NEWS

Free Range Brewing, Steinway Carolinas, Tosco Music, WDAV Classical Public Radio, and Bach Charlotte announce:

STEINWAY AT FREE RANGE BREWING

May 22 - 31, 2026
Celebrating Handcrafted Excellence:
10 Days of Music and Community
Free Range Brewing
2320 N Davidson Suite D
Charlotte, North Carolina 28205

There’s nothing like music to bring good folks together! Local cultural institutions Free Range Brewing, Steinway Carolinas, Tosco Music, WDAV Classical Public Radio, and Bach Charlotte are proud to announce Steinway at Free Range Brewing - a unique collaboration celebrating the Charlotte area’s expansive musical landscape - coming later this spring.

For ten days in May, a Steinway grand piano graciously provided by Steinway Carolinas will be in residence at Free Range Brewing. There it will be the centerpiece of a dynamic, diverse series of free concerts and events presented by the five partner organizations (full schedule available below).

Please Note: All Steinway at Free Range Brewing events are accessible free of charge, but some require pre-registration! Please read event descriptions carefully when making plans to attend.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

(More Events To Be Announced Soon!)

Friday, May 22
Opening Night Hang | 7-9 p.m.
You’re invited to drop by for a casual hang-out with the residency partners as we kick off ten days of music and camaraderie! Free Range beverages and (delicious) food will be available for purchase on site - why not stay for dinner?

 Saturday, May 23
Beatles Night presented by Tosco Music | 7 p.m.
Join Tosco Music for a night that celebrates the timeless music of The Beatles while building excitement for FabFest–Charlotte’s Beatles Festival! Audiences can expect an energetic, feel-good evening that captures the spirit of FabFest and invites everyone to sing along.

Sunday, May 24
Live Music Sunday: Mike Strauss Band presented by Free Range Brewing | 3-5 p.m.
Free Range Brewing presents Free Live Tunes every Sunday featuring some of Charlotte's best local talent! On May 24, enjoy the Mike Strauss Band, a versatile Americana group and well-known staple of the Charlotte area music scene.

Tuesday, May 26
Tuesday Trivia LIVE! ft. Ethan Uslan presented by WDAV | 7 p.m. | Registration Encouraged
Get your game face on for a night of classical music-themed pub trivia emceed by WDAV hosts Phil Vavra and Frank Dominguez. Ragtime pianist Ethan Uslan joins in for a special round of Name That Tune and lots more musical fun.
Teams and individuals are welcome! Pre-registration is encouraged.

Wednesday, May 27
Bach & Brahms: From Counterpoint to Power presented by Bach Charlotte* | 3 p.m.
With cellist Guy Fishman and pianist Esther Jeehae Ahn
From the crystalline architecture of Bach to the sweeping emotional force of Brahms, this program traces a direct musical lineage across centuries. Intimate and revelatory, it offers a rare chance to hear how Baroque clarity blossoms into Romantic depth, culminating in Brahms’s towering Cello Sonata in E minor.

Thursday, May 28
Small Batch Concert Series: Phillip Bush presented by WDAV Classical Public Radio** | 7 p.m. | Tickets Required
Acclaimed as "a pianist of poetry, elegance, and power," Phillip Bush closes WDAV’s 2025-2026 Small Batch season with an eclectic and vibrant program featuring works by Frederic Chopin, Phillip Glass, Duke Ellington, and more.Tickets are required for this free event! Though some walk-ups may be admitted, space is limited, and pre-registration is strongly recommended. The available $20 ticket option includes a souvenir Small Batch glass and a delicious Free Range beverage.

Saturday, May 30
Virtuosity Unleashed: A Piano Extravaganza presented by Bach Charlotte* | 3 p.m.
With pianists Esther Jeehae Ahn and Nicholas Susi
Dazzling, electrifying, and irresistibly fun, this program showcases the full brilliance of the piano - from sparkling Baroque and Classical showpieces to the exhilarating spectacle of four hands at one keyboard. A high-octane celebration of virtuosity at its most thrilling.

Sunday, May 31
Live Music Sunday presented by Free Range Brewing | 3-5 p.m.
Free Range Brewing presents Free Live Tunes every Sunday featuring some of Charlotte's best local talent! The featured artist for May 31 will be announced soon.
*Bach Charlotte events are also presented as part of the 2026 Charlotte Bach Festival (May 28 - June 7).
**WDAV’s Small Batch Concert Series is made possible, in part, by a Project Support Grant received through the City of Charlotte's Creative Growth Grant program. WDAV also thanks Small Batch sponsors Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates and Via Health Partners for their support.

MEET THE PARTNERS

Free Range Brewing
Free Range Brewing is a family-run business that believes it is important to foster creativity while building a strong community foundation. We strive to create unique and diverse beverages that are heavily inspired by regionally and seasonally sourced ingredients in an effort to showcase the possibilities that partnerships and resources within our community provide.

"Cultivating creativity is at the core of everything we do at Free Range. It shapes not only how we brew our beer, but how we show up for and engage with the community around us. Collaborating with WDAV has always been a natural fit because we share a belief that the arts have the power to bring people together, spark curiosity, and create meaningful, lasting connections. We’re especially excited about this partnership with Steinway, Tosco Music, and Bach Charlotte, organizations that each play a vital role in enriching our local cultural landscape. By coming together, we’re able to create something larger than any one of us could do alone. We are able to create a space where music, creativity, and community intersect in a truly special way."

- Sarah Alexander, Operations Manager, Free Range Brewing

Steinway Carolinas
Steinway Piano Gallery-Charlotte is owned and operated by Mark and Katherine Love. The Love family is dedicated to providing the finest new and pre-owned pianos in all price ranges. Steinway Carolinas is an active partner with many local arts and cultural organizations and is committed to joining like-minded individuals, institutions, and organizations in supporting active music participation.

"Supporting live music throughout our community is of significant importance for Katherine and me. Partnering with our good friends at WDAV, Free Range Brewing, and Tosco Music to build this wonderful residency was simply an easy decision for Steinway Carolinas."
- Mark Love, CEO, Steinway Carolinas

 Tosco Music
John Tosco has been presenting Tosco Music Parties in Charlotte for more than 35 years. Tosco Music became a nonprofit organization in 1999 and has continued to serve musicians of all ages and genres. Tosco Music brings people together through music, provides access to the arts for underserved communities, and supports artists with access to spaces to create and perform.

Queen City Nerve Music Critics named Tosco Music Charlotte’s Best Music Organization in their 7th annual Best of the Nest Issue (2025). “Think of it as the musical equivalent of walking into Ben & Jerry’s and saying: 'I’d like a spoonful of everything, please.'" - CREATIVE LOAFING

“We’re thrilled to partner with Steinway Carolinas, WDAV, Free Range Brewing, and Bach Charlotte for a night that celebrates the timeless music of The Beatles while building excitement for FabFest–Charlotte’s Beatles Festival. This collaboration brings together great music, community, and creativity in a way that feels uniquely Charlotte. Audiences can expect an energetic, feel-good evening that captures the spirit of FabFest and invites everyone to sing along.”
- John Tosco, Executive Director, Tosco Music

 WDAV Classical Public Radio
WDAV Classical Public Radio enriches lives and builds community through inclusive and diverse classical music experiences and excellent, accessible content. In addition to producing 149 hours per week for its own broadcast use on 89.9FM, HD-1, HD-2, and wdav.org channels, the station produces nationally distributed programs, including Concierto, NoteWorthy, and Reel Music.

A service of Davidson College in Davidson, NC, the station's 89.9FM signal reaches a 22-county region centered in the Charlotte, NC metro area and ranges from Rock Hill, SC to Galax, VA. WDAV’s broadcasts can also be heard live online 24 hours a day at wdav.org and the WDAV Classical Public Radio app, or the TuneIn, NPR Music, or Public Radio Player apps.

“Amplifying the presence of the arts in the region we serve is essential to WDAV’s mission, and opportunities like this piano residency are lightning in a bottle! Throughout the year, we are privileged to partner with numerous local organizations whose work we admire, but taking part in a project of this scope with so many of our good friends is a rare treat. We can’t wait to spend time with you at our first-ever live Tuesday Trivia event and a tremendous Small Batch season closer with pianist Phillip Bush.”
- Mary Lathem, Marketing Director, WDAV Classical Public Radio

 Bach Charlotte
Founded in 2017, Bach Charlotte has quickly emerged as one of the Southeast’s most compelling classical music organizations, bringing together exceptional instrumentalists and vocalists from across North America to present vibrant, deeply engaging performances centered on the music and enduring influence of Johann Sebastian Bach.

With a focus on Baroque and early repertoire, our nationally recognized artists perform with both technical virtuosity and interpretive imagination, connecting Charlotte-area audiences to this music in ways that feel immediate and alive. At the heart of our work are two annual festivals—the Charlotte Bach Festival, returning May 28 to June 7, 2026, and WinterFest, January 21–24, 2027—which together anchor a growing year-round presence in the community. Through these performances and related educational initiatives, Bach Charlotte connects people through exceptional live music, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of Bach’s artistry and his lasting cultural legacy.

“At Bach Charlotte, we believe the power of this music lies not only in its history, but in its ability to speak vividly in the present. This piano residency is a beautiful reflection of that vision, and we are honored to collaborate with WDAV and our partners to bring these performances to life.”
- Garrett Murphy, Executive Director, Bach Charlotte

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