Dr. Jay Pierson

Dr. Jay Pierson is the host of the Thursday Night Opera House. He is a graduate of Olivet College and the Eastman School of Music from which he earned his Masters and Doctorate degrees. Jay has enjoyed a career as a professional singer, teacher, pianist, conductor, composer, and harpist for over three decades. He has served on the faculties of Bucknell University, East Carolina University, and Santa Clara University and is presently a professor of voice at UNC. He has performed as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including our own North Carolina Symphony, and opera companies in the United States and abroad.

“I truly enjoy announcing for WCPE, as I have the opportunity to send out Great Classical Music, which is my life’s passion. It all started when my parents set me down in front of our stereo, at a very young age, and played Grofé’s Grand Canyon Suite. The thunder scared me and the donkeys made me laugh, but I loved all of it.”

Now Playing

Mazurka in A minor, Op. 67 No. 4

Composed by

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

Performed by

Stanislav Bunin

Label

DG

Catalog Number

423

Today's Playlist

5:32pm Symphony No. 1 in C, Op. 21

Composed by

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Performed by

Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Harnoncourt

6:01pm Nessun dorma! from Turandot

Composed by

Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)

Performed by

Pavarotti/London Philharmonic/Alldis Choir/Mehta

6:06pm Symphony No. 2, "America"

Composed by

Dan Locklair (1949-)

Performed by

Slovak National Symphony Orchestra/Trevor

6:32pm Sonata for flute and piano in C sharp minor, Op. 64

Composed by

Mel Bonis (1858-1937)

Performed by

Varache/Granjon

6:49pm O Silver Moon from Rusalka (Song to the Moon)

Composed by

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)

Performed by

Price/New Philharmonia Orchestra/Santi

6:56pm Ave Maria

Composed by

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) and Charles Gounod (1818-1893

Performed by

Domingo/Vienna Symphony/Froschauer

7:02pm Funeral March of a Marionette

Composed by

Charles Gounod (1818-1893)

Performed by

Houston Symphony/Comissiona

7:07pm The Bells of St. Genevieve

Composed by

Marin Marais (1656-1728)

Performed by

Spectre de la Rose

7:17pm Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun

Composed by

Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Performed by

Baxtresser/NY Philharmonic/Masur

7:30pm Overture to The Thieving Magpie

Composed by

Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)

Performed by

NY Philharmonic/Bernstein

7:41pm Russian Easter Overture, Op. 36

Composed by

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)

Performed by

Mexico City Philharmonic/Batiz

7:59pm Clarinet Quintet in A, K. 581

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Goodman/Boston Symphony String Quartet

8:29pm A Faust Overture

Composed by

Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

Performed by

Dresden Philharmonic/Plasson

8:42pm Three Gymnopedies

Composed by

Eric Satie (1866-1925)

Performed by

Stoltzman/Allen

8:51pm Lovers from Slovak Suite, Op. 32

Composed by

Vitezslav Novak (1870-1949)

Performed by

Czech Philharmonic/Neuman

8:59pm The Neapolitan, a waltz

Composed by

Joseph Lanner (1801-1843)

Performed by

Ensemble Vienna

9:09pm Dialogue with the Angels at Richard Wagner's Grave

Composed by

Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

Performed by

Salzburg Concert Ensemble/Lucker

9:22pm Phantasy Quintet

Composed by

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

Performed by

Jackson/Maggini Quartet

9:38pm Suite from The Fairy Queen

Composed by

Henry Purcell (1659-1695)

Performed by

Balsom/English Concert/Pinnock

9:56pm The Planets, Op. 32

Composed by

Gustav Holst (1874-1934)

Performed by

NY Philharmonic/NY Choral Artists/Mehta

10:50pm Mandolin Partita

Composed by

Alon Sariel (b.1986)

Performed by

Alon Sariel

11:03pm Appalachian Spring

Composed by

Aaron Copland (1900-1990)

Performed by

Cincinnati Pops/Kunzel

11:30pm Mountain Flowers

Composed by

Rued Langgaard (1893-1952)

Performed by

Danish Piano Trio

11:40pm Music selected by the announcer