Lifelong Learning

This summer, join us every other Wednesday from June through September for Musicfest at the Movies, where music takes center stage on the big screen!  This year’s series features an inspiring selection of music documentaries—spotlighting iconic artists, unforgettable performances, and the stories that shaped the soundtrack of our lives. After each film, stick around for a relaxed, engaging discussion where we’ll share insights, reactions, and reflections on what we’ve just seen.  Whether you're a lifelong music lover or simply curious, this is your chance to experience the magic of music and movies—together. Popcorn and soda provided! Few figures in music are as influential—or as multifaceted—as Quincy Jones. This intimate documentary, co-directed by his daughter Rashida Jones, offers a behind-the-scenes look at his decades-spanning career as a composer, producer, arranger, and trailblazer. From Ray Charles to Michael Jackson, Quincy’s story is a masterclass in creativity, resilience, and the power of connection.

Join us for a gathering of music lovers every other Wednesday morning from June through September, hosted by Josh Condon, AZMF’s Resident Artist. Each session blends music history, analysis, active listening, and engaging discussion, all designed to deepen your appreciation and enjoyment of great music. Whether you're a seasoned aficionado or simply curious, come enjoy coffee, community, and some of the greatest music ever composed. Part love song, part nostalgic reverie, “Georgia on My Mind” blends blues, jazz, and soul into one unforgettable tune. Though originally written in the 1930s, it was Ray Charles’ heartfelt rendition that turned it into a national treasure—and eventually, the official state song of Georgia. In this session, we’ll trace the song’s evolution, explore its deep emotional pull, and listen closely to what makes it a masterclass in musical storytelling.

This summer, join us every other Wednesday from June through September for Musicfest at the Movies, where music takes center stage on the big screen!  This year’s series features an inspiring selection of music documentaries—spotlighting iconic artists, unforgettable performances, and the stories that shaped the soundtrack of our lives. After each film, stick around for a relaxed, engaging discussion where we’ll share insights, reactions, and reflections on what we’ve just seen.  Whether you're a lifelong music lover or simply curious, this is your chance to experience the magic of music and movies—together. Popcorn and soda provided! One night. Dozens of music legends. One unforgettable song. This spirited documentary takes us inside the whirlwind recording of “We Are the World” in 1985, revealing how egos, emotions, and extraordinary talent collided to create a global anthem. Packed with humor, heart, and history, it’s a joyful reminder of what can happen when artists come together for something bigger than themselves.

Get ready to smile, chuckle, and maybe even belly-laugh in this joyful session celebrating music’s lighter side! From clever parodies to comedic classics, we’ll explore the songs that tickle your funny bone and keep you humming long after the punchline. Participants are encouraged to submit their favorite humorous tunes—whether they’re laugh-out-loud novelty songs, witty lyrical gems, or beloved comedy staples. Together, we’ll listen, analyze what makes them work, and enjoy a morning full of laughter, learning, and musical mischief.

Listen Up: Seminars on Music is a weekly gathering of music lovers every Wednesday morning, hosted by AZMF’s Resident Artist, Josh Condon.  Each session combines music history, analysis, active listening, and discussion, designed to enhance your listening experience and overall music appreciation.  Listen Up covers all genres, emphasizing our common humanity across all musical styles!  Coffee and refreshments provided. Relive the magic of the movies through the songs that made them unforgettable. This engaging seminar takes a nostalgic journey through Hollywood’s most cherished musical moments—from the golden age of musicals to heartfelt ballads and unforgettable show tunes. Featuring film clips and a celebration of the singers, composers, and musical styles that defined each era, we’ll honor the melodies that shaped generations and continue to stir the heart. Perfect for music lovers and movie buffs alike, this seminar is a joyful tribute to the golden melodies of the silver screen.  

Listen Up: Seminars on Music is a weekly gathering of music lovers every Wednesday morning, hosted by AZMF’s Resident Artist, Josh Condon.  Each session combines music history, analysis, active listening, and discussion, designed to enhance your listening experience and overall music appreciation.  Listen Up covers all genres, emphasizing our common humanity across all musical styles!  Coffee and refreshments provided. Relive the magic of the movies through the songs that made them unforgettable. This engaging seminar takes a nostalgic journey through Hollywood’s most cherished musical moments—from the golden age of musicals to heartfelt ballads and unforgettable show tunes. Featuring film clips and a celebration of the singers, composers, and musical styles that defined each era, we’ll honor the melodies that shaped generations and continue to stir the heart. Perfect for music lovers and movie buffs alike, this seminar is a joyful tribute to the golden melodies of the silver screen.  

Join Chapman Stick musician and author Michael Kollwitz for an inspiring (and sometimes funny) presentation that blends live music, personal stories, and lessons on resilience. As one of the first students of Emmett Chapman, inventor of the Chapman Stick®, Michael’s journey from novice to master of this unique instrument is as unexpected as it is inspiring. His book, Stick With It – Adventures of a Chapman Stick Player, captures the passion, perseverance, and quirky moments along the way. Through heartfelt music and humorous anecdotes, Michael demonstrates that it’s never too late to try something new, follow your passions, or embrace the unexpected. This program will leave you feeling uplifted and ready to tackle your next adventure—whatever that may be.

Listen Up: Seminars on Music is a weekly gathering of music lovers every Wednesday morning, hosted by AZMF’s Resident Artist, Josh Condon.  Each session combines music history, analysis, active listening, and discussion, designed to enhance your listening experience and overall music appreciation.  Listen Up covers all genres, emphasizing our common humanity across all musical styles!  Coffee and refreshments provided.  

Step behind the curtain and explore the fascinating mechanics of opera—from the creators to the backstage artists who bring each production to life. This presentation also traces the rich origins of the art form, from Monteverdi’s groundbreaking early operas to culminating in the brilliance of Mozart, whose works helped define the Classical era. Discover how opera evolved into a powerful fusion of music, theater, and emotion.

Listen Up: Seminars on Music is a weekly gathering of music lovers every Wednesday morning, hosted by AZMF’s Resident Artist, Josh Condon.  Each session combines music history, analysis, active listening, and discussion, designed to enhance your listening experience and overall music appreciation.  Listen Up covers all genres, emphasizing our common humanity across all musical styles!  Coffee and refreshments provided.  

Journey through opera’s evolution from the elegant vocal acrobatics of Bel Canto to the raw passion of Verismo, the epic soundscapes of Wagner, and the bold innovations of the 20th century. This presentation explores how opera transformed from virtuosic showcase to dramatic powerhouse—where every note tells a deeper story.

Experience opera’s greatest voices in this captivating presentation on legendary singers throughout history. From Pavarotti’s effortless high Cs to Price’s regal power, we’ll explore the artists who defined the decades and set new standards for vocal excellence. Featuring iconic video recordings of unforgettable arias, this presentation showcases the virtuosic technique and charismatic appeal that made these performers immortal.

Listen Up: Seminars on Music is a weekly gathering of music lovers every Wednesday morning, hosted by AZMF’s Resident Artist, Josh Condon.  Each session combines music history, analysis, active listening, and discussion, designed to enhance your listening experience and overall music appreciation.  Listen Up covers all genres, emphasizing our common humanity across all musical styles!  Coffee and refreshments provided.  

Explore the fascinating origins of musical theater in this engaging presentation that traces its evolution from the grandeur of opera to the lively mix of entertainment genres that shaped its identity. Learn how musical theater emerged as a uniquely American art form, blending high art and popular entertainment into a dynamic genre that speaks to both heart and humor.

Listen Up: Seminars on Music is a weekly gathering of music lovers every Wednesday morning, hosted by AZMF’s Resident Artist, Josh Condon.  Each session combines music history, analysis, active listening, and discussion, designed to enhance your listening experience and overall music appreciation.  Listen Up covers all genres, emphasizing our common humanity across all musical styles!  Coffee and refreshments provided.  

The Golden Age of Musical Theater revolutionized the stage with the rise of the book musical, where songs, dialogue, and dance worked together to tell a unified story. Shows like Oklahoma! and West Side Story set new standards for storytelling and character depth. This era also introduced belting, a powerful vocal style that brought emotional intensity to performances, especially in leading female roles, shaping the sound of modern musicals.

Listen Up: Seminars on Music is a weekly gathering of music lovers every Wednesday morning, hosted by AZMF’s Resident Artist, Josh Condon.  Each session combines music history, analysis, active listening, and discussion, designed to enhance your listening experience and overall music appreciation.  Listen Up covers all genres, emphasizing our common humanity across all musical styles!  Coffee and refreshments provided.  

Listen Up: Seminars on Music is a weekly gathering of music lovers every Wednesday morning, hosted by AZMF’s Resident Artist, Josh Condon.  Each session combines music history, analysis, active listening, and discussion, designed to enhance your listening experience and overall music appreciation.  Listen Up covers all genres, emphasizing our common humanity across all musical styles!  Coffee and refreshments provided.  

This presentation explores the evolution of musical theater from the 1960s to today, beginning with the rise of concept musicals and the influence of visionary auteur directors. It traces the emergence of mega-musicals in the 1980s, known for their spectacle and international reach, and highlights how contemporary productions like Hamilton continue to push boundaries with fresh storytelling, diverse voices, and innovative staging.

Listen Up: Seminars on Music is a weekly gathering of music lovers every Wednesday morning, hosted by AZMF’s Resident Artist, Josh Condon.  Each session combines music history, analysis, active listening, and discussion, designed to enhance your listening experience and overall music appreciation.  Listen Up covers all genres, emphasizing our common humanity across all musical styles!  Coffee and refreshments provided.  

Join acclaimed performer and educator Toby Yatso for a dynamic public masterclass featuring musical theatre students from Arizona State University. With an engaging style and deep industry insight, Yatso works one-on-one with emerging artists, offering vocal and interpretive coaching in real time. Audiences will enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the craft of musical theatre performance—watching as songs are shaped, characters are refined, and storytelling comes to life. Whether you’re a performer, student, or theatre enthusiast, this interactive session offers inspiration and education in equal measure.

Listen Up: Seminars on Music is a weekly gathering of music lovers every Wednesday morning, hosted by AZMF’s Resident Artist, Josh Condon.  Each session combines music history, analysis, active listening, and discussion, designed to enhance your listening experience and overall music appreciation.  Listen Up covers all genres, emphasizing our common humanity across all musical styles!  Coffee and refreshments provided.  

Listen Up: Seminars on Music is a weekly gathering of music lovers every Wednesday morning, hosted by AZMF’s Resident Artist, Josh Condon.  Each session combines music history, analysis, active listening, and discussion, designed to enhance your listening experience and overall music appreciation.  Listen Up covers all genres, emphasizing our common humanity across all musical styles!  Coffee and refreshments provided.  

This presentation by Dr. Wendy Balconi will focus on the music of Argentine tango as both the foundation and inspiration for the dance. The music truly is the magic elixir of the dance itself, and music will take center stage in our presentation. We will highlight the work of legendary Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla whose revolutionary tango compositions helped shape the genre. We will explore the role of the bandoneón, the expressive, melancholy instrument that is synonymous with tango music. In addition, we’ll explore the cultural and historical roots of tango, including how social conditions and diverse musical traditions came together to shape its evolution. This presentation will also emphasize how the improvisational nature of tango dancing and co-created experiences, rooted deeply through interpreting the music, supports: Cognitive flexibility and neuroplasticity Body awareness, balance, and functional mobility Emotional resilience and adaptability across the lifespan To further enhance the program, live Argentine tango music will be performed by guitarist Marc Adams, offering attendees a dynamic and engaging musical experience. This presentation offers a rich interdisciplinary experience, blending music appreciation, cultural history, and wellness in aging—all within the spirit of lifelong learning and community-building.

Listen Up: Seminars on Music is a weekly gathering of music lovers every Wednesday morning, hosted by AZMF’s Resident Artist, Josh Condon.  Each session combines music history, analysis, active listening, and discussion, designed to enhance your listening experience and overall music appreciation.  Listen Up covers all genres, emphasizing our common humanity across all musical styles!  Coffee and refreshments provided.  

Listen Up: Seminars on Music is a weekly gathering of music lovers every Wednesday morning, hosted by AZMF’s Resident Artist, Josh Condon.  Each session combines music history, analysis, active listening, and discussion, designed to enhance your listening experience and overall music appreciation.  Listen Up covers all genres, emphasizing our common humanity across all musical styles!  Coffee and refreshments provided.  

Doug Bradley played basketball with the Miracles, shared a joint with Grace Slick, and held Dionne Warwick’s hand when he told her Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated. He watched his Doo-Wop singing brother and World War II veteran father battle over the birth of rock and roll, brought the music of Stax and Motown to a small college in the West Virginia hills, and soaked in the sounds of CCR, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix as an Army journalist in the “air-conditioned jungle” in Vietnam. In his latest book, The Tracks of My Years: A Music-Based Memoir, the acclaimed co-author of Rolling Stone’s 2015 music book-of-the-year, We Gotta Get Out of This Place: The Soundtrack of Vietnam War, tells the story of a life lived with, and in, music. The Tracks of My Years is for anyone who grew up in post-World War II America, and for their children and grandchildren trying to look beyond the haze of myths surrounding Baby Boomers. It opens windows into the echoes of the heart.

Listen Up: Seminars on Music is a weekly gathering of music lovers every Wednesday morning, hosted by AZMF’s Resident Artist, Josh Condon.  Each session combines music history, analysis, active listening, and discussion, designed to enhance your listening experience and overall music appreciation.  Listen Up covers all genres, emphasizing our common humanity across all musical styles!  Coffee and refreshments provided.  

Listen Up: Seminars on Music is a weekly gathering of music lovers every Wednesday morning, hosted by AZMF’s Resident Artist, Josh Condon.  Each session combines music history, analysis, active listening, and discussion, designed to enhance your listening experience and overall music appreciation.  Listen Up covers all genres, emphasizing our common humanity across all musical styles!  Coffee and refreshments provided. Space has long captured the imagination of the general public, and of course, composers as well. Despite not being able to hear music in space, it hasn't stopped composers from trying to create something that evidently sounds...like space! Much of what we hear today in popular culture originated with the 1914-1917 composition The Planets by English composer Gustav Holst - an orchestral suite based on the astrological gods whom the planets were named after. But who influenced Holst? How does a composer decide what sounds "space-like"? How does the music illustrate these astrological figures?

Listen Up: Seminars on Music is a weekly gathering of music lovers every Wednesday morning, hosted by AZMF’s Resident Artist, Josh Condon.  Each session combines music history, analysis, active listening, and discussion, designed to enhance your listening experience and overall music appreciation.  Listen Up covers all genres, emphasizing our common humanity across all musical styles!  Coffee and refreshments provided. Space has long captured the imagination of the general public, and of course, composers as well. Despite not being able to hear music in space, it hasn't stopped composers from trying to create something that evidently sounds...like space! Much of what we hear today in popular culture originated with the 1914-1917 composition The Planets by English composer Gustav Holst - an orchestral suite based on the astrological gods whom the planets were named after. But who influenced Holst? How does a composer decide what sounds "space-like"? How does the music illustrate these astrological figures?

Steve Bergsman Presents Fabulous Female Singers of the Fifties is a one-and-half-hour, multi-media presentation that combines my discussion of the songs and singers of the 1950s with on-screen visuals and, of course, audios of the great tunes of the 1950s. The show is based on two books I wrote: All I Want Is Lovin You (about the White female singers of the era) and What A Difference A Day Makes (about the Black female singers of the era). The show moves chronologically. With the death of Connie Francis, I’ve updated the program to talk about her contributions. So, it begins with songs like Teresa Brewer’s Music! Music! Music! and Patti Page’s Tennessee Waltz from 1950 and ends with Connie Francis’s Where the Boys Are, which is actually from the 1960s.

This four-week series will delve into the music of America and how it shaped and was part of shaping the country’s identity as it matured from its infancy to today. We’ll first look at what America inherited musically from the European roots of its Colonists and how the people and the land they encountered, once they arrived, altered or added to their musical language. How did their various approaches to religious life inform the music used in their rituals and ceremonies? One huge aspect that contributed to American music was its deep roots in specific regions of the country, and we’ll examine those contributions. We’ll ask, “Is there an American sound, and if so, what might that be?” Audio, video, and visual art examples will help illustrate this journey, exploring the creation of popular music, jazz, country, American concert music, music for the theatre, rock and roll, and the contemporary sounds of today.

This four-week series will delve into the music of America and how it shaped and was part of shaping the country’s identity as it matured from its infancy to today. We’ll first look at what America inherited musically from the European roots of its Colonists and how the people and the land they encountered, once they arrived, altered or added to their musical language. How did their various approaches to religious life inform the music used in their rituals and ceremonies? One huge aspect that contributed to American music was its deep roots in specific regions of the country, and we’ll examine those contributions. We’ll ask, “Is there an American sound, and if so, what might that be?” Audio, video, and visual art examples will help illustrate this journey, exploring the creation of popular music, jazz, country, American concert music, music for the theatre, rock and roll, and the contemporary sounds of today.

This four-week series will delve into the music of America and how it shaped and was part of shaping the country’s identity as it matured from its infancy to today. We’ll first look at what America inherited musically from the European roots of its Colonists and how the people and the land they encountered, once they arrived, altered or added to their musical language. How did their various approaches to religious life inform the music used in their rituals and ceremonies? One huge aspect that contributed to American music was its deep roots in specific regions of the country, and we’ll examine those contributions. We’ll ask, “Is there an American sound, and if so, what might that be?” Audio, video, and visual art examples will help illustrate this journey, exploring the creation of popular music, jazz, country, American concert music, music for the theatre, rock and roll, and the contemporary sounds of today.

This four-week series will delve into the music of America and how it shaped and was part of shaping the country’s identity as it matured from its infancy to today. We’ll first look at what America inherited musically from the European roots of its Colonists and how the people and the land they encountered, once they arrived, altered or added to their musical language. How did their various approaches to religious life inform the music used in their rituals and ceremonies? One huge aspect that contributed to American music was its deep roots in specific regions of the country, and we’ll examine those contributions. We’ll ask, “Is there an American sound, and if so, what might that be?” Audio, video, and visual art examples will help illustrate this journey, exploring the creation of popular music, jazz, country, American concert music, music for the theatre, rock and roll, and the contemporary sounds of today.