Debra Lew Harder

Mansions, music, and the magic of the holidays are all awaiting you. Join us on Saturday, December 14th between 10 AM and 3:30 PM for Sounds of the Season—our annual tradition with The Historic Houses of Fairmount Park in Philadelphia.

Why are human beings drawn to melody? Join WRTI’s Debra Lew Harder as she explores this fascinating question and performs some of the most gorgeous melodies ever written in a free concert at First Presbyterian Church in Center City, Philadelphia on Sunday, November 17th at 2 PM.

Take a seat in the WRTI Opera House as we celebrate the human foibles, joy, humor, tragedy and passion that make opera extraordinary. November 9th is our Annual Opera Day— a 12-hour celebration featuring your favorite arias, choruses and ballet excerpts from your favorite operas.

Ask WRTI listeners to name their favorite Mozart piano concerto, and many will say, “No. 20 in D minor.” It’s dramatic, powerful, lyrical, funny at times, and one of only two piano concerti that Mozart wrote in a minor key. I’m excited to be performing this great concerto with the Independence Sinfonia, one of our fine local ensembles, on Sunday, October 27, 2019 at 3 PM at Temple University's Ambler campus.

Gorgeous music, an elegant venue, exciting new artists. The 2019 Astral Winners Concert, presenting all the winners of the Astral 2019 auditions to Philadelphia is coming up. Join WRTI's Debra Lew Harder at Stotesbury Mansion on Rittenhouse Square, Wednesday, October 16th at 7 PM for a beautiful evening of music for piano, cello, oboe, soprano, and mandolin.

WRTI looks at the origins of this famous ballad, its mysteries, and why it is sung to convey deeply felt emotion and love during times of mourning.

Join us on Friday, September 13th at 12:10 PM  in the WRTI 90.1 Performance Studio, when two stellar Astral artists give us an exciting sneak preview of this year’s upcoming Astral WRTI 90.1 Block Party.