Conducting Conversations

01-12-25 Mystic River Chorale Jan. 2025 - Conducting Conversation

The Mystic River Chorale is the subject of this week's program with Frank Zilinyi, Artistic Director. We discuss what the Chorale has done in the last season and their concert on Sunday, January 19th, at 4 PM in Harkness Chapel at Connecticut College. For more information, you can go to www.mysticriverchorale.org

01-05-25 Greg Abate, Saxophonist, Flutist, Composer & Arranger - Conducting Conversation

Greg Abate, saxophonist, flutist, composer, arranger, and member of the RI Music Hall of Fame, is our special guest this week. We talk about his upcoming concerts and listen to music from his multiple recordings. For more information, you can go to www.gregabate.com

12-29-24 A Cappella Holiday Music - Conducting Conversation

The subject of this week's program is A Cappella Holiday Music with Mike Maino. Mike has a chance to do the first in a series about great American a cappella groups. In this case, the artists are a group from Florida, “The Liberty Voices,” along with “Acoustix” from Dallas, and “Rockapella,” which has Rhode Island roots. For more information or comments, you can call (401) 294-9274, or email maino@classical959.com

12-22-24 Shannon Corey, Singer, Composer, Pianist & Teacher - Conducting Conversation

This week, we feature Shannon Corey, singer, composer, pianist, and teacher. We'll listen to the new release of her new holiday song, “Winter,” and other songs from her Holiday CD, “I Wish I Had A River.” We’ll also discuss her career and how she has had the opportunity to travel the world singing. For more information, you can go to www.shannoncoreymusic.com

12-15-24 Boston Pops & Keith Lockhart - Conducting Conversation

This week will repeat a very special Christmas program that was one of the first ever done on Conducting Conversations with Keith Lockhart, Director of the Boston Pops. We'll listen to selections from their wonderful Christmas CDs” and discuss his music career. For more information, you can go to www.classical959.com
 
 
 

12-08-24 Music of Frank Sinatra - Conducting Conversation

This week, the music of Frank Sinatra, a world famous singer and song stylist, is the subject of our program. Stephanie Goddard, singer and huge Sinatra fan, is the special guest co-host. We talk about the extraordinary amount of music Sinatra recorded and listen to some selections that made him one of the greatest of all time. For more information, you can go to wcri@classical959.com

12-01-24 Theatre by the Sea 2025 Line Up - Conducting Conversation

Theatre By The Sea's announcement of the 2025 season is the subject of this week's program with Bill Hanney, owner of the theatre, and Karen Kessler, Director of Marketing. We talk about next summer's musicals and listen to some of the very popular songs from Alway...Patsy Cline, Waitress, Hairspray, and Heartbreak Hotel (about Elvis). For more information, you can call (401) 782-8587 or go to www.theatrebythesea.com

11-24-24 The Cornerstone Church - Conducting Conversation

The Cornerstone Church, on Cowesett Rd. in Warwick, is the subject of this week's program with Jeff Pierce, Assistant Pastor of the Church. We talk about their church ministry and a special Holiday Concert with the Narragansett Bay Chorus being presented on Monday, December 9th. We play some of the music that will be heard that evening. For more information, you can go to www.cornerstonechurchri.org

11-17-24 Westminster Youth String Ensemble 2024 - Conducting Conversation

This week, Westminster Youth String Ensemble is the program's subject with Kathleen Curran Monroe, Director. We talk about the upcoming season and the Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 1st, at 3 PM at the Westerly Armory in Westerly and listen to some selections of past concerts. For more information, you can call 401.596.5225 or go to www.westminsterstrings.org
 
 

11-10-24 URI Holiday Extravaganza Music Festival - Conducting Conversation

The URI Holiday Extravaganza Music Festival is the subject of this week's program with David Gilliland, Artistic Director. We talk about the concerts that will be presented on December 7th at 2:00 and 7:00 PM at the URI Fine Arts Center. The event will feature over 180 performers. For more information, you can go to https://web.uri.edu/music/events
 

11-03-24 Rhode Island Civic Chorus & Orchestra 2024 - Conducting Conversation

The RI Civic Choral and Orchestra is the subject of this week's program with Dr. Joshua Rohde, Music Director. We talk about their upcoming concerts and listen to some of the music presented on Saturday, November 16th, at the Block Island School on December 7th in Providence and December 8th in Manville. For more information, you can call 401-521-5670 or go to www.ricco.org

10-27-24 Narragansett Bay Symphony Community Orchestra - Conducting Conversation

The Narragansett Bay Symphony Community Orchestra is the subject of this week's program with Zeke Fetrow, Guest Conductor, and President Greg Henninger. We discussed their upcoming concert and listened to some of the music presented on November 10th at E. Providence High School Auditorium. For more information, you can call (401) 274-4578 or go to www.nabsco.org

10-20-24 Jamestown Community Chorus 2024 - Conducting Conversation

This week, The Jamestown Community Chorus is the program's subject, and we talked with B.J. Whitehouse, the music director. We talked about their successful season last year. We listened to selections from the planned 75th Anniversary Holiday concerts held on Saturday, December 14th and 15th, at the Jamestown Recreational Center. For more information, you can call 401-207-0771 or go to www.jamestownchorus.com
 

10-13-24 URI Symphony Orchestra - Conducting Conversation

The URI Symphony Orchestra is the subject of this week's program with Luis Viquez, Director of Orchestral Studies. We talked about the concert that will be presented on October 20th at the URI Fine Arts Center. The event will feature music by Hyden, Mahler, and much more. For more information, you can go to https://web.uri.edu/music/events 

10-06-24 Connecticut Gilbert & Sullivan Society Fall 2024 - Conducting Conversation

The CT Gilbert and Sullivan Society is the subject of this week's program with Dr. John Dreslin, Music Director. We talked about the upcoming event to be held at Valley Regional High School in Deep River, CT, and listened to some of the music from “Yeomen of the Guard,” which will be performed on October 19th and 20th. For more information, you can call 860 554-1256 or go to www.CTGandS.org
 
 

09-29-24 Mary Kimball Hail Music Mansion - Conducting Conversation

The Mary Kimball Hail Music Mansion, on the East Side of Providence, is the subject of this week's program with Peter Hail and Joe Parillo, the organization's secretary. We talk about their work to restore and maintain the historic Music Hall. We’ll also play some of the music that has been presented through the years and talk about upcoming events. For more information, you can go to www.musicmansion.org 

09-22-24 Trevor Neal, Artistic Director of Newport Classical - Conducting Conversation

Newport Classical is the program's subject with Trevor Neal, Artistic Director, this week. We talked about their past concert season, which ran at many venues throughout Newport and listened to music related to their upcoming performances. For more information, you can go to www.newportclassical.org

09-15-24 URI Guitar Festival - Conducting Conversation

The URI Guitar Festival is the subject of this week's program with Adam Levin, Artistic Director. We talk about the concerts that will be presented from October 13th to the 20th at several different locations. The event will feature over a dozen performers. For more information, you can go to uriguitarfestival.org

09-08-24 Salt Marsh Opera’s production of “Barber of Seville” - Conducting Conversation

Salt Marsh Opera’s “Barber of Seville” production is the subject of this week's program with Simon Holt, Artistic Director and General Manager. We talked about the company and the opera and listened to some of the viral songs from the score. For more information, you can call (860) 535-3456 or go to www.saltmarshopera.org

09-01-24 Alzheimer's Association Walk - Conducting Conversation

Tonight, we talk about The Alzheimer’s Association Walk, a great fundraiser that helps the Association find a cure for the disease. Annie Murphy, Program Manager of the RI Chapter, talks about the five upcoming walks around the state, the first being on Block Island on September 8th. For more information, you can call (401) 400-3778 or go to www.alz.org