Author: Amy Bishop

Classical 101.1 WRR Focus on the Arts: TACA honors Former Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, community leader Matrice Ellis-Kirk for 2020 Silver Cup Award

Every year, TACA — The Arts Community Alliance — honors two people who have made immense contributions to supporting the artistic ecosystem of North Texas. WRR’s Amy Bishop sat down for an engaging conversation with the 2020 Silver Cup Award honorees, former Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and business/community leader Matrice Ellis-Kirk.

Classical 101.1 WRR Focus on the Arts: A World Premiere by the Verdigris Ensemble, based on the American Dust Bowl

The Verdigris Ensemble is known for its thoughtful and immersive multi-media choral performances. That reputation continues with a compelling new production inspired by the stories of the American environmental disaster of the 1930s, known today as the Dust Bowl. Hear WRR’s Amy Bishop visit with Verdigris Ensemble’s founder and Artistic Director Sam Brukhman about this… Read more »

Classical 101.1 WRR Focus on the Arts: American Baroque Opera’s harmonically daring new production

Described as harmonically daring and avante-garde, the American Baroque Opera Co. and Ballet Dallas present “The Elements” as part of the Dallas Arts District’s Elevator Project. Hear WRR’s Barry Samsula chat with ABO Co’s Artistic Director Eric Smith about this production, which combines rarely heard instrumental and vocal music of the baroque with modern ballet.

Classical 101.1 WRR Focus on the Arts: Chatting with guitar goddess Sharon Isbin

Along with being named Musical America’s 2020 Instrumentalist of the Year, Sharon Isbin has a lot of exciting things happening right now, including a concert with the Plano Symphony Orchestra. Hear her visit with WRR’s Amy Bishop to talk about the upcoming concert, playing Indian Classical music, and an amazing story involving a meeting with… Read more »

Classical 101.1 WRR Focus on the Arts: Catching up with Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s President and CEO Kim Noltemy

Approaching her two year anniversary as President and CEO of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Kim Noltemy has blazed a trail of initiatives that include bringing music to children in Southern Dallas, taking charge of the Meyerson, and launching a symposium for women in classical music. Hear her chat with WRR’s Amy Bishop about her vision… Read more »

Classical 101.1 WRR Focus on the Arts: A new commission and world premiere for Dallas Baptist University’s Christmas Festival

First the first time in the school’s history, the Dallas Baptist University’s Department of Music has commissioned a composition especially for their upcoming Christmas Festival. Titled “Venite Adoremus” by American composer Michael Trotta, this performance will also be its world premiere in a concert that’ll also include familiar Christmas favorites. Hear DBU’s Dr. Stephen Holcomb… Read more »

Classical 101.1 WRR Focus on the Arts: Meet TACA’s New Executive Director

The Arts Community Alliance — Better known as “TACA” — recently named community arts advocate, philanthropist and Tony-nominated Broadway producer Terry Loftis as the organization’s new Executive Director. What does that mean for the DFW arts community? Hear Loftis’s conversation with WRR’s Amy Bishop to learn more about his experience, passions, and vision in his… Read more »

Classical 101.1 WRR Focus on the Arts: A new commission by Dallas’ Sixth Floor Museum

As part of its four-day series surrounding the anniversary of the JFK assassination in Dallas, the Sixth Floor Museum has commissioned award-winning composer Jesus Martinez to provide the soundtrack to an all-new compilation of motorcade footage, performed by a percussion ensemble from Arlington’s Sam Houston High School. The film score is meant to link sound… Read more »