American Music

TU's Theatre Department Presents "Spring Awakening"

Scott Gregory — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:12:48 +0000

On this edition of ST, we welcome back Machele Miller Dill, an assistant professor of musical theatre here at the University of Tulsa. Dill is directing "Spring Awakening," which the TU Department of Theatre will present in the Lorton Performance Center (here on the TU campus) from tomorrow night (the 11th) through Sunday afternoon (the 14th).

The Tulsa Symphony Turns "Orange" with Dylana Jenson and David Lockington

Rich Fisher — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:21:27 +0000

On this installment on ST, we are pleased to welcome the classical-music husband-and-wife team of violinist Dylana Jenson and conductor-cellist David Lockington. Both will appear as special guests tomorrow night (Saturday the 6th) at the Tulsa PAC's Chapman Music Hall at 7:30pm, which is where and when the Tulsa Symphony will present its final "classics concert" of the current season; Jenson will be the Guest Soloist and Lockington, the Guest Conductor.

New Genre XX Presents: "Expatriate," a Two-Act Play with Rhythmic, Vocal-Driven Music Throughout

Rich Fisher — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 18:49:05 +0000

On this edition of ST, we welcome the poet/playwright/actress/musician Lenelle Moise as well as the actress/singer/songwriter Karla Mosley, who comprise the dynamic and diversely talented duo behind "Expatriate," a two-act, two-woman drama-meets-music performance piece that was presented Off-Broadway to glowing reviews in 2008, and that will soon be offered here in Tulsa by the Living Arts Gallery as part of that organization's New Genre XX Festival.

Tulsa Opera Presents "The Most Happy Fella" (Starring Kim Josephson)

Rich Fisher — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 21:02:54 +0000

On February 23rd, March 1st, and March 3rd, Tulsa Opera will present Frank Loesser's masterful "Broadway opera" --- as some have called it --- "The Most Happy Fella," with all three performances happening at the Tulsa PAC. A classic American musical that dates back to the middle 1950s, "The Most Happy Fella" is the show that gave us the beloved pop tunes "Standing on the Corner" and "Big D." Our guest on StudioTulsa is the internationally renowned baritone --- and current associate professor of voice at the University of Oklahoma --- Kim Josephson, who stars in this production.

A Chat with Ron Wheeler, the Longtime Leader of the Tulsa Youth Symphony

Rich Fisher — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:35:35 +0000

The Tulsa Youth Symphony, now comprised of more than 150 middle-school and high-school musicians from throughout Northeastern Oklahoma, will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year. For more than 40 of those years, our guest on ST has been at the helm of this outstanding local arts organization; in fact, just last month, Ron Wheeler --- who's been the CEO and conductor of the Tulsa Youth Symphony since 1972, and who's also a violinist with the Tulsa Symphony --- was given the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oklahoma Music Educators Association.

Chamber Music Tulsa Offers "Love Letters from Tesla"

Rich Fisher — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 21:45:39 +0000

When Bruce Sorrell was starting his tenure, about a year ago, as Executive Director of Chamber Music Tulsa, someone told him that this outstanding organization --- which will turn 60 next year, and which has been bringing world-class music ensembles to our community for decades --- was "one of Tulsa's best-kept secrets." As he tells us on this edition of ST, Sorrell wants to change this.

Mardi Gras Music Appreciation: Some Fun, Fanciful, and Funky Tunes for Fat Tuesday 2013

Rich Fisher — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:58:52 +0000

On today's ST, we're spinning a seriously tasty variety --- a gumbo, in fact --- of great Mardi Gras music with Denis McGilvray, a local music blogger and longtime New Orleans music enthusiast.

The Tulsa Symphony Presents a "Red" Evening of Music by O'Connor, Daugherty, and Ives

Rich Fisher — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 22:59:47 +0000

On this edition of our program, we're joined by Timothy Myers, an up-and-coming American classical-music conductor with an impressive resume and a thoughtful, articulate appreciation for music of all sorts. Myers will be the guest conductor for the next concert in the Tulsa Symphony's current --- and color-themed --- season of performances. "Red," a concert of music notable for its energy, heat, passion, and jazzy intensity, gets underway tomorrow night, Saturday the 9th, at 7:30pm at the Tulsa PAC. On the program will be works by Michael Daugherty, Mark O'Connor, and Charles Ives.

A Chat with the New Artistic Director of OK Mozart

Rich Fisher — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 22:46:07 +0000

On this edition of ST, we speak with Constantine Kitsopoulos, who was recently named the new artistic director of the OK Mozart International Festival. Kitsopoulos, appointed to the post in late October, is also the music director of the Queens Symphony Orchestra, in New York City, and serves as general director of the Chatham Opera, which he founded in 2005. He's previously been a guest conductor at OK Mozart on several occasions; he also serves as the music director of the Festival of the Arts BOCA, a multi-day cultural arts event in South Florida.

Remembering Dave Brubeck, a Jazz Titan

Rich Fisher — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:24:35 +0000

On this edition of StudioTulsa, we remember the great jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck, who died yesterday at 91. (He would have turned 92 today, the 6th.) Rich Fisher spoke with Brubeck back in the fall of 1996, prior to a Tulsa concert appearance. Brubeck's quartet with saxophonist Paul Desmond and drummer Joe Morello was among the most popular bands (of any sort) of the 1950s and '60s, and even today, their 1959 album, "Time Out," remains one of the most popular jazz recordings of all time.