WRR 101.1 Focus on the Arts

WRR 101.1
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Podcast by WRR 101.1

  1. WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Speaking w/ Broadway legend Brian Stokes Mitchell ahead of Dallas visit

    MAR 29

    WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Speaking w/ Broadway legend Brian Stokes Mitchell ahead of Dallas visit

    Broadway legend Brian Stokes Mitchell is the recipient of SMU's 2026 Meadows Award , recognizing an artist of national or international renown who has soared to the utmost height of their profession. He'll perform with the Meadows School Orchestra and Choir at the Meadows at the Meyerson benefit concert March 31, 2026, then lead a master class at SMU the following day. Ahead of his visit, Stokes spoke with WRR's Amy Bishop about how it feels to be listed among the other illustrious award recipients, the satisfaction that teaching brings, and what's on the horizon with future projects.

    22 min
  2. WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Bruce Wood Dance's groovy fundraiser & fiery season finale

    MAR 24

    WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Bruce Wood Dance's groovy fundraiser & fiery season finale

    North Texas audiences will travel back in time through the 1950s, 60s, and 70s with a groovy fundraiser for Bruce Wood Dance, then look forward to the company's big season finale in June 2026. In this interview, BWD Artistic Director Joy Bollinger joins Amy Bishop with details about each performance, including the specifics about the choreography and music. Plus, you'll get a sneak peek at BWD's 2026-27 season.

    26 min
  3. WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Meet the DSO's 2026 Music Teacher of the Year

    MAR 18

    WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Meet the DSO's 2026 Music Teacher of the Year

    "People laugh, but I was in kindergarten when I chose to be a music teacher," says Pamela Jenkins, who did end up becoming a music teacher - and has been so for 35 years. Dallas Symphony Orchestra named Jenkins as the recipient of their 2026 Music Teacher of the Year, given to elementary school music teachers who demonstrate exceptional skills at connecting with students, while building their confidence through music education. In this feature, WRR's Amy Bishop visits with Jenkins and Jen Guzman, DSO's Director of Education, to learn what makes music education as rewarding for the teachers as it is for the students.

    24 min
  4. WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Catching up with Cliburn gold medalist Aristo Sham ahead of his Texas return

    JAN 20

    WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Catching up with Cliburn gold medalist Aristo Sham ahead of his Texas return

    Fresh off his 2025 Cliburn Gold Medal win, pianist Aristo Sham returns to Texas to perform Brahms’ First Piano Concerto with the Waco Symphony Orchestra, led by Music Director Larry Loh, on Thursday, January 22nd. In this Focus on the Arts podcast, WRR host Brooke Scholl sits down with Aristo Sham to talk about life as a concertizing artist, the challenge and beauty of Brahms’ symphonic piano writing, and the realities of carrying vast repertoire while touring. The concert program also features Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst and Tchaikovsky’s 6th Symphony, promising a powerful and deeply expressive evening of music.

    13 min

  5. 12/08/2025

    WRR101 Focus on the Arts: The debut of DFW's newest holiday tradition

    In an evening of classical Christmas carols performed by Dallas String Quartet, to a genre-crossing repertoire of more contemporary holiday tunes, Ion Zanca describes Christmas at the Winspear as a pop/rock holiday spectacular. The evening includes special guests Sons of Serendip (America's Got Talent) and Anja Nissen (The Voice Australia.) In this interview with Amy Bishop, Ion gives a sneak peek into the program that he hopes will be DFW's newest family friendly holiday tradition.

    3 min
  6. WRR101 Focus on the Arts: This young conductor got the call, and she delivered

    11/25/2025

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

    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. We’ll hear how she navigated the intensity, the inspiration, and the whirlwind of bringing complex new music to life—while earning an ovation for her clarity, confidence, and artistry on a night that became newsworthy for all the right reasons.

    19 min
  7. WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Cellist Juliette Herlin's debut album is out

    11/20/2025

    WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Cellist Juliette Herlin's debut album is out

    Praised for her “impressive artistry” and “wonderful bowing technique” (San Francisco Classical Voice), French cellist Juliette Herlin has performed throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, and South America. As a soloist, chamber musician, and recitalist, she has appeared in prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Alice Tully Hall in New York, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and the Musée du Louvre in Paris, as well as the Zhuhai and Chongqin Grand Theaters in China. Juliette is honored to have been named a Bärenreiter Jubilee Ambassador. Currently, she serves as Assistant Professor of Cello at Texas Christian University. In this podcast with WRR's Brooke Scholl, Herlin discusses her debut album, Dialogue: Debussy & Schumann, which includes pianist Kevin Ahfat.

    4 min

  8. 11/13/2025

    WRR101 Focus on the Arts: Bruce Wood Dance's 16th season is ready to 'Glow'

    From Mozart, to Steve Reich, to Chet Baker, Bruce Wood Dance's season opener should live up to its title: "Glow." In this conversation with WRR's Amy Bishop, BWD Artistic Director Joy Bollinger gives a sneak peek into the pieces on the program. They also discuss a wide range of other dance topics: What its like to work with a living choreographer to premiere their work? What are the differences of dancing to live music as opposed to recorded? How is dance choreography chronicled, so that it can be passed down generation from generation? If you love all things dance, you'll enjoy this conversation!

    38 min
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