WVXU’s ‘Around Cincinnati’ features CCM Professor Michael Chertock in its final broadcast
Anne Arenstein's "bucket list" interview shares stories and memories from Chertock's career
For 15 years, Cincinnati public radio station 91.7 WVXU has highlighted the local arts scene in its “Around Cincinnati” broadcast, produced and hosted by Lee Hay on Sunday evenings. Throughout this time, the radio program has welcomed countless guests from UC College-Conservatory of Music including faculty, alumni and students.
Michael Chertock.
Around Cincinnati aired its final broadcast on Sunday, August 23. The program included John Kiesewetter’s interview with the owners of Augusta’s Rosemary Clooney House, Rick Pender’s interview with Playhouse in the Park actor Bruce Cromer, Brian O’Donnell’s interview with musicians Over the Rhine, and Anne Arenstein’s “bucket list” interview with CCM Piano Department Chair and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra pianist Michael Chertock.
Chertock shares memories and stories about his education and career, including how he first came to Cincinnati. When he was a senior in high school, Chertock met CCM’s former Piano Department Chair Frank Weinstock at the Eastern Music Festival. Weinstock, who later served as CCM’s associate dean and interim dean, told Chertock all about Cincinnati and convinced him to audition for CCM.
“I visited on an audition as a senior in high school and immediately loved the conservatory and the city and have pretty much lived here since the mid 1980s and have always enjoyed it,” Chertock told Arenstein. “Just the beauty of the town itself and what an important place that music seems to hold in the life of the city.”
Chertock earned bachelor and master of music degrees in piano from CCM. Shortly after graduating, he began working as a pianist at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and he worked on a series of recordings of piano music. He has traveled the across the U.S. and internationally performing with the Philadelphia Orchestra, l'Orchestre Symphonique du Montreal, Toronto Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony, Chattanooga Symphony, Utah Symphony, Oregon Symphony and more. In addition to playing piano at the CSO and teaching at CCM, Chertock is also the conductor of the Blue Ash Montgomery Symphony Orchestra.
CSO pianist and CCM Professor Michael Chertock with CSO principal cello and CCM Professor Ilya Finkelshteyn performing during the streamed Music Hall performance.
Although the pandemic cancelled performances and moved many classes online, Chertock now has a bit more time to focus on new projects. When classes moved online in the spring, Chertock helped collect and deliver donated pianos and keyboards for CCM students. He also participated in the CSO’s grand return to Music Hall, a virtual performance initially streamed online on May 16. Chertock also worked on music for a Mass on the feast of St. Francis for Franciscan Priest Murray Bodo and he is planning a new podcast on Brahms and a book on piano repertoire.
Listen to Chertock's full “Around Cincinnati” interview on WVXU.
From everyone at CCM, thank you to WVXU, Lee Hay and the entire “Around Cincinnati” team for your work educating audiences and sharing stories about the Queen City’s vibrant arts scene.
More "Around Cincinnati" broadcasts that feature the CCM community
- The story of the C.B. Fisk Organ at Christ Church Cathedral, including an interview with CCM Professor of Organ and Harpsichord Michael Unger
- Life in the pandemic with musician Ric Hordinski, CCM Professor in General Studies (Commercial Music)
- A local musical collaboration featuring the Queen City Opera, including an interview with Isaac Selya (DMA Orchestral Conducting, ’14)
- The Renaissance of the East Walnut Hills Neighborhood, including an interview with Caffe Vivace owner and CCM alumnus Brent Gallaher (BM, ’94)
- He’s the man behind “Charge” at Great American Ball Park, including an interview with CCM alumnus John Schutte (Music Theory, ATT ’84-’87)
- UC CCM students take on Bruce Norris’ Play “Clybourne Park,” including an interview with CCM Acting Professor Richard Hess
You can find additional “Around Cincinnati” broadcasts on WVXU’s website.
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