Advertise on podcast: KBACH's Heart of the Arts

The Phoenix Chorale begins its 2026-2027 season on October 10th and 11th with a program titled Life, Love & Light. KBACH's Greg Kostraba recently talked with the chorale's Artistic Director Christopher Gabbitas about this concert of joy, remembrance, and consolation, and about the group's upcoming album Promised Land.

The Oracle Piano Society is set to begin its 14th season of bringing pianists and chamber musicians to the small town of Oracle, Arizona. The group's founder and Artistic Director Stephen Cook and KBACH's Greg Kostraba recently chatted about the fall concert lineup, the January chamber music festival, and the society's music conservatory, which provides tuition-free music education to low-income rural students in the area.

St. Apkar Armenian Apostolic Church in Scottsdale presents “Armenian American Songs & Stories” on Saturday, September 19th. It’s a black-tie evening honoring the life and music of Alan Hovhaness, beginning at 7 with a concert of the composer’s music, including the world premiere of his String Quartet #6 "Adana." KBACH's Greg Kostraba recently talked about the program with the composer’s stepson, Bill Holst, as well as two of the performers, violinist Levon Zarasian and pianist Larry Loeber.

The ASU All Saints Catholic Newman Center begins its inaugural Organ Recital Series September 11th with Jason Phillips performing on the center’s newly-installed Peragallo pipe organ. KBACH's Greg Kostraba recently chatted with Phillips about the series, the organ, and his performance, which will include works by J. S. Bach, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and others, including Phillips himself.

For more than 25 years, the Downtown Chamber Series (DCS) has presented concerts amidst visual art at venues across downtown Phoenix. The next concerts take place August 29th and 30th at Shepley Bulfinch Architects, and feature trombone, trumpet, piano, and photography. KBACH's Greg Kostraba recently talked with DCS founder & Executive Director Mark Dix and two of the musicians featured on the concert, trumpeter Hayato Tanaka and trombonist Harry Gonzalez.

The Phoenix Chamber Music Society has announced its 2026-2027 season, which includes eight regular season concerts featuring WindSync, Chanticleer, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center & more, plus Nokuthula Ngwenyama's Composer’s Choice Program, and the 18th Chamber Music Festival in April. KBACH's Greg Kostraba talked with Janet Green, the Executive Director of the Phoenix Chamber Music Society, about the upcoming season.

ASU Assistant Professor of Collaborative Piano Miki Aoki will present a solo piano recital on Saturday, July 11th at the Recital Hall in the Steinway Piano Gallery in Scottsdale. She recently chatted with KBACH's Greg Kostraba about the program, which includes music by Handel, Haydn, Schubert, and Kaija Saariaho. The concert is free, but tickets must be obtained in advance at (480) 847-1474.

The Arizona Pops Orchestra presents its "Americana Homage" concert June 17th & 18th at the Tempe Center for the Arts. KBACH's Greg Kostraba recently talked with the orchestra's President & CEO John Doney about the concert, which includes George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue plus works by John Williams & Michael Kamen. Assistant Concertmaster Morganne McIntyre and guitarist Megan Marshall were also in the studio to perform two selections that will be on the program. Tickets are available from the Arizona Pops Orchestra website.

The Arizona Piano Institute (API) presents its 11th Summer Festival - a week of masterclasses, workshops, and lectures - May 31st through June 6th at Phoenix College. The founder of the API, Snezana Krstic, recently chatted with KBACH's Greg Kostraba about the festival, as well as the free opening concert, which features API faculty in recital at Valley Presbyterian Church in Paradise Valley, May 31st at 2pm.Learn more about the festival

The Curtis Chamber Orchestra will perform music for strings by Barber and Beethoven at the Musical Instrument Museum, Saturday, May 23rd. The program will also include Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for violin and viola with Erin Keefe and Roberto Diaz as soloists. Keefe recently talked with KBACH's Greg Kostraba about the concert, and her longtime association with the Curtis Institute of Music. Tickets for these concerts are available on the MIM website.