On the Wednesday edition of "Live and Local," I'll present segments from performers who appeared live on our show over the past year. We'll hear the Hot Iron String Band, local singer-songwriter Pamela Machala with bassist Chad Mathis, and a singer-songwriter from Pennsylvania, Gina Sicilia, with guitarist Dave Gross.
The Monday edition of "Live and Local" will be one of our occasional encore programs, in which we bring you favorite segments from shows past. This time around, we'll feature a singer-songwriter called Chicago Farmer; the voice-and-piano cabaret duo Geoff Poor and David Thies; and madrigal singers from University High School in Urbana.
The Friday edition of "Live and Local" will be a special two-hour broadcast of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol from Bah Humbug Productions. First performed at Parkland College in Champaign in 2007, it was recreated for WILL radio in 2009. We'll feature conversations with the writer, composer and more for insights into this adaptation of a Christmas classic.
On the Thursday edition of "Live and Local," we'll rebroadcast two performances given live in our studio in 2009. Madrigal singers from Champaign's High School of St. Thomas More joined us to preview their madrigal feast that year; and four members of Millikin University's Faculty Jazz Sextet gave us a taste of their Holiday Jazz program.
For many years, Keith Harden was one of Champaign-Urbana's best-known blues-folk-Americana musicians. Though he now lives in Nashville, he returns every Christmas to play with family and friends, and he'll join me live on the Wednesday edition of "Live and Local." And I'll chat with Julie Beyler, director of The Chorale, about their annual Christmas Eve concert in Champaign.
The Iron Post in downtown Urbana hosts musicians of all types throughout the year, including especially jazz musicians from the community and the University of Illinois. This week, UI jazz department head Chip McNeill and colleagues will play there, as will two of his students, who constitute the Kim/Beckett Duo. We'll have a full hour of live jazz on the Tuesday edition of "Live and Local.
Kenneth Kiesler was music director of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra for 21 years. He returns to the orchestra for the first time since 2000 to lead their Holiday Pops concerts this weekend, and he'll be my guest on the Friday edition of "Live and Local." I'll talk as well with Irish piper Michael Cooney, who plays in Urbana Friday night.
Jazz trombonist, composer and band leader Glenn Miller disappeared during World War II, but his name and music live on in the Glenn Miller Orchestra, who will play in Bloomington Saturday night. I'll talk with current leader Gary Tole, as well as Nick Schroeder, a local boy who plays trumpet in the band, on the Thursday edition of "Live and Local.
Cynthia Voekl and Ernie Blackwelder have hosted house concerts in Champaign since 2008, and they'll host the 3rd annual Christmas concert by Kristi Rose and Fats Kaplin this Saturday. On the Wednesday edition of "Live and Local," I'll talk with the hosts and Kristi Rose herself. And we'll hear about a concert by the Decatur All-City Honor Choir and Orchestra.
Mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Buckley has lived in our community for many years, for a time quite under the musical radar. She's sung numerous roles at the University of Illinois and with various orchestras locally, and even had a debut at Carnegie Hall this year. She'll host a CD release party in Champaign Tuesday night, and she'll be my guest on the Tuesday edition of "Live and Local.
