Now in its sixth year, our weekly online classical quiz Tuesday Trivia is a super-fun way to connect with our community (and inspire a bit of healthy competition). In that spirit, we invite you to join WDAV hosts Frank Dominguez and Phil Vavra for a high-energy night of LIVE classical music triviaat Free Range Brewing on Tuesday, May 26 at 7 p.m., featuring ragtime pianist Ethan Uslan in a special round of Name That Tune. And yes, there are prizes at stake…
Ahead of Tuesday Trivia LIVE!, we caught up with Ethan about his musical path and what participants can expect at the event (including a helpful hint or two).
Tell us about your journey as a musician! How did you get into ragtime?
When I was 9, our neighbors were moving and were selling an upright piano. My mom told me she’d get that piano if I took lessons, and I said, “sure, why not?” So it was all her idea – thanks mom! I took classical lessons and enjoyed it. Growing up, I dabbled in all sorts of genres, from classical to jazz to rock to ragtime. I majored in classical piano at Indiana University, and at some point during college, I decided to get as good as possible at ragtime and early jazz. I was drawn to it for many reasons: it has the virtuosity and melodiousness of great classical music, it’s piano-centric, it’s playful, and it leaves lots of room for humor, whimsy, and improvisation. I also like that it’s uniquely American.
How will the piano come into play at WDAV’s Tuesday Trivia LIVE! Event (and can you give our blog readers any hints about what they might hear)?
I’d like to play some classical melodies that WDAV listeners might know – but of course, I might jazz them up a little bit. I may also play some old classical melodies that were re-packaged as pop hits. Perhaps a few trivia players might remember a Perry Como hit that was also a Chopin melody? If not, hearing it played on the piano might help jog the memory.
What aspect of the event are you most excited about?
I always love schmoozing with the WDAV people and talking about music. And my wife Kate is coming – date night!
WDAV’s Tuesday Trivia LIVE! is part of Steinway at Free Range Brewing (May 22 – 31), a unique ten-day series of free concerts and events presented by Free Range Brewing, Steinway Carolinas, Tosco Music, WDAV, and Bach Charlotte.
Registration is strongly encouraged for this free event! Teams and individuals are welcome to play. Got questions? Send ‘em our way at malathem@wdav.org.
About Ethan Uslan
Hailed by the Chicago Tribune for his “vivid musical imagination” and “deep understanding of far-flung performance practices,” Ethan Uslan is a ragtime/jazz concert pianist. He is a 3-time winner of the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest (yes – that really exists!) and has performed all over the USA and Europe. Ethan was featured prominently in the 2012 documentary “The Entertainers” and his jazz rendition of Bach’s “Minuet in G” was used in the AMC series “Interview With the Vampire.”
This will be the weekend to catch your favorite orchestras and ensembles before they shift gears for the summer. The CSO, Western Piedmont Symphony, Charlotte Civic Orchestra, and Lake Norman Orchestra are all wrapping up their seasons this week!
Guys and Dolls
Dilworth Players are performing the Broadway musical, Guys and Dolls, at Dilworth United Methodist Church (605 East Boulevard, Charlotte), May 14th through 16th. Based on Damon Runyon’s stories about gamblers and missionaries, the romantic comedy features familiar songs including “Luck Be a Lady” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” The Thursday and Friday shows start at 7:30 p.m. Saturday’s performances are at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The Saturday evening show will have an ASL interpreter and designated ASL accessible seats. May 14-16.
Copland & Kahane
“Home” means different things to different people. That’s what the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra* will be exploring at Knight Theater (430 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte) on Friday, May 15th and Saturday, May 16th at 7:30 p.m. Kwame Ryan directs the season ending program, which includes Jennifer Higdon’s contemporary “SkyLine” from City Scape and Aaron Copland’s iconic Suite from Appalachian Spring. Then, Spotlight Series Artistic Partner Gabriel Kahane will join the CSO to perform his oratorio-style work, emergency shelter intake form, with a choir of community members directly affected by homelessness. May 15-16.
Not So Mean Green
Acting Out Studio presents Shrek the Musical Jr. at the Cain Center for the Arts* (21348 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius) on Friday, May 15th at 6 p.m., and Saturday, May 16th at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m. This hilarious adaptation of the Oscar-winning film and Broadway musical features two different casts. May 15-16.
Musical Wanderlust
The Western Piedmont Symphony* closes out its 2025-2026 Masterworks Series with a globetrotting finale at Lenoir-Rhyne University’s P.E. Monroe Auditorium (775 6th Street NE, Hickory) on Saturday, May 16th at 7:30 p.m. The program includes Karl Goldmark’s Overture to Sakuntala, Georges Bizet’s L’Arlesienne Suite No. 1, and Max Steiner’s Casablanca Suite. The evening will conclude with Camille Saint-Saens’ Piano Concerto No. 5, “Egyptian,” featuring acclaimed Canadian pianist Sheng Cai. May 16.
Fate & Destiny
The Salisbury Symphony Orchestra returns to Catawba College’s Keppel Auditorium (2300 W. Innes Street, Salisbury) on Saturday, May 16th at 7 p.m. It will be an evening of contemporary and classic musical storytelling, beginning with Carlos Simon’s Fate Now Conquers, a modern reflection on Beethoven’s enduring influence. Korean American composer Soon Hee Newbold’sIliad will be performed with the Salisbury Symphony Youth Orchestra, followed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s festiveCapriccio Espagnol. Finally, your spirit will soar as the orchestra closes out the concert with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. May 16.
Young Blood
The Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestras are also winding down their season with an afternoon of monumental music at Knight Theater (430 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte), Saturday May 16th at 2 p.m. Conductor Ian Passmore and the Youth Symphony will perform music from Bernstein’s West Side Story and Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet. The Youth Camerata is taking on Bruckner, Sibelius, and Tchaikovsky. The Youth Philharmonic and Youth Ensemble will present a blend of new and classic works. May 16.
Charlotte’s Secret Gardens
If you’re new to Charlotte or simply want to know more about it, make your way to the Secret Gardens of Fourth Ward, May 16th and 17th. It’s a fun, walkable way to explore one of uptown’s most attractive neighborhoods and see some of the hidden jewels in the crown of the Queen City. The self-guided tour includes food, wine and cocktail tastings with live music at gardens and restaurants in Historic Fourth Ward. May 16-17.
Rhythms of Spring
The Charlotte Civic Orchestra concludes its season with a celebration of spring at Community Church at Lake Wylie (104 Hamilton’s Ferry Road, Lake Wylie, SC), Sunday, May 17th at 3 p.m. The concert will feature Rimsky-Korsakov’s Procession of the Nobles; Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1, featuring soloist David Lebel; the world premiere of Lorraine’s Atocha; as well as a “Salute to the Big Bands,” arranged by Calvin Custer. May 17.
Peter & the Symphony
Christopher James Lees conducts the Rock Hill Symphony for a free afternoon performance of Sergei Prokofiev’s delightful Peter & the Wolf at McGirt Auditorium (825 Crawford Road, Rock Hill, SC) on Sunday, May 17th at 4 p.m. Music lovers of all ages will enjoy hearing each character of this timeless musical tale brought to life by the orchestra. May 17.
Wine & Song
Laurel Gray Vineyards-Winery (5726 Old U.S. Highway 421, Hamptonville) is hosting the Lake Norman Orchestra for their season finale on Sunday, May 17th at 2 p.m. Highlights include George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, featuring pianist Julie Jones, selections from Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird, Franz von Suppe’s Light Cavalry Overture, George Bizet’s Prelude to Carmen, as well as music from Phantom of the Opera, The Magnificent Seven, The Empire Strikes Back, the Beatles, and the Alan Parsons Project. May 17.
Noel & Maria
Music at St. Alban’s* (301 Caldwell Lane, Davidson) is bringing its season to a close with the always entertaining jazz pianist Noel Freidline and vocalist Maria Howell on Sunday, May 17th at 3 p.m. This delightful afternoon will be set to some of the best music of the past 80 years, including Ella Fitzgerald and Motown. Come early for a conversation with the artists beginning at 2 p.m. May 17.
Abbondanza!
The St. Anthony Foundation of Charlotte invites you to Festa Italiana Charlotte at the Gateway Village Promenade (800 W. Trade Street, Charlotte) on Sunday, May 17th from 1 to 6:30 p.m. It’s an all-inclusive Italian food and wine grand tasting experience with more than 25 culinary partners. The festival includes chef demonstrations, live music, an Italian sports car exhibit, and more. Spring Cocktail Attire is encouraged. Net proceeds from the event benefit individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Nevins Inc.May 17.
88 Keys of Fun
Spring isn’t just about ragweed; we also have ragtime. The next Providence Chamber Music Series spring concert will feature pianist Ethan Uslan at Providence United Methodist Church (2810 Providence Road, Charlotte) on Sunday, May 17th at 6:30 p.m. With Ethan at the keys, it’s guaranteed to be an entertaining and enlightening hour of ragtime, jazz, and swing piano. Admission is free. (Shameless plug: You can also catch Ethan Uslan at WDAV’s first-ever Tuesday Trivia Live event, hosted by me and Frank Dominguez, on Tuesday, May 26th at 7 p.m. as part of Steinway at Free Range Brewing.)May 17.
Chamber Music in Davidson
The Davidson College* Concert Series wraps up its season with Chamber Music for All at Tyler-Tallman Hall, Sloan Music Center (323 Concord Road, Davidson) on Monday, May 18th at 7:30 p.m. The ensemble features musicians from the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, including Concertmaster Calin Lupanu. The program will include cello quintets by Luigi Boccherini and Franz Schubert. May 18.
Sparks on Stage
Blumenthal Arts* is bringing The Notebook to Belk Theater (130 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte), May 19th through 24th. Based on Nicholas Sparks’ best-selling novel and film adaptation, the stage musical brings a new dimension to the lifelong romance of Allie and Noah. May 19-24.
Steinway @ The Mint
The Mint Museum Uptown* (500 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte) and Steinway Carolinas* have launched the Steinway Residency Series, a monthly event featuring live piano performances by accomplished pianists from our region. It’s scheduled for every third Wednesday from 6 to 6:45 p.m., and these performances are part of the museum’s Free Wednesday Nights. Jazz and gospel pianist Lovell Bradford performs on Wednesday, May 20th. Tour the galleries before or after the performance, from 5 to 9 p.m., and maybe even squeeze in dinner at Mariposa. Ongoing.
Springtime Sounds
Frances Blaker directs the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra* for Les Élémens: Celebrating Spring on Thursday, May 21st (5 p.m.) at Davidson College Presbyterian Church (100 N. Main Street, Davidson) and Friday, May 22nd (7 p.m.) at Morning Star Lutheran Church(12509 Idlewild Road, Matthews). The program will include selections from Jean-Féry Rebel’s Les Élémens, as well as Telemann’s Concerti for strings and winds, Geminiani’s Folia, Mozart’s Divertimento K. 137, and more. Suggested donations are $20 general, $15 seniors. May 21-22.
Tutankhamun & Titanic
2026 is shaping up to be the year of VR. Two immersive experiences are taking up residence in Charlotte this month. First, Blumenthal Arts* is presenting Horizon of Khufu at Blume Studios (904 Post Street, Charlotte) through August 30th. Recommended for ages 8 and up, the 45-minute virtual reality journey takes you from present-day Egypt to 2,500 BC. Along the way, you’ll explore the pyramid, cruise the Nile, and learn about ancient embalming rituals. Tickets start at $28. Through August 30.
Meanwhile, Titanic: The Exhibition is coming to the Park Expo & Conference Center (2500 E. Independence Boulevard, Charlotte), Friday, May 15th through Sunday, July 5th. This VR voyage takes you aboard the famous ship with authentic artifacts, realistic recreations of the vessel’s interior and exterior, and a Virtual Reality component. The visit lasts about one hour, and adult tickets start at $29.50. Kids under 4 get in free. May 15-July 5.
Mid-May Musts
Cola Jazz + Roots Fest: Two-day family-friendly event celebrating music, culture, and community with performances by local and national jazz stars, plus food and craft vendors in downtown Columbia, SC. May 15-16.
Mayberry Farm Fest: Tractor Parade (5/15), vendors, agricultural exhibits, and kids’ activities in downtown Mount Airy. May 15-16.
Charlotte Asian & Dragon Boat Festival 2026: A day of dragon boat races, cultural performances, Asian cuisine, boba tea, local vendors, and more at Ramsey Creek Park on Lake Norman in Huntersville. May 16.
Cheerwine Festival: Head to the birthplace of the Southern carbonated classic with plenty of good food, live entertainment, the family fun zone, and all the Cheerwine you can drink in downtown Salisbury. May 16.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Book Sale: Gently used and bargain-priced Science Fiction, Fantasy, Manga, and Graphic Novels at the Steele Creek Library. May 16.
Saluda Arts Festival: Paintings, pottery, sculpture, fiber arts in downtown Saluda plus traditional and contemporary folk and bluegrass music at the amphitheater. May 16.
2026 Japan Fest: Annual celebration of Japanese food, culture, and games at Urban District Market in Charlotte. May 16-17.
Artsplosure: Two-day festival in downtown Raleigh with an Art Market and 175 juried visual artists from across the U.S., who work in ceramics, glass, fiber art, jewelry, metal, painting, photography, and wood. May 16-17.
Art in the Park: Monthly event through October featuring 70 juried artists selling jewelry, furniture, lawn ornaments, pottery, textiles, paintings, and more in downtown Blowing Rock. May 16, June 13, July 25, August 25, September 12, October 3.
Remember, the WDAV Events Calendar is always being updated with new arts and culture offerings from across our region. Check it out and go have some fun!
FanFare is made possible in part by:
*Disclosure: Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Cain Center for the Arts, Western Piedmont Symphony, Music at St. Alban’s, Davidson College, Blumenthal Arts, Mint Museum, Steinway Carolinas, and North Carolina Baroque Orchestra are WDAV underwriters.
We’re closing out another exhilarating season of WDAV’s Small Batch Concert Series on Thursday, May 28, with pianist Phillip Bush! Ahead of the concert, we chatted with Phillip to learn more about his extraordinary career and get a glimpse of what to expect on the big night. Don’t forget to grab your tickets!
Tell us about your musical journey. How did you first become a pianist, and where has your career taken you since?
I started lessons about age 6, studied from then until age 17 with John Whitaker at Southern Park Music School here in Charlotte, and then went from here to the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore to study for several years with Leon Fleisher. For nearly 20 years after that I was based in New York City, but concerts took me on a journey I never would have expected, all over the US and Canada, most European countries, many extended tours in Japan, also performing travels to China, Australia, South America, the Caribbean, and more. I’ve been so lucky not only to have seen so much of the world through my involvement with music, but also to have been blessed to work with so many inspiring musicians all along the way.
Serious question: How often have you played in a brewery?
I’ve racked my brain and I really don’t think I ever have, to tell you the truth! I do think I have performed at a couple of wineries, but never a brewery. It’s been a great trend of recent years for classical music organizations and musicians to take their music beyond the traditional concert hall setting into new and fun venues and I’m all for that. Saves the effort of deciding where to go after the concert for a celebratory beer!
We’re beyond thrilled to have you as a Small Batch artist this season! What can audiences expect at your concert (and can you give our readers any hints about what you’ll be playing)?
I’m excited to take part in this wonderful series! I would say this concert will be a snapshot of some of the diverse musical interests I’ve had over the years, including some “mainstream” classical repertoire but also venturing beyond the purely classical, and hopefully showcasing many different soundworlds the piano can create. The concert will be bracketed by some familiar names and works, including all three movements of Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata (from its familiar dreamy opening to its whirlwind of a finale) and Chopin’s Scherzo in C-sharp minor. But there will be excursions into music by Duke Ellington, Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays, Philip Glass, Karen Tanaka, and Frank Zappa.
WDAV’s Small Batch: Phillip Bush, piano is part of Steinway at Free Range Brewing (May 22 – 31), a unique ten-day series of free concerts and events presented by Free Range Brewing, Steinway Carolinas, Tosco Music, WDAV, and Bach Charlotte.
Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
After many travels and adventures over the years (which are still going!) it always feels special to play music in Charlotte. My life came full-circle back to the south when I joined the faculty at the University of South Carolina School of Music, and that’s given me the opportunity to do a variety of projects in Charlotte, especially chamber music. It’s been incredible, of course, to witness the changes to the city since I grew up here in the 1970s, but most especially in the growth of the arts and the number of wonderful musicians and artists and organizations doing extraordinary work here.
This Small Batch concert is part of Steinway at Free Range Brewing, a ten-day collaborative series of concerts and events presented by Steinway Carolinas, Free Range Brewing, Tosco Music, Bach Charlotte, and WDAV. In your view, how does our community benefit from arts partnerships like this one?
It’s terrific when arts organizations collaborate in presenting events. Often it results in cross-fertilization of audiences which can benefit everybody. Somebody might know about one organization’s events and attend those, but not really be aware of what another organization is doing that might very well intrigue them. Ultimately, support for the arts is not a zero-sum game. Instead, events that are cross-promoted and that involve collaboration between organizations foster a greater sense of cultural vibrancy in a community, encouraging greater attendance and potential for all the arts in that community.
About Phillip Bush
A devoted advocate for contemporary music, Phillip Bush performed worldwide for 20 years with both the Philip Glass Ensemble and Steve Reich and Musicians, in venues ranging from the Sydney Opera House to the Acropolis in Athens. Mr. Bush is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory, where he studied with Leon Fleisher. From 2000 to 2004, Mr. Bush taught piano and chamber music at the University of Michigan, and he has also served as Visiting Faculty at the University of North Carolina. Since 2012 Phillip Bush has been Professor of Piano and Chamber Music at the University of South Carolina School of Music, and serves as Artistic Director of the annual Southeastern Piano Festival.
May has always played a central role in my identity. I was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday, May 4, 1985, which was a big deal for my family and friends because I took part in the grandest race of the year: the Kentucky Derby. Not to brag, but I was born just an hour before the race started, making me a Derby winner. May also happens to be Jewish American Heritage Month, another deeply meaningful part of who I am. Although, like many, this part of my identity is complicated and multifaceted.
I was born into a mixed faith family. My mother was born and raised Jewish, but she married a Catholic man, so my older brothers and sister were raised Catholic. As it turns out, I was responsible for us leaving the Catholic church and our subsequent search for a new religious home. Here’s the story told to me ever since I could sit on my parents’ knees: one Sunday, when I was still a young baby, I began crying in church. Apparently, this was very frustrating to the clergy running the service, who yelled out to the congregation, “Will someone shut that kid up?!” At this point, my father gathered our family and left the church, never to return.
We then began moving through different faiths, looking for a home that would satisfy my siblings and parents. We tried Lutheran, Episcopal, Unitarian, and Jewish—however, none fit all of us in the same way. Despite our search, my mother still kept elements of her Jewish culture and religion present in our home. We celebrated Rosh Hashanah, Passover, Yom Kippur, and Hanukkah (even though she really loved Christmas, too). I grew up with a keen understanding that, despite not being raised in a traditional Jewish fashion or attending synagogue services, I was still Jewish.
Music became a central part of my life from a young age, and I venerated master musicians like Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Benny Goodman, and many other Jewish Americans. When I discovered klezmer music, I became obsessed with the intense passion I heard in the music – the dizzying heights of joy, like dancing fire, and the soul-wrenching depths of sadness. It felt like the totality of Jewish history expressed through music, giving me a personal connection to Jewish identity I hadn’t developed before.
Oddly enough, klezmer music is one of those parts of culture that is instantly recognizable but often poorly understood or portrayed by Jewish and gentile people alike. When I was in high school and first discovered klezmer music, I learned about a music festival in New York called KlezKamp, a week-long celebration of Jewish culture, from religion to cooking, dance, art, and music. This festival was the first place I learned klezmer music directly from professional musicians. It put me on my current path, and since then, I have spent the past ten years studying klezmer. I wrote my dissertation and authored an essay on klezmer that won second place in the International Clarinet Association Research Competition. I also wrote a reed quintet called “Growing Up Klezmer,” exploring my upbringing through a modern klezmer lens. My compositional voice is heavily influenced by my love of video games, klezmer, modern, and Western European classical music. My music and I are certifiably Kosher.
Dylan Taliesin is a composer and performer whose work draws on classical training, retro game soundtrack aesthetics, and klezmer-influenced folk traditions. He is the artistic director and co-founder of the chamber ensemble Phoenix Down RPG, which performed at WDAV’s Small Batch concert series. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Louisville and a doctorate from The Ohio State University.
Do theaters sell tissues in the lobby? If not, they should probably offer some along with their other concessions, especially when presenting something that’s likely to elicit tears from the audience. Having seen both film adaptations of The Color Purple, I’m guessing Theatre Charlotte’s upcoming production of the stage musical will require some dabbing of the eyes. It’s a moving story, to say the least. More about that below.
Hops & Harmonies
The Charlotte Master Chorale* Chamber Singers have a fun-filled evening of music on tap at the Triple C Brewing Barrel Room (2832 Griffith Street, Charlotte) on Friday, May 8th at 7:30 p.m. Kenney Potter and Philip Biedenbender will lead this casual concert featuring several lighthearted works. Hopefully, you won’t get lightheaded after too many beverages. Pace yourself. May 8.
Spring Into Summer
The North Carolina Baroque Orchestra* Chamber Players are performing Spring into Summer at three locations, May 8th through 10th. The program will feature Spring and Summer from Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, and other works. The concerts are free, but donations are gratefully accepted.
First Presbyterian Church 125 N. Meeting Street, Statesville, NC Friday, May 8th at 7 p.m.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 520 Summit Street, Winston-Salem, NC Saturday, May 9th at 4 p.m. ($20 suggested donation)
Lancaster Cultural Arts Center 309 W. Gay Street, Lancaster, SC Sunday, May 10th at 3 p.m.
Love is Love
Theatre Charlotte* is presenting The Color Purple, May 8th through 24th. The soul-stirring musical based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize–winning novel tells the story of Celie, a young African American woman who navigates a life of abuse before discovering the strength to break free. Jazz, gospel, and blues songs accentuate themes of hope, resilience, and the power of finding one’s voice. May 8-24.
Bien sûr!
Caritas A Capella Ensemble presents En français: A French Choral Journey at Trinity Presbyterian Church (3115 Providence Road, Charlotte) on Saturday, May 9th at 7:30 p.m. The program will feature French and French-inspired sacred and secular choral music spanning more than five centuries with works by Duruflé, Debussy, and Lauridsen. And it’s BYOB — Bring your own beret. May 9.
Wizard of Winston-Salem
Celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with a trip to the Emerald City. Michelle Merrill will conduct the Winston-Salem Symphony* for Defying Gravity: The Wonderful Music of OZ at Reynolds Auditorium (301 N. Hawthorne Road, Winston-Salem) on Saturday, May 9th at 7:30 p.m. You’ll feel like dancing down the “Yellow Brick Road” with music from The Wizard of OZ, Return to OZ, The Wiz, and Wicked. Featured performers include vocalists Campbell Walker Fields,Jessica Hendy,Kelli Rabke, and pianist John Fischer. May 9.
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
Ludmila European Music and Art Academy is presenting Mary Poppins Jr. at the Cain Center for the Arts* (21348 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius) on Saturday, May 9th at 6 p.m. Based on P.L. Travers’ beloved stories and the classic Disney film, the stage musical is filled with memorable songs, energetic dance numbers, and enchanting special effects. May 9.
May I Have a Word?
Book Buyers in the Eastway Crossing Shopping Center (3040 Eastway Drive B, Charlotte) hosts their Spring 2026 Poetry & Fiction Reading on Saturday, May 9th at 7:30 p.m. The evening will feature readings by Erin Rose Coffin, Benjamin T. Dudley, and Misha Lazzara. That will be followed by an Open Mic session with a five-minute maximum per reader. May 9.
Sing Along with Maria
This has “mom” written all over it. Well, certainly my mom. The Carolina Theatre* (230 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte) is bringing The Sound of Music back to the big screen. The five-time Academy Award-winning musical had its Charlotte premiere at the Carolina Theater and ran for a record-breaking 79 weeks from 1965 to 1966. You can relive the magic with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer on Saturday, May 9th at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The evening showing is also a sing-along with the iconic Rodgers & Hammerstein soundtrack. Edelweiss…May 9.
Wine & (Grilled) Cheese
Mother’s Day weekend also has a few festivals to offer, from food to folk art and more.
Ballantyne Wine Festival: Large selection of regional and national wines, plus live music and local craft vendors at Ballantyne Village in Charlotte. May 9.
Charlotte Grilled Cheese Festival: A crispy, melty celebration of America’s favorite sandwich at South End Station, where creative grilled cheese variations will be paired with delicious drinks from local bars. May 9.
Kaleidoscope Fest: Spring festival featuring fine art and crafts, performing arts, culinary arts and craft brewing, martial arts, and more in downtown Waxhaw. May 9.
Foothills Folk Art Festival: Meet artists, watch live demonstrations, and shop for one-of-a-kind pieces of authentic contemporary Carolina foothills folk art in downtown Newton. May 9.
Fiber Day at the Folk Art Center: Demonstrations by regional craft artists working in weaving, spinning, dyeing, and other fiber traditions, plus a hands-on kids’ activity table in Asheville. May 9.
Lake Lure Arts & Crafts Festival: More than 100 artisans and food vendors. Fine arts, graphics, photography, jewelry, glass, pottery, wood, textiles, leather in Lake Lure, NC. May 9-10.
St. Philip Neri Italian Festival: Three-days of homemade Italian food, wine tastings, live entertainment, parade, games, rides, and the Cannoli Run 5K in Fort Mill, SC. May 14-16.
I hope you have a very happy Mother’s Day weekend. Be sure to check the WDAV Events Calendar for even more art, culture, and fun across our region!
FanFare is made possible in part by:
*Disclosure: Charlotte Master Chorale, North Carolina Baroque Orchestra, Theatre Charlotte, Winston-Salem Symphony, Cain Center for the Arts, and Carolina Theatre are WDAV underwriters.
Here’s my favorite factoid about the Brandenburg Concertos: The second of the six was sent into interstellar space half a century ago on the Voyager Golden Record, to give other life forms an idea of the greatest things our civilization had achieved. (So was Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode.” Quite a twinspin for those aliens.)
All six remind me that beauty, intriguing structure and emotion can be combined in the same music. So it was a pleasure to hear the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra play the third and fifth at its “Bach and Beyond” concert Friday at Carolina Theatre. Between them came a surprisingly moving work for string orchestra by North Carolina-born Caroline Shaw, a chunk of Handel’s first “Water Music” suite, and a strange solo effort by contemporary composer Asako Hirabayashi.
The brief Third Brandenburg opened the show in warm-hearted fashion. It lasts a mere 10 minutes, but the CSO musicians (who, except for the cellos, played on their feet) made it a welcoming curtain-raiser.
Shaw’s “Entr’acte” moved from unity to fragmentation to unity again, and even the disjointed sections (which conductor Christopher James Lees described too strongly as “cacophony”) suggested that the orchestral fabric could never be completely unknit. Shaw wrote the piece after hearing Haydn’s string quartet Op. 77 No. 2, and the CSO gave us what Shaw said she wanted us to hear: “I love the way some music (like the minuets of Op. 77) suddenly takes you to the other side of Alice’s looking glass, in a kind of absurd, subtle, technicolor transition.”
The “Water Music” excerpts, extracted from my favorite Baroque orchestral piece, wasted an opportunity. We heard only five movements out of nine from the first of Handel’s three suites, probably just enough that the orchestra will never play the whole thing for years. Those received an indifferent performance anyway, suitable more for drowsy courtiers in an overheated palace than King George I and his minions breezing down the Thames. Only the last movement, a hornpipe with piquant wind playing, caught the proper spirit.
Hirabayashi wrote “Dance” to show what an 800-year-old instrument can do in the 21st century. Instead, she showed mostly what the harpsichord can’t do: Because it can’t change dynamics or sustain notes as a piano can, it’s unsuited to the dense Latin dance rhythms Hirabayashi set down in her stop-and-start piece. After a few moments, she’d said everything she had to say.
Keyboard soloist Emily Urbanek had a better chance to show her skills in the big crowd-pleaser, the sixth Brandenburg. It features important solos for flute, violin and harpsichord – indeed, they play the second movement alone – and the three soloists cut striking figures: Flutist Victor Wang in a raspberry jacket, Urbanek in a cranberry coat, violinist Kari Giles in a floor-length dress of spangly emerald green.
Their dreamy second movement reminded us that the greatest Baroque music has soul, not just intellectually appealing order. And Urbanek’s rendition of her extended cadenza in the opening movement, surely the longest in music history for a harpsichord with orchestra, set the crowd cheering even while the rest of the musicians came back in, as if Jimmy Page had played an especially tangy solo at a Led Zeppelin concert.
Baroque music can’t rock as hard as, say, “Johnny B. Goode.” But on this evidence, they belong together on that Golden Record, moving even now toward the farthest reaches of the universe.
The annual Run for the Roses is on Saturday, but the thoroughbreds at Churchill Downs aren’t the only ones who need to be in a hurry this week. If you want to catch performances from the Charlotte Symphony, Opera Carolina, and Charlotte Ballet, you had better giddy-up and get your tickets.
Bach & Beyond
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra* is making the most of Uptown with a night at the historic Carolina Theatre at Belk Place (230 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte) on Friday, May 1st at 7:30 p.m. Led by Resident Conductor Christopher James Lees, Bach & Beyond will include Johann Sebastian Bach’s 3rd and 5th “Brandenburg” Concertos, George Frideric Handel’s Water Music Suite No. 1, and Caroline Shaw’s contemporary work, entr’acte.Solos will be performed by violinist Kari Giles, flutist Victor Wang, and Emily Urbanek at the harpsichord. May 1.
Myth and Mystery
The Charlotte BOOM Fringe Festival presents Michelle Medina Villalon’s Mythos at the Boardwalk at University Place (8931 J.M. Keynes Drive, Charlotte) on Friday, May 1st at 9:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 2nd at 2 p.m. The powerful choreopoem brings to life the experiences of four women behind some iconic North American myths: La Llorona, the Lady in Red, the Bell Witch, and Marie Laveau. May 1-2.
Bach x Ballet
The Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts and University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA*) are bringing Johnny Loves Johann to the Agnes de Mille Theatre (1533 S. Main Street, Winston-Salem), May 1st through 3rd. Coming off a successful run in New York City, this acclaimed production is a musical marriage of GRAMMY-winning violinist Johnny Gandelsman’s interpretation of Bach’s cello suites with original choreography and performances by various artists. The Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m., Sunday is at 2 p.m. May 1-3.
250 Years of American Music
The Piedmont Choral Society, under the direction of Joseph Judge and accompanied by a chamber orchestra, presents An American Choral Landscape: Voices,Verse, and Song at First Baptist Church (200 Branchview Drive SE, Concord) on Friday, May 1st at 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 3rd at 3 p.m. This free concert highlights American composers, American poets, and distinctly American musical genres, including hymn and spiritual traditions, Broadway and film classics, as well as texts by Robert Frost, Sara Teasdale, and James Agee. May 1 & 3.
The Lollipop Guild is in Session
The Green Room Community Theatre invites you to follow Dorothy and Toto down the Yellow Brick Road to their production of The Wizard of Oz in the McCreary Theatre (10 S. Main Avenue, Newton), May 1st through 17th. The classic musical features unforgettable favorites including “Over the Rainbow,” “If I Only Had a Brain,” and “We’re Off to See the Wizard.” May 1-17.
Bel Canto
Opera Carolina* is putting on a night of bel canto at Knight Theater (430 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte), Saturday May 2nd at 8 p.m. Soprano Erin Morley and tenor Lawrence Brownlee will perform a selection of beautiful arias from the Golden Age of the Italian bel canto tradition, accompanied by pianist Malcolm Martineau. May 2.
Orchestral Fireworks
The Greensboro Symphony Orchestra is closing out this season’s Masterworks series at the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts (300 N. Elm Street, Greensboro) on Saturday, May 2nd at 7:30 p.m. Music Director Christopher Dragon leads the program featuring the Hungarian March by Hector Berlioz; Michael Daugherty’s Harp of the Age, with harpist Courtney Hershey Bress; and Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. May 2.
Bach’s Mass in B Minor
Winston-Salem Choral Artists, under the direction of Dr. Chris Gilliam, will be joined by the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church (2575 Parkway Drive, Winston-Salem) on Saturday, May 2nd at 7 p.m. The ensembles will be performing Johann Sebastian Bach’s magnificent Mass in B minor, which he completed in 1749, the year before his passing. May 2.
Fancy Hats & Mint Juleps
The Young Affiliates of the Mint are hosting their 35th Annual Derby Days on the lawn of the Mint Museum* Randolph (2730 Randolph Road, Charlotte) on Saturday, May 2nd from 3 to 8 p.m. In addition to a festive Kentucky Derby watch party, the event will include live music, lawn games, and complimentary beer and wine, with Mint Juleps and specialty cocktails available for purchase, along with matcha and coffee offerings. Derby attire is encouraged because the afternoon will also feature Best Hat and Best Dressed contests. May 2.
Beatles by Candlelight
Experience the music of the Fab Four like never before with Candlelight: Tribute to the Beatles at the Great Aunt Stella Center (926 Elizabeth Avenure, Charlotte) on Saturday, May 2nd at 6:30 and 8:45 p.m. and Saturday, May 9th at 8:45 p.m. A string ensemble will perform hits including “Penny Lane,” “Here Comes the Sun,” “Eleanor Rigby,” “Blackbird,” “Yesterday,” “Let It Be,” and many more under the serene glow of candlelight. May 2 & 9.
High Tea
Scone, anyone? Wing Haven Garden & Bird Sanctuary (260 Ridgewood Avenue, Charlotte) is hosting Tea Time in the Garden on Sunday, May 3rd, two seatings at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. This multi-generational high tea is the perfect way to celebrate spring in style with garden tours, crafts, scavenger hunts, stories, adorable bunnies, portraits, and plenty of refreshments. May 3.
Beginning with Beethoven
The Winston-Salem Symphony* Classical Kids Live series continues with Beethoven Lives Upstairs at Wake Forest University’s Brendle Recital Hall (2629 Wake Forest Road, Winston-Salem) on Sunday, May 3rd at 3 p.m. Michelle Merrill leads the orchestra and Classical Kids Live Theatre Company in this dramatized introduction to Ludwig van Beethoven’s life and music. Tickets are only $7-$10. May 3.
Broadway in Rock Hill
Christopher James Lees and the Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra are bringing The Best of Broadway to Sullivan Middle School Auditorium (1825 Eden Terrace, Rock Hill, SC) on Sunday, May 3rd at 4 p.m. With the help of soprano Anne O’Byrne, the RHSO will transport you to the Great White Way with showstoppers by Steven Schwartz, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Richard Rodgers, including music from Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, A Chorus Line, Carousel, and more. May 3.
May the Fourth Be with You
The Appalachian Theatre (559 W. King Street, Boone) is celebrating Star Wars Day with two days of screenings on Sunday, May 3rd and Monday, May 4th. On Sunday, you can catch Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) at 2 p.m., followed by Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) at 5:30 p.m. Then on Monday, it’s Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983) at 5:30 p.m. May 3-4.
American Songbook
Middle C Jazz (300 S. Brevard Street, Charlotte) welcomes renowned pianist and all-around showman Kevin Cole on Tuesday, May 5th at 7 p.m. Cole shares personal anecdotes as he performs the classic tunes of the songwriters who changed his life, including George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, Marvin Hamlisch, and more. Craft cocktails and small plates begin one hour before the show. May 5.
Rock Me Amadeus
WDAV’s Reel Music Film Series continues with a screening of Milos Forman’s stunning 1984 biopic, Amadeus, at Independent Picture House (4237 Raleigh Street, Charlotte) on Wednesday, May 6th at 7 p.m. Winner of eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, the film stars Tom Hulce as Mozart and F. Murray Abraham as Antonio Salieri. Oh, and it has a pretty good soundtrack, too. May 6.
Herbie Hancock
Blumenthal Arts* is bringing modern jazz pioneer Herbie Hancock and his band to Belk Theater on Wednesday, May 6th at 7:30 p.m. Hancock’s influential career spans five decades, and includes 14 Grammy Awards with beloved songs such as “Cantaloupe Island”, “Watermelon Man”, “Chameleon,” and “Rockit.” May 6.
All Aboard the Wine Train
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (25 Mithcell Street, Bryson City) invites you to get “Uncorked” with their train and wine experience through Saturday, May 9th. You’ll enjoy a full-service, First Class rail excursion with a private attendant and narrator presenting you with a selection of wines, cheeses, and a surf-and-turf meal. Through May 9.
Uptown Ballet
Charlotte Ballet* presents Alejandro Cerrudo’s One Thousand Pieces at Knight Theater (430 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte), May 7th through 10th. The dream-like ballet is inspired by Marc Chagall’s American-themed stained-glass creation, “America Windows” and set to the music of Philip Glass performed live by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. May 7-10.
On Your Radar…
South Carolina Strawberry Festival: Events include the Strawberry Pageant, golf tournament, car show, 5K race, drive-in movie night, and tons of tasty treats at Walter Elisha Park in Fort Mill. May 1-2.
Piedmont Arts & Cultural Experience: Enjoy the work of painters, muralists, musicians, dancers, vocalists, and more in downtown Mount Holly. May 2.
Free Comic Book Day: Celebrated across the nation on the first Saturday in May. Explore a wide selection of comics, manga, and graphic novels at Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library in Charlotte. May 2.
Cornelius Library Book Sale: Find low-priced used books with a focus on gardening, birds, and the outdoors. May 2.
Spring Plant Sale: Hundreds of plants for sale, including natives, annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, plus horticultural demonstrations at Daniel Stowe Conservancy in Belmont. May 2.
Burlington Carousel Festival:Live music and performances, artisan alley, food trucks and vendors, Kids Zone, the newly restored Carousel, and other amusement rides at Burlington City Park. May 2-3.
Ag + Art Tour: Self-guided tour of farms across Chester County, SC with local artisans, farmer’s market, and live music. May 2-3.
Hello Huntersville Music & Arts Festival: A showcase of local talent, including visual artists, crafters, musicians, and other performers at Veterans Park in Huntersville. May 3.
District One Spring Market: Shop for fresh florals, vintage clothing, pottery, candles, jewelry, pet accessories, baked goods, and more at the Disc Plaza in Uptown Charlotte. May 7.
Don’t forget to visit the WDAV Events Calendar often to find even more cultural happenings across our region!
FanFare is made possible in part by:
*Disclosure: Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, UNCSA, Opera Carolina, Mint Museum, Winston-Salem Symphony, Blumenthal Arts, and Charlotte Ballet are WDAV underwriters.
There’s a story where jazz bassist Charlie Hayden and saxophonist Ornette Coleman were performing in a club, experimenting with new ideas in jazz. Hayden noticed a man was leaning in with his hand cupped to his ear to get a good listen to what the bass was doing. When the man straightened up, Hayden realized that the listener was none other than Leonard Bernstein.
For many people, jazz is a different kind of music. Most know it as an expression of freedom, but it’s often completely misunderstood as an artform with a lot of folks not connecting to the ideas, harmonies or the dialogue among musicians. Another thing that is overlooked is how the paths of musicians in the fields of classical and jazz are in conversation. Here are a few more stories:
While George Gershwin was having his heyday in the 1920s after writing his famous Rhapsody in Blue for the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, another American composer, Aaron Copland, late in the decade, composed a short bluesy piano piece titled “Sentimental Melody,” showcasing both jazz and blues’ influences. While in Russia, Dmitry Shostakovich composed his clever orchestration for the popular tune “Tea for Two,” which he titled “Tahiti Trot.”
Stride piano was popular at this point, evolving from ragtime, and pianists Fats Waller and Art Tatum were emerging as names in the music world, both writing and performing popular songs of the time. Among them, stride pianist James P. Johnson composed his Harlem Symphony with a Gershwin, Ferde Grofé flavor. Slowly, here in America, the Big Band era was beginning, and at the forefront were Duke Ellington (who began as a stride pianist) and clarinetist Benny Goodman, along with so many others.
If we jump ahead to the 1950s, big band begins to fade, and the artform evolves into concentrated improvisation through bebop. An 11-year-old prodigy wins a young artist competition to perform a Mozart Piano Concerto with the Chicago Symphony. That child was Herbie Hancock.
Miles Davis creates his iconic “Birth of the Cool” album, incorporating the horn and tuba into the chamber ensemble. Part of that ensemble on horn was Gunther Schuller, who would later coin the term for fusing the two streams of classical and jazz as “Third Stream.”
Also, during that decade, Henry Mancini established himself as a television and film composer with jazz influences, hiring a young jazzer named “Johnny” Williams to play the opening of the TV show “Peter Gunn.”
A few more decades go by, and the musical minds of pianist Oscar Peterson and pianist and conductor Andre Previn have a sit-down dialogue at two pianos, discussing music and virtuosic pianists from the past like Fats Waller and Art Tatum, which is aired on the BBC.
In the mid-90s, Norwegian composer Trygve Madsen composed his set of 24 preludes and fugues in the spirit of Johann Sebastian Bach. The set also included direct influences from jazz, given that the pianists Madsen admired and studied were Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson.
Epilogue
After the Big Band era, Benny Goodman became devoted to performing classical music, so much so that Aaron Copland composed his Clarinet Concerto specifically for Goodman. Herbie Hancock, less than a decade after performing with the Chicago Symphony at 19, would join Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet and later produce countless albums and influence hip-hop. Henry Mancini’s jazz pianist later became the film composer we know and love, John Williams. Gunther Schuller became the President of the New England Conservatory while still exploring composition and writing about Third Stream music. Charlie Hayden would win the Guggenheim Fellowship on the recommendation of Leonard Bernstein.
That is just the tip of a very large iceberg of stories from the last 100 years of the artform and its constant path with classical music. At the core of both artforms are talented practicing musicians looking for audiences who would simply give, like Bernstein, a listening ear.
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