WYPR Events

Profs and Pints Baltimore presents: “Forensic Flaws,” a critical look at how criminal investigations can go wrong, with Dr. Jeff Kukucka, professor of psychology at Towson University and consultant to crime labs, law offices, and government agencies.

Although forensic science often plays a crucial role in solving crimes, it isn’t nearly as foolproof as television shows make it seem. In fact, mistakes by forensic scientists have contributed to over 1,000 wrongful convictions in the United States, with the result often being that innocent people get sent to prison while the real perpetrators remain free to victimize others.

Why do these mistakes happen? The simple answer is that forensic scientists are humans prone to the same flaws in their thinking as the rest of us.

Gain an in-depth understanding of how this happens with Professor Jeff Kukucka, a psychologist whose work sheds light on the human element of forensic science and seeks to optimize how crime labs function and minimize the risk of costly mistakes, including wrongful convictions.

Using familiar and interactive examples, Dr. Kukucka will explain how our brains automatically simplify or even distort information in ways that are helpful in our everyday lives—enabling us to navigate the world safely and efficiently—but problematic when it comes to criminal investigations.

He’ll discuss how unreliable “junk science” finds its way into courtrooms, how unconscious bias can lead one medical examiner to judge a death as an accident while another judges the very same death as a murder, and why even experts sometimes miss important information that’s right in front of them.

He’ll also describe his experiences testifying in court and working with government agencies to improve forensic science practices, and he’ll talk about why some crime labs have embraced reforms while others still resist them.

Whether you’re going to jury duty or simply listening to the latest true crime podcast, Dr. Kukucka’s talk will surely change the way you think about forensic science. (Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Doors open at 5. The talk begins at 6:30.)

Image from Canva.

Profs and Pints Baltimore presents: “The Single Lesson,” on myths and misconceptions about singlehood and research and advocacy efforts focused on the unmarried, with Craig Wynne, a professor of English at the University of the District of Columbia and pioneer in the growing field of Singles Studies.

All around us are messages that being “coupled up” is the norm. Shows like The Bachelor, 90-Day Fiancé, and Indian Matchmaking have people rooting and fawning for marriage. J.D. Vance has derided cat-owning single women as a demographic that threatens the fabric of the nation.

Yet, despite its supposed unpopularity, the rate of singlehood is increasing. By 2030, the Pew Research Center has projected, 25 percent of 45- to 54-year-old adults in the United States will never marry.

What’s the real picture when it comes to singles? Is a growing share of the population missing out on marital bliss, or are single people on to something?

Hear such questions tackled by Professor Craig Wynne, co-editor of Singular Selves: An Introduction to Singles Studies and author of How to be a Happy Bachelor.

Dr. Wynne will discuss how stereotypes of singlehood are perpetuated in the media and influence laws, policies, and our daily social interactions in ways that harm not just single people but those who are married, cohabitating, or in a relationship.

His talk will tackle the concepts of “singlism,” the stereotyping and stigma around people who are not married or otherwise unpartnered; “matrimania,” over-the-top societal obsession with marriage and weddings; and “amatonormativity,” the assumption that a romantic relationship must be prioritized above all other kinds.

Finally, Dr. Wynne will discuss the emergence of Singles Studies—a field devoted to granting singlehood validity in an academic context—and look at recent advocacy intended to secure single people equity in a world that still privileges being married or coupled. (Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Doors open at 5. The talk begins at 6:30.)

Image by Canva.

Profs and Pints Baltimore presents: “Exploring Castles,” a crash course on the design, construction, and use of the castles of medieval Europe, with Victoria McAlister, assistant professor of Digital Environmental Humanities at Towson University, scholar of medieval buildings, and author of the award-winning book The Irish Tower House: Society, Economy, and Environment c.1300-1650.

Think of Europe in the Middle Ages and huge stone castles come to mind. It’s understandable given how prominently such structures factor into depictions of that time in popular culture. Such a mental image, however, obscures a tremendous amount of variation in castle design and construction, much of it lost to history due to the ravages of time.

You don’t need a time machine and royal lineage to get to know such buildings as they existed in their era. Instead, just come to Baltimore’s Guilford Hall to hear them discussed in depth by Victoria McAlister, a scholar who uses modern technologies such as drones and 3D scanners to virtually reconstruct medieval structures and recently wrote and presented the Great Courses lecture series The Great Castles of Europe.

You’ll learn about a whole range of castle types built throughout Europe between the 11th and the 17th centuries. Not all were made of stone—in fact, many of the castles built by William the Conqueror were constructed with earth and timber. Much of the popular discussion of castle types and architecture obscures complexity and how much the design and appearance of castles featured personal touches.

We’ll pay a visit to the homes of some of the Middle Ages’ most fascinating people. They include Castle Roche in Ireland where, legend has it, Roesia de Verdun threw her architect from a window so he couldn’t build another castle as impressive as hers. In nearby Wales the impressive Caernarfon and Beaumaris castles were built by King Edward I of England with the subjugation of an entire population in mind.

Working from the outside in, Professor McAlister will familiarize you with castles’ architectural features, using as her example the French castle Chateau Gaillard built by Richard the Lionheart. By the end of the talk you’ll know mottes from tower houses, portcullises from posterns, and be equipped with knowledge that will deepen your appreciation of the castles that you might encounter in Europe or on the screen. (Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Talk begins at 4:30. Attendees may arrive any time after 3 pm.)

Image: Beaumaris Castle in Wales. Photo by Tom Parnell / Wikimedia Commons.

Liz Miller's performance art is a gathering, experienced at a site of interest. The sound art guides us through grounding ourselves, then gently walks us through the history of the site. The spectators are asked to connect to their own beliefs, spirit guides, ancestors as we set intentions in order to manifest equity on site. No religion guides these ceremonies except for what each spectator brings to it within their own hearts and minds. Our presence together ignites the space as a space for change. We carry the light from that initial event with us from that place to continue the work as living amends out in the world. Won’t you tune in to the cleansing and blessing of Market Center from the rooftop of Maryland Art Place?

St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore invites you to join us Monday, October 28th from 11am-1:30pm at Good Harvest Community Kitchen for our on-site hiring event. The HR team will be conducting interviews, so please apply before you arrive, and bring your resume, covid vaccination card, and identification!

Join the McDaniel Women’s Leadership Network for a reception and interactive presentation designed to help you build and harness the power of your personal and professional network.



The McDaniel Women's Leadership Network is designed to support young women at McDaniel while growing our own personal and professional networks. Connect with McDaniel Women's Leadership Network members as well as special guests from Frederick, Maryland-based Woman to Woman Mentoring. Then learn tips for how to build and leverage your own network.



Beer, wine, and heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served. We are delighted to feature a signature drink from woman-owned Tenth Ward Distilling in Frederick.

An die Musik Live is excited to present a new monthly series featuring Charlie Reichert Powell and New River!

New River weaves, molds objects, plants gardens. The trio's sound and approach is born from Charlie's love for structuring improvisation, puzzles, repetition, and the outdoors, and is nestled somewhere between John Coltrane, Tom Waits, and Ryoji Ikeda. Their debut album releases in late 2024.

Charlie Reichert Powell - guitar/compositions
Aidan Taylor - bass
Koleby Royston - drums

Raised in Chicago, Charlie Reichert Powell is currently based in Baltimore, where he leads his own group, New River, but his wide breadth of influences and skill sets allow him to chameleon to any artistic situation he is in: he has played guitar and bass for artists from Brandon Woody to Wic Whitney to Warren Wolf, in settings from fully composed to fully improvised; has composed for dance, multimedia/installation works, big band, sinfonietta; and produced extensively both under his solo alias Zephire and for singer/songwriter Ellie Banke. A graduate from Peabody Institute, he studied jazz guitar with Matthew Stevens and Marvin Sewell.

Aidan Taylor is a nineteen-year-old musician from West Palm Beach, Florida. Currently, he is a junior at Peabody Institute, where he is studying bass with Kris Funn. Aidan is a five-time Downbeat Magazine Student Music Award winner, a 2020 and 2021 YoungArts Winner for Jazz Bass, and a Jazz Band of America alumnus.

Koleby Royston is a twenty-year-old drummer from Denver, Colorado. Royston has had the chance to work alongside notable musicians including Sean Jones, Matthew Stevens, Allison Miller, Mark Whitfield Jr., Tia Fuller, Mimi Jones, Josh Evans, Julius Tolentino, and others. Royston now attends the Peabody Institute

In-person seats: $20/ $10 students
Attendees receive a link to the recording to view for one week.

Streaming passes: $15
The link will remain active for one week after the show.

Donations welcome!

An die Musik Live is excited to present a new monthly series featuring Charlie Reichert Powell and New River!

New River weaves, molds objects, plants gardens. The trio's sound and approach is born from Charlie's love for structuring improvisation, puzzles, repetition, and the outdoors, and is nestled somewhere between John Coltrane, Tom Waits, and Ryoji Ikeda. Their debut album releases in late 2024.

Charlie Reichert Powell - guitar/compositions
Aidan Taylor - bass
Koleby Royston - drums

Raised in Chicago, Charlie Reichert Powell is currently based in Baltimore, where he leads his own group, New River, but his wide breadth of influences and skill sets allow him to chameleon to any artistic situation he is in: he has played guitar and bass for artists from Brandon Woody to Wic Whitney to Warren Wolf, in settings from fully composed to fully improvised; has composed for dance, multimedia/installation works, big band, sinfonietta; and produced extensively both under his solo alias Zephire and for singer/songwriter Ellie Banke. A graduate from Peabody Institute, he studied jazz guitar with Matthew Stevens and Marvin Sewell.

Aidan Taylor is a nineteen-year-old musician from West Palm Beach, Florida. Currently, he is a junior at Peabody Institute, where he is studying bass with Kris Funn. Aidan is a five-time Downbeat Magazine Student Music Award winner, a 2020 and 2021 YoungArts Winner for Jazz Bass, and a Jazz Band of America alumnus.

Koleby Royston is a twenty-year-old drummer from Denver, Colorado. Royston has had the chance to work alongside notable musicians including Sean Jones, Matthew Stevens, Allison Miller, Mark Whitfield Jr., Tia Fuller, Mimi Jones, Josh Evans, Julius Tolentino, and others. Royston now attends the Peabody Institute

In-person seats: $20/ $10 students
Attendees receive a link to the recording to view for one week.

Streaming passes: $15
The link will remain active for one week after the show.

Donations welcome!

Join Craig Alston and Friends at An die Musik Live for Back to Basics: Getting back the classic jazz quintet sound!

Craig Alston, sax
Theljon Allen, trumpet
Allyn Johnson, piano
Blake Meister, bass
Eric Kennedy, drums

Craig Alston is a multi-instrumentalist from Baltimore who is best known as the saxophonist for Fertile Ground. Craig began performing with Fertile Ground while attending Morgan State University. As the band became more successful, Craig chose to leave college and pursue his passion. Fertile Ground’s sound was influenced by Sade, Fela Kuti, Miles Davis Quintet and Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. As a member of Fertile Ground, Craig has traveled to the United Kingdom (UK), Japan, Belgium, France, Croatia, Austria, and elsewhere sharing it’s unique blend of jazz, soul and world music. The broad exposure has allowed him to learn and grow from the various musicians and styles that he has encountered.

He also performs as an independent artist, playing saxophone, bass or keyboard. As a saxophonist, Craig has played with jazz legends Larry Willis, David Murray, Oliver Lake, John Hicks and Jimmy Heath. He has performed with artists from various musical genres such as Brian Culbertson, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, The Soulful Symphony and Drew Davidsen. He recently won the Chick-Webb Jazz Combo competition.

In-person seats: $25 / $10 students
Attendees receive a link to the recording to view for one week.

Streaming passes: is $15
The link will remain active through Nov 6

Donations welcome!

Join the Warren Wolf Quintet for an evening of Jazz at An die Musik Live featuring Trombonist Andre Hayward!

Warren Wolf, drums
Obasi Okoto, bass
Alex Brown, piano
Andre Hayward, trombone
Tedd Baker, tenor sax

Warren Wolf is a multi-instrumentalist from Baltimore From the age of three, Warren has been trained on the vibraphone/marimba, drums and piano under the guidance of his father Warren Wolf Sr. After graduating from Baltimore School for the Arts in 1997, Warren attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston. There he studied with Caribbean jazz vibraphonist Dave Samuels and vibist Ed Saindon. Warren has performed with a who's who of the musical world, and currently with SFJAZZ Collective, Christian McBride & "Inside Straight". He has several recordings as a leader and recently signed to the Mack Ave recording label. Warren is on faculty at Peabody Conservatory and San Francisco Conservatory. www.warrenwolf.com

Andre Hayward is an extremely gifted trombonist with the sound and clarity reminiscent of the late J.J. Johnson. His gospel-tinged approach is refreshing and will warm the hearts of anyone he comes in contact with. He is by no means a purist and can function in a wide range of musical settings. Born in Houston, Texas in 1973, Hayward's first exposure to the world of music was through his parents, Melvin and Barbara Hayward where musical talent exists on both sides. Hayward began playing trombone and tuba at the age of 11 under the tutelage of Leon Schreiber and 2 years later with Bob Odneal who was lead trumpeter for Maynard Ferguson. Hayward continued playing through high school where he attended the High School for Performing and Visual Arts under the direction of notable jazz educator Robert "Doc" Morgan. He continued to hone his skills with Houston's legendary educator Conrad O. Johnson. It was Conrad's instruction, and the opportunity to work in his big band "The Big Blue Sound," where he really started to gain experience working in an ensemble.

He landed his first engagement with trumpeter Roy Hargrove for a European tour after being heard at a jam session during a festival while playing with the Texas Southern University Jazz Ensemble. After Hargrove, Hayward performed and recorded with singer/bandleader Betty Carter for five years in her acclaimed "Jazz Ahead"program. Other acclaimed performers include Joe Williams, Slide Hampton, John Lewis, Mingus Dynasty Big Band, Gerald Wilson, Kirk Whalum, Jimmy Heath, The Duke Ellington Orchestra and Illinois Jacquet's Big Band.

In-person seats: $25 / $10 students
Attendees receive a link to the recording to view for one week.

Streaming passes: $15
The link will remain active through Nov 5

Donations welcome!