Piedmont Arts Podcast WDAV Classical Public Radio

The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra is producing an immersive event called "Merge" that combines modern symphonic music with electronic dance music and synchronized visual projections. Resident Conductor Christopher James Lees talks about the symphony's foray into new territory and the collaboration that brought it to life. Learn more about the MERGE: Symphonic x Electronic event Pictured: Christopher James Lees courtesy of Charlotte Symphony.

Charlotteans Lorne Lassiter and Gary Ferraro helped found the former Mint Museum of Craft and Design in uptown. They've also donated dozens of pieces from their own collection. The exhibit "Craft Across Continents" features many of those works in glass, wood, ceramics, and textiles. On this edition of the Piedmont Arts podcast, we tour the exhibit and talk with the couple about their passion for collecting. Charlotte collectors Gary Ferraro and Lorne Lassiter (l-r) in their uptown Charlotte apartment. Work from their collection is featured in the show "Craft Across Continents" at the Mint Museum in Charlotte. Photo courtesy Mint Museum. "Smok," which means dragon in Polish, is a glass sculpture by the Polish artist Anna Skibska. Lorne Lassiter and Gary Ferraro have donated it to the Mint Museum, along with other works in the show "Craft Across Continents."

Kalena Bovell, a candidate for Salisbury Symphony Music Director, will lead the orchestra in a program called "Musical Inspirations." Bovell made her professional debut as the Chicago Sinfonietta's Assistant Conductor in 2015 and has led performances at the BBC Proms and the Kennedy Center. She also recently had her opera debut at Volcano Theatre where she led a reimagined production of Scott Joplin's Treemonisha making her the first black woman to conduct opera in Canada. On this episode of Piedmont Arts, Bovell talks about discovering her love of conducting and about becoming a poet. Learn more about Salisbury Symphony's Musical Inspirations Pictured: Kalena Bovell by Jamie Pratt Photos.

The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO) shared news that the organization has raised more than $40 million toward a goal of $50 million for its endowment. CSO President and CEO David Fisk discusses why having a significant endowment makes the orchestra stronger, and he provides details about the vital programs the endowment campaign will enable in the future.

Charlotte's nonprofit Blumenthal Arts hosts touring Broadway shows, symphony concerts and the ballet, among other things. But it's also branching out to other kinds of events, like the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit a couple of years ago. David Boraks talks with Blumenthal Arts CEO Tom Gabbard about another big immersive exhibit coming to Charlotte and how the organization is evolving. Pictured: Tom Gabbard photo by Chris Edwards.

The Charlotte Shout! festival is produced by Charlotte Center City Partners and showcases Charlotte's creativity, innovation, diversity, and resilience. It includes music acts, art installations, community conversations, culinary events, and more. We talk to Rick Thurmond from Charlotte Center City Partners about the festival's importance to our cultural eco-system. He also gives tips for getting the most out of Charlotte Shout!, especially if you've never been before. Learn more about Charlotte Shout!