Eric Teel
Program DirectorEric Teel comes to WFAE with more than 30 years of public radio programming experience across a wide variety of formats.
Prior to his arrival in Charlotte, Teel served as program director for Jefferson Public Radio (JPR) in southern Oregon, overseeing a 26-station broadcast network with three unique program offerings — news, classical music and new music discovery. During that time, Teel managed JPR’s award-winning newsroom, contributed stories to NPR, and produced a pair of feature-length broadcast specials carried nationwide. He also helped design and build a pair of broadcast facilities, and participated in the restoration and renovation of a historic performance venue in northern California.
Before his time in Oregon, Teel worked as music director for a public radio station in the Midwest, hosted a live sports call-in program and even dipped a toe into the top-40 music world for a brief time. Teel’s music roots stretch back to childhood, with expertise in everything from classical music to contemporary indie rock. He’s a regular contributor to NPR Music and was the creator and host of a popular podcast called JPR Live Sessions, which featured over 600 live studio performances with musical artists ranging from north African Touareg desert rockers to mezzo-sopranos from the Metropolitan Opera.
When not at work, Teel can be found enjoying live music, exploring the bike trails of North Carolina, or watching his favorite sports teams with his wife and three shelter dogs.
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As a child, Maya Jones saw her father, one of the first Black gastroenterologists in the state, much respected and revered by the community he served. They spoke about what Dr. Jones would most like to see continue as a guiding principle in the field of modern medicine. -
Like many area residents, Dr. Ramu Naggapan and his daughter, Inika, are transplants to the Queen City. The family moved here three years ago when Inika was in middle school, and it's taken some time for her to feel like Charlotte is home. -
"Humpy" Wheeler is a local legend in the motorsports world. The former general manager of the Charlotte Motor Speedway was sometimes called the "P.T. Barnum of NASCAR" for his creative publicity stunts. In this conversation with his daughter Patti — herself a longtime motorsports broadcast executive — Wheeler talks about his early years in Belmont, and a seminal moment in his distinguished career. -
The North Carolina bluegrass musician Earl Scruggs would have turned 100 on Jan. 6. Banjo virtuoso Tony Trischka spoke with WFAE's Eric Teel about Scruggs’ legacy. -
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra today announced Kwamé Ryan as its new music director. Ryan is currently based in Freiburg, Germany, and tours the world as a guest conductor. He’s served in roles similar to his Charlotte appointment in both Freiburg and Bordeaux, France. Ryan, who was born in Canada and raised in Trinidad, says he brings an eclectic perspective to music. -
World-renowned soprano Renée Fleming is the special guest at this year's Charlotte Symphony Orchestra annual gala. In addition to her performance Wednesday with the CSO, Fleming will also don a newer hat — that of arts and health advocate — as she moderates a panel discussion on music, neuroscience and mental health care. -
The album "You've Got To Learn" captures Simone's 1966 Newport Jazz Festival performance, including a previously unrecorded song and a reimagined version of "Mississippi Goddam." -
NPR announced Utah's Little Moon as the winner of its 2023 Tiny Desk Contest on Tuesday. Here at WFAE, we wanted to recognize some of the best Charlotte-area submissions this year — and announce our local favorite! -
From Fantastic Negrito and Tank and the Bangas to last year’s winner Alisa Amador, NPR’s Tiny Desk contest has elevated hundreds of musicians to new heights and connected thousands with new fans. The contest is back. -
Musician Rhiannon Giddens has made a name for herself in the folk music world with a pair of Grammy wins and a MacArthur award, but she's also a classically trained vocalist. She returns to North Carolina this weekend to perform at the Charlotte Symphony Gala.
