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WRR 101 Focus on the Arts: Texas Guitar Competition and Festival returns to UTD for its 21st year

“We started 21 years ago in an ice storm, and we’re still here,” laughs Enric Madriguera, co-director of UT Dallas’ annual Texas Guitar Competition and Festival, who also serves as the director of UTD’s guitar program. Classical guitar enthusiasts come to Dallas for the event every year for three days of concerts, master classes, and… Read more »

WRR 101 Focus on the Arts: Marin Alsop leads the Dallas Symphony in a musical pairing of Middle Eastern exoticism and Latin American flavors

“I think there is that exotic quality, and sort of the Arabian Nights element to Scheherazade that lends itself to the propulsion and the drive of these two Latin influenced pieces,” says Marin Alsop, referencing the three pieces she’ll be conducting with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra February 23-25, 2023. Along with Rimsky-Korsakov’s sultry musical retelling… Read more »

WRR 101 Focus on the Arts: A Night of Jazz and Brahms with the Irving Symphony Orchestra

Always in the spirit of innovative programming, the Irving Symphony Orchestra welcomes internationally acclaimed French jazz violinist Scott Tixier as soloist in his autobiographical “Symphony of an Immigrant” on Saturday, February 11th at 7:30 pm inside the Irving Arts Center. The jazz-flavored work will share the program with Brahms’ magnificent Symphony No. 1 for a… Read more »

WRR 101 Focus on the Arts: Tearing down walls with an immersive concert in Dallas

“You’re going to experience the quartet in a very unique way – you’re not going to be able to see them like you would traditionally,” says Dallas-based composer and Emerge Coalition Executive Director Jesus Martinez, speaking of an upcoming concert by the Julius Quartet. As part of ATTPAC’s Elevator Project, “Tear Down These Walls” is… Read more »

Classical 101.1 WRR Focus on the Arts: Pianist Aaron Kurz performs a new (old) Gershwin favorite with the Lone Star Wind Orchestra

“I think my favorite part of the piece is that it gives me things to do at the piano that I don’t often get to do,” says classical pianist Aaron Kurz, describing what it’s like to play George Gershwin’s famed Rhapsody in Blue. Aaron will be performing the original version of the work (orchestrated by… Read more »

Classical 101.1 WRR Focus on the Arts: Pianist Rachel Naomi Kudo returns to Dallas

“I think his fantastical nature — his imagination — just comes through so vividly, colorfully,” says pianist Rachel Naomi Kudo, speaking of Robert Schumann’s music. Kudo performed works by Schumann, Bach, and Brahms recently at a concert at Collora Piano in Dallas, followed by a master class. She chatted with Amy Bishop by phone ahead… Read more »

Classical 101.1 WRR Focus on the Arts: Getting to know “Exploring Music’s” Bill McGlaughlin – and why he’s coming to Fort Worth

You’ve heard him for years as the host of the syndicated radio show, Exploring Music, so here’s a chance to learn more about the man behind the mic – Bill McGlaughlin! He’ll be in Fort Worth as the special guest lecturer for the Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth’s Beethoven Quartet Cycle — all 16… Read more »