Programming: Q3 2011

JULY 8 We Are Family: Families that sing together

Music history and culture is full of famous singing families, from the von Trapps to The Jackson Five. Join singing siblings Jennifer and Laurie Hall of the band Ruby Howl and VoiceBox host Chloe Veltman for a discussion about the power of sharing the mike with the people you grew up with.

JULY 15 One Night Stand: The art of presenting classical music recitals

The process of bringing a star recitalist to town for a concert is as thrilling as it is complex. Ruth Felt, the founder and president of the presenting organization San Francisco Performances joins VoiceBox host Chloe Veltman for an exploration of what it takes to keep audiences – and divas – happy.

JULY 22 Second Coming: The Success of show tunes in the pop music world

Many songs from the world of musical theatre go on to enjoy successful second lives on the pop charts. Theatre journalist Chad Jones joins VoiceBox host Chloe Veltman for an exploration of some of the most memorable show tune crossovers in musical theatre history and what it takes for a song to leap beyond the footlights. (Re-run. This show first aired on January 7, 2011)

JULY 29 Holy Melisma!: A composer’s guide to the development and practice of ornamentation in singing

Ornamentation has been a staple of vocal music for hundreds if not thousands of years. Join composer and writer Brian Rosen and VoiceBox host Chloe Veltman for a discussion about the ways in which singers (and composers) adorn melodies – and the factors that separate memorable from forgettable embellishments. (Re-run. This show first aired on January 14, 2011)

AUGUST 5 Angelic Cherubs?: On training boys to sing beautifully

Vienna isn’t the only place where boys sing like angels. The Bay Area and other parts of this country boast some formidable choruses made up of talented young male singers. Kevin Fox, the founding artistic director of the Pacific Boychoir Academy based in Oakland joins VoiceBox host Chloe Veltman for a chat about the defining characteristics of boys’ voices and the ins and outs of training them en masse.

AUGUST 12 Don’t Let Your Ears Deceive You: On the art of ventriloquism

Believe it or not, ventriloquists used to be a popular fixture on the radio airwaves. Chloe Veltman welcomes playwright and theatrical impresario Sean Owens, ventriloquist Ron Coulter and Ron’s puppet partner of 60 years, Sid Star, for a discussion about the art, technique and culture of throwing your voice.

AUGUST 19 Forever Young: A Guide to long-term vocal health for singing children

Children love to sing. But sometimes they can fall into bad habits if they don’t have parents or teachers to help them figure out how to look after their voices from a young age. Voice experts and American Speech Language Hearing Association members Sarah Schneider and Katherine Verdolini Abbott join VoiceBox host Chloe Veltman for a look at how kids’ voices work and what keeps them safe when they sing.

AUGUST 26 Choral Almanac: Bay Area midsummer chorus showcase

Boasting more than 500 choirs, The Bay Area is agog with choral ensembles. As part of an ongoing series celebrating the local choral scene, join Helene Whitson, co-author of the San Francisco Bay Area Chorus Directory and founder of the San Francisco Bay Area Choral Archive and VoiceBox host Chloe Veltman for a listen to some of the best Bay Area choruses around on the scene today.

SEPTEMBER 2 Siberian Express: The art of Tuvan throat singing (re-run)

Tuvan throat singing is an ancient vocal art form that hails from Siberia. Join Sayan and Radik, two members of the acclaimed Tuvan ensemble Huun Hur Tu, and VoiceBox host Chloe Veltman, for a discussion about the history of -- and techniques involved in practicing -- this mesmerizing artistic tradition. (The program about Thomas Hampson's Song of America project that was scheduled to air on September 2 is being pushed back a few weeks to accommodate the singer's busy schedule.)

SEPTEMBER 2 Songs of America: Thomas Hampson on the Great American Songbook

Song is deeply ingrained in this country’s cultural identity. The celebrated American baritone Thomas Hampson joins VoiceBox host Chloe Veltman for a conversation about how the poetic and musical legacy of vocal music has shaped American culture across the centuries. (This program will be rescheduled for a later date.)

SEPTEMBER 9

VoiceBox takes a week off while Alan Farley airs the next installment of his documentary series about Ira Gershwin

SEPTEMBER 16

VoiceBox takes a week off while Alan Farley airs the next installment of his documentary series about Ira Gershwin

SEPTEMBER 23 The Local Vocal: Bay Area singer-songwriter showcase

The Bay Area is packed with brilliant singer-songwriters, but many of us aren’t aware of the talent right here on our doorstep. As part of an ongoing series of special programs showcasing the artistry of local singer-songwriters, VoiceBox host Chloe Veltman and Robin Applewood and Charlie Wilson, co-producers of Songwriters Unplugged, a weekly singer-songwriter event at Yoshi’s jazz club in San Francisco, sample the music of some of the finest Bay Area artists around.

SEPTEMBER 30 Hardly Strictly Singing: Warren Hellman on bluegrass vocals (and then some)

The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival has become a favorite annual event on the Bay Area cultural calendar, attracting a top-tier lineup of vocal artists from the world of bluegrass music and beyond. Banjo player, bluegrass music aficionado and festival founder Warren Hellman joins VoiceBox host Chloe Veltman for an exploration of the best bluegrass vocalists around today and standout artists working in related genres.