Classical 91.5

Backstage Pass

Monthly, 1 to 2 pm, days vary, on WXXI-FM 91.5, WXXY 90.3, WXXI-FM/HD 91.5-1 and online at wxxi.org

Backstage Pass is a monthly live performance program which highlights performances by local and visiting musicians, giving Classical 91.5/90.3 listeners the backstage experience of meeting the artists “up close and personal.”  Several times each year, Backstage Pass is performed before a live audience of sustaining members.  

The series’ production team includes WXXI-FM Music Director and host Julia Figueras, Supervising Audio Engineer Andrew Croucher, and Executive Producer Jeanne Fisher.

In 2007, 2015, and 2017, Backstage Pass won Finalist Awards from the New York Festivals, and in 2009 it brought home a Bronze Medal from that international media competition.

Backstage Pass with Lee Wright and First Inversion--9/11 and 9/16/18

By • Sep 13, 2018

Lee Wright and First Inversion return to Backstage Pass with "Holding on Through Song," a sneak preview of their upcoming Fringe Festival debut. The program combines improvisation with arrangements of African American spirituals and the words of former slaves, including Rochester's Frederick Douglass.  WXXI's Kearstin Piper Brown will be a featured soloist, along with other Rochester musicians. Julia Figueras hosts this powerful edition of Backstage Pass on Tuesday, September 11 at 1 PM. The show repeats on Sunday, September 16 at 1 PM.


Encore of Backstage Pass from the Gateways Festival

By • Aug 24, 2018
University of Rochester

In celebration of the life and work of Dr. Paul Burgett, Classical 91.5 aired the Backstage Pass that was broadcast live from the Gateways Music Festival in August 2017. Dr. Burgett was the Chairman of Gateways’ Board of Directors.

Julia Figueras was live at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre with the entire GMF orchestra, guest artists, and a live audience.  Music Director Michael Morgan, RPO trumpeter Herb Smith, pianist Stewart Goodyear, and violinist Amadi Azikiwe were among the guests who chatted with Julia, along with GMF Board President Paul Burgett and Artistic Director Lee Koonce and Eastman School of Music Dean Jamal Rossi.

Music on the program includes Adolphus Hailstork's An American Port of Call and the final movement of Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto.


Backstage Pass with the Keuka Lake Music Festival -- 8/3 and 8/5/18

By • Jul 24, 2018

Violinist Dylan Kennedy grew up in our area, finishing his high school years as the concertmaster for the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Last year, the Penn Yan native decided to give back to the place where he's called home.

Backstage Pass with the Finger Lakes Chamber Music Festival--7/20 & 22

By • Jul 5, 2018
https://www.fingerlakes-music.org

Our spotlight on summer music performances continues with one of the longer running festivals: the Finger Lakes Chamber Music Festival. Founded in 2002 by Richard Auldon Clark, the festival has brought music to vineyards, churches, barns, and Camp Good Days, played by members of the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra.

Backstage Pass with the Geneva Music Festival -- 6/1 & 6/3/18

By • May 30, 2018

For the next three months, Backstage Pass will be spending time with some of the many wonderful summer music festivals  in our area. First up: The Geneva Music Festival. Festival director and founder Geoffrey Herd will talk to Julia Figueras about the creation, care, and feeding of this festival, and members of the Cavani String Quartet and friends will play Faure. Chill out with Backstage Pass on Friday, June 1. The show will repeat Sunday, June 3. Both shows begin at 1 PM.

Backstage Pass with the Society for Chamber Music Rochester -- 5/11 & 5/13/18

By • May 8, 2018

Five years ago, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra concertmaster Juliana Athayde and RPO Principal Oboe Erik Behr took the reins of the Society for Chamber Music Rochester.  Since then, changes have happened: new venues, commissioned compositions...even wine tastings.

Backstage Pass with Adam Sadberry -- 4/24 & 4/29

By • Apr 17, 2018
Eastman Community School of Music

Graduation can be a fraught time, filled with questions about what's next. Flutist Adam Sadberry , about to graduate from the Eastman School of Music, has no such worries--he recently won the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's African-American Fellowship, and will be a member of the DSO flute section for the next 2 years. On the next Backstage Pass, Adam will talk with Julia Figueras about the fellowship, his turn on NPR's From the Top, and more...and play works by Georges Enesco, William Grant Still, Erwin Schulhoff, and Frank Martin.

Backstage Pass with the Cello Divas -- 3/9 & 3/11/18

By • Mar 2, 2018
Kemp: Hochstein; Elliott: Eastman School of Music; Hwang: Genesee Symphony Orchestra; Bock: RPO

To celebrate Women's History Month, we dug into our Backstage Pass archives for the Cello Divas: 4 women, and 4 cellos. Ingrid Bock, Rosemary Elliot, Mimi Hwang, and Kathy Murphy Kemp joined Julia Figueras to chat about their unique quartet, how it came about, and where they looked to find music. This edition of Backstage Pass won a Bronze medal from the New York Festivals. Find out why the judges were so pleased on Friday, March 9 and Sunday, March 11.  Both airings are at 1 PM.

Backstage Pass with Eastman Performer's Certificate Students - 2/23 & 2/25/18

By • Feb 21, 2018
Wedding Wire

The highest honor a student at the Eastman School of Music can earn is the Performer's Certificate. So what is that, and how does one get it? On the next Backstage Pass, Julia Figueras introduces you to three recipients of this honor:  harpist Anna Dunlap, violinist Willa Finck, and cellist Brandon Xu. Also joining them will be Nicholas Goluses, the co-chair of the String Department.  It's all things stringed on Backstage Pass, Friday, February 23, with an encore on Sunday, February 25. Both shows are at 1 PM.

Backstage Pass with the Empire Film Music Ensemble - 1/28/18

By • Jan 19, 2018
Empire Film music Ensemble

Let's go to the movies! On the next Backstage Pass, members of the Empire Film Music Ensemble come to our studios to share their love of movie soundtracks. The EMFE works collaboratively with other organizations, including the Rochester Institute of Technology, composer Jeff Beal, and even WXXI-FM, supplying pre-show music for our Classical 91.5 Presents... series. Host Julia Figueras supplies the popcorn.

Pages