Stay on top of what's happening in the arts community here in the Valley. KBACH's Greg Kostraba and Michael Keelan interview talented musicians, conductors, and other arts leaders who visit the Phoenix area or call it home.
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For more than 25 years, the Downtown Chamber Series (DCS) has presented concerts amidst visual art at venues across downtown Phoenix. The next concerts take place August 29th and 30th at Shepley Bulfinch Architects, and feature trombone, trumpet, piano, and photography. KBACH's Greg Kostraba recently talked with DCS founder & Executive Director Mark Dix and two of the musicians featured on the concert, trumpeter Hayato Tanaka and trombonist Harry Gonzalez.
The Phoenix Chamber Music Society has announced its 2026-2027 season, which includes eight regular season concerts featuring WindSync, Chanticleer, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center & more, plus Nokuthula Ngwenyama's Composer’s Choice Program, and the 18th Chamber Music Festival in April. KBACH's Greg Kostraba talked with Janet Green, the Executive Director of the Phoenix Chamber Music Society, about the upcoming season.
ASU Assistant Professor of Collaborative Piano Miki Aoki will present a solo piano recital on Saturday, July 11th at the Recital Hall in the Steinway Piano Gallery in Scottsdale. She recently chatted with KBACH's Greg Kostraba about the program, which includes music by Handel, Haydn, Schubert, and Kaija Saariaho. The concert is free, but tickets must be obtained in advance at (480) 847-1474.
The Arizona Pops Orchestra presents its "Americana Homage" concert June 17th & 18th at the Tempe Center for the Arts. KBACH's Greg Kostraba recently talked with the orchestra's President & CEO John Doney about the concert, which includes George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue plus works by John Williams & Michael Kamen. Assistant Concertmaster Morganne McIntyre and guitarist Megan Marshall were also in the studio to perform two selections that will be on the program. Tickets are available from the Arizona Pops Orchestra website.
The Arizona Piano Institute (API) presents its 11th Summer Festival - a week of masterclasses, workshops, and lectures - May 31st through June 6th at Phoenix College. The founder of the API, Snezana Krstic, recently chatted with KBACH's Greg Kostraba about the festival, as well as the free opening concert, which features API faculty in recital at Valley Presbyterian Church in Paradise Valley, May 31st at 2pm.Learn more about the festival
The Curtis Chamber Orchestra will perform music for strings by Barber and Beethoven at the Musical Instrument Museum, Saturday, May 23rd. The program will also include Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for violin and viola with Erin Keefe and Roberto Diaz as soloists. Keefe recently talked with KBACH's Greg Kostraba about the concert, and her longtime association with the Curtis Institute of Music. Tickets for these concerts are available on the MIM website.
Guest conductor José Luis Gómez leads the Phoenix Symphony May 15-17 at Symphony Hall. KBACH's Greg Kostraba recently chatted with Maestro Gómez about his career as a conductor, and this season finale concert, which includes Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony, "American Promise" by Karen LeFrak, and the Violin Concerto No. 2 by Prokofiev with Francesca Dego as soloist. Tickets for these concerts are available at the Phoenix Symphony website.
The MusicaNova Orchestra presents its “Calming Waters” concert Saturday, May 9th at 7pm at the Tempe Center for the Arts. The program features music from Finland and Ukraine to Peru and Singapore, including the World Premiere of the version for saxophone and orchestra of My Cross by Carter Pann. Music Director Warren Cohen and guest saxophonist Christopher Creviston spoke with KBACH's Greg Kostraba about the concert. Tickets for these concerts are available at tempecenterforthearts.com.
The Arizona Wind Symphony's final concert of the season is titled Festivities. It features the ensemble's principal flute Robert Heiligenberg in the Chaminade Concertino. The program contains a wide range of other music in celebration of the group's 25th anniversary. KBACH's Michael Keelan talked with conductor Jon Gomez about the May 7 program at Tempe Center for the Arts.For more details, visit: arizonawindsymphony.com/concerts
The Phoenix Children’s Chorus presents "We the People" and "Raise Your Voice," three concerts taking place May 2nd, 3rd & 9th at locations in Phoenix and Tempe. KBACH's Greg Kostraba chatted with the PCC's Artistic and Executive Director Troy Meeker about the programs, and the ensemble's upcoming tour of Boston. Concert Dates & Locations:“We the People” May 2 @ 3pm – Phoenix Bible Church“We the People” May 3 @ 3pm – Tempe Center for the Arts“Raise Your Voice” May 9 @ 4pm – Barry Goldwater High School in PhoenixTickets for these concerts are available at phoenixchildrenschorus.org/performances.
