Tag: Dallas Symphony

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: This young conductor got the call, and she delivered

November 25, 2025 by

WRR weekend host Brooke Scholl sits down with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s assistant conductor Shira Samuels-Shragg to unpack her remarkable, last-minute debut leading the Dallas Symphony Orchestra after Music Director Fabio Luisi had to pull out due to a family emergency. With only days to prepare, Shira stepped onto the Meyerson podium to conduct a vivid program spanning Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3, Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, and not one but two world premieres: Jonathan Cziner’s powerful new Clarinet Concerto, written for DSO principal clarinetist Gregory Raden, and Jasmine Guo’s evocative The Sound of Where I Came From.

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.

Ticket Giveaway: Beethoven’s “Eroica”

May 15, 2025 by

WRR101 is giving away tickets to Beethoven’s “Eroica” on Thursday, May 22 at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. Deadline to enter is Tuesday, May 20 at 11:59 AM – enter below! About the show: World-renowned violinist Leonidas Kavakos interprets Shostakovich’s Concerto, whose sonorities range from quiet contemplation to the most spectacular cadenza you’re ever… Read more »

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: DSO’s mastery of Mahler & mindreading

March 25, 2025 by

Nearing his 6th season as Music Director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Fabio Luisi has reached a new level of oneness with the musicians, to the point of almost “reading each other’s minds.” In this conversation with WRR’s Amy Bishop, Luisi joins DSO’s Chief Artistic Officer Katie McGuinness for an overview of the organization’s milestone… Read more »

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: DSO Principal Oboe Erin Hannigan will play one of her favorites this weekend

January 21, 2025 by

“This is one of my favorite pieces – not only of the oboe repertoire, but in the classical music repertoire in general,” says Erin Hannigan, Principal Oboe with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, referencing Strauss’ Oboe Concerto. She’ll be in the spotlight as soloist with the DSO to perform the work Jan. 23-26, 2025 and chats… Read more »

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Anne-Marie McDermott’s newest musical love

October 30, 2024 by

“The Amy Beach concerto is the newest love of my life,” says American classical pianist Anne-Marie McDermott, who will perform the piece with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Nov. 1-3, 2024. In this feature with WRR’s Amy Bishop, McDermott explains why she has been quick to adore the piece.

How DSO’s Pops season aims to reach more audiences

October 17, 2024 by

Every year, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents a pops season to complement their classical concerts by offering a variety of other genres -from pop music, movie scores, Broadway, and more. In this feature with WRR’s Amy Bishop, DSO’s director of orchestra operations and pops programming Tom Brekhus gives an overview of the concerts planned this… Read more »

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: A balance of the old and new for DSO’s 2024-25 classical season

October 9, 2024 by

Familiar warhorse classical works are abundant this season, but the Dallas Symphony Orchestra is taking a great effort to incorporate works by contemporary composers – including multiple world premieres. In this feature with WRR’s Amy Bishop, DSO Chief Artistic Officer Katie McGuinness gives a sampling of their offerings.

WRR101 Focus on the Arts: A farewell interview with DSO’s Kim Noltemy

July 16, 2024 by

“The orchestra just keeps getting better and better, and the European tour demonstrated the depth of admiration in Europe for the Dallas Symphony, which is so special to see,” says Kim Noltemy, whose last day as President and CEO of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra was June 28th. She has gone on to assume the role… Read more »