Classical Music

If you ever find yourself looking at or listening to a recording of a wind ensemble, the chances are the recording is of the University of North Texas Wind Symphony led by Eugene Corporon. Together with the late Recording Engineer, Bruce Leek, they have b…

Jad Abumrad is the host of WNYC’s radio show and podcast Radiolab, but he does a lot more than just host. He’s a producer, music composer, and has guided the show along for decades as one of its founders. Abumrad actually started out studying music at Oberlin to …

In these strange times, you may have been missing a familiar voice on the air–the voice of long-time Classical host, Frank Stowers. Frank has been asked to stay at home by our management here at WVPB in order to keep healthy during the Covid-19 pandemic. We want…

WVSO Flutist, WVSU flute teacher, and new music advocate Lindsey Goodman has just released her third album this past week. Featuring all sorts of living composers, this CD stretches the boundaries of solo flute music as well as music for flute and electronics. Th…

Singer-songwriter Walter DeBarr is using his unique voice and turbulent past to create and spread a heartfelt message across Appalachia. Growing up a black man in mostly-white Buchannon, WV, DeBarr had it tough among his peers. “I got beat up alot a…

The choir director of the Appalachian Children’s Chorus has some heartwarming goals for her choir and for their upcoming concert this December. Artistic and Founding director Selina Midkiff says, “One of the things I want to do in my space is to create, first of …

“It’s a place that’s kind of our second home at this point.” That’s what pianist Joel Cummins says about Charleston, SC, the location of a new music festival, the Woodlands Festival. The event is being put together by Joel’s band, Umphrey’s McGee themselve…

“I think sometimes we just look way too past the present and are sort of blinded to…our ability to create beauty in the present.” That was the meditative response from singer/songwriter Cris Jacobs when asked about the meaning of the title to his newest album “…

World-renowned West Virginia Pianist Barbara Nissman recently released her latest project from Three Oranges Recordings. Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Ramey is the 26th recording collaboration among Nissman, piano technician David Barr, and producer Bill Purse….

South American quartet Andes Manta graced us with their presence at the studios of West Virginia Public Broadcasting. With large drums, guitars, and a myriad of flutes, the four Lopez brothers performed a few of their favorite selections in the Andean tradition. …

This weekend, singers from Bluefield College will perform a concert in preparation for a tour of Europe later in the year. The Bluefield College Variations Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr. John Moir will sing as part of the Concerts @ St. John’s series …

WVSO principal flutist, Lindsey Goodman, returned to the WVPB studios this week to share with us her new album "Returning to Heights Unseen: New Music for…

All this week, Maestro André Raphel and the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra are hosting the East Meets West Festival and Concert in Wheeling. This includes…

"I'm home again." That was a declaration by world-renowned Euphonium player, Steven Mead, following his 5-week journey across the world. Mead found…

“Keep on pickin'”– That’s one of the many mantras of legendary composer, conductor, and performer David Amram. He used that mantra when sending out his composition portfolio to job prospects. Several times that portfolio was returned to him unopene…

“I think he’s been such a great spokesperson for the arts… and really for music in general… I think he’s really been someone who’s been able to help classical music progress past the traditional venues and audiences that one might normally expect,” says Wheel…

"Francis Vincent Zappa" or legendary rock-star, Frank Zappa, was one of the biggest influences of the music of composer John Luther Adams. As were…

A few weeks ago, the students of the Appalachian Children’s Chorus and their founding director, Selina Midkiff, stopped by our studios at West Virginia Public Broadcasting. They graced us with their youthful energy and a true dedication to music-making. The ACC is …

This Wednesday, Lindsey Goodman, principal flutist with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra joined us live in studio to discuss her recently-released…

World-renowned violinist Luosha Fang and Maestro Grant Cooper of the WVSO graced us with their presence at our West Virginia Public Broadcasting studios…

Recently, both students and faculty from West Virginia University teamed up to perform and record the music of Mary McAuliffe for a CD from the Delos label. The reason? WVU piano professor, Lucy Mauro says, “We really liked her music, so we wanted…

Hidden in one of the “Coolest Small Towns in America” (Lewisburg, WV), is a world-renowned pianist who has played with some of the world’s top orchestras. Barbara Nissman moved to the Mountain State in 1989, and now she’s bringing her tale…

Although the Kanawha Valley has had some economic struggles in recent years, there still stands a full-functioning and devoted theatre and arts community.…

Years ago, conductor Andrew Traschel was surfing YouTube – like many do. He came across a composition that fascinated him: Mason Bates's "Mothership".…

As he was conducting the ending of the American premiere of Kim André Arnesen's Requiem, conductor David Donathan said his cheeks hurt because he was…

This October 6th at 7 PM, the West Virginia Symphony League will be showing off the latest fashion of the season during their Fashion Show fundraiser at…

Thursday Oct. 1st at 7:30 PM, world renowned string quartet, Amernet, and the WVU Orchestra will follow the direction of Mitchell Arnold on stage at the…

Cellist Julian Schwarz performed live in our radio studios at WVPB this Friday. He stopped by to preview his performance of the Dvořák Cello Concerto with…

Cellist Julian Schwarz will join us live on radio during Classical Music with Matt Jackfert starting at 2:06 PM this Friday (9/18).Schwarz will discuss…

Today the Montclaire String Quartet shared with us some of their talents by performing Johan Halvorsen's Pasacaglia for Violin and Viola after JF Handel's…

Have you ever wondered how to create your own album? Or maybe were just curious as to how a band goes from their garage to professional recording studio? Let Matt Jackfert take you through a 10-step process of creating your very own album by following C…

Ever wondered how a band makes it from garage to professional studio? Join us this Memorial Day on radio as we go inside the making of an album. We track…

The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra is bidding farewell to the 2014-2015 season by performing a series of masterpieces by great composers, both old and new,…

Generally when a musician makes a mistake in a concert, he or she can just go home and forget about it. When your husband or wife is also your partner in…

It takes a serious amount of knowledge to become a conductor of an orchestra. That's why Maestro Stefan Sanders learned it from the inside out. He knew he…

The Montclaire String Quartet performed LIVE without a net in the West Virginia Public Broadcasting Studios at 600 Capitol Street Friday, February 13th.The tightly-knit …

Take a listen as Maestro André Raphel talks with us about his upcoming concert of Spanish and American Music with the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, their…

This past Wednesday, the Montclaire String Quartet stopped by the studios at West Virginia Public Radio for a live in-house performance. They performed selections from their upcoming concerts, gave their insights into the pieces and talked about the group’s …

In 2012, the Marshall University Chamber Choir toured France singing in old cathedrals and churches including the Notre Dame Cathedral. They sang an…

The United States Marine Band will be starting its annual 30-day tour starting September 1st. They'll be making two stops in West Virginia:Morgantown:…

This is a special treat for you all. I recently was able to talk with composer John Mackey about his career and the premiere of his new symphony for band:…

Dr. Lucy Mauro, professor of piano at West Virginia University, was able to talk with me about the contributions of largely unknown American composer,…

Igor Stravinksy’sThe Rite of Spring was a monumental work in so many ways: its size, its structure, and its ability to push the limits of what is known as music. The piece was so groundbreaking that at its premiere in Paris, France, on May 29th, 1913, a nea…