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

Tres Jolie (A Waltz)

Composed by

Emile Waldteufel (1837-1915)

Performed by

Slovak State Philharmonic/Walter

Label

Naxos

Catalog Number

9

Today's Playlist

7:01am Three Dances from Henry VIII

Composed by

Edward German (1862-1936)

Performed by

Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony/Leaper

7:11am Danube Legends

Composed by

Julius Fucik (1872-1916)

Performed by

Czech Philharmonic/Neuman

7:23am Prelude No. 1 in E minor

Composed by

Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)

Performed by

Kaori Muraji

7:29am Overture to Semiramide

Composed by

Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)

Performed by

Philharmonia/Karajan

7:42am Bassoon Concerto in A minor

Composed by

Johann Wilhelm Hertel (1727-1789)

Performed by

Smith/English Chamber Orchestra/Ledger

8:01am Concerto Grosso in F, Op. 6 No. 2

Composed by

Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713)

Performed by

Southwest German Chmbr Orch/Wich

8:13am Flute Sonata in A minor

Composed by

George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)

Performed by

Bruggen/Bylsma/van Asperen

8:24am March from The Nutcracker, Op. 71

Composed by

Peter I. Tchaikovsky

Performed by

Slovak Philharmonic/Halasz

8:29am Liebestraum No. 3 in A flat

Composed by

Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

Performed by

Anatol Ugorski

8:36am Over the Rainbow

Composed by

Harold Arlen, arr. Tom Poster

Performed by

Ma/Stott

8:40am The Neapolitan, a waltz

Composed by

Joseph Lanner (1801-1843)

Performed by

Ensemble Vienna

8:50am Music selected by the announcer

9:01am Suite from Pelleas et Melisande, Op. 80

Composed by

Gabriel Faure (1845-1924)

Performed by

Mexico City Philharmonic/Batiz

9:21am Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041

Composed by

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Performed by

Isbin/Zurich Chamber Orch/Griffiths

9:37am Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in B flat, Op. 1

Composed by

Bernhard Henrik Crusell (1775-1838)

Performed by

Hartman/New York Scandia Symphony/Matson

10:01am Symphony No. 088 in G

Composed by

Josef Haydn (1732-1809)

Performed by

Vienna Philharmonic/Bohm

10:25am Concierto de Aranjuez, trancribed for harp

Composed by

Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999)

Performed by

Robles/Philharmonia Orchestra/Dutoit

10:49am Lute Concerto in A, RV 82

Composed by

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Performed by

Isbin/Zurich Chamber Orch/Griffiths

11:01am Fantasie in F minor, Op. 49

Composed by

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

Performed by

Ruth Slenczynska

11:17am Be Embraced, Ye Millions (Waltz)

Composed by

Johann Strauss, Jr, (1825-1899)

Performed by

Vienna Philharmonic/Nelsons

11:28am Piano Concerto No. 25 in C, K. 503

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Barenboim/Berlin Phil./Barenboim

12:02pm Symphony No. 3 in C, Op. 32

Composed by

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)

Performed by

London Symphony/Butt

12:33pm Suite from Masques et Bergamasques, Op. 112

Composed by

Gabriel Faure (1845-1924)

Performed by

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

12:49pm Music selected by the announcer

1:01pm String Quartet in E flat (w/o opus number)

Composed by

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Performed by

Eroica Quartet

1:26pm Ballet Music from Le Cid

Composed by

Jules Massenet

Performed by

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Fremaux/Tortelier

1:47pm La Barcarolle, a waltz

Composed by

Emile Waldteufel (1837-1915)

Performed by

Slovak State Philharmonic/Walter

2:01pm Symphony No. 1 in D, Op. 25 "Classical"

Composed by

Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953)

Performed by

London Symphony/Marriner

2:16pm Musical Moments, D. 780

Composed by

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Performed by

John O’Conor

2:46pm Prelude to Act 1 from Parsifal

Composed by

Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

Performed by

Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra/Nelsons

3:01pm Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11

Composed by

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

Performed by

Rubinstein/New Symphony Orchestra London/Skrowaczewski

3:42pm Trio in D for Piano, Flute & Cello

Composed by

Josef Haydn (1732-1809)

Performed by

Classical Chrome

4:01pm Holberg Suite, Op. 40

Composed by

Edvard Grieg (1843–1907)

Performed by

Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields/Marriner

4:22pm Symphony No. 6 in E flat

Composed by

Jiri Benda (1722-1795)

Performed by

Prague Chamber Orchestra/Benda

4:34pm Dance of the Cockerels from Maskarade

Composed by

Carl Nielsen (1865-1931)

Performed by

Swedish Radio Symphony/Salonen

4:40pm Children's March (Over the Hills and Far Away)

Composed by

Percy Grainger (1882-1961)

Performed by

R & J Contiguglia

4:48pm The Moldau from Ma Vlast (My Fatherland)

Composed by

Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884)

Performed by

RCA Victor Symphony/Stokowski

5:01pm Two Aquarelles

Composed by

Frederick Delius (1862-1934)

Performed by

Bournemouth Sinfonietta/Del Mar

5:07pm A Shropshire Lad

Composed by

George Butterworth (1885-1916)

Performed by

Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields/Marriner

5:18pm Prelude, Hen & Cuckoo from The Birds

Composed by

Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936)

Performed by

Atlanta Symphony/Lane

5:29pm Concert Waltz No. 1, Op. 47

Composed by

Alexander Glazunov (1865–1936)

Performed by

Bamberg Symphony/Jarvi

5:39pm Symphony No. 59 in D

Composed by

Christian Cannabich (1731-1798)

Performed by

Lukas Consort/Lukas

5:52pm Warsaw Concerto

Composed by

Richard Addinsell (1904-1977)

Performed by

Tritt/Cincinnati Pops/Kunzel

6:01pm Meditation from Thais

Composed by

Jules Massenet (1842-1912)

Performed by

Kennedy/National Philharmonic/Bonynge

6:08pm Flute Quartet No. 4 in A, K. 298

Composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Performed by

Grafenauer/Kremer/Hagen/Hagen

6:20pm Concerto for Harp and Orchestra in E flat, Op. 74

Composed by

Reinhold Gliere (1875-1956)

Performed by

Maistre/WDR Symphony Orchestra of Cologne/Stutzmann

6:47pm Music selected by the announcer

7:01pm Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F minor, Op. 73

Composed by

Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826)

Performed by

Meyer/Dresden State Orchestra/Blomstedt

7:23pm Preludes, Op. 28

Composed by

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

Performed by

Nelson Freire

8:00pm Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 15

Composed by

Gabriel Faure (1845-1924)

Performed by

Schubert Ensemble of London

8:32pm Concerto in F for Lute & Strings

Composed by

Carl Kohaut (1726-1784)

Performed by

Smith/Banchini/Plantier/Dieltens

8:47pm Romance in F minor, Op. 11

Composed by

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)

Performed by

Ughi/Philharmonia/Slatkin

9:01pm Raymonda, Op. 57 (Music from the ballet)

Composed by

Alexander Glazunov (1865–1936)

Performed by

Scottish National Orchestra/Jarvi

9:58pm Clair de lune from Suite Bergamasque

Composed by

Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Performed by

Wibi Soerjadi

10:04pm Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56 "Scottish"

Composed by

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Performed by

Israel Philharmonic/Bernstein

10:45pm Symphony No. 5 in E flat

Composed by

Samuel Wesley (1766-1837)

Performed by

Milton Keynes Chamber Orchestra/Wetton

11:01pm Evocation from Iberia, Book 1

Composed by

Isaac Albeniz (1860-1909)

Performed by

Lang Lang

11:09pm Hungarian Rhapsody No. 1 in F minor

Composed by

Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

Performed by

Vancouver Symphony/Comissiona

11:23pm Guitar Quintet No. 9 in C, "Retreat from Madrid"

Composed by

Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805)

Performed by

Pepe Romero/Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Chamber Ensemble

11:52pm Music selected by the announcer