
Rhode Island PBS Weekly 8/28/2022
Season 3 Episode 34 | 28m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
A second look at a former combat interpreter’s escape from Afghanistan to Rhode Island.
Rhode Island PBS Weekly revisits the story of Amin Faqiry, an Afghan translator who fled to the Ocean State after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. Then, a second look at a story about a local photographer cataloguing lighthouses up and down the east coast. Finally, an update on Troy Quinn, the Summer Pops conductor with a surprising resume.
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Rhode Island PBS Weekly is a local public television program presented by Rhode Island PBS

Rhode Island PBS Weekly 8/28/2022
Season 3 Episode 34 | 28m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Rhode Island PBS Weekly revisits the story of Amin Faqiry, an Afghan translator who fled to the Ocean State after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. Then, a second look at a story about a local photographer cataloguing lighthouses up and down the east coast. Finally, an update on Troy Quinn, the Summer Pops conductor with a surprising resume.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.
>> THERE IS TALIBAN CHECKPOINTS EVERYONE FLICKR HAVE CLICK INSIDE THE CITY EARLY IN THE MORNING.
IS FIVE, QUARTER SIX IN THE MORNING, HOPEFULLY I'’LL MAKE INSIDE THE AIRPORT TODAY.
>> ON THE WAY GETTING THERE WE SEE A LOT OF TALIBAN.
A LOT OF PEOPLE GOING BACK AND FORTH.
PEOPLE GOING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY HAD GOTTEN A WORTHY DENIES -- WORD THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES HAD EVACUATE PEOPLE.
>> THE DIGITAL WORLD, THE CAMERA ALLOWS US TO OPEN UP -- WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN.
♪ >> GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS REALLY I AM PAMELA WATTS.
>> AUGUST 30 MARKS ONE YEAR SINCE UNITED STATES EVACUATED FROM ACTIVIST AT.
WHEN THE -- AFGHANISTAN.
WHEN THE TELL EVENT CONTROL AND INTERPRETER WAS AMONG THE TENS OF THOUSANDS THAT MADE THE HARROWING JOURNEY OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
>> AMIN FAQIRY CAME TONIGHT STATES DETERMINED TO START OVER IN RHODE ISLAND BECAUSE OF FRIENDSHIPS HE HAD IN THE OCEAN STATE.
HE SAT DOWN LAST JANUARY AND SHARED THEIR DRAMATIC ESCAPE.
>> MY NAME AS I AM FROM AFGHANISTAN -- MY NAME IS AMIN FAQIRY I AM FROM AFGHANISTAN.
I HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED FOR MY LIFE AND MY CHILDREN'’S LIFE.
I WAS WERE THAT THE TALIBAN WOULD HARASS US AND HARM US I WAS SCARED FOR MY LIFE.
I WORK FOR THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IN AFGHANISTAN AS AN INTERPRETER, WORK WITH SOLDIERS, AFGHAN SOLDIERS, UNITED STATES ARMED SOLDIERS.
>> SHOOT THEM.
SHOOT HIM.
ALL RIGHT.
>> TALIBAN FORCES ENTERED THE HEART OF THE AFGHAN CAPITAL COUPLE TODAY -- KABUL TODAY, RETAKING CONTROL ALMOST TWO DECADES THAT THEY WERE OUSTED FOR POWER.
>> THEY ARE OUT IN FULL PORT -- FORCE, THEY TOOK OVER THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE OF THE AFGHAN PRESIDENT FLED THE COUNTRY.
>> THE COUNTRY WENT DOWN, THE GOVERNMENT WAS OVERTHROWN, OVER WHAT HAD THOUSAND AFGHAN SOLDIERS HAD DIED -- OVER 100,000 AFGHAN SOLDIERS HAD DIED.
THE U.S. MILITARY GAVE A LOT OF SACRIFICES.
THEY BUILT THIS COUNTRY.
IN THE LAST 20 YEARS THEY SPENT TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
I BLAME THE POLITICIANS, I BLAME THE PEOPLE IN POWER.
IDLING BLAME PEOPLE IN POWER ALL OVER THE WORLD -- I BLAME PEOPLE IN POWER ALL OVER THE WORLD.
IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR ME TO GET TO RHODE ISLAND.
IT WAS A LONG JOURNEY, IT WAS NOT EASY.
IT WAS A CHAOTIC SITUATION AND A LOT OF UPSETTING MOMENTS IN TIME.
THEY WORK FOR NINE HOURS, JUST MY CASE WITH A SUITCASE MY SIX-YEAR-OLD, FOUR-YEAR-OLD, EIGHT-YEAR-OLD, 10-YEAR-OLD, MY SPOUSE.
>> WE ARE ABOUT TO REACH KABUL, WE HOPE YOU HAVE A SAFE FLIGHT.
>> THE TALIBAN WERE DOMINATING, LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY WERE HERE AND THEY WERE THE GOVERNMENT.
THERE WERE SHOOTING ALL, THEY WERE FIRING, MACHINE GUN FIRES, ARTILLERY FIRES IN THE CITY.
MY BROTHER WAS AT THE AIRPORT AND CALLED ME EARLY IN THE MORNING, SAYING LEAVE YOUR HOUSE, FIND A CAB, LET THE CAP COMPANY QUEUE UP.
-- CALM PICK YOU UP.
>> MY KIDS ARE WITH ME, WE ARE MAKING OUR WAY TO THE AIRPORT.
LET'’S GIVE IT A TRY, THERE ARE SOME GUYS, WITH THE MARINES.
SOME OF MY FRIENDS ARE THERE.
HOPEFULLY THEY WILL GET ME IN.
THERE IS TALIBAN CHECKPOINT EVERYONE CLICK EVERY HALF CLICK EARLY IN THE MORNING.
HOPEFULLY I WILL MAKE IT INSIDE THE AIRPORT TODAY.
>> ON THE WAY GETTING THERE WE SEE A LOT OF TALIBAN PEOPLE GOING BACK AND FORTH.
PEOPLE WERE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, THEY HAD GOTTEN THE WORD THAT THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES WERE EVACUATING PEOPLE.
>> AFGHANS ARE THROWING TO KABUL AIRPORT, DESPERATE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY AT ANY COST.
>> MY KIDS WITNESSED SHOTS FIRED, THEY WITNESSED PEOPLE BEING SHOT OUTSIDE.
IT WAS NOT EASY.
PEOPLE WORK SHOOTING EVERY -- WERE SHOOTING EVERY SECOND.
>> I AM OUTSIDE THE AIRPORT, PEOPLE ARE ON THE RUNWAY ALL AROUND THE PLACE.
THESE BIG AIRPLANES ARE HERE.
SOME MARINES ARE INSIDE THE WIRE.
I AM GOING TO A NEARBY MARINE TO TALK TO HIM LET'’S SEE IF YOU TALKS TO ME.
♪ >> WE GOT ON A C-130 AND IT WAS CROWDED, THE SOLDIERS, THE MARINES WERE DOING A GREAT JOB THEY WERE RESPECTING PEOPLE.
THEY WERE GIVING WATER AND FOOD TO PEOPLE ON THE PLANE.
WE WERE SAD COME WE WERE NOT TALKING TO EACH OTHER, WE WERE JUST THERE.
WHO WOULD WANT TO LEAVE THEIR COUNTRY IN SUCH A CHAOTIC WAY?
♪ ♪ >> WE WERE FEELING FANTASTIC, WE WERE WARMLY WELCOMED, EVERYBODY CAME TO THE AIRPORT FROM THE NEWS.
IT FELT GREAT, IT FELT LIKE WE HAD ARRIVED TO OUR LAST DESTINATION.
SO FAR RHODE ISLAND HAS BEEN AMAZING.
PEOPLE HAVE TREATED ME WITH RESPECT AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SO GENEROUS.
I AM BEING HOSTED BY A VERY GENEROUS AND KIND FAMILY.
THEY HAVE GIVEN ME EVERYTHING.
MY KIDS NEEDS AND EVERYTHING I NEED.
IT HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE.
MY KIDS WERE NERVOUS.
THEY SAID, WILL HAPPEN, WHAT WILL BE THERE?
THEY WERE NOT ALWAYS EXPECTING GOOD THINGS, I SAID THIS WAS UNITED STATES THIS IS A LAND OF THE RATE, PEOPLE LOVE YOU GUYS, THEY ARE HAPPY NOW.
THEY ARE GROWING UP, I SEE THEM GROW UP I SEE THEM COOPERATE WITH PEOPLE.
THEY ARE GETTING TO LEARN ENGLISH, IT HAS BEEN AMAZING FOR THEM.
-- I WORK FOR THE ASSOCIATES, AN OFFICE THAT HELP THE AFGHAN PAROLE THE SET STATUS -- VISA.
STATUS.
.
I AM VERY HAPPY TO BE WORKING WITH MY PEOPLE, GETTING THEIR DOCUMENTS PROCESS, THE DOCUMENTS FOR HUMANITARIAN PAROLE.
SO THEY CAN COME TO SAFETY IN THE UNITED STATES.
I AM ALL ABOUT HELPING THE COMMUNITY, I AM ALL ABOUT BEING A ROLE MODEL TO OTHER PEOPLE.
I -- IN RHODE ISLAND, IN -- NOT JUST FOR RET -- NOT JUST FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES BUT FOR REFUGEES ALL OVER THE WORLD.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND TO OTHER RESETTLEMENT AGENCIES OPERATING IN THE UNITED STATES, HELP THEM EMI PEOPLE, AFGHAN REFUGEES WHO LEFT THE COUNTRY IN A VERY TRAUMATIC WAY.
I WANT TO THINK THE U.S. MILITARY FOR TAKING CARE OF MY PEOPLE.
I AM VERY GRATEFUL AND I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYTHING.
>> HIS WIFE DID NOT APPEAR IN OUR STORY FOR FEARS OF THEIR SAFETY IN AFGHANISTAN, THEY ARE NOW A PROUD OWNER OF A STORE IN PROVIDENCE, ALL PRESCHOOL ILL YOU -- THREE SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN ARE FLUENT IN ENGLISH.
WE NOW TURN TO A STORY ABOUT LIGHTHOUSES, FOR CENTURIES THEY HAVE GUIDED SHIPS IN AND OUT OF pHARBORS MORNING OF SHALLOW WATERS AND ROCKY COASTS.
A PHOTOGRAPHER HAS TURNED HIS CAMERA ON LIGHTHOUSES UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST.
AS WE FIRST REPORTED LAST SEPTEMBER WHILE CATALYST PHOTOS HAVE BEEN TAKEN -- COUNT LIST PHOTOS HAVE BEEN TAKEN DURING THE DAY COMMITTE HE TAKES THE IMAGES LONG AFTER THE SUN HAS GONE DOWN.
>> IF YOU THINK OF A LIGHTHOUSE, IT DOES ITS WORK AT NIGHT, PRIMARILY.
TO NOT HAVE THAT RECORDED IN HISTORY IS A SHAME.
>> DAVID ZAPATKA HAS BEEN RECORDING HISTORY FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES.
HE IS AN AWARD-WINNING VIDEOGRAPHER, HIS BIGGEST PROJECT YET HAS HIM PICKING UP HIS STILL CAMERA.
>> I DID NOT REALIZE THIS WAS A PROJECT UNTIL I WAS 15 OR 20 LIGHTHOUSES AND, THAT IS WHEN I WAS DOING RESEARCH IS ON A HOUSE, RELINED -- THERE WAS NO PICTURES OF THIS LIGHTHOUSE.
>> HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS OF LIGHTHOUSES AND NORTHEAST KINGSTOWN COME IS LONG BEEN MESMERIZED, NOT JUST BY HOW THEY LOOK, BUT BY THEIR HISTORY.
>> THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS WITH THESE GREAT STORIES BEHIND THEM.
>> SINCE 2013 HE HAS PHOTOGRAPHED MORE THAN 175 LIGHTHOUSES IN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING MANY ON THE EASTERN SEABOARD.
>> THE STARS ARE A GOOD THING.
>>'’S GOAL TO CAPTURE EVERY WORKING A HOUSE AROUND THE COUNTRY AT NIGHT.
THE IDEA CAME TO HIM WHILE HE WAS OUT VOTING WITH HIS WIFE.
>> WE ARE ANCHORED OFF OF A CHILD AND THAT I SENT WIFE, WOULDN'’T COOL TO SEE IF I COULD GET SHOTS OF THE DUTCH ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE AT NIGHT?
UNDER THE STARS?
>> HE SAYS IS A PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE BEFORE.
>> WHAT THE DIGITAL CAMERA HAS ALLOWED US TO DO IS TO OPEN UP, TO PHOTOGRAPHERS THIS WHOLE NEW YIELD OF SHOOTING WENDY SON GOES TO -- SHOOTING WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN.
>> THESE OTHER SLICK ONE, NOT TOO BAD THE TIGERS ON THE WAY IN THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT DRY.
>> WHEN YOU CANNOT SEE IN THIS PHOTOS ARE THE GREAT LINKS HE GOES TO IN ORDER TO CAPTURE THESE IMAGES.
>> IS NOT A STRETCH TO SAY YOU ARE PUTTING HER LIFE AT RISK IN SOME OF THESE SHOOTS.
>> EARLY ON I REALIZED IT WAS DANGEROUS AT NIGHT.
>> ALMOST THERE, A LITTLE BIT FURTHER OUT THAN WE GET THE REFLECTION.
THAT IS THE BONUS.
>> HE OFTEN WADES KNEE-DEEP INTO WATER TO TAKE A PHOTO, ON THE NIGHT THAT WE WENT WITH HIM IT WAS THIS ONE, THE NETS POINT LIGHTHOUSE IN MASSACHUSETTS, OTHER LIGHTHOUSES ARE ONLY ACCESSIBLE BY BOAT, TO GET AN IMAGE LIKE THIS HE PUT HIS 20 FOOT TRIPOD IN THE WATER.
>> I CAN LAUNCH IT OFF A BOAT, STICK IT DOWN THE WATER AND GET A SHOT OF THE LIGHTHOUSE FROM THE WATER YOU COULD NOT NORMALLY GET BECAUSE YOUR CAMERA HAS TO BE COMPLETELY STEADY FOR 20 SECONDS DURING A NEW MOON PHASE.
>> ARRIVING AT NIGHT FOR THE LIGHTHOUSES IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART, THEY FOUND IT OUT ON A TRIP TO THATCHER ISLAND TO CAPTURE TWIN LIGHTHOUSES.
>> THEY ARE LIKE RIGHT THERE, THERE THEY ARE, LET'’S KEEP GOING.
WE TIE THE BOAT OFF AT A MOORING AND KNOW WE ARE FACING INTO THE WIND.
WAVES ARE COMING OVER THE BOW OF MY 15 FOOT BOSTON WHALER.
ALL HELL IS BREAKING LOOSE, I MET THE BOW OF THE BOAT GETTING SLAMMED.
I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, SEAN?
WE HAVE TO GO.
HE SAID, DAVE, I AM WITH YOU.
>> NEVER WANT TO GIVE UP HE CAME BACK ANOTHER NIGHT AND CAPTURED THE TWINS.
IN ALL THEIR GLORY.
BEHIND EVERY PHOTO IS A HOST OF SAFETY MEASURES.
FROM A HELMET HEADLAMP TO A PERSONAL SAFETY BEACON.
>> THAT IS SLICK, JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU ARE DONE.
>> EVEN THOUGH HE PUTS HIMSELF IN SOME CURIOUS SITUATIONS, ZAPA TKA SAYS HE IS NOT A RECKLESS WRIST -- RISK TAKER.
>> I AM CREATING THIS HISTORY IN FRONT OF MY EYES NO ONE HAS DONE BEFORE AND IT WILL ALL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE UNITED STATES LIGHTHOUSES SOCIETY.
>> WEATHERS THE FLATS LIGHTHOUSE IN MASSACHUSETTS OR THE ONE IN NANTUCKET, PHOTOGRAPHING A LIGHTHOUSE AND NIGHT REQUIRES MORE THAN A SKILLED PHOTOGRAPHER AND A GOOD CAMERA.
HE TIMES HIS PHOTO SHOOTS AROUND THE OWNER CALENDAR -- LUNAR CALENDAR.
>> YOU NEED A NEW MOON, OR CLOSE TO IT LOW TIDE OR SLACK TIDE, THE TIDE IS STOPPED, AND NO CLOUDS.
>> ANYTHING ELSE?
>> WHAT YOU THINK IT TAKES ME EIGHT YEARS TO DO 175 LIGHTHOUSES?
SOME OF THE CONDITIONS ARE SO SPECIFIC YOU HAVE TO BE PATIENT TO GET THAT SHOT.
>> WHEN IT COMES TO PATIENTS HE HAS PLENTY OF IT.
>> WHEN I FIRST STARTED, I WAS SELF TEACHING MYSELF NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY.
I KNEW THERE WAS A THING CALLED LIGHT PAINTING, USE A FLASHLIGHT.
YOU SHOW UP AND IT IS DARK AT NIGHT YOU CAN LIGHT A LIGHTHOUSE BY USING A FLASHLIGHT AND WAVING A BACK-AND-FORTH.
I DID THAT ORIGINALLY.
>> HE HAD SHOT A DOZEN LIGHTHOUSES WHEN HE REALIZED HE COULD ALSO USE HIS THAT ARE REPOWERED TELEVISION LIGHT -- BATTERY-POWERED TELEVISION LIGHTS.
>> I USE THEM DIM DOWN TO ALMOST NOTHING, OVER THE SENSITIVITY OF LONG EXPOSURE THAT CREATED WITHIN THE CAMERA'’S, THAT LIGHT GOES A LONG WAY.
>> YOUR EYES ARE NOT DECEIVING YOU, STILL DO NOT EXPECT THE STARRY SKY TO LOOK QUITE LIKE THIS IN PERSON.
>> THE CAMERA SEES MORE THAN OUR EYES CAN SEE.
WHEN YOU ARE SITTING THERE LOOKING AT BEAVER TAIL LIGHTHOUSE IN THE MAIL THE NIGHT THE MILKY WAY IS THERE AND YOU CAN BARELY SEE IT WITH YOUR EYES , BUT THE CAMERA CAN SEE IT BETTER THAN YOU CAN OVER A LONG EXPOSURE.
>> HIS PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION WAS PUBLISHED IN HIS FIRST BOOK 2017, STARS AND LIGHTS, DARKEST OF DARK NIGHTS, LAST YEAR HE RELEASED A SEQUEL, PORCHES FROM THE DARK, THE PROJECT HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY THE UNITED STATES LIGHTHOUSE SOCIETY AND WILL LIVE IN THEIR ARCHIVES.
>> YOU ARE HOPING TO TAKE THIS RV TO MICHIGAN, FLORIDA, OHIO, ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
>> FARTHER AND FARTHER AWAY.
>> HE HAS DRIVEN UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST IN THIS RV PHOTOGRAPHING LIGHTHOUSES, BUT HE SAYS THE EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE WITH RISING TIDES PRESENT A REAL AND PRESENT DANGER.
>> THE WORK YOU ARE DOING IS A RACE AGAINST TIME.
>> TOTALLY ON MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE LEVELS OF THE GREAT LAKES, LAST YEAR WERE HIGHER THAN THEY HAD EVER BEEN.
DOWN AGAIN THIS YEAR, IF IT GETS HIGHER AGAIN, THERE ARE SEVERAL LIGHTHOUSES THAT ARE THREATENED BECAUSE THE FOUNDATIONS WILL START RUMBLING.
-- CRUMPLING.
POTENTIALLY THEY WILL FALL INTO THE LAKE.
>> IS THAT SENSE OF URGENCY THAT HE APPROACHES HIS WORK.
>> TO ME, THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE SO I GUESS I AM THE PERSON.
>> TO DATE HE HAS PHOTOGRAPHED MORE THAN 190 LIGHTHOUSES.
HE RECENTLY PHOTOGRAPHED A LIGHTHOUSE OFF OF STATEN ISLAND.
>> FINALLY TONIGHT WE REVISIT A YOUNG MAESTRO TICKING OF THE BATON ONCE AGAIN THIS SEASON FOR THE SUMMER POPS, TROY QUINN AS A CONDUCTOR WITH A SURPRISING RESUME.
MEET THE MUSIC MAN WITH RHODE ISLAND ROOTS.
♪ ♪ >> THE FIRST TIME EVER HEARD THE RHODE ISLAND PHILHARMONIC I WAS 18 OR 17 YEARS OLD I WAS -- THAT WAS THE FIRST ORCHESTRA I HAD HEARD LIVE IT WAS A VISCERAL FORCE.
IT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION AND I REALLY HAD ASPIRATIONS TO BE A CONDUCTOR FROM THAT MOMENT ON.
SAYING YOU WOULD BE GREAT TO COME BACK HERE ONE DAY AND CONDUCT.
>> THAT INSPIRATION -- MOMENT HAS TAKEN TROY CAN -- TROY QUINN FULL-CIRCLE.
THE CONNECTICUT NATIVE IS THIS YEAR'’S CONDUCTOR OF THE RHODE ISLAND SUMMERS POPS, HE IS LEADING SOME OF THE PROFESSORS THAT WERE ONCE HIS USE OF TEACHERS.
IN THIS MAJOR ROLE REVERSAL IS A DELICATE BALANCE OF BATON TO EARN THEIR RESPECT.
>> I AM NOT TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO OR ABOVE THEM, CERTAINLY WE HAVE TO HAVE ONE OPINION OR ELSE WE WOULD HAVE 80 DISSENTING OPINIONS AND HOW THINGS SHOULD GO, MY PHILOSOPHY HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO BE ENERGETIC -- ENERGETIC AND LET THE MUSIC SPEAK THROUGH ME.
THE ONLY WAY I CAN DO THAT IS FOR OTHER FOLKS TO BE INSPIRED ENOUGH TO PLAY THEIR BEST.
I DO NOT MAKE A SOUND THE CONDUCTOR DOES NOT MAKE A SOUND.
LESS LIKE A TRAFFIC COP AND MORE LIKE, HOPEFULLY A MUSICAL SPIRITUAL GURU WHERE WE ARE LEADING EVERYBODY TO THE END RESULT AND HOPEFULLY PEOPLE COME ON BOARD WITH THAT.
♪ >> IT IS A PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO BE WITH THESE GREAT DECISIONS I LOOKED UP TO MY WHOLE CAREER, THAT IS SPECIAL FOR ME TO THEN BE MAKING MUSIC WITH THEM.
>> EQUAL AND IRONIC, HIS PATH TO THE PODIUM WAS ANYTHING TYPICAL.
>> YOU KNOW IT IS A VERY FUNNY STORY.
I DID NOT EVEN READ MUSIC UNTIL I GOT TO COLLEGE, PRETTY LATE BY MOST STANDARDS.
>> REALLY?
>> I DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE NOTES WHERE I AND LEARNED BY ROTE AND EAR.
>> YOU DID NOT PLAN INSTRUMENT.
>> DID NOT.
>> HE WAS ABLE TO TAP INTO OTHER TALENTS.
>> WAS THAT I HAD A LOT OF GROUND TO MAKE UP, AND YOU HAD THE EAR, MENTALITY, MIND, THESE HUMBLE GIFTS, I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO USE THEM YET, THAT IS WHERE THESE MENTORS AND TEACHERS DEVELOPED MY CAREER, AND I HAVE THE DRIVE TO DO IT.
TO ME IT IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE AIR WE BREATHE.
IT IS NOT A JOB IT IS A VOCATION.
>> AS A STUDENT HE MAJORED IN VOCALS AND MINDED IN THEATER, HE LEARNED TO PLAY PIANO ALONG THE WAY EVENTUALLY EARNING A DOCTORATE IN CONDUCTING.
♪ >> ANOTHER UNUSUAL PIECE OF HIS QUEST TO BECOME A CONDUCTOR.
HE HAS A NUMBER OF STAGE AND SCREEN CREDITS TO HIS NAME, THE POPS RENDITION OF HOLLYWOOD MOVIE THEMES IS A WINK TO HIS CAREER.
>> IS IT TRUE YOU WERE THE STAND AND FOR THE ACTOR SHIA LABEOUF AND INDIANA JONES MOVIE?
>> THAT IS A TRUE RIVER -- RUMOR.
HAS NOTHING DO WITH MUSIC, THAT WAS A FIVE MINUTES OF MY HOLLYWOOD FAME.
I HAD A CHANCE TO WORK FOR A MINUTE WITH HARRISON FORD ON A MOTORCYCLE AFTER THIS CRASH IS SEEN ON THE MOVIE.
HE WAS SO INTENSE I REMEMBER, WHEN WE WERE DOING THIS SCENE OR A MINUTE, WHEN SPIELBERG WAS YELLING ACTION AND HARRISON WENT INTO CHARACTER, HE WAS SO INTENSE I COULD ALMOST NOT LOOK AT HIM.
HE IS WHERE I WOULD SAY WHAT I TRY TO EPITOMIZE WHEN I AM IN TH CONCERT HALL.
>> ZONE?
>> EXACTLY.
IT WAS A LITTLE BIT INTIMIDATING , BUT FUN NONETHELESS.
>> AND OTHER FUN YET SURREAL MOMENT QUINN SAYS WAS PERFORMING ON TOUR WITH THE ROLLING STONES.
>> HAD TO BE A RUSH.
>> IT REALLY WAS, HE HEADED THAT SHE HAD THE IDEA OF WHAT IT BE LIKE TO BE A ROCKSTAR OF PEOPLE THROWING THINGS ON STAGE.
IS A DIFFERENT THING THAT I EMBRACE IT IS DEGRADING ABOUT MUSIC, IS LIKE STRAVINSKY SAID, I NEVER UNDERSTOOD A BAR OF MUSIC IN MY LIFE, BUT I SURE DID DEAL IT -- FEEL IT.
♪ >> AND THAT THEORY IS LEADING A MOVEMENT TO HELP DRAW YOUNGER AUDIENCES TO THE SYMPATHY BY LENDING CLASSICAL WITH A COMMERCIAL POP SOUND.
>> WE DO WHAT I WOULD CALL THE COURAGE TO PUT OUT THE HYBRID PROGRAMS.
CERTAINLY IN MY OTHER ORCHESTRAS ALONG WITH THE PHILHARMONIC, WHEN THE INITIATIVES IS TO REACH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
IF THAT IS THROUGH A JOHN WILLIAMS SCORE, GREAT.
IS THAT THAT IS THROUGH DENNY ALTMAN, LADY GAGA, MAYBE THEY WILL HEAR SOMETHING MORE CLASSICAL ON THE PROGRAM.
IT IS EXPOSURE TO MUSIC.
EVERYBODY LOVES CLASSICAL MUSIC, THEY DO NOT KNOW YET.
THAT CERTAINLY WAS A CASE OF MYSELF.
I GREW UP LISTENING TO FILM SCORES AND POPULAR MUSIC OF THE DAY.
BARBRA STREISAND, FRANK SINATRA, ALL THESE FOLKS, THAT WAS A GATEWAY INTO BEETHOVEN, BACH, MOZART THESE ARE THE REAL MASTERS.
>> HE ADMITS HE DOES GET PUSHBACK FROM CLASSICAL MUSIC PURISTS WHO PREFER A TRADITIONAL PROGRAM.
>> ALL THE TIME, BUT I WILL TELL YOU IT IS A MINORITY.
MY PROGRAMMING IS FAIRLY CONTROVERSIAL, BECAUSE WE ARE BLENDING MULTIPLE GENRES.
WE ARE NOW TRYING TO REACH THE MOST AMOUNT OF FOLKS WE CAN.
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON, PAMELA, FOR DECADES.
♪ >> BERNSTEIN DID THIS WITH HIS YOUNG PEOPLES CONCERTS.
HERE BREAK THE CORDS OF A BEATLES TUNE AND RELATE THAT THE -- THAT'’S TWO STRAVINSKY.
THE WAY WE APPROACH IT HAS CHANGED, NOT ACTUAL CONTENT, WE BLEND GENRES AND REACH A LOT OF PEOPLE.
NOW WE ARE DOING IT TO THE MUSIC OF THE DAY.
♪ PAMELA: AT THE END OF THE DAY QUINN WELCOMES OPPORTUNITIES TO PERFORM ON POPULAR TV SHOWS.
HE HAS PER FEAR -- SHOWN UP ON THE VOICE, GLEE, BUT HIS FAVORITE ROLE IS THE CLASSICAL CONDUCTOR, LEAVING THE OWENSBORO SYMPATHY IN CONDUCTING IN KENTUCKY AND THE VENICE SIMCITY -- SYMPHONY IN FLORIDA.
>> THAT IS MY DRUG, I DO NOT HAVE TOO VICES, THAT IS WHERE LOVE AND WHAT KEEPS ME COMING BACK TO MUSIC.
>> YOU CAN ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT.
PAMELA: YOU CAN SEE THE NEXT RHODE ISLAND PHILHARMONIC POPS COMFORT -- CONCERT ON OCTOBER 17, THAT IS -- FOR JOINING US.
>> WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.
UNTIL THEN YOU CAN VISIT US pONLINE TO SEE THE STORIES, PAST EPISODES -- RIPBS.ORG/WEEKLY OR LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST ON YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.
THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.
[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.
VISIT NCICAP.ORG]
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S3 Ep34 | 9m 9s | A former combat interpreter talks about his escape from Afghanistan to Rhode Island. (9m 9s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S3 Ep34 | 8m 10s | Local photographer David Zapatka captures lighthouses in a way that's never been done. (8m 10s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S3 Ep34 | 8m 52s | Meet the Music Man: Summer Pops Conductor Troy Quinn - a PC grad with Hollywood style. (8m 52s)
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