Once a month (specific dates to be announced each month) on a Sunday from noon until 2pm, Detroit Cellist and Music Educator Cecelia Sharpe plays a mix of her favorite classical music. She invites you to join her for a musical journey.
Cecelia’s Story
Ms. Cecelia Sharpe, a graduate of Wayne State University, has been teaching and advocating for youth and the arts for 15 years. In addition to her role as a cellist, educator and advocate for youth and the arts, Ms. Sharpe has a passion for radio. Since 2014 she has been sharing her voice on 90.9 WRCJ. Cecelia serves as a guest host for the station and produces her program “Live with C#” as well as the “In Concert with the Wu Family Academy Showcase” program. On “Live with C#”, Cecelia highlights a well-rounded and diverse variety of Classical (and sometimes Jazz) music, artists, composers, conductors, and ensembles. “In Concert with the Wu Family Academy Showcase” features performances from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s top tier youth training ensembles: the Detroit Youth Wind Symphony, the Detroit Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the Civic Jazz Orchestra. The average age of the talented musicians on stage is only 16 years old! As a radio host, C. Sharpe (C#) aims to make Classical music relevant to her Listener. She enjoys researching music and finding out interesting facts to connect the Listener to the music. Cecelia seeks to engage her Listener in many ways, whether it’s by interviewing guests, on social media, or in person at various events!
Ms. Sharpe would not be on the air, if it were not for two very special people. Cecelia is humbly honored to have been trained by two of the best men in radio, Dr. Dave Wagner and the late Chris Felcyn. During the time that Cecelia served as Manager of Education Programs for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, she advocated for the support of WRCJ during their annual Pledge Drives. It was at this time that Dave and Chris noticed her potential for radio. Chris and Dave nurtured and fostered the growth of Cecelia as a newcomer to radio and encouraged her to find her “own voice”. She is grateful that they both chose to share their wisdom, skill, talent, and time with her. Dr. Dave and Chris will forever be C. Sharpe’s “Godfathers of Radio.” Cecelia continues to learn from and be inspired by ALL of the incredible men and women in the WRCJ Family. Since joining the WRCJ Team, Ms. Sharpe’s love for radio has opened doors to new opportunities including performing as narrator with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and serving as host for the Pro Musica Detroit Live virtual concert series. C. Sharpe is proud to be a part of the WRCJ Team and is most appreciative to the Dear Listener.
Factoids about C. Sharpe
Must Haves While on the Air: Hot Tea, a Stack of Discs, and Lip Gloss.
When C. Sharpe is not on the air, she is in the air! Ms. Sharpe has incorporated her love for travel and people into a career as a flight attendant.
Ms. Sharpe is an absolute foodie, always trying something new.
Cecelia taught orchestra for about two weeks at a summer camp in Jacmel, Haiti. While teaching, Ms. Sharpe became the student and learned a lot from her young “teachers”.
Ms. Sharpe is attempting to learn how to roller-skate. Don’t worry, she wears knee pads!
Ms. Sharpe has performed in Zaragoza, Spain, St. Etienne, France, and at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York.
Cecelia had the honor of presenting the “Art of Resilience” Award to one of her beloved mentors, Mr. Marcus Belgrave. That same summer Cecelia was the recipient of the “I Am Resilient” Award. Both awards were given by the Star Commonwealth Organization.
Big Goal: Positively impact the world through her voice, arts education, music, and service to others.
April 18, 2021 Playlist – Theme: Celebrating Detroit Jazz and the 50th Anniversary of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Youth Orchestra and Jazz Appreciation
1. La Forza del Destino- Overture
Giuseppe Verdi
Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra
Charles Burke, conductor
Recorded Live at Orchestra Hall
2. Symphony No. 5 Andante Cantabile, con Alcuna Licenza
Piotr Tchaikovsky
Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra
Charles Burke, conductor
Recorded Live at Orchestra Hall
3. Tristesse E Major Etude
Frederic Chopin
Hot Club of Detroit
Album: It’s About That Time
4. One O’Clock Jump
Count Basie
arr. Richard Maltby
Civic Jazz Band
Diego Rivera, conductor
Recorded Live in the Music Box
5. Cottontail
Duke Ellington
Civic Jazz Orchestra
Rodney Whitaker, conductor
Recorded Live in the Music Box
6. Lottie the Body’s Mood
Marcus Belgrave
Marcus Belgrave, trumpet
Marion Hayden, bass
Gayelynn McKinney, drums
Bill Meyer, piano
Vincent Bowens, flute
Album: Detroit Jazz City
7. Theme from “Now, Voyager” (arranged for violin and orchestra by John Williams)
Max Steiner
Boston Pops Orchestra
John Williams, conductor
Itzhak Perlman, violin
8. Conjure Man
Harold McKinney
arr. Gayelynn McKinney
Gayelynn McKinney, drums
Marcus Belgrave, trumpet
Wendell Harrison, tenor saxophone
Edward Gooch, trombone
Glenn Tucker, piano
Ralphe Armstrong, bass
Album: McKinFolk- The New Beginning
9. Strength In Numbers
Kris Johnson
Kris Johnson Big Band
10. Peter Kobia
Kamau Kenyatta
arr. Kris Johnson
Kris Johnson Big Band
11. Stormy Weather
Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler
Itzhak Perlman, violin
Oscar Peterson, piano
Herb Ellis, guitar
Ray Brown, bass
Grady Tate, drums
Album: Side
March Playlist – Theme: Women’s History Month
1. Mink Schmink
Sid Cutner and Leo Shuken
Eartha Kitt
Album: Eartha Kitt: The RCA Recordings 1953-1958
2. Oh Lady, Be Good
George and Ira Gershwin
Regina Carter, violin
Rodney Jones, guitar
Werner “Vana” Gierig, piano
Peter Washington, bass
Lewis Nash, drums
Album: Rhythms of the Heart
3. Pequena Czarda
Pedro Iturralde
arr. John Harle
Jess Gillam, soprano saxophone
Tippett Quartet
4. Symphony No. 4 in d Minor- I. Tempo Moderato
Florence Price
Fort Smith Symphony
John Jeter, conductor
5. Dreaming for Piano from Four Sketches Op. 15
Amy Beach
Anna Shelest, piano
6. Babar the Elephant (excerpt)
Francis Poulenc
Jean Françaix, orchestrator
Jean de Brunhoff, text
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
JoAnn Falletta, conductor
Meryl Streep, narrator
7. Ride of the Valkyries
Richard Wagner
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
JoAnn Falletta, conductor
8. Yes Lord
Theodore “Teddy” Harris, Jr.
Album: Hastings St. Jazz Experience
9. Suite Bergamasque- III. Claire De Lune
Claude Debussy
Ann Hobson Pilot, harp
10. So Many Angels
Gwyneth Walker
The Achievers Ladies Ensemble
Connie Malabed, director
11. Allegro Appassionato in B Minor
Camille Saint-Saens
Bournemouth Sinfonietta
Jean-François Monnard, conductor
Maria Kliegel, cello
12. Lil’ Darlin’
Neal Hefti
Dorothy Ashby, harp
Herman Wright, bass
John Tooley- drums
