Horror and science fiction writer Lawrence C. Connolly talks about his latest writings, including a play for Prime Stage Theatre, and a book.

Composer Nancy Galbraith and Stephen Schultz talk about the world premiere of "Forest Cathedral" performed by Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic on November 2nd.

Frank Zappa's "Ruth is Sleeping" leads off Canadian born pianist Mark Andre Hamelin's new Hyperion cd "Found Objects/Sound Objects" with Salvatore Martirano heard in "Stuck on Stella," "The Perilous Night" by John Cage, Stefan Wolpe with "Passacaglia," "Refrain" by his friend Yehudi Wyner and "Hexensabbat" written by the pianist. On January 12, 2026, Mark-Andre Hamelin will have his Pittsburgh recital debut for Chamber Music Pittsburgh playing Concord Sonata by Charles Ives, Forest Scenes by Robert Schumann and Gaspard de la Nuit by Ravel. He tells Jim Cunningham he listens to radio WCRB all day being married to pianist and announcer Cathy Fuller. Nearing 100 CDs in his catalog, he says he likes to stay busy. He's been named a member of the Order of Canada and honored by Quebec for his start in Montreal then heading to Temple in Philadelphia and concertizing around the globe but only a few stops in Pittsburgh including Heinz Hall with the Turangalila Symphony by Olivier Messaien and the Ellen Zwilich Piano Concerto.

German born pianist Burkard Schliessmann has concertized around the world with a base in Frankfurt. He teaches at Curtis and in New York. He spoke with Jim Cunningham by Zoom from Germany about the solo piano works of Robert Schumann, Fantasies for the Divine Art label. The deluxe pressing is being issued as a triple gold audiophile LP. Burkard discussed his interpretation of Schumann's Kreisleriana and other masterpieces written in some cases near the end of his life when he was said to be losing his sanity. Herr Schliessmann feels this has been exaggerated. He also discusses Johann Wolfgang von Goethe whose name came with one of the many awards Schliessmann has been given. Is gold vinyl an addition to the sound quality or a fad? Etwas ganz Besonderes! Naturlich. He says he was fortunate to record on a great Steinway and loves working at the Berlin Teldex Studio where so many great keyboard legends from Barenboim to Arcadi Volodos have recorded.

Stage 62 presents Oklahoma at the Carnegie Music Hall in Carnegie, PA for two weekends - November 6-9 and November 13-15 with a cast of 40 directed by Rob James . Brian Ferris, Curly, who sings “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” and Rachel Fox, Aunt Eller, who serves as the emotional overseer for the cast bring to life the Rodgers and Hammerstein ground breaking Broadway hit that tells the story of America as the Oklahoma territory is becoming a state. Rachel and Brian joined Jim Cunningham on the QED Morning Show to reveal the special qualities of the production complete with a dining deal for visitors to Carnegie who’d like to try a new restaurant. Rachel says there is nothing that can compete with the presence and excitement of live theater and Stage 62 has been providing quality productions since 1962. Rachel and Brian are Grove City graduates who have enjoyed a life long passion for theater. Rachel and Brian are both veterans of the Stage 62 productions which included a long successful partnership last summer at the Greer Cabaret Theater downtown and Rachel’s previous success in Guys and Dolls.

With a strong presence on Facebook, Frank Kurtik is a different kind of poster. No cats or dogs - instead posts of Pittsburgh historical highlights, concert news, and restaurant discoveries. Frank was a long time docent at Heinz Chapel making brides comfortable on their wedding day and arranging organ recitals and tours after working as Pitt archivist. He started his higher level of educational discovery at Duquesne University and has crossed paths with many WQED regulars including Herb Stein of Newsroom. Mr. and Mrs. Kurtik brave the travel miles from Uniontown for countless musical events in Western Pa.   Kurtik recently presented an in depth look at the H. J. Heinz mansion on Penn Avenue in Point Breeze, Greenlawn, for the East Liberty Historical Society. He condenses his remarks in a conversation with Jim Cunningham describing the Music Room with a white mahogany Steinway grand and has reliefs of Bach, Handel, Verdi, and Gounod.  The architectural wonder was destroyed in 1924 with only the wrought iron black fence still standing. Just a few steps away, Mr. Heinz’s museum of Asian antiquities and clock museum still exists with the amazing history of having been open to the public. Frank speaks about the dining room where the family dressed formally for dinner, recalls the family history, and gives an overview of special features of the house with stained glass and the upstairs-downstairs staff arrangements. Mr. Heinz was an early major donor to the Pittsburgh Orchestra and supporter of the music world in Pittsburgh and was behind a Beethoven Club in Sharpsburg. Heinz served as an officer of the Pittsburgh Male Chorus which invited Marie Rappold of the Metropolitan Opera to appear as soloist. Heinz was a backer of the visiting Russian Symphony Orchestra in presenting Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream in Exposition Hall. H J Heinz helped to sponsor three seasons of concerts with the visiting Philadelphia Orchestra with no works by German composers due to tensions from WWI. Heinz helped in presenting the Walter Damrosch Orchestra during the Pittsburgh Exposition of 1904 held where the David Lawrence Convention Center now stands. The soloist, Henriette Keil, gave a highly praised Wagner concert enjoyed by Heinz. Frank Kurtik suggest surely she must have visited the music room at Greenlawn in Point Breeze.

The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh’s second annual CrosSING Bridges Choral Festival takes place on Sunday, October 26, 2025 at 4pm in the newly renovated Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland. Mendelssohn will share the stage once again with Heritage Gospel Chorale Pittsburgh (Dr. Herbert V.R.P. Jones, director) and Coro Latinoamericano Pittsburgh (Lourdes Santiesteban, director), along with their new choral partner, the Pittsburgh Pride Choir (Dr. Kym Scott, director). You’ll hear music from varied music traditions representing communities across Pittsburgh, and you’ll witness over 200 voices coming together to show all that collaboration can accomplish. Jim Cunningham spoke with Mendelssohn Choir Music Director Daniel Singer about the concert, the upcoming Junior Mendelssohn Joy Concert, his work in Cleveland with Beethoven's Ninth and Fidelio, their Holiday concert, and the Joe Hisaishi concert with the PSO.

Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer founder Michael Lutz joined Jim Cunningham on the QED Morning show to invite listeners to the David Lawrence Convention Center Saturday November 8, 2025 from 9am to 5pm where they will find collectible curated treasures of all kinds including vinyl records and decorative items, books, furniture, and housewares all in a fun atmosphere . Kids under 13 are admitted free with all tickets available at the door. There’s also a VIP Night Owl Pre party for $35, with free re entry to the main event on Saturday. Michael has been featured in an episode of Rick Sebak’s Nebby series on WQED13 and he also works on behalf of classical music as an artist representative for 21C music in New York helping to get musicians including Leif Ove Andsnes, Beatrice Rana, and Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony. Michael Lutz is almost certain that Rick Sebak will return as a vendor at the event this year. https://www.facebook.com/pghvintagemixer/

Problem pregnancies have not been top of mind for composers but Carnegie Mellon University faculty member Katherine Pukinskis has organized the Pittsburgh debut of her "One in Four, One in Eight" and brings the Agarita Ensemble and Attack Theater Dance to three locations - McGee Medical Center, the Attack Theater headquarters, and Westminster Presbyterian Church. The tickets are free but reservations are desirable at music.cmu.edu/tickets Agarita arrives from Texas with violinist Sarah Silver Manzke who has a great musical tradition. Her father, Paul Silver, has been a violist in the Pittsburgh Symphony for many years and retired before the pandemic. Her mom, Linda Silver, is a beloved music educator in Mount Lebanon. The composer transcribed 100,000 words of interviews with area medical professionals on the topic of bringing new life into the world with complications and the one in eight rate of solving life threatening trouble that results from the creation of new families. Kate Pukinskis has worked at the Pittsburgh Symphony in Operations and studied in Chicago with Shulamit Ran while finishing her Phd at the University of Chicago. in Pittsburgh she studied with Nancy Galbraith and Leonardo Balada - receiving her Bachelors and Masters degrees at CMU. There are pre-concert talks and post-concert receptions at each location. There is also newly commissioned artwork by Pittsburgh artist Morgan Overton. Before joining the faculty at Carnegie Mellon University, Dr. Pukinskis held faculty positions at Amherst College, Harvard University, and the Longy School of Music at Bard College. For more https://www.cmu.edu/cfa/music/concerts-events/

It's a celebration of ten years with Maestro James Blachly and the Johnstown Symphony. Opening night - October 25, 2025 - brings the start of the America 250 Celebration with Samuel Barber, Charles Ives' Unanswered Question, something new from Levi Taylor, and Brahms' Third Symphony. Maestro Blachly looks over the success of his Bach and Charlie Parker concert and the plan for a special holiday event. He tells Jim Cunningham about his visit to the Grammy Awards ceremony for his recording of Julia Perry, about his New York music making and suggests that he sees a bright future for classical music in Johnstown and around the globe.

The clear singing rooster in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales gave the 12 men of Chanticleer their name 48 years ago. Now the group is one of the world's most loved with a stop at the David Johnson Chapel on the Thiel College campus as part of the Con Spirito Concert Series on October 30th at 7pm. Assistant Music Director Matthew Mazzola runs down the American theme for the program and explains the special quality of the sound with an overview of the history bringing together more than 70 new pieces of music, Renaissance music, jazz, gospel, pop tunes, Latin music and women composers ranging across the full gamut of choral tradition. Chanticleer has won several Grammy awards, made more than fifty recordings selling over one million records and have a new one on the way this fall, "Joy to the World." They have a popular New York fundraiser for the holiday at St. Ignatius Church in New York City on December 7th and give the holiday concert in 11 Northern California venues. Greenville is the grand finale on the last night of the fall tour after stops in Alabama, North Carolina and Georgia. Tickets are $20. Free for Thiel students with proceeds to benefit the Thiel College Choir tour to Austria and Switzerland in 2026 March.

The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra opens its 2025-2026 season this Saturday, October 18th, with Korngold’s Violin Concerto, featuring violinist Timothy Chooi. Timothy and WSO Executive Director Michael Rozell joined WQED's Jim Cunningham live on the air to discuss the concert, Timothy's career, and the symphony. Timothy is Professor of Violin at the University of Ottawa. He holds degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music and the Juilliard School, and a Professional Studies Diploma from the Kronberg Academy. He previously collaborated with Westmoreland Symphony Artistic Director Daniel Meyer at Lakeside Chautauqua in Ohio, playing Bruch's "Scottish Fantasy" with the Lakeside Symphony Orchestra. Also on the program for Saturday are Khachaturian’s Masquerade Suite and Borodin’s Symphony No. 2. Tickets and more information are available at https://westmorelandsymphony.org/performances/opening-night/.

The Steinway Society of Western Pennsylvania presents the Pittsburgh debut of Aljosha Jurinic on Sunday October 19th, 3pm in the Kresge Theater at Carnegie Mellon University. It's an all Chopin recital with the Second and Third Sonatas plus nocturnes. Aljosha spoke with Jim Cunningham by Zoom from his home in Boston. He is involved in research regarding biomechanics with the hope of helping musicians avoid injuries. He explains his own physical fitness regimen and says he is careful about riding a bicycle. His formidable technique has taken him to the top at several competitions including the Chopin Competition in Warsaw, the Queen Elizabeth, Robert Schumann Competition in Zwickau, and guided him to studies at the University of Franz Liszt in Weimar. The President of Croatia has awarded him the top prize of his homeland for artists and he enjoys returning to Zagreb to visit with family several times each year.

The Tuesday Musical Club presents "Italia con Amore!" on October 21st, 1pm at Levy Hall, Rodef Shalom. This free concert includes music by Donizetti, Scarlatti, Boccherini and more. Soprano Sarah Richards and pianist Nanette Kaplan Solomon stopped by the studio to perform “Quando m’en vo” from Puccini's La Boheme LIVE. After the performance, they joined concert organizer Catherine Crotty in a conversation with WQED-FM's Anna Singer.

Pittsburgh Opera opens it's 2025-2026 season with Puccini's "La Boheme" at the Benedum Center October 18th through 26th. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with Vuvu Mpofu, who sings the role of Mimi. It's her role debut and she talks about her characters bravery throughout the opera.

Pittsburgh Opera opens it's 2025-2026 season with Puccini's "La Boheme" at the Benedum Center October 18th through 26th. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with stage director Kristine McIntyre. She talks about her approach to such a classic opera, especially with a cast of such young voices.

Pittsburgh Opera opens it's 2025-2026 season with Puccini's "La Boheme" at the Benedum Center October 18th through 26th. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with Daniel O'Hearn, who sings the role of Rodolfo. Daniel is thrilled to be back in Pittsburgh after spending many years in the Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist program.

Pittsburgh Opera opens it's 2025-2026 season with Puccini's "La Boheme" at the Benedum Center October 18th through 26th. WQED-FM's Anna Singer spoke with Pittsburgh Opera Music Director Antony Walker about the music of this great opera. He's conducted the opera countless times, but still always enjoys it.

Chamber Music Pittsburgh presents the Sphinx Virtuosi and Sterling Elliot at Carnegie Music Hall on Tuesday October 21st at 7:30pm. WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham spoke with two members of Sphinx Virtuosi - Violist/violinist Bill Neri and violinist Sandro Leal-Santiesteban. They spoke about the ensemble, what people can expect at the concert and much more.

After thirteen years of planning, Fred Rogers and George Benson are now in stone in front of the Terminal Smallman Street at 18th in the Strip District on the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame with eight other luminaries following the ceremonies on Monday October 20th. Executive Director of the Walk, Nancy Polinsky Johnson, a regular on QED Cooks with Chris Fennimore and retired publisher of Shady Ave. Magazine, speaks with Jim Cunningham about the walk and how you can add new names in the years to come.