Monday, October 28, 2019

Halloween is Upon Us!

Happy Halloween from 90.9 WGUC! Don’t forget to tune in Thursday at 6:00 ET for Tunes from the Crypt with Mark Perzel. If you’re looking for additional music to enhance your eerie day, check out our archive of Tunes from the Crypt episodes here

Monday, October 21, 2019

Meet Sharon Isbin!

If you’re a frequent listener to 90.9 WGUC, then you’ve likely heard performances by Grammy award-winning classical guitarist, Sharon Isbin. Sharon recently released a new album in collaboration with the Pacifica Quartet and I had the pleasure of chatting with her about how this came to be.

She went on to explain how they chose the repertoire for this album.

The guitar can be a difficult instrument to write for.


She has a personal favorite on this new release.


The story about how she first came to play guitar is quite interesting.

She told me about what’s next on her schedule.


Sharon lives a very interesting life. When not playing guitar, she has many other interests as well!

Listen to 90.9 WGUC for more from Sharon Isbin. And be sure to be on the lookout for more of her releases in 2020.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Meet Donald Nally and The Crossing!

If you’re a regular listener to 90.9 WGUC’s New at Noon, then you’ve likely heard a few selections recently from Donald Nally and The Crossing. Donald Nally is the former Music Director of Cincinnati’s Vocal Arts Ensemble and a CCM graduate. He now leads the Grammy award-winning ensemble The Crossing. Based out of Philadelphia, The Crossing is a professional chamber choir known for commissioning and performing new music. With the recent release of their performance of Kile Smith’s The Arc in the Sky, I had the opportunity to chat with Donald about how this collaboration came about.

He went on to explain what audiences should listen for in The Arc in the Sky.

It is interesting how The Crossing first came to be.


They have a full schedule this season.


Free time is hard to come by for Donald.


If you haven’t already, check out The Crossing – especially if you enjoy newly-composed choral music!

Saturday, October 5, 2019

90.9 WGUC Presents the May Festival


Each October 90.9 WGUC broadcasts the most recent season from the Cincinnati May Festival Chorus on Sunday evenings at 8 p.m. Were you able to attend any of their performances this past spring? If not, be sure to join us each Sunday this month for outstanding performances of Bach, Brahms, Mahler, and more. If you were able to attend, this is your chance to relive the experience!

October 6 (Concert Date: May 17, 2019)
Juanjo Mena, conductor; Roomful of Teeth; Rod Gilfry, baritone; May Festival Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

BRAHMS: Schicksalslied
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Toward the Unknown Region
MARK SIMPSON: The Immortal

October 13 (Concert Date: May 18, 2019)
Sir James MacMillan, conductor; Lauren Michelle, soprano; May Festival Chorus; Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

POULENC: Gloria
JAMES MACMILLAN: Seven Last Words from the Cross

October 20 (Concert Date: May 24, 2019)
James Conlon, conductor; Morris Robinson, bass; Sarah Vautour, soprano; Taylor Raven, mezzo-soprano; Richard Trey Smagur, tenor; Donnie Ray Albert, baritone; Michael Young, baritone; May Festival Chorus; Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; Cincinnati Youth Choir

MAHLER: Das klagende Lied
BOITO: Prologue from Mefistofele
MUSSORGSKY: Prologue and Farewell from Boris Godunov

October 27 (Concert Date: May 25, 2019)
Juanjo Mena, conductor; Berit Norbakken Solset, soprano; Carlos Mena, countertenor; Werner Güra, tenor; Ben Bliss, tenor; James Newby, baritone; Hanno Müller-Brachmann, bass-baritone; May Festival Chorus and Youth Chorus; Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

BACH: St. Matthew Passion