia Counterpoint Festival of Music and Arts presents two “Rising Stars” afternoon concerts, showcasing up and coming musicians from Central New York. This year, three former Rising Stars returned to Cazenovia for an evening concert. Two of those alumni, tenor Dominick Corbacio and violinist Shelby Dems, stopped by the Classic FM studios to talk about their music and the excitement of revisiting some of their original Rising Stars music, now with a more secure and mature perspective.
(Diane notes: “I must apologize! I was having so much fun catching up with Dominick and Shelby that I started the recording a bit late. We join the interview in progress as Dominick explains how he was originally chosen as a Rising Star in 2007.”)
Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome! It’s the 50th Anniversary of Kander & Ebb’s “Cabaret,” and host Diane Jones welcomed cast members from the Syracuse Summer Theatre at the Oncenter production to the WCNY studios to sing and chat about this inaugural production. Garrett Heater (artistic director, production director, and “Emcee”), CJ Roche (“Cliff”), and Kit Kat Klub dancers Cassie Angerosa, Chelsea Colton, and Lauren Puente, sang for us, accompanied by music director Bridget Moriarty. (More information for this production available on Facebook)
Co-artistic directors Julia Bruskin and Aaron Wunsch joined host Diane Jones in the WCNY Studios to chat about the upcoming Skaneateles Festival, and to play some wonderful live music as well! More information about the Skaneateles Festival can be found here.
What happens when Art and Science intersect? Find out, as Dr. Mark Bowick, Director of the Soft Matter Program at Syracuse University, and Dr. Andrew Waggoner, Chairman of the Composition Department at the SU Setnor School of Music, collaborate. “Hexacorda Mollia” received its premiere during a 4-day international conference on Soft Matter, hosted by Syracuse University.
Linda Chesis, flutist and founder of the Cooperstown Chamber Music Festival, visited by phone to talk about her weekend concert, and give listeners a hint of the summer festival that is just around the corner.
Diane Jones welcomed Catherine Underhill, Managing Director of Symphoria, to the Classic FM studios. They chatted about the end of the current season, and what audiences can look forward to in 2016-17.
Live at WCNY welcomed the Neave Trio in the second of our Fall Concert Series. This talented trio delighted our in-studio audience with music and conversation. The performance was hosted by Classic FM morning host, Bruce Paulsen.
Matt Haimovitz kicked off the Fall Concert Series in 2015 with a wonderful performance of the Bach Cello Sonata No. 1. This was his first stop on a program presenting all 6 cello sonatas plus six newly commissioned works in four locations in Central New York – in just 2 days!
