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If you're into weird Pittsburgh history, women's soccer, or local music, this is the month for you! The City Cast Pittsburgh team is sharing our favorite ways to explore the city in May, from snagging a free beer on your bike ride to work to trying strawberry pretzel salad-inspired dishes. And if you're looking for even more to do this spring, check out our roundup of the best food and drink festivals. If you're new here, welcome! We've put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Pittsburgh community. Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm. City Cast Pittsburgh's Guide to May is made possible by our awesome sponsors: Pittsburgh Opera, Liberty Magic, Union Project, and Aura Frames (get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST). Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Reach us at pittsburgh@citycast.fm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Pittsburgh Regional Transit is meeting this week to talk about a proposal that could overhaul our entire local transportation system. Adam Smeltz, reporting for PublicSource, found the agency may increase fares, cut service, and scrap its Bus Line Redesign to address a possible $100 million deficit. He joins us to discuss how we ended up here and whether it's still possible to stave off changes. PRT is releasing its official proposal tomorrow at 8:30am. Register here to watch online or catch it in person on the 5th floor of the Heinz 57 Center Downtown. If you enjoyed today's interview with Pittsburgh Opera's Director of Marketing and Communications, Chris Cox, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 19th episode: Pittsburgh Opera Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Just like every other city, we have our quirks and unwritten rules. Like why is someone turning left instead of yielding to me at the green light? And what's up with that rickety old chair sitting in front of my neighbor's house? The City Cast Pittsburgh team is sharing our essential rules for surviving and thriving in the city. If you enjoyed today's interview with Pittsburgh Opera's Director of Marketing and Communications, Chris Cox, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 12th episode: The Frick Pittsburgh Museums and Gardens KESEM Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Love is in the air and everyone's going wild about a local groundhog — it's (almost) February in Pittsburgh! There's so much to celebrate in our city, from Valentine's Day to Black History Month to three different soup competitions. We're sharing our favorite ways to experience Pittsburgh this month, whether you're looking to make your own fancy valentine or just sit back and enjoy some short films. And if you're trying to figure out where to eat this month, check out our episode about Pittsburgh restaurants to try in 2025. If you're new here, welcome! We've put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Pittsburgh community. We're doing a survey to learn more about our listeners. We'd be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey—it's only 7 minutes long. You'll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast City swag. City Cast Pittsburgh's guide to December is made possible by our awesome sponsors The Frick Pittsburgh Museums and Gardens, Pittsburgh Opera, Pitt Athletics, and Pittsburgh Marathon (Use code CITYCAST15 for 15% off any event). We're also powered by our members, who enjoy an ad-free version of the show. Find out more about how to become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Reach us at pittsburgh@citycast.fm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How do we learn from the past to change the future? This bonus is an excerpt of Charlton's interview with Matthew Ozawa, stage director for the New York premiere of Angel Island at BAM produced by Beth Morrison Productions. In this clip, Matthew shares how his first experience on Angel Island and personal family history inspired the staging of the Prototype Festival staging. And Charlton describes how this project has shifted his own relationship to the energy of the Immigration Station detention barracks. As Matthew says, “This is now gonna exist for all times, for so many generations and people to experience, to think about, to learn about their history in a way that pre this piece, probably people didn't even know about... And this is why we make art.” Matthew has some exciting productions on the horizon for 2025 including Puccini's Madama Butterfly with Pittsburgh Opera in March and with Utah Opera in May. You can follow Matthew's work at matthewozawa.com. Connect with Del Sol Quartet DelSolQuartet.com Del Sol Quartet on Spotify Facebook Instagram YouTube This episode is a bonus from the "Angel Island" season of Sounds Current. If you haven't already, we encourage you to go back to "Part 1: A Haunting History" and listen to the full 4-part story. Sounds Current is produced and edited by The Creative Impostor Studios and hosted by Charlton Lee.
Our fall campaign is happening now! It takes a lot to keep City Cast Pittsburgh and Hey Pittsburgh running strong. Your membership helps us cover the cost of bringing you the local stories you care about. If you believe in what we do, become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh today. Every member makes a difference! It's always the right time to warm up at a bar with your favorite cocktail, but learning how to make your own at home can be a lot harder. Thankfully, there's plenty of classes and cocktail tours around Pittsburgh that'll get you in the spirit and teach you how to be your own bartender. Plus, we're saying goodbye to some longtime restaurants, but there's new modern Indian food, margaritas, steaks, and a TV-loving hot dog cart all around town. If you enjoyed today's interview with Pittsburgh Opera's Director of Marketing and Communications, Chris Cox, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this October 3rd episode: Pittsburgh Opera Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're also on Instagram @CityCastPgh! Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's officially October, which means it's time to bundle up in a sweater and head out to a pumpkin patch — or dress up in an elaborate costume and sip a cocktail that looks like it's made out of blood. Our team is sharing some of our favorite ways to enjoy Pittsburgh month, from fall hikes to haunted houses to Halloween dance parties. And if you're looking for even more recommendations, don't miss our recent episode about the best fall festivals in our region. Our fall campaign is happening now! It takes a lot to keep City Cast Pittsburgh and Hey Pittsburgh running strong. Your membership helps us cover the cost of bringing you the local stories you care about. If you believe in what we do, become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh today. Every member makes a difference! If you're new here, welcome! We've put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Pittsburgh community. City Cast Pittsburgh's guide to October is made possible by our awesome sponsor, Pittsburgh Opera. We're also powered by our members, who enjoy an ad-free version of the show. Find out more about how to become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Reach us at pittsburgh@citycast.fm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There's so much to experience in the city – we've got museums, shows, sports, and more. But the price of tickets can stack up quickly if you're going out every week. Producer Sophia Lo is telling Executive Producer Mallory Falk about all the ways we can enjoy everything Pittsburgh has to offer on a budget. Need to grab some food while you're out? Check out these $10 meals, and if it also happens to be your birthday, make sure you're signed up for the right rewards programs to get your local birthday freebies. The Museums for All map lists the local museums where ACCESS and ACCESS EBT cardholders can get $3 tickets. If you enjoyed today's interview with Pittsburgh Opera's Director of Marketing and Communications, Chris Cox, learn more here. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
American tenor, Bryan Register, has received great critical acclaim for his portrayal of roles including Tristan, Lohengrin and Enée, and has performed in many of the most prestigious theatres in Europe including, the Bavarian State Opera, the Semperoper Dresden, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, The Opéra Bastille and La Monnaie. In the 2022/23 season he sang Verdi's Otello with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marco Boemi, and returned to the roles of Florestan in Fidelio at the Nationale Reisopera in the Netherlands, as well as Tristan in the new production at Cottbus State Theater and in a concert performance with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Xalapa in Mexico. Also in the upcoming season 2023/24, he will be singing the male titular lead in Tristan und Isolde, this time at the Aalto Theater in Essen. Amongst others, he will also appear as Parsifal with the Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España under the baton of David Afkham and as Erik in Der Fliegende Holländer at Pittsburgh Opera. My gratitude goes out to Hannah Boissonneault who edits our Masterclass episodes and to Juanitos and Scott Holmes for the music featured in this episode. You can help support the creation of these episodes when you join the Sybaritic Camerata on Patreon. Get started at patreon.com/mezzoihnen. Be on the Studio Class Podcast Megan Ihnen is a professional mezzo-soprano, teacher, writer, and arts entrepreneur who is passionate about helping other musicians and creative professionals live their best lives. Studio Class is an outgrowth of her popular #29DaystoDiva series from The Sybaritic Singer. Let your emerging professionals be part of the podcast! Invite Megan to your studio class for a taping of an episode. Your students ask questions and informative, fun conversation ensues. Special Guest: Bryan Register.
It's the Friday news roundup! Change is in store for some big summer events: Pride is moving back to the North Side, and the city isn't sponsoring the annual Juneteenth celebration at Point State Park. Plus, Pittsburgh is expanding the controversial ShotSpotter technology into a new neighborhood, and a local company is sending self-driving tractor trailers onto a Texas highway. We always cite our sources: Pittsburgh Pride organizers told KDKA-TV that they're moving back to the North Side after they were denied access to Point State Park, but the state claims they didn't submit a completed application. The news outlet QBurgh, which is part of the Pride planning group, says it has filed complaints with the state's LGBTQ Commission over “institutional barriers.” Juneteenth is still taking place at Point State Park, but the city is not sponsoring it this year, and the Black Musical Festival has been canceled. The Pittsburgh-based company Aurora Innovation will be putting self-driving tractor trailers on the road later this year – but for now, only on I-45 in Texas. Pittsburgh City Council approved a contract expansion with the company behind ShotSpotter; the technology will now be installed in Carrick. Don't miss our episode about ShotSpotter, and PublicSource's primer on Pittsburgh's history with the controversial technology Check out the lineup for Allegheny County's free summer concert series at South Park and Hartwood Acres We talked about the Steelers' report card on a previous show; players had gripes about a lot of things, including their training facility. Now the space has received a major upgrade. Sign up to meet the team and celebrate women's role in journalism at the Heinz History Center this Sunday, May 5. Learn more about our sponsor, the Pittsburgh Opera. They're presenting The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson through May 5 at the Byham Theater. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're also on Instagram @CityCastPgh! Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Bloomfield Saturday Market is back this weekend! And in addition to being a go-to spot for fresh produce, fancy cheese, homemade pies, and more, it's also a resource for customers and vendors at any bustling market to learn how to be a good neighbor and get the most from your selling and shopping experience. The City Cast team is asking all your burning questions: Is there a right way to walk through it? Is it appropriate to ask vendors for recipes? Should you haggle for your tomato? Christina Howell, executive director of the Bloomfield Development Corporation and former market manager, is here to share some farmers market etiquette ahead of opening day. The Bloomfield Saturday Market happens weekly May 4 through November 16, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Here's a full list of vendors. Find more about market season elsewhere in the city here. **This episode originally published on May 4, 2023. Learn more about our sponsor, the Pittsburgh Opera. They're presenting The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson through May 5 at the Byham Theater. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kennywood is open, and it might be in legal trouble. We're digging into the new lawsuit from a disgruntled season passholder. Host Megan Harris explains why we don't need to worry about trillions of cicadas – or their zombies – in our area, but we do need to watch for lanternflies. Plus, producer Sophia Lo shares fun new ways to enjoy a bunch of shows and museums for free all summer long. We always cite our sources: The NFL Draft always features fun videos of students celebrating, and occasionally lamenting, their new employers. Philly's WTTW Podcast shared a particularly funny one this year. Someone's suing Kennywood over the Steel Curtain's closure, and his lawyer argues that people aren't getting their season pass value if this major roller coaster isn't running. Two broods of periodic cicadas are coming above ground this year, but you won't see them in Pittsburgh. Learn more about a fungus affecting periodical cicada broods all over the nation. Scientists from our region were hopeful some of that fungus could be useful for pharmaceuticals someday! Them reported it like this: “A Sexually Transmitted Fungus Is Making Trillions of Cicadas Hypersexual and Gay” It's almost spotted lanternfly season, but you can squash egg masses before the bugs hatch. RAD is launching a summer staycation program where you can book free tickets to some of Pittsburgh's museums starting May 1. Pittsburgh CLO's summer shows and schedules have been announced. The student-led Gaza solidarity encampment is coming to a close, but organizers still plan to pressure the university to divest from Israel. Learn more about our sponsor, the Pittsburgh Opera. They're presenting The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson, April 27 through May 5, at the Byham Theater. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're also on Instagram @CityCastPgh! Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Beaver County's Shell cracker makes nurdles — those lentil-sized pellets that become our plastics — but the glowing, riverfront facility is just the part we can see. There's a 97-mile underground pipeline that delivers its raw materials, and state investigators say its construction led to thousands of gallons of hazardous drilling mud spills in all three Pennsylvania counties it passes through. The Allegheny Front's Reid Frazier explains why whistleblowers came forward, what the Attorney General's office found, and how these 13 misdemeanor criminal charges could play out in court. Learn more about our sponsor, the Pittsburgh Opera. They're presenting The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson, April 27 through May 5, at the Byham Theater. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's the Friday news roundup, election edition! City Cast contributor Natalie Bencivenga joins host Megan Harris to talk about the winners and losers, what a few of those victories may tell us about what's coming in November, and why we should be paying attention to all those write-ins, even if we never get a full or complete accounting of everything they said. We always cite our sources: Allegheny County election results SpotlightPA has great info on the candidates for attorney general. More than 60,000 voters statewide chose the write-in option in the Democratic presidential primary, but we may not get a complete count of how many people voted “uncommitted” because of the way Philadelphia tallies write-ins. Learn more about our sponsors: City of Asylum is hosting International Jazz Poetry Month from May 2 – 23 at Alphabet City. The Pittsburgh Opera is presenting The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson, April 27 through May 5, at the Byham Theater. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're also on Instagram @CityCastPgh! Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Starting a new independent community grocery is tough business, but Manchester's own Lisa Freeman felt it was a calling. She's been farming a little lot on Juniata Street since 2014, and is almost to her goal of opening up shop in June. We're catching up on her vision for the neighborhood, plus getting a taste of what's new and delicious in the East End, on the South Side, and even along our dreaded McKnightmare. We want to know: Where is your favorite ice cream shop in Pittsburgh? Why do you love it? Email us or leave a voicemail at 412-212-8893 with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the podcast! Learn more about our sponsors: City of Asylum is hosting International Jazz Poetry Month from May 2 – 23 at Alphabet City. The Pittsburgh Opera is presenting The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson, April 27 through May 5, at the Byham Theater. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're also on Instagram @CityCastPgh! Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If you want to go camping, where should you start? We're back with Marcus Shoffner, founder of the Outdoor Inclusion Coalition, talking about favorite destinations in and around the city, his tips and tricks for a good experience, ways to borrow and learn how to use the right gear, and other low-stress ideas to get you started. Plus, an update on the overnight camping pilot he started in Riverview Park! Want to hear more about inclusivity in outdoor spaces? Check out our previous conversation with Marcus. Learn more about our sponsors: City of Asylum is hosting International Jazz Poetry Month from May 2 – 23 at Alphabet City. The Pittsburgh Opera is presenting The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson, April 27 through May 5, at the Byham Theater. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A proposed TikTok ban just cleared the House, and Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering their own statewide restrictions on the video app. We're wondering what a ban could mean for Governor Josh Shapiro, a “prolific poster” with a few viral TikToks under his belt. Producer Sophia Lo joins host Megan Harris to break down the latest legislation and scroll through the governor's posts. Plus, a professional TikToker analyzes Shapiro's account for us. Thanks to Chris Vazquez, audience engagement producer at The Marshall Project, for sharing his insights on Shapiro's social media. Plus, it's primary Election Day in Pennsylvania. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Check your polling place here, or listen to our voting guide on your way to vote! Here are a few of the stories we talked about in today's episode: Over the weekend, the House passed a bill that would ban TikTok if the parent company, ByteDance, doesn't sell the app. Now that the bill has passed the House, here's what might happen next in the Senate – and how TikTok could respond. PA billionaire Jeff Yass has a connection to the national ban; he has a big stake in ByteDance. Friend of the pod Stephen Caruso reported on why Pennsylvania's attempts to regulate social media haven't been successful. Watch with us! We reviewed Shapiro's lottery and Béyonce TikToks, and you can find more from the governor on his account. Learn more about our sponsors: City of Asylum is hosting International Jazz Poetry Month from May 2 – 23 at Alphabet City. The Pittsburgh Opera is presenting The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson, April 27 through May 5, at the Byham Theater. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's the Friday news roundup! We're sharing a bunch of fun ways to beautify our natural spaces for Earth Day this weekend. After successfully deflecting Amazon, the former home of Westinghouse Electric is up for auction in Churchill, and the U.S. Coast Guard says we found the missing barge! Plus, host Megan Harris is sharing her joy for President Biden's Sheetz order and the soon-to-be-built, new and improved Davis Avenue Bridge. We always cite our sources: Over the weekend, 26 barges got loose on the Ohio River. One went missing, but the Coast Guard located it earlier this week. The Pittsburgh Business Times predicted the old Westinghouse campus could be used for retail. The 150-acre campus is considered an important example of postwar corporate architecture – and looks like a locomotive. The Davis Bridge was demolished in 2006, but reconstruction recently kicked off! The city says the bridge should be fully open in the fall. Pittsburgh was selected as one of the Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities. Find a few ways to celebrate Earth Day around Pittsburgh, including lots of neighborhood cleanups. Pittsburgh's getting a new music festival! Sudden Little Thrills takes place in September at Hazelwood Green. President Joe Biden made a quick stop at Sheetz during his visit to Pittsburgh. Former president Donald Trump was also in PA, and he's currently facing four criminal cases. Heinz has a new bright pink limited-edition condiment, but the catch is that it's only available in the U.K., Ireland, and Spain. Learn more about our sponsor, the Pittsburgh Opera, presenting The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson, April 27 through May 5, at the Byham Theater. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're also on Instagram @CityCastPgh! Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Pennsylvania is the No. 1 cultivator of mushrooms in the country, but you can also find all sorts of fungi foraging in the woods. Spring and summer are a great time to look for mushrooms, and Esperanzo Wilcox, founder of the PA Mushroom Company, is here to share his tips for finding and identifying a few more coveted edible delicacies. Check out our website to see pictures of Espo's favorite mushrooms, plus more resources for beginners. Learn more about our sponsor, the Pittsburgh Opera, presenting The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson, April 27 through May 5, at the Byham Theater. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
With the weather warming, crossing a bridge doesn't feel quite so impossible. So if you want to go out and party this weekend, where should you go? Pittsburgh has options — Spirit, Belvedere's, Cavo, and Club VIP — but the ‘Burgh used to have way more nightclubs that catered to a wider diversity of party-goers. We're with City Paper's Colin Williams about what happened to Pittsburgh's nightlife scene. **This episode originally published on January 10, 2024. Keep up with the pop-up parties by following Jellyfish, Hot Mass, and Slappers N Bangers on Instagram. Learn more about our sponsor, the Pittsburgh Opera, presenting The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson, April 27 through May 5, at the Byham Theater. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's a Presidential election year, and there are a bunch of state and local elections to watch for, too. But before November, we need to get through the primary on April 23! City Cast's Megan Harris & Mallory Falk are talking through a few key races, plus what's at stake next week. Check your polling place here, and learn more about the candidates via our Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. Take Spotlight PA's candidate quiz, and watch WPXI's debate between Summer Lee and Bhavini Patel for more on their stances on what's happening in Gaza. A special shout out to WESA's Chris Potter for his coverage of all these races, too. Learn more about our sponsor, the Pittsburgh Opera, presenting The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson, April 27 through May 5, at the Byham Theater. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There's a difference between spaces that allow our best pals and the ones that are truly dog friendly. Pet expert Tori Mistick of WearWagRepeat is with us to share her favorite local spots for a paw-fect Pittsburgh day — plus how to pack ahead, what to consider about temperament and environment, and the quick rules for her newly christened four-paw rating system. **This episode originally published on August 1, 2023. Learn more about our sponsor, the Pittsburgh Opera, presenting The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson, April 27 through May 5 at the Byham Theater. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark. Join hosts Noah and John as they interview John Sebastian Vera and Nick Schwartz, trombonists and podcast hosts of The Trombone Retreat. After you listen to this episode, head on over to The Trombone Retreat feed for the second half of this episode. You can come see us at Booth #271 at the TMEA Convention, February 8th thru 10th, 2024 in San Antonio Texas. About John Sebastian Vera John Sebastian Vera, a native of Texas, became the principal trombonist of the Pittsburgh Opera in 2010 and also joined the River City Brass as principal Trombone in 2015. He is also professor of trombone at Duquesne University and faculty member at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he teaches a course on Music Entrepreneurship and Digital Media as well as coach chamber music. In addition to the Pittsburgh Opera, Mr. Vera has played with the symphonies of Dallas, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Buffalo, Kennedy Center Opera House, Malaysian Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, Vermont, Harrisburg, Charleston, American Ballet Theatre, and Orquesta Sinaloa de las Artes in Mexico amongst others. He began his studies with Jon Bohls in Texas and continued his education at Southern Methodist University where he studied with John Kitzman of the Dallas Symphony. He then spent a year studying with Ed Zadrozny as a graduate assistant at the University of Akron, and finished his graduate work in New York City at the Mannes College of Music studying with David Finlayson and James Markey of the New York Philharmonic. In 2011, he spent the summer in Haiti volunteer teaching and performing in the Orchestre Philharmonique Sainte Trinite as well as the Ecole de Musique Dessaix Baptiste which became one of the more profound experiences of his life. A dedicated chamber musician, he also was a founding member of the critically acclaimed Guidonian Hand Trombone Quartet in which he played from 2008-2014. With the quartet, John performed over 100 concerts and gave master classes all over the country. Heralded by the New York Times for their "expertly played performances" they have been recipients of numerous national grants which have enabled them to commission countless composers to create new and innovative works for four trombones. In 2014 was the premiere of River of Fundament, a movie by film artist Matthew Barney, in which John recorded for and acted in along with the quartet. Mr. Vera can also be heard on the HBO documentary The Words that Built America as well as on euphonium in the PBS documentary Abraham and Mary Lincoln, A House Divided as well as many commercial and video game soundtracks as well as James Markey's solo release, “On Base”. John is an Artist for Edwards Instruments and resides in Pittsburgh. His favorite musicians include Sigur Ros, Radiohead, the Books, and Efterklang. When he can get away from the trombone he most enjoys basketball, traveling and reading about psychology and social science. Check out his podcast he hosts with Nick Schwartz called the Trombone Retreat available everywhere you download your podcasts. Follow him on Instagram @js.vera. About Nicholas Schwartz Nicholas Schwartz has a diverse career performing across North America, Europe, and Asia. After studying at The Juilliard School with then New York Philharmonic bass trombonist Don Harwood, he moved to San Francisco where he began freelancing throughout the Bay Area. Since 2010, he has been the principal bass trombonist of the New York City Ballet Orchestra. He has also performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, The Metropolitan Opera, The Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Ballet, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, St. Lukes Chamber Orchestra, the New York City Opera, Atlanta Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, The Malaysia Philharmonic, Mostly Mozart Festival, and Classical Tahoe. Follow him on instagram @basstrombone444 About Third Coast Retreat The Third Coast Trombone Retreat is an 7-day trombone immersion welcoming talented college, high school, and amateur trombonists from across the country to the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. The Retreat takes place in the charming small town of Montague, MI. Truly an escape from the distractions of everyday life, the festival is nestled in a dense forest along the coast where happening across roaming deer is a common occurrence. The Retreat utilizes facilities all over the town from churches to coffee houses to historic barns to the beach. We will perform not only for ourselves, but for the community. A fulfilling life of being a musician does not simply begin and end with winning an orchestral or teaching position. Mastering the instrument is only the first step. Being an artist in the 21st century requires discovering one's unique voice and finding new ways to present the art-form to communicate and contribute to society. Core to the retreat will be guest artist and faculty recitals, topical master classes including personal finance, performance anxiety and wellness as well as private lessons, orchestral section seminar, ensemble coachings, a trombone choir, a mock orchestral audition, and much more. In addition to the performance elements, the curriculum is expanded to include a talks about career-building, faculty bonfire Q&A, discussions on the mental approach to auditions and performances, wellness, meditation, and more.
EX51 - Ching Juhl - Film Director of My Yang Gang Diary - Movie Score Highlights My Yang Gang Diary, documentary, 81 min. 2021 is written, directed, filmed, edited and produced by Ching Juhl. The doc told stories of 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang's campaign through the eyes of his supporters, known as the Yang Gang. Juhl documented her one year journey with members of the Yang Gang across 12 cities in the US. Although Yang suspended his presidential campaign in February 2020, his Humanity Forward movement carries on his ideals and vision for America's future. Andrew Yang is running for New York City mayor 2021. Director Bio: Ching Juhl, Chinese American, is a passionate filmmaker, video journalist and music educator. She has directed, produced, shot and edited more than 30 documentary shorts. She is the founder/owner of Juhl Media. Juhl has created and published more than 600 videos on social media, and topics ranging from current events to education, from live interviews to music productions. Ching Juhl's films "Lingering Time", "That Moment" and "Viva la Viola" were screened in Asia, Europe and North America. Her doc short “Black Lives Matter” was world premiered at the Socially Relevant Film Festival NY in 2020. Educated at New York University and Indiana University, she taught at Touro College, St. Joseph's College, and she has been directing Music Studio Manhattan since 2001. Songs from the Soundtrack Featured in this episode Tee Cloud - Heading to New Mexico Paul Chihara - String Trio: 1. Maestoso. Allegro molto My Yang Gang Diary - Movie Trailer For watching or buy the film: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/370872 My Yang Gang Diary, feature documentary, 90-min tells stories of Andrew Yang's presidential campaign and the grassroots movement from the Yang Gang supporters. Shot on iPhone, Ching Juhl documents her one year journey across 12 cities in the US. Suspending his presidential campaign in February 2020, Andrew Yang's Humanity Forward movement and Universal Basic Income (UBI) policy continues on for America's future. My Yang Gang Diary is written, directed, filmed, edited and produced by Ching Juhl. The film was created during the pandemic lockdown. It won 4 awards in film festivals around the world. Ching Juhl is a Chinese American filmmaker, video journalist, musician and YouTube content creator. She studied Video/Film Production at New York University, and earned a Master's Degree in Viola Performance from Indiana University. She performed with Jade String Trio, Phoenix Symphony, Pittsburgh Opera as well as backing up with Rod Stewart band. She taught music at St. Joseph's College for 15 years. Ching Juhl conducts Smartphone Video Production workshops in colleges, festivals and Clubhouse. She is the host for A Live Conversation with on Juhl Media's YouTube channel. Pease consider subscribe to this channel for more videos. https://www.myyanggangdiary.com/ https;//www.facebook.com/myyanggangdiaary/ https://www.instagram.com/myyanggangd... https://clubhousedb.com/user/juhlmedia/ https://www.facebook.com/chingchenjuhl/ https://www.facebook.com/juhlmedia/ https://www.instagram.com/juhlmedia/ https://imdb.me/chingcjuhl/ https://tiktok.com/@juhlmedia/ https://www.twitter.com/chingjuhl/ ___ The Add to My Playlist Podcast Website
Some historically-based operas play fast and loose with facts, but Anna and Krista found one that is pretty much on point: Verdi's I vespri siciliani. Settle in for some medieval shenanigans, a discussion of nerddom and even updates on the BBC Singers and our Auntie Sonya Yoncheva. Oh, and the Pittsburgh Opera drops their 2023-24 season!
Established by five intrepid women in 1939, Pittsburgh Opera is viewed as one of the most vibrant opera organizations in the U.S., with a rich artistic tradition, outstanding educational programs, an acclaimed artist training program and a progressive outlook toward the future. Hear from the Opera's Christian Cox and Wendy Parkulo to learn how opera is thriving in Pittsburgh and is a valuable part of our cultural ecosystem. Join fellow Pittsburgh Technology Council members for a unique evening at the Pittsburgh Opera, with Pittsburgh Cultural Trust on March 28! This special iteration of our PTC Member Face2Face Mixer series will feature an opening networking reception for PTC members and Pittsburgh Opera and Pittsburgh Cultural Trust staff including light food and beverage. Learn more here.
This week on the podcast is part two of our interview with Charles Stegeman. He's the concert master for the Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet, and teaches in the string department at Duquesne University. His list of teachers is a who's who of the 20th century's most renown string pedagogues. Much of our interview focuses on his work as a professional musician who has averaged over 60 concerts a year for the past 50 years, and his ability to combine his artistic vision and business skills to create music festivals including the Sunflower Music Festival and the Buzzards Bay Music Festival. Anyone who engages with donors and patrons will want to listen to this interview.Show Notes: https://www.artsentrepreneurshippodcast.com/episodes/191-charles-stegeman-music-pt-2-of-2
This week on the podcast is part one of our interview with Charles Stegeman. He's the concert master for the Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet, and teaches in the string department at Duquesne University. His list of teachers is a who's who of the 20th century's most renown string pedagogues. Much of our interview focuses on his work as a professional musician who has averaged over 60 concerts a year for the past 50 years, and his ability to combine his artistic vision and business skills to create music festivals including the Sunflower Music Festival and the Buzzards Bay Music Festival. Anyone who engages with donors and patrons will want to listen to this interview!Show Notes: https://www.artsentrepreneurshippodcast.com/episodes/190-charles-stegeman-music-pt-1-of-2
It's one-hit wonder time with Ponchielli's La Gioconda, and Anna and Krista get to spend more time trashing their favorite wannabe tenor. Anna also gives us her review of Rusalka at the Pittsburgh Opera, the ladies sing Allan Sherman songs, and they reminisce about board games from their childhoods. In other words, typical Monday night shenanigans.
Anna Singer speaks with Stage Director Kristine MacIntyre about Pittsburgh Opera's upcoming production of "Rusalka," running September 17-25 at the Benedum Center.
Anna Singer speaks with Music Director Antony Walker about Pittsburgh Opera's upcoming production of "Rusalka," running September 17-25 at the Benedum Center.
Anna Singer speaks with Marianne Cornetti, who sings the role of Ježibaba in Pittsburgh Opera's upcoming production of "Rusalka," running September 17-25 at the Benedum Center.
On today's episode of The Confluence: As the Pittsburgh Public Schools board opens public comment on the process to find its next superintendent, we ask a founding member of Black Women for a Better Education for feedback on the search; the Pittsburgh Opera and National Opera House are teaming up to develop educational and community engagement programming; and mid-state crisis centers are concerned about their capacity to handle calls for mental health support as a three-digit helpline goes live nationwide.Today's guests include: Allyce Pinchback-Johnson, founding member of Black Women for a Better Education; Rebekah Diaz, director of community engagement and IDEA initiatives with Pittsburgh Opera, and Jonnet Solomon, executive director of the National Opera House.
Whether it's building a career or establishing successful working relationships, the importance of networking as a music professional cannot be undermined.In today's episode, stage director Stephanie Havey provides aspiring music professionals with the knowledge and first-hand experience. She discusses the inner workings of a stage director, her love for the art, the importance of artist collaborations, the shifting world of opera, navigating through collaborations with varying ideas, and her advice to anyone interested in directing.Winner of the Adelaide Bishop award for artistic quality and winner of the Opera America Director-Designer Showcase, Stephanie Havey has staged productions for Seattle Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Arizona Opera, Opera de Montreal, Atlanta Opera, Opera Omaha, New York City Opera, and Hawai'i Opera Theatre, among others. Ms. Havey has created new productions for Boston Lyric Opera, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Opera, the Lyrique-en-mer International Festival de Belle-Ile, The Curtis Institute of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Charlottesville Opera, and Tulsa Opera. She has also been a member of the staging staff at San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and The Santa Fe Opera. Upcoming engagements include debuts with Utah Opera, Dallas Opera, and Madison Opera, as well as returning to Opera de Montreal, Pittsburgh Opera, Atlanta Opera, Arizona Opera, Charlottesville Opera, and Finger Lakes Opera. Ms. Havey is a frequent collaborator for the development of new opera, staging new works with Opera Philadelphia for their Double Exposure event, OPERA America's New Works Forum, and three seasons as the Resident Stage Director for North American New Opera Workshop.
Pittsburgh Opera concludes it's 2021-2022 Season with the powerful opera "Blue" at the August Wilson African-America Cultural Center April 23rd through May 1st. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with the librettist and Stage Director Tazewell Thompson about background of the opera, his eagerness to return to Pittsburgh after having great success with one of his plays at City Theater, working with Glimmerglass Opera to write the opera and more.
Pittsburgh Opera concludes it's 2021-2022 Season with the powerful opera "Blue" at the August Wilson African-America Cultural Center April 23rd through May 1st. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with Briana Elyse Hunter, who sings the role of The Mother, about the opera, the opening scene she has with her girlfriends, how the opera has affected her and more.
Pittsburgh Opera concludes it's 2021-2022 Season with the powerful opera "Blue" at the August Wilson African-America Cultural Center April 23rd through May 1st. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with Kenneth Kellogg, who sings the role of the Father, about the opera, his character, getting insights on his role by talking to an actual police officer and more.
Pittsburgh Opera concludes it's 2021-2022 Season with the powerful opera "Blue" at the August Wilson African-America Cultural Center April 23rd through May 1st. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with conductor Glenn Lewis about the opera, it's orchestration, performing at the August Wilson Center and more.
March 26th through April 3rd, Pittsburgh Opera present's Bizet's "Carmen" at the Benedum Center. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with mezzo-soprano Zanda Svede about singing the title role, why she still enjoys singing this role, growing up in Latvia, and much more.
March 26th through April 3rd, Pittsburgh Opera present's Bizet's "Carmen" at the Benedum Center. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with Pittsburgh Opera's Music Director Antony Walker about this production, why he loves "Carmen" so much, and more in this conversation.
March 26th through April 3rd, Pittsburgh Opera present's Bizet's "Carmen" at the Benedum Center. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with Stage Director Garnett Bruce about this production, why he's doing a version using dialogue, how Bizet died thinking the opera was a failure, and more.
March 26th through April 3rd, Pittsburgh Opera present's Bizet's "Carmen" at the Benedum Center. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with Scott Quinn, the production's "Don Jose." He talks about his character being a pretty messed up guy, growing up in Texas, and more.
Opera star returns to Pittsburgh for a recital on Sunday November 21st, 4pm at Pittsburgh Opera headquarters. Rolando was a Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist in 1998-1999. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with him about his time as a resident artist, his upcoming performances, and how he is a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan!!
Pittsburgh Opera returns to the Benedum Stage with Mozart's "The Magic Flute" running November 6-14th. Pittsburgh Opera Music Director spoke with WQED-FM's Anna Singer about the music for this opera.
Pittsburgh Opera returns to the Benedum Stage with Mozart's "The Magic Flute" running November 6-14th. Adelaide Boedecker sings the role of Pamina and she talks to WQED-FM's Anna Singer about the role.
Correction: interval of a *minor third* in a Double Harmonic scale. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebestmusicpodcast Blog: https://bestmusiccoach.blogspot.com Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/thebestmusicpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebestmusicpodcast/ The Best Music Podcast #12 | J.J. Johnson — Viola | Radio City, NBC LIVE!, The Nice List Musical J.J.'s Playing: nicelistmusical.com @maxter_of_the_house J.J.'s Teaching: https://www.montclair.edu/john-j-cali-school-of-music/zoom-classes/ J.J. has won positions with the Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet Orchestras. In 2010 he began performing at Radio City Music Hall in NYC with the world-famous Radio City Rockettes and made his Broadway debut in 2013 in Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella. He has performed in a number of Broadway musicals, including, On The Town, Cats, Fiddler on the Roof, An American in Paris, Wicked, My Fair Lady, and Sunset Boulevard. He has also appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, and was Principal Viola of the NBC Studio Orchestra for the NBC Live! performances of The Sound of Music with Carry Underwood, and Peter Pan with Christopher Walken. There have been a number of recording projects he has participated in that include Telly Leung's solo album Songs for You, and the award-winning independent short film The Ceiling Fan. Alongside his active freelance career Mr. Johnson also greatly enjoys teaching strings at Montclair State University Extension Division where his new class “Broadway for Instrumentalists” is getting started. In non-pandemic times, he is on tour with the U.S. National Tour of Les Miserables. #JJJohnson #viola #musicaltheater 0:00 Intro 2:00 Playing viola for the Rockettes at Radio City 9:54 Juggling Broadway shows and Radio city 14:12 J.J. playing Broadway shows 18:06 How to sub on multiple musicals at the same time 24:03 J.J.'s goals for the future 25:45 Les Miserables Tour 26:50 What it takes to be a professional musician 29:20 Playing in NBC LIVE! Musicals 35:30 Virtual Musical: The Nice List Musical 41:42 Teaching Broadway for Instrumentalists 46:55 Lifestyle: A typical show day 51:07 Lifestyle: Sleep 52:57 Lifestyle: Mindfulness & meditation 54:01 Lifestyle: Support system 58:08 Practice: Time of Day 59:57 Practice: Hours a day and days a week 1:01:30 Practice: Maximum duration 1:03:00 Practice: Segmentation 1:05:45 Practice: Injury and travel 1:11:30 Creativity: Burnout 1:13:50 Performance Anxiety #musicians #songwriter #songwriters #composers #musicmajor #musicmajors #musiceducator #musiceducators #musiceducation #podcast #thebestmusicpodcast #clips #musicpodcast #singer #guitarist #guitarplayer #trombonist #trumpet #violin #viola #cello #bass #brass #trombone #mandolin #banjo #drums #percussion #timpani #marimba #oboe #sax #saxophone #clarinet #basoon #alto #soprano #tenor #piano #keyboard #violist #musictheater #radiocity #garyadler Logo, Intro Video, and Branding: Arron Leishman Audio and Video: Zach Ramey zacherylramey@gmail.com Dan's Thumbnail Photo: John Mollura Photography
What happens when a DRAMATIC Soprano, Alexandra Loutsion, and a Mezzo, Annie Rosen, who “will crush your soul” come for a chat? (This is a normal occurrence on Voice with Julia's #TECHNIQUETALKS) Alex sings the nice LADIES like Turandot, Tosca, and Elektra with companies like San Francisco Opera, Canadian Opera Company, and Pittsburgh Opera. Watch Alex tear it up as Turandot: https://youtu.be/NyM5ExJkU9Q Annie rips up the stage with roles like Adalgisa, Suzuki, and Melisande and at theaters like Lyric Opera of Chicago, Deutsche Opera Berlin, The Metropolitan Opera, and sings some amazing new operas like Akhnaten and Bel Canto. Hear Annie crush your soul: https://youtu.be/2-5AL_4NASk Watch interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tuwPL-MdRVs Voice with Julia's #techniquetalks is where we demystify conversations surrounding vocal technique with
Chantal Braziel is a Soprano Opera Singer. She has performed with The Pittsburgh Opera, The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in the Lift Every Voice concert at Heinz Hall and made her Metropolitan Opera Debut in the ensemble of the Season 2019/2020 production of Porgy and Bess.
This installment of the AP Collection focuses on one returning and one new guest. Ziggy Sawdust shares information about the upcoming Eco Art PGH event at the Pittsburgh Opera coming up this Thursday, November 13th at 7PM as well as some other holiday type events coming up soon. Then Jami Marlowe (a former resident of Brownsville, PA and Pittsburgher for the past twenty years) shares the story of her mother Billie Marlowe (pictured right)—a cook, mother, and friend to all she met. Billie passed away eight years ago and since then Jami has held an event to celebrate her mother's life and greatest ambition—to bring together friends and family around food. Every year, Luvfest collects cash donations to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank while participants enjoy food, beverage, live entertainment, and great company. This year LuvFest is Novemeber 14th starting at 7PM and is being held at the ToonSeum (945 Liberty Avenue) in Downtown Pittsburgh. Even if you have never met Billie Marlowe you can still get behind what she stood for—feeding people who need it most. During our conversation Jami shares stories about her mother and explains how former guest and forever friend of The AP Collection, Marcel Walker, has been adopted by her family. Get all the info you need about the upcoming events including tickets, times, and places below! Ziggy Sawdust // Eco Art Pgh Tickets for Eco Art PGH Info on NakYouOut about Eco Art Pgh Jami Marlowe // Luvfest Facebook Event page Like on Facebook