Arts & Culture

On this edition of FM89's Young Artists Spotlight we feature performances by young composers with ties to Fresno Pacific University, Joseph del Giorgio and Luffy Bailey. Both del Giorgio and Bailey attended Fresno Pacific as undergraduates. Bailey is now working on a masters degree at Fresno State, and del Giorgio is doing the same at Cal State Fullerton. Joining del Giorgio for his performance on Young Artists Spotlight is fellow Cal State Fullerton vocalist, soprano Joslyn Sarshad.

Pianist Barry Douglas has been an star of the international classical music world since 1986, when he won the Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow.

In addition to a busy touring schedule, Douglas also serves as artistic director of Camerata Ireland, a group which brings together musicians from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to celebrate Irish culture. 

On this edition of Young Artists Spotlight, the Bakersfield High School Chamber Singers visited the Bonner Performing Arts Studio for a live in-studio performance. Listen to this talented group of south valley students showcase their love of music in this special broadcast. The choir is directed by Christopher Borges. 

We hear two stories from local authors on this week's edition of Valley Writers Read. In the first story, "With Me Still", the author Deb Borofka meets a woman from her home town in Oregon who brings back fond memories of her grandmother. In the second story, "Dust to Dust", author Janet Stevens takes a trip down memory lane by visiting the home of her ancestors in North Dakota.

Bakersfield sisters Hannah Tran (14 years old)  and Meghan (12 years old) brought their Chinese zither artistry to the Bonner Performing Arts Studio on Wednesday February 13 for a live broadcast of FM89's Young Artists Spotlight. Hear about this traditional Chinese instrument and enjoy the sounds of the Tran sisters on this broadcast from our 2013 Y.A.S. season.

On this edition of Valley Writers Read, Gabriele Case reads her own story about a man named Raymond, a returning veteran from Afghanistan who faces his own challenges on the home front.

Bakersfield violinist Samuel Lang kicked off the 2013 season of Valley Public Radio's program Young Artists Spotlight with a moving performance of The Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto by Chinese composers Chen Gang and He Zhanhao.

Production support for Young Artists Spotlight comes from Dr. Alice Martinson and Carole Sturgis.

On this edition of Valley Writers Read, former Fresno State teacher Liza Wieland reads her story, "Tommy Waddel", about a teenage girl who is attracted to a young boy. As the two of them become more enamored with each other, we learn how their relationship changes.

As violinist Elena Urioste tells it, when she was just two years old, she knew she wanted to be a violinist, after seeing Itzhak Perlman perform on a broadcast of Sesame Street. Now as a star artist in her own right, she travels the world sharing her musical gift with thousands, including here in Central California. 

This week on Valley Writers Read, Coarsegold author Evelyne Holingue reads her story titled "Welcome Home."  Living in the foothills presents many challenges, as Juliette and Natasha soon discover. Hear how a traffic accident takes a surprising turn for one foothill visitor.