By Emily Williams Carlos Izcaray didn’t set out to become a conductor. When he was 16 or so, he dreamed of being a hotelier in the Caribbean. Then he heard a recording of Yo-Yo Ma performing the “Elgar Concerto.” “There was something there that clicked,” he said. That’s when he knew he wanted not just to play music, but to create musical experiences by conducting full … [Read more...]
Making it in the Magic City: Hudson is Named Artistic Director of the Birmingham Children’s Theatre
By Kaitlin Candelaria Roy Hudson is no stranger to the theater scene in Alabama. He was named teacher of the year in Alabama in 2008 – the first time a fine arts teacher had ever claimed the title. He founded the now well-known Shades Valley Theatre Academy at Shades Valley High School, where he taught for more than 15 years. And now he’s added a new entry to his resume; in … [Read more...]
Piqué-ng Interest: The Czernobil Sisters Sauté Into a New Saison
By Emily Williams Everything was beautiful at the ballet, in the words of lyricist Edward Kleban, and those words are still true in Birmingham as the Alabama Ballet looks forward to its 2015-2016 season. After all, the demands of ballet are rigorous and constant, and that doesn’t change during the summer performance break, which sisters Alana and Ariana Czernobil know all too … [Read more...]
Keeping Up With Keith: Gallery 1930 Owner Plans Expansion, Second Studio
By Kaitlin Candelaria Meredith Keith never intended to be an artist. In fact, she went to college to become a doctor. Although she describes herself as an “artsy-craftsy” child, her love for creating art is something she almost grew into on accident during her college years. “I was apprenticing for a man who did interiors and we were painting the walls, floors and ceilings … [Read more...]