On Saturday, September 28th at 7:30 p.m., the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra (SBSO) continues its 90th Season with Music Reframed: Pictures at an Exhibition at the historic Temple Theatre in downtown Saginaw. This ambitious program pairs one of the most celebrated orchestral works of all time with bold contemporary compositions performed by their creators.

The evening culminates in Modest Mussorgsky’s iconic Pictures at an Exhibition, a vivid and dramatic orchestral masterpiece that has captivated audiences for more than a century. Featured guest artist Kebra-Seyoun Charles will perform their concerto Nightlife, following its recent world premiere at Carnegie Hall with the American Composers Orchestra. The concert will also feature the Michigan premiere of Trance, an original composition by SBSO Music Director Fouad Fakhouri. The single-movement work recreates the driving momentum and “beat drop” characteristics of EDM, building from bold heroic gestures to percussive propulsion led by tambourine and taiko drum, before culminating in powerful brass and rhythmic accents across the orchestra. Rooted in Fakhouri’s personal memories of youthful summers spent immersed in trance music, the piece channels joy, energy, and celebration.

Fouad Fakhouri joins us in this episode of Sidewalk Talks to chat about the concert, being a conductor, the power of conflict and collaboration in both life and in music, and more.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Concert Details

00:27 Maestro Travel Story

01:35 Why This Program Works

02:32 Pictures at an Exhibition Explained

04:53 Projected Art and Community Focus

06:20 Keeping Classical Music Alive

09:27 Ravel Orchestration Choices

11:45 Conducting Mindset and Audience Energy

15:20 Reframing the Score from the Piano Original

18:39 Introducing Nightlife Double Bass Feature

20:28 Nightlife Journey Concerto

21:40 Meeting Kera and Saginaw Fit

22:38 Double Bass in Treble

23:06 Composer Soloist Dynamic

25:21 Creative Tension and Conflict

27:27 Socratic Disagreement and Growth

29:48 Trance Origins and Rave Days

31:45 Detroit Techno Roots

33:44 Orchestrating EDM Energy

36:09 Live Music Syncs Us

40:22 Tickets and Final Thanks

In his first-ever podcast appearance, MLive journalist Justin Engel talks about his history and work in local journalism. The conversation centers on defining journalism and discusses misinformation, clickbait, and AI-generated content, and argues for news literacy and reading beyond headlines and comment sections. Justin and Phil emphasize the value of strong local media in the Great Lakes Bay Region, explain why journalism isn’t free and needs subscriptions to survive, and describe how reporting broadened Justin’s perspective by exposing him to different communities across the county. They close with advice to young aspiring journalists to follow the calling, adapt to changing formats, and keep learning—even when it means stepping outside comfort zones.

00:00 First Podcast EVER
00:36 Movie Podcasts & First Theater Memory
01:57 Why Star Wars Hit So Hard
03:24 Favorite Films: Aliens, Almost Famous & the Power of a Great Scene
04:51 Zodiac and Why Journalism Matters in the Real World
06:21 Becoming a Journalist: Early Writing, High School Paper & Grandma’s Tip
10:37 College to Career: Delta, SVSU, and Joining The Saginaw News
13:05 What Is Journalism? Verification, Sources, and Getting It Right
16:23 Context vs. Social Media Narratives
19:58 Scanner Traffic, Clickbait, and How Misinformation Spreads
22:56 AI-Generated News & Clickbait: Why It Looks Real
23:36 News Literacy 101: Verifying Sources in the AI Era
24:57 Why Local Journalism Still Matters (and What Reporters Actually Do)
30:03 Support Local News: Paywalls, Sharing vs. Stealing, and Sustainability
34:38 How Reporting Changes You: Seeing Your Community Through Others’ Eyes
38:12 Story Advocate Mindset: Curiosity, Craft, and Saginaw’s Storytelling Legacy
42:33 Advice for Future Journalists: Follow the Calling & Learn the Business Side
45:21 New Formats, On-Scene Video, and Final Thanks

From Saginaw to living to an RV and back again! In this episode of Sidewalk Talks, Jessica Shepherd discusses her background in broadcasting and journalism, selling most of her belongings to travel full-time in an RV for about two and a half years, and work-camping around the country. She talks about life on the road and why she and her partner, Mark, chose to return home to Saginaw.

00:00 Mic Check & Meet Jessica Shepherd
01:05 Writing Love Letters to Saginaw
03:13 How She Got Into Journalism: WSGW, MLive & Mentors
06:02 Why She Left Saginaw: Career Moves to Grand Rapids & Kalamazoo
07:38 Selling Everything to Live in an RV: Downsizing & Marie Kondo Mode
09:11 How Van Life Became Real: Travel, Belonging & Not Feeling at Home
12:04 Workamping Adventures: Campgrounds, Christmas Trees & National Parks
14:36 Favorite Stops & Big Nature: Grand Tetons, Grand Canyon & Photography
18:11 When the Adventure Felt Like Limbo: Disorientation, Work Challenges & Choosing Saginaw
27:48 Choosing Your Good and Bad: The ‘Grass Is Greener’ Reality
28:44 Saginaw’s Energy: The ‘Something in the Dirt and Water’ Feeling
29:59 Genuine Friendliness & Community Grit (No Pretending)
33:21 Why They Moved Back: Home, Real Estate, and the RV Transition
35:16 One Last Hurrah: Beet Harvest Work-Camping After Buying the House
36:38 Coming Home Hits Different: Love Letters, Old Town, and What’s New
39:20 Get Out and Experience Saginaw: Food, Volunteering, and Finding Your People
43:00 Stop Waiting to Be ‘Served’ a Community: Social Media vs Showing Up
44:53 Quick-Fire RV Life Q&A: Tanks, Shells, Snacks, and Road Trip Anthems
51:17 Final Advice: RV Life Won’t Fix You—Run Toward Something + Welcome Back