Podcasts

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: SMU’s commitment to cultivating tomorrow’s composers, today

November 4, 2025 by

The Emerging Sounds concert, presented by Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts, has been described as a vibrant representation of what SMU composition students have to offer. The program is entirely student-run and seeks to utilize novel instrumentations and connect those from diverse artistic backgrounds throughout Meadows. In this interview with SMU’s Kaitlin Kleinau, we learn more about this community-building event, which serves as a launching pad for the student composers’ careers.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Meet the DFW composer with a brand new piano concerto

October 22, 2025 by

Arsentiy Kharitonov, a composer and pianist based here in North Texas, has just had his impressive and dramatic Concerto for Piano and Orchestra recorded with the Kandinsky Symphony Orchestra and released by the Sound Atlas label. WRR’s Kurt Rongey spoke with Arsentiy about the genesis of the concerto, his musical development and how his studies and experiences here in Texas influenced his music-making.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Wilhelmina Smith’s new release featuring works by Indigenous composer/cellist Dawn Avery

October 20, 2025 by

Wilhelmina Smith is regarded as a cellist whose artistic mission embraces a conversation through music, one that enthusiastically encompasses the music of the present placed within the context of a living past. In this podcast with WRR’s Brooke Scholl, she talks about her new album, Sweetgrass, which features music by Indigenous composer/cellist Dawn Avery.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Guitarist Sharon Isbin and her latest release, ‘Romantico’

October 20, 2025 by

Hailed as the “Monet of the classical guitar” by Atlanta Journal, Sharon Isbin is a longtime fixture in the genre with multiple GRAMMY awards and an ever-growing list of accolades. WRR’s Brooke Scholl recently sat down with Isbin to talk about the artist’s latest release, Romantico, featuring world premiere recordings of joyous Latin dance-inspired music for guitar by Karen LeFrak.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Maria Callas makes her Dallas return (sort of)

October 14, 2025 by

In November 1957, the Dallas Civic Opera (now The Dallas Opera) officially opened with a headlining concert starring Maria Callas at the State Fair Music Hall (now Music Hall at Fair Park). Audiences have a chance to see Maria Callas once again via a hologram concert at the Music Hall in Fair Park, featuring The Dallas Opera Orchestra on Friday, October 31st, 2025

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Angelica Negron’s passion for the unexpected

October 13, 2025 by

WRR’s Amy Bishop visits with composer/instrumentalist Angelica Negron, who describes her new work, ‘for everything you keep losing,’ set to have its world premiere by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in October 2025. Negron also shares exciting news about a work she’s writing for cellist Yo-Yo Ma and her love for including unconventional sounds in classical music.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: This cellist has two albums up for a GRAMMY this year

October 9, 2025 by

Cellist Matt Haimovitz has earned a reputation as a musical pioneer in today’s classical music sphere. Two albums by the internationally renowned musician were recently nominated for GRAMMYs: “Schnittke Cello Concerto No.1” with the Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dennis Russell Davies, and “Jacqueline,” Luna Pearl Woolf’s opera with soprano Marnie Breckenridge. In this interview with WRR’s Brooke Scholl, Haimovitz discusses the joys of playing these works, his special friendship with the late Jaqueline du Pre, and more.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Windmills Craftworks welcomes Caribbean jazz trumpeter Etienne Charles to North Texas

October 8, 2025 by

Trinidad-born trumpeter Etienne Charles fuses Caribbean melodies with jazz to create his own distinct sound. He’ll bring his Creole Soul group to Windmills Craftworks in The Colony October 11-12, 2025. In this feature, WRR’s Amy Bishop speaks with the venue’s Kira Goidel about the unique concert and dinner experience.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Tenor Jonathan Tetelman previews his Fort Worth concert

October 8, 2025 by

Fort Worth Opera opens its 80th anniversary season with a rare stateside appearance by internationally acclaimed tenor Jonathan Tetelman. A Deutsche Grammophon recording artist and jet-setting leading man, Tetelman has captivated audiences with his warm, full-bodied tenor and ardent stage presence. On October 10, he takes the stage at Van Cliburn Concert Hall for a one-night-only event. Kurt Rongey spoke with Jonathan Tetelman about the early development of his voice, the challenges of opera singing and his links to Texas.