Conducting Conversations

05-30-21 - Jeremy Goodman Executive Director, Roger Williams Park Zoo - Conducting Conversations

This week we feature The Roger Williams Park Zoo, Asian Lantern Spectacular, as we talk to Jeremy Goodman, Executive Director about the amazing project. We'll listen to some of the music that is played in the background of the exhibit and talk about all that’s new at the Zoo. For more information you can go to www.rwpzoo.org

05-23-21 - Catherine Gagnon, Music Director for The Warwick Symphony Orchestra - Conducting Conversations

This week The Warwick Symphony Orchestra is the subject of the program with Catherine Gagnon, Music Director. I talk about their upcoming Spring Concert, Saturday, May 29th, at the Gamm Theatre in Warwick and listen to music from a past show that Catherine recorded in 2019. For more information you can go to www.wsori.org​
 

05-16-21 - Saxophonist Bruce Abbott & Guitarist Dennis Costa - Conducting Conversations

Bruce Abbott, saxophonist and Dennis Costa, guitarist are our special guests this week. We'll listen to some examples of their music from their latest CD, “Echoes of a Century”. We will also discuss their interesting background and how they ended up as a duet. For more information you can go to www.bruceabbott.com or www.denniscosta.com
 

005-02-21 - Singer & Songwriter Tish Adams - Conducting Conversations

Tish Adams, singer, songwriter and the host of WRIU's The Vocalists & Localists Show is our special guest. We'll listen to some examples of her music and discuss her interesting background and how she has made an impact on the Jazz and Blues scene. For more information you can call 401 274-5768 or email jazztish@hotmail.com​

04-25-21 Narragansett Bay Symphony Community Orchestra - Conducting Conversation

The Narragansett Bay Symphony Community Orchestra is the subject of this week's program with Ivan Kirschner, President and Kristo Kondakci, Music Director and Conductor. We talk about their upcoming season, that has been changed because of the virus shutdown, about the future, and listen to some of the music that was presented in the past. For more information you can call (401) 274-4578, or go to www.nabsco.org

04-18-21 Core Memory Concerts - Conducting Conversation

This week Core Memory Concerts is the subject of the program with Craig Maynard, Artistic Director. He'll talk about the upcoming season that has been changed because of the pandemic restrictions and how they plan to proceed. We'll listen to some selections from the concert that will be held May 15th featuring Tanya Gabrielian. Tanya will be with us via Zoom to discuss her amazing career. For more information you can go to www.corememory.io

04-11-21 RI International Film Festival 2021 - Conducting Conversation

This week The RI International Film Festival is the subject of the program with George T. Marshall, Executive Director. We talk about the great movie scores of 2020 and listen to some selections from this year's “Blockbuster” films that are up for this year’s Academy Awards. For more information you can call 401.861.4445 or go to www.film-festival.org
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04-04-21 Joe Parillo-Pianist ,Composer, Arranger, and Host of WCRI's Jazz after Dinner-Part II - Conducting Conversation

Joe Parillo, Pianist, Composer/Arranger, and the host of WCRI's Jazz After Dinner, is our special guest for Part 2 of an unusual two Part Event, as he approaches his 500th show on the Classical Station. We'll listen to some examples of his music and discuss his interesting background and how he has written so many songs for his twelve albums. For more information you can go to www.joeparillo.com​

03-28-21 Joe Parillo-Pianist ,Composer, Arranger, and Host of WCRI's Jazz after Dinner-Part I - Conducting Conversations

Joe Parillo, Pianist, Composer/Arranger, and the host of WCRI's Jazz After Dinner is our special guest for Part 1 of an unusual two part event as he approaches his 500th show on the Classical Station. We'll listen to some examples of his music, discuss his interesting background and how he has written so many songs for his twelve albums. For more information you can go to www.joeparillo.com​
 

03-21-21 WCRI Air Personality Ray Brown - Conducting Conversations

This week we feature Ray Brown, on air personality of WCRI's Classical Network. We'll talk about his weekly Saturday morning show “Talkin’ Birds”, find out the latest news about birds and listen to music that has a connection to Ray or is just for the birds! For more information about Ray and his program you can go to our web site www.classical959.com or to www.talkinbirds.com 

03-14-21 Composer, Arranger, Singer & Guitarist Eddie Dillon - Conducting Conversations

This week, for a special show about St. Patrick's Day, we feature Eddie Dillon, Composer, Arranger, Singer and Guitarist, and one of the original guests on the show when it started in 2007. Eddie is the only person to have appeared with Mike every year of the show's existence. We'll listen to some examples of his music, some of his personal favorites and discuss his upcoming concerts. For more information go to www.eddiedillon.com

03-07-21 Teacher, Singer & Cellist Zan Berry - Conducting Conversations

​This week Zan Berry, teacher, singer and cellist, is our special guest. We talk about the many programs he's involved with and listen to some selections of music that will be presented at the Music Mansion in Providence during the First Fridays programs. For more information you can go to www.musicmansion.org
 
 

02-28-21 Stephanie Goddard, Singer, Discusses Frank Sinatra & His Music - Conducting Conversations

This week the music of Frank Sinatra, 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
 
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02-21-21 Greg Mallozzi, Film Maker & Mike Savard, Jazz Historian - Conducting Conversations

This week Greg Mallozzi, film maker and Mike Savard, jazz historian are our special guests. We talk about the upcoming documentary on the life of Dave McKenna, jazz pianist, they are involved with, and listen to some selections of music that made him one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. For more information you can go to facebook page “Dave McKenna Appreciation Society”.​
 

02-14-21 Dr. Edward Markward-Director of The Chamber Orchestra of Barrington - Conducting Conversations

Dr. Edward Markward, the Director of The Chamber Orchestra of Barrington at St. John's, is our special guest this week. With Ed in his North Providence home, we remotely talk about his music season that has been changed because of the virus shutdown and listen to some music that will be presented in a Virtual Concert on February 21st. For more information you can go to http://www.cobsj.org

02-07-21 - Mystic River Chorale - Conducting Conversations

The Mystic River Chorale is the subject of this week's program with Dr. Frank Martginetti, Artistic Director, Frank Zilinyi, Asst. Director and Tim Rooney, President. We talk about Dr. Martginetti's tenure as Artistic and Music Director and the fact that Frank Zilinyi will now be taking over. The music we listen to is from past concerts by the Chorale. For more information you can call (860) 460-1487 or go to www.mysticriverchorale.org
 

01-31-21 - Narragansett Bay Chorus - Conducting Conversations

This week we feature the Narragansett Bay Chorus with two members of the Chorus, Ken Brindamour, President and Sean Mulford, VP of Marketing. The chorus will be offering virtual Singing Valentines this year...we'll find out how to get one for your own and what else the Chorus has been doing during the pandemic. There will also be songs by The Boston Common, X-Men, Road Show and Rhode Island Ramblers. For more information you can go to www.SingNBC.com

01-24-21 - Kenneth Hamilton-Concert Pianist - Conducting Conversations

This week we feature Kenneth Hamilton, concert pianist from Scotland. In this show he'll be coming to us remotely from Germany. We'll listen to examples of his music from his recently released CD, “More Preludes to Chopin”, discuss his career and how he became “one of the finest players of his generation”. He has appeared many times on TV, radio, and at festivals around the world.​

01-17-21 - Lori Robishaw Exec Dir of The La Grua Center - Conducting Conversations

Ms. Lori Robishaw, the Executive Director of The La Grua Center, is the special guest on the program. Joined by Christopher Greenleaf, we remotely talk about the season that has been changed because of the virus shutdown, about the future and listen to some of the music that will be presented on January 23rd. For more information you can go to www.lagruacenter.org
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01-10-21 - Jesse Liam Band - Conducting Conversations

This week we feature The Jesse Liam Band with Jesse and Jack Gauthier. We'll talk with this father and son duo about their performances and recordings. The music we'll be listening to will be selections from six different CDs they have produced. For more information you can go to www.jesseliam.com​