Upbeat for Thursday 22 December 2011

1:10 PM.At Brewery Ommegang in upstate New York, Robbie Ellis talks to Jason Parrish and Morgan Micucci who are working with the Glimmerglass Festival to design an operatically inspired beer. Audio

1:00 PM.Curator at Wellington City Gallery talks about 'Walking With Taniwha' exhibition by artist Israel Tongaroa Birch. Audio

12:30 PM.British conductor and Director of the Junior Royal Academy of Music in London and featured guest of next month's Akaroa Festival. Audio

12:09 PM.Artistic Planning Manager of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra talks us through 2012 season. Audio