Arts

Colin Allured, "Approaching Ali," And The Festival Of Nine Lessons And Carols

88.5 WFDD - Public Radio For The Piedmont | By Bethany Chafin,

David Ford, Eddie Garcia, Quique Rodriguez-Pastor

Published December 18, 2015 at 1:04 PM EST

Writer Davis Miller and his hero Muhammad Ali.

Colin Allured and Always Music

Always Music is the name of Winston-Salem-based singer/songwriter Colin Allured's latest LP. He says the album, carefully recorded over a period of two years in both his home studio and Red House studios here in the Piedmont, reflects his current stage in life as a new husband, and father. The music is also an artful blending of styles including those he heard growing up in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

You can hear Colin this Friday, December 18th from 7-9pm at Wine Merchants Gourmet/VIn 205 and Saturdau December 20th and 27th at Childress Vineyards.

Davis Miller and Approaching Ali: A Reclamation in Three Acts

What would you do if you met your childhood idol? What if your idol invited you into their home, signed everything you had brought with you, and told you to stay for dinner?

Well, that's exactly what happened when writer Davis Miller knocked on Muhammad Ali's door in 1988 in Louisville, Kentucky. It was the start of a lifelong friendship, and it was a friendship that allowed Miller to write about the Ali that not everyone knew (but thought they knew). Miller's latest book is Approaching Ali: A Reclamation In Three Acts. Miller's story "My Dinner with Ali" was judged by David Halberstam to be one of the best American sports stories of the twentieth century.

The writer is in talks to help produce a short animated film based on his story and anticipating the Ali exhibit in London this coming February. Davis Miller spoke with Bethany from his home in Asheville.

Malcolm Archer and The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem celebrates the annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in much the same way as set forth by Kings College in Cambridge nearly a century ago, and including the tradition of a newly commissioned work. This year's premiere is an anthem for Christmas by English composer Malcolm Archer. He's the former Director of Music at St. Paul's Cathedral in London and current Director of Chapel Music at Winchester College in the heart of England.

The annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is Sunday, December 20, at 5:00pm at St. Paul's in Winston-Salem, featuring the world premiere of Malcolm's Christmas anthem “A Sound of Singing Fills the Air”. Also on the program will be the beautiful Robert Parsons' setting of "Ave Maria," and a familiar chorus from Handel's "Messiah."

Malcolm spoke with David Ford by phone from his home in Winchester and David was joined in the studio by St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem organist and choirmaster John Cummins.

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Bethany Chafin

Bethany joined the staff of WFDD in the fall of 2012. She received her B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Wake Forest University and focused on Anglo-Irish writing. Between undergraduate studies and graduate school, Bethany served as the intern to Talk of the Nation at NPR in D.C., participating in live NPR Election Night Coverage, Presidential debate broadcasts, regular Talk of the Nation shows, and helping to plan the inaugural broadcast of ‘Talk of the World.' She enjoys engaging with her interests in books, politics, and art in the interdisciplinary world of public radio. Before becoming Assistant News Director, Bethany was a reporter and Associate Producer for WFDD's Triad Arts and Triad Arts Weekend. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Bethany enjoys calling the Piedmont home.

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David Ford

Before his arrival in the Triad, David had already established himself as a fixture in the Austin, Texas arts scene as a radio host for Classical 89.5 KMFA. During his tenure there, he produced and hosted hundreds of programs including Mind Your Music, The Basics and T.G.I.F. Thank Goodness, It's Familiar, which each won international awards in the Fine Arts Radio Competition. As a radio journalist with 88.5 WFDD, his features have been recognized by the Associated Press, Public Radio News Directors Inc., Catholic Academy of Communication Professionals, and Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas. David has written and produced national stories for NPR, KUSC and CPRN in Los Angeles and conducted interviews for Minnesota Public Radio's Weekend America.

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Eddie Garcia

Eddie Garcia is WFDD’s News Director. He is responsible for planning coverage, editing stories, and leading an award-winning news team as it serves the station’s 32-county listening area. He joined WFDD as an audio production intern in 2007 and went on to hold various roles, including producer, Triad Arts Weekend co-host, reporter, and managing editor. When he’s not working, Eddie enjoys spending time with his family, playing guitar, and watching films.

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Quique Rodriguez-Pastor

The path that led Quique to WFDD is anything but linear. After moving from Peru to the U.S. at age 11, Quique picked up the guitar and an old boom box (complete with a tiny built-in microphone) and began recording music on cassette tapes. Though the lifelong plan was to pursue a career in something different altogether (visual arts), Quique switched gears last minute and attended Davidson College instead, majoring in Sociology. Afterward, he took another turn and earned a Master's degree in Counseling at Wake Forest University. Quique went on to work in community outreach with Latino families in the Old Town area of Winston-Salem. In 2012, Quique left the non-profit sector to devote himself to his passion in music composition, recording and performance; he also began to explore the craft of videography.One year prior to joining WFDD, the idea of working in radio crossed Quique's mind perhaps only in dreams. But in 2014, he found himself at WFDD's station for a Triad Arts interview about his album release. After asking Quique what the heck he was doing with his life and learning about his recent exploration with videography, Triad Arts' Executive Producer David Ford proposed a freelance pilot project: producing “Backstage with Triad Arts”, a video program that offers listeners the opportunity to visit the WFDD's website and take behind-the-scenes looks at arts events in the region (like the Eastern Music Festival, Phuzz Phest, Becca Stevens' studio album recording, SECCA collaborations with UNCSA, Merlefest, etc.).In 2015, Quique officially (and much to his happiness) joined the WFDD team. In addition to producing videos, you can hear Quique throughout the day announcing events happening in the Triad. He's also Contributing Editor for Triad Arts, where he puts his recording/editing skills to work.

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Colin Allured, "Approaching Ali," And The Festival Of Nine Lessons And Carols

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