The Second Street Dreams Audio Network

Imagine what it must be like to have someone give you a free trip to the arts camp you’ve always wanted to attend. That happened to 15 high school students all over Texas via the Young Masters Program of the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Texas Cultural Trust.

Something bright and refreshing graced the stage at the Long Center a few weeks ago. It was the Heller Awards for Young Artists. It honors the best high school musical productions from this school year. Two students are headed to the national competition, the Jimmys in New York next month. Ginger Morris, who runs the Hellers, is hoping more schools take part next year.

The Sphinx Organization, the group that’s been fostering diversity in classical music since 1996, has a programming chief for the first time ever. Andre Dowell is new to the job but not to the Sphinx organization. In his new job, he says he wants Sphinx to keep moving forward in diversifying the classical music community via the organization’s many programs.

Austin Opera is ending their 2023-24 season with the red-hot opera Carmen. The cast is full of young singers, many of whom are making their debut with the Austin Opera. CEO Annie Burridge is hoping this super popular work from Bizet will entice audiences back to the Long Center after the hibernation forced upon us by Covid.

As the end of most performing arts seasons come to an end, the Grammy winning choir, Conspirare is going out with a blast of three programs featuring a 30th anniversary event and the post pandemic return of Conspirare’s Symphonic Choir. Founder and Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson is celebrating the end of their 30th season with a musical bash.

Why would a business school devoted to developing entrepreneurs invite an opera singer to lead a masterclass? Babson College in Massachusetts did just that. They named Soprano Karen Slack as the school’s Artist In Residence. She spent 3 days teaching, talking, and singing. School administrators, like Anjali Bal, say that Slack and other artists like her, offer their students a di

There may come a time when classical music and other types of music will be “prescribed” along with your medication. A Canadian Pharmaceutical expert and researcher, Dr. Tony Kiang, is taking up a study to determine if listening to music while taking your medication would improve its effectiveness.

The upcoming Solar Eclipse will darken the sky for a few minutes on April 8th. Texas orchestras are providing the soundtrack with concerts celebrating the celestial event. The Waco Symphony is having it’s 'Sci-Fi Spectacular' Sun, Moon and Superstars concert. The East Texas Symphony has collaborated with Tyler Junior College for a musical and visual feast. Here are other eclipse

Just in time for the solar eclipse, Austin Classical Guitar presents two programs ending its 2023-2024 season. Your eclipse guests might enjoy classical guitarists the Beijing Duo or if they stay long enough, David Russell. Perhaps there’s an amateur classical guitarist in your circle who might be brave enough to try Open Mic night at the Rosette.

At least six U.S. orchestras are performing the music of Florence Price this Women’s History Month. Other women composers are getting the spotlight too. That’s nice says Liane Curtis, the President of Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy, but it’s not really enough. The organization has released its Repertoire Report which analyzes the programming of the top 21 U.S. Symphony Orche