The Opera House Story Sessions
In 2021, due to the ongoing pandemic, the Opera House was closed to the public. However, we seized the opportunity to bring some of our favorite musicians to share their songs and stories with our audience in a personal and intimate setting through the "The Opera House Story Sessions" series. We carefully curated a diverse range of our local artists, from bluegrass to old-time musicians, to come perform live and share their stories with us.
Richard Hefner
Jake Krack
Trevor Hammons
Kelsey Beverage
Mike Burns
Mary Sue Burns
Homer Hunter
Dwight Diller
Mike Bing
Dave Bing
We recorded these performances with both audio and video, capturing not only the musicians' technical proficiency but also the energy and emotion of the live performances. These recordings were then shared on various platforms, including the internet, Allegheny Mountain Radio, and the Pocahontas Times, allowing people in our community and from all over the world to experience the magic of these performances.
To delve deeper into the inspiration and background of these musicians, executive producer, and host Ryan Krofcheck conducted in-depth interviews with them after their performances. Through these interviews, we gained an understanding of the musicians' creative processes and the inspiration behind their music. With the help of podcast producer Emily Chen-Newton, we transformed these interviews into a podcast series, providing a more in-depth understanding of these musicians, their stories, and the people that have passed down this music.
The podcast and the videos are available on all major podcast platforms. The podcast features exclusive behind-the-scenes content, candid conversations, and personal anecdotes from the musicians themselves. In contrast, the videos feature raw uncut excerpts from the recorded sessions. The series has received praise for its honest and raw portrayal of the musicians' lives and experiences, offering a unique and personal look into the lives and personalities of these talented artists. Giving listeners with an even greater appreciation for the music and the artists behind it.
The Best of the Opera house story sessions - Coming soon
Starting May 1st, we'll release daily doses of authentic old-time and bluegrass music from the Opera House Story Sessions for 30 days. Featuring captivating stories and songs by local musicians, the Best of Story Sessions is a tribute to the art of storytelling and the magic of music-making. Don't forget to mark your calendars for May 19th when the Best of Story Sessions album will be available on streaming services.
The Story Sessions Videos
Watch the YouTube series to fully understand the song and the narratives it portrays, as told by the artist themselves.
The Story Sessions Podcast
Delve deeper into the inspiration and background of these musicians, their stories, and the people that have passed down this music.
