KBACH's Heart of the Arts

The Phoenix Chorale and Tucson's True Concord (pictured) will perform the Requiem by Maurice Durufle and Frank Martin's Mass for Double Choir Sunday, October 13 at Camelback Bible Church in Paradise Valley. Phoenix Chorale's Artistic Director Christopher Gabbitas and True Concord's Music Director Eric Holtan recently came into the studio to chat with KBACH's Greg Kostraba about the reasons for their first-ever collaboration, and the music they will be performing.

Janet Green has been attending Phoenix Chamber Music Society concerts since she was a teenager, and is now Executive Director of the society. She recently chatted with KBACH's Greg Kostraba about the history of the society, the groups coming for its upcoming 65th season, and the joys of musical conversation that is a hallmark of chamber music.

Pianist Stephen Cook is founder and Artistic Director of the Oracle Piano Society in Oracle, Arizona, which enriches rural Pinal County with a concert series and educational programs. He recently chatted with KBACH's Greg Kostraba about the group's recent and upcoming activities, including outreach to Cuban student and professional musicians, the screening of a silent movie filmed in Oracle a century ago, and the fall concerts in its Signature Series.

Cellist Zuill Bailey created the Classical Music Inside Out series at Mesa Arts Center more than a decade ago and continues to curate the series.

He recently chatted with KBACH's Greg Kostraba about the series, including its history, the huge variety of performers coming to town for the 2024-2025 season, and what he looks for in booking musicians.

NAU piano professor Silvan Negruțiu is the founder and Artistic Director of the Flagstaff Piano Festival. KBACH's Greg Kostraba recently chatted with Negruțiu to chat about the big-name soloists coming to the festival, as well as the myriad of opportunities for students, at and away from the piano.

Tito Muñoz just concluded his tenth and final season as Music Director of the Phoenix Symphony. KBACH's Greg Kostraba recently caught up with Maestro Muñoz to chat about his tenure, including his favorite moments, the process of setting up a season, how he selects soloists, and the orchestra's response to Covid-19.

Former Phoenix Symphony Concertmaster Steven Moeckel will be on the final concert of the second season of Chamber @ Ravenscroft, Saturday, May 18th at Ravenscroft Hall in Scottsdale. The program, titled "Celebration," will include the Piano Quintet #2 by Antonin Dvorak, plus music by Johan Halvorsen, Arvo Part, and Paul Wiancko. KBACH's Greg Kostraba recently chatted with Steven Moeckel about the program, and his life away from the concertmaster chair.

The Phoenix Boys Choir presents its season finale concert Friday and Saturday, May 10th and May 11th. The program, called "Skyward," will feature the group Simply Three, and the world premiere of Raphael Fusco's composition, "It's a Long Way," the first-place entry in the choir’s 2023 New Works Rising Competition. KBACH's Greg Kostraba recently chatted with the choir's Artistic Director Herbert Washington and composer Raphael Fusco (pictured) about the program and the world premiere.

Pianists Michael Stephen Brown and Adam Golka join Maestro Tito Muñoz and the Phoenix Symphony for performances of the Piano Concerto #10 (for two pianos) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at Phoenix Symphony Hall, Friday through Sunday, April 26-28. KBACH's Greg Kostraba recently chatted with Michael about the piece, his approach to integrating life and music, and his longstanding relationships with Adam Golka and Tito Muñoz.

Learn more about the concert, and purchase tickets here: https://tickets.phoenixsymphony.org

Guitarist Jason Vieaux will join the Escher Quartet for a performance at Central United Methodist Church in Phoenix, Friday, April 12th. The program, presented by the Phoenix Chamber Music Society, includes guitar quintets by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Luigi Boccherini as well as Haydn's "Lark" Quartet and a set of solo guitar works. KBACH's Greg Kostraba recently chatted with Jason about the concert and his longstanding relationship with the Escher Quartet.