Music, Arts & Culture Episodes

In this episode of Harmony Talk, host Todd Stephens interviews Chris Thomas, an award-winning composer known for his work in film, television, and theme parks. Chris shares his journey from a young music enthusiast to a professional composer, discussing the support he received from his family, his passion for cinema, and the collaborative nature of film music. Chris also addresses the impact of AI on music composition and emphasizes the importance of teaching the next generation of composers. Th...

Nicole Zuraitis is a 2X GRAMMY® winning and 4X GRAMMY-nominated jazz singer- songwriter, pianist and arranger, New York-based bandleader, and winner of the prestigious 2021 American Traditions Vocal Competition Gold Medal. With a “heart as big as her remarkable voice,” (Jazz Police), Nicole is a trailblazing artist who is redefining vocal jazz, earning her a place as one of the top artists and "prolific songwriters" (Broadway World) to watch in jazz and beyond. As a recording artist, Nicole has...

Mike Geno is a Philadelphia-based artist who is widely known for, among various food subjects, still-life paintings of cheese which he calls “cheese portraits”. Mike is a full time artist who has taught drawing, painting and design at various schools including Temple University, Moore College and Drexel University. His work has exhibited nationally and has been featured in the New York Times and various publications and broadcasts world wide. FOLLOW HARMONYTALK PODCAST @harmonytalkpodcast Join...

In this episode of Harmony Talk, Host Lisa Champeau visits with Barre Trash Founders, Lucas Labrador, and Louis De Felice. They discuss the journey of founding Barre Trash, a dancewear brand that has quickly gained popularity. They share insights into their backgrounds as ballet dancers, the challenges of starting a business, and their unique approach to understanding customer needs. The conversation also touches on their future plans for expansion and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Key Tak...

Heather Clements combines realistic portraiture, expressive abstraction, and elements of flora and fauna to represent a symbiotic relationship with nature. After growing up in Northern Virginia, she earned her BFA in painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art before moving to Panama City, Florida. For Heather, creating art not only adds beauty with meaning into the world, but is a means for escaping depression. The category 5 hurricane that hit the Florida Panhandle took away so much of...

"Host of Afternoon Classical Music, ArtScene and other WVIA programs, including Keystone Edition Arts on WVIA TV, Erika Funke is a Senior Producer and Classical Music Host at WVIA Radio. “ArtScene”, her award-winning daily arts program, features interviews with creative individuals from the region, the United States and abroad. She has produced many programs about the history of northeastern Pennsylvania and its residents. Her radio play “Who Pretender Is, Or Who Is King” centers on the lives o...

Praised for its authentic, soulful, and orchestral sound, The String Queens is a dynamic trio that creates stimulating musical experiences that inspire audiences to love, hope, feel and imagine! With an array of repertoire spanning from the Baroque era to the Jazz Age to today’s Billboard Hot 100 Chart, TSQ performs versatile programs that take the listeners on a rousing musical journey through time and a multitude of musical genres. In this episode, hear Kendall Isadore (violin), Élise Sharp (c...

Harmony TALK host Lisa Champeau interviews Erin Hill, a singer-songwriter-harpist with a diverse repertoire that covers everything from opera to science fiction! Erin’s favorite, though, is pop-rock. Hear her music and how she realized her dream of becoming a renowned harpist. FOLLOW HARMONYTALK PODCAST @harmonytalkpodcast Join Our Mailing List: https://mailchi.mp/fa5d124c4e19/harmonytalk-mailing-list Instagram: https://instagram.com/harmonytalkpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harmony...

Lisa Champeau chats with Blake Friedman, a young dynamic opera tenor who is equally at home on the musical and concert stages as in the opera hall. Blake shares his enthusiasm for everything from the Barber of Seville and Placido Domingo to the voice of late pop singer Whitney Houston. Blake performs opera and Broadway pieces in “Songs of New York” May 7th at the Milford Theatre, Pennsylvania-- a Harmony in the Woods production. FOLLOW HARMONYTALK PODCAST @harmonytalkpodcast Join Our Mailing Li...

Juan Espino marries architecture, history and the human experience to create some of the most “smile-inducing” paintings of our time. Working in the “Art Naïve” or, Folk-Art style. Guest Host Todd Stephens, and Juan discuss his use of painting as a form of therapy before relocating to the United States from his native Mexico. He is now the owner of Looking Glass Art Gallery, in Northeast Pennsylvania. www.lookingglassartgallery.com. Find Todd Stephens at: @toddjstephens (Twitter) @tjstephens ...

As spring approaches, a group of community-minded art lovers in and around Hawley, Pennsylvania, prepares to launch a vibrant initiative: Paint the Town. Hawley is the hometown of Lake Wallenpaupack, Pennsylvania’s third largest man-made lake and a huge tourist destination. Paint the Town is designed to brighten up the streets and entice visitors to check out all the small borough has to offer. Host Lisa Champeau talks to Janet Gaglione and Kate Hayes about the influence of public art on a town’...

Funky bluesy riffs—a Southern pace out of a New York base! The Gold Magnolias talk with Lisa Champeau about how their dream to make music became a “golden” reality. Based in Brooklyn, Daniel Foose, Hudson Mueller, Evan Felts, Ryan Anselmi and Jeff Barton evoke jam-band sounds reminiscent of the Alabama Shakes and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. Their melodies pay homage to their musical heroes, including Willie Nelson, the Allman Brothers and Stevie Wonder. This interview first aired in J...

Pete Muller, singer-songwriter and founder of the Kindred Souls, talks to host Lisa Champeau about his successful careers in music, mathematics— and crossword puzzles! A quantitative math wizard and Wall Street hedge fund executive before forming his band, Muller’s songs and melodies reflect his life and passions. Since this interview was recorded in September, 2021, Muller has dropped two albums, Spaces and a covers album Hello Outside. Pete Muller and the Kindred Souls return to the Harmony in...