Piedmont Opera presents African Queens, a powerful musical celebration curated and performed by Grammy Award-winning soprano Karen Slack. The program honors seven extraordinary African queens whose stories have often been overlooked in Western history, combining newly commissioned music, spoken word, and visual art to illuminate their legacy, leadership, and lasting impact. It's an inspiring evening that blends history, culture, and contemporary artistry in a unique tribute t

Piedmont Opera is kicking off Winston-Salem’s annual Juneteenth celebration by presenting the acclaimed recital "African Queens" featuring Grammy Award-winning soprano Karen Slack. The free community performance on Thursday, June 18 will blend newly commissioned music, and storytelling to celebrate legendary African queens. Watch here.

As Piedmont Opera celebrates its 50th anniversary season and reflects on defining milestones in the company’s history, the organization proudly honors the induction of Pulitzer Prize–winning composer and arts leader Dr. Robert Ward into Winston-Salem Arts, Cultural, and Entertainment Memorial Walk of Fame for 2026. Few artists have had a greater impact on the cultural identity of Winston-Salem and the growth of opera in North Carolina than Dr. Ward, whose legacy remains deepl

Read more about Piedmont Opera's upcoming event: Karen Slack's African Queens. https://www.broadwayworld.com/raleigh/regional/Karen-Slack-s-African-Queens--4367698

Piedmont Opera concludes its season... Read more here.

Piedmont Opera, in partnership with the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center, will present Opera Lite: ABC’s of Opera on May 31 at 3 p.m. at the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center in Yadkinville. Tickets are $15 and are available now. More here.

Piedmont Opera expands its outreach program Opera Lite to the Cultural Arts Center in Yadkinville ... READ HERE.

"Despite the opinions recently offered by a certain film celebrity, there are plenty of people out there who not only appreciate but know the importance of opera, ballet, and countless other art forms. We attend opera to experience the ultimate form of human artistic expression: vocal artistry in its purest form, symphonic music, captivating dance and ballet, comedy and tragedy that lift the spirit and move you to tears, and all of the exquisitely crafted elements of the thea

Meet Joseph Mechavich: Piedmont Opera’s new general director leads with flair You’d probably never think of grilling and opera together, but for Joseph Mechavich, the two go hand in hand. Mechavich, who was recently named Piedmont Opera’s general director and is moving to Winston-Salem from Philadelphia, is excited to buy a grill again. “I love to roast and braise things…ribs, chicken, bratwurst, sausage,” he says. “The first thing I am buying is a Weber grill.”

On March 27 and 29, the Piedmont Opera will perform George Bizet’s classical production of “Carmen” at High Point Theatre. Wake Forest Assistant Voice Professor Caryn Greco has spent a year preparing for her role of Frasquita. Arts & Culture Editor Grace Schuringa sat down with Greco to discuss her hopes for this performance, her career and her advice for aspiring artists. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

A big thank-you to our friends at Fox 8 News for welcoming our General Director Joey Mechavich to discuss our upcoming production of Carmen . We're grateful for the opportunity to share our work with the community — and for the incredible dedication this community-focused station brings to keeping audiences informed and inspired. Watch here.

Listen here.

By JIMMY TOMLIN Twenty-month-old Clara Muhlenkamp has the unbridled energy of, well, a 20-month-old. The seemingly tireless toddler may have met her energetic match, however, in Katie Muhlenkamp — Clara’s 37-year-old mother — whose many occupations and preoccupations include wife, toddler mom, dog mom, professional singer, actor, voice instructor and master’s degree student. Oh, and estate planning attorney, although — just for the record — she’s not currently practicing law.

Piedmont Opera is celebrating its 50th anniversary and a new general director. Joseph Mechavich has already established a name for himself with sold-out concerts and new set designs. Mechavich recently spoke with WFDD’s David Ford.

Cast members, David Arnold Paris, Zakiyyah Niang and her son Johann, visit Afternoon Jazz with Jim Steele, Wednesday, March 18, 3:30 p.m. to talk about the opera and the role of the Piedmont Opera Chorus. Listen here.

Photo credit to Ben Werley Piedmont Opera is pleased to announce the appointment of Joseph Mechavich as its General Director, marking an exciting new chapter for the company as it prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its founding in 2026. Mechavich is a highly respected conductor and artistic leader whose recent work has demonstrated a strong commitment to musical excellence, thoughtful repertoire development, and collaborative production practices. Known for his cla

Winston-Salem has long been celebrated as the "City of Arts and Innovation." This reputation is built on a musical foundation that spans over 250 years, beginning with the meticulous compositions of 18th-century settlers and evolving into a diverse landscape of professional symphony, opera, and rock ‘n’ roll. The Moravian Genesis (1766–1800s) The city’s musical identity was forged by the Moravians who settled Salem in 1766. Unlike many early American frontier towns, Salem con

There is something utterly exhilarating about theater on a thrust stage or in the round for both the performer and the audience. With the forced separation of the proscenium stage gone, the performance becomes personal, even intimate. Operas and musicals are virtually impossible to present fully in the round because of the need for an orchestra. However, a thrust stage, or 3/4 thrust, where the audience is on three sides of the stage, provides a place for the orchestra while

WINSTON-SALEM, NC – Feelings run high and hot in Piedmont Opera ‘s production of Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci , whose last performance will be Tuesday, November 11, at the Millennium Center in Winston-Salem. The heat between the young lovers is palpable. The envy and rage of the antagonists prove ungovernable. The highly skilled cast convey these rich emotions with the support of superb playing by the Winston-Salem Symphony under the able musical direction of Joseph Mech

Conductor Joseph Mechavich sits down with Fox 8 to discuss Piedmont Opera's upcoming performance of "Pagliacci." Watch here.