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A Musical Life with Hugh Sung

Pianist Hugh Sung shares stories about making music and what moves our souls. Featuring interviews with musicians from a wide variety of genres, including Classical, Folk, Rock, Jazz, and beyond. Visit http://amusicallife.com for all episodes and show notes. New episodes coming every Monday.
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Oct 3, 2016
Jason Heath, host of Contrabass Conversations

Jason Heath is a freelance double bass player who started his Contrabass Conversations podcast way back in 2007, nearly 10 years ago. Now with well over a million downloads, Jason’s incredibly popular podcast is the Internet’s most comprehensive resource on all people and topics related to life and music around the double bass.

This month, we’re going to be exploring the world of music podcasters and entrepreneurs, starting with Jason Heath, who has I believe the longest running classical music podcast show around, nearly 10 years running, with over 250 episodes and well over a million and a half downloads at the time of this broadcast. An interesting historical sidenote: former MTV VJ Adam Curry is credited with being one of the initial pioneers of podcasting, and launched what many believe to be the first podcast show produced on a regular basis, Daily Source Code, back in 2004. Podcasts are essentially “radio shows” that you can listen to either directly on a web page or on a smartphone or MP3 player. The beauty of podcasts is the fact that anyone can produce and distribute their own shows. This can be an inexpensive, yet powerful way to get your name out, reach a worldwide audience, and connect with the movers and shakers of whatever musical niche you’re passionate about. For Jason Heath, podcasting has been a way for him to do all of those things and more, enabling him to extend his freelance double bass career far beyond what’s normally possible.

Links

Contrabass Conversations Podcast: http://contrabassconversations.com/

Jason's websites: http://doublebassblog.org/

http://jasonheath.info/bassist/

"How To Create A Podcast" articles on ArtsHacker: https://artshacker.com/series/podcasting/

Sep 26, 2016
Laura Karlin, Choreographer and Founder of Invertigo Dance Theatre

Invertigo Dance Theatre was recently named by Dance Spirit Magazine as one of the “top six trend-setting companies to watch in LA.” Founded by choreographer Laura Karlin, Invertigo uses dance to tell compelling stories and create deep connections with communities. One of the most fascinating aspects of Invertigo is that they perform with live musicians, and even use musicians who double as dancers in their productions.

One of my goals with this show is to bridge boundaries and showcase a wide variety of musical styles and perspectives. As a musician, it’s easy to overlook the symbiotic relationship between music and the movement arts. To that end, I’m delighted to present this interview with Laura Karlin and my first inside look at the inner workings of a dance company, Invertigo Dance Theatre, with their innovative use of live music and musicians as integral components of their performances. Their upcoming production of “After It Happened”, a piece inspired by the aftermath of the Haiti Earthquake, and set to premiere at the Ford Theater in Los Angeles this Friday, Sept. 30.

Links

Invertigo Dance Theater's website: http://www.invertigodance.org/

 

Sep 19, 2016
Gary Lionelli, Composer for

Film and television composer Gary Lionelli created the music for ESPN’s critically acclaimed five-part miniseries “O.J.: Made in America,” directed by Ezra Edelman. In addition, he has provided music for Rory Kennedy's 2015 Academy Award nominated film "Last Days in Vietnam" and HBO's dramatic series "LUCK," starring Dustin Hoffman.

Most television projects for composers involve providing music for 30-60 minutes of show time. Most movie projects call for music for 1.5-2 hours. But what if you were approached to write music for a massive 7.5 hour movie, and given only 3 months to do so? That’s what composer Gary Lionelli faced when he was called on to provide music for the massive ESPN mini-series, “O.J.: Made in America”, a project that has the unique distinction of being eligible to win both television Emmy and film Oscar awards.

Links

Gary's Website: http://www.garylionelli.com/

Jonathan Wilson, creator of the GuitarViol: http://www.jonathanwilsondesigns.com/

Sep 12, 2016
Anthony McGill, Clarinetist

Anthony McGill is one of the greatest clarinetists in the classical music field today. He’s been the Associate Principal Clarinet of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Principal Clarinet of the Metropolitan Orchestra, and currently serves as Principal Clarinet of the New York Philharmonic.

Several months ago, Anthony’s older brother, Demarre McGill, was featured on the show. What an honor to have the opportunity to talk to Anthony, whom I’ve known since he was a student at Curtis. In addition to his remarkable achievements in the orchestral world and collaborations with some of the greatest classical musicians, Anthony performed with Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma and Gabriela Montero at the inauguration of President Barack Obama back in 2009. On a tangential note, Anthony was actually partially responsible for inspiring me to become a paperless musician, and start a little company called “AirTurn” to create wireless page turning pedals for reading digital sheet music hands free.

Links

Anthony's website: http://www.anthonymcgill.com/

Mozart Clarinet Quintet in A major, K. 581: I. Allegro
Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622: II. Adagio
Brahms Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115: IV. Con moto
Poulenc Sonata for Clarinet and Piano: II. Romanza

Anthony's blog article "Why I Do What I Do"

New York Philharmonic website: http://nyphil.org/

AirTurn

 

 

Jul 18, 2016
Summer Break 2016

Welcome to A Musical Life. I'm Hugh Sung, host and executive producer of the show. Due to my teaching and performance schedule this summer, we'll be taking a short summer hiatus. But don't worry! We'll be back in just a few weeks. 

To be notified as soon as the episodes resume, visit https://www.amusicallife.com to sign up for our newsletter.

Thank you for your support! I wish you a restful summer and A Musical Life!

 

Jul 11, 2016
Jennifer Nicole Campbell's Music Musings on

“Clair de lune” by late 19th and early 20th century French composer Claude Debussy is one of the world’s most beloved pieces written for the piano. In this special episode of “A Musical Life”, I’ve invited award-winning pianist, composer, and Peabody Conservatory graduate Jennifer Nicole Campbell to share her insights into what makes “Clair de lune” such a special musical experience.

On this show, we share stories about making music and the things that move our souls. Up to this point, these stories have been centered around musicians and composers living remarkable lives and creating incredible musical experiences. For this episode, I thought we’d try something a little different. Music is a fascinating language, and even when there aren’t any words being sung, you can definitely sense an atmosphere, characters, and a narrative arc being created through the collage of sounds, silence, and time. But like any language, it really helps when you understand the syntax and meaning to fully appreciate and enjoy the poetry of sound we call music. To that end, I’m delighted to introduce you to today’s guest artist and music “translator”.

Jennifer Nicole Campbell is a remarkable young pianist, composer and educator who recently launched a new series of videos called, “Music Musings”. Her first episode tells the musical story of “Clair de lune”, by Claude Debussy. She did such a wonderful job explaining the inner workings of this popular piece that I invited her to be a guest contributor for the show.

Links

Jennifer's website: http://www.jennifernicolecampbell.com/

Jennifer Nicole Campbell's Music Musings, Episode 1: https://youtu.be/I_49YGGZhkQ

"Clair de lune From Scratch" YouTube piano lessons: https://youtu.be/QczTcXvEC7o?list=PL23BA4D8592904FB0

 

Jul 4, 2016
Norman Lebrecht, A Prolific Musical Mind

Norman Lebrecht is one of the foremost cultural writers and classical music reviewers today.  In addition to his columns for The Daily Telegraph and The Standpoint, he’s been a host on BBC 3 Radio, and his first novel, “The Song of Names”, is in the process of being adapted into a major motion picture. Norman has written extensively on the business side of classical music, and his website, Slipped Disc, is one of the most widely read resources for classical music and art news.

Journalist, writer, novelist, broadcaster, lecturer - Norman Lebrecht is easily one of the most prolific commentators on culture and the classical music arts. In addition to all his accomplishments and 12 books under his belt, Norman is an expert on the music of the 19th century Austrian-Jewish composer and conductor Gustav Mahler. I think you’re going to really enjoy this fascinating conversation with a man who has spent his life exploring the meaning and message found in classical music.

Links

Norman's Website: http://www.normanlebrecht.com/

The Lebrecht Interview on BBC Radio 3: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007tbt3

Jun 27, 2016
Pieter Schlosser, Composer

Pieter Schlosser is an award-winning film, television and video game composer known for his work on NBC's hit show You, Me And The Apocalypse, as well as his collaborations with Steve Jablonsky on Desperate Housewives, the Transformers film, and Gears of War 2 & 3 video games. As a multi-cultural multi-instrumentalist, Pieter draws on an incredible reservoir of creativity and artistic versatility.

I really love these shows where we get to talk to amazing composers and explore the creative process and inspirations behind their work. Pieter Schlosser is one of those musicians that needs the prefix “multi” in front of their name - multi-linguist, multi-genre, multi-talented. And a great suffix for him would probably be, “go-getter” - time and time again, Pieter’s initiative has served him well, putting him in the company of great film composers like Hans Zimmer and opening some incredible opportunities in film, TV, and video games.

Links

Pieter's Website: http://www.pieterschlosser.com/

8Dio high-end sample developer of virtual instruments: http://8dio.com/

In Saturn's Rings film project: http://insaturnsrings.com/

 

 

Jun 20, 2016
Rachel Barton Pine, Violin Virtuosa

Violinist, scholar, composer, philanthropist, and heavy metal shredder Rachel Barton Pine is a one-of-a kind musical tour de force, connecting a wide array of cultures, genres, and communities. Despite tremendous childhood difficulties and a major setback early in her career, Rachel drew upon a profound spiritual resource to become one of today’s leading musicians and an inspiration to so many worldwide.

Rachel Barton Pine is, quite simply, one of the most extraordinary musicians I’ve had the honor to feature on the show. As a violinist, she has recorded nearly 30 albums and performed with major symphony orchestras and conductors worldwide. As a scholar, she has championed the music of black composers and pioneering women. On top of that, she has the distinction of being the first living and first female composer to have her violin cadenzas, encores, and arrangements of works for violin and piano published by Carl Fischer Music as part of its Masters Collection. Her musical styles cover the gamut between baroque and contemporary classical composers, and wait until you hear about her passion for heavy metal! Her latest album, Testament, was recorded at her home church in Chicago where she fell in love with the violin and the music of Bach as a child, and was recently the best selling classical album.

Links

Rachel's website: http://rachelbartonpine.com/

Rachel Elizabeth Barton Foundation: http://www.rebf.org/

 

Jun 13, 2016
Jason Graves, Video Game Composer

Jason Graves is a BAFTA award-winning composer behind some of the most popular video games such as the Dead Space series, the 2013 reboot of Tomb Raider, and more recently Far Cry Primal, which was just published by Ubisoft earlier this year. Jason combines modern classical composition techniques with innovative sound designs to create scores that are incredibly visceral and immersive.

Video games are a 101 billion dollar industry worldwide. To put this into perspective, the video game industry by some estimates is twice as large as the movie industry.  As games become more and more immersive with photorealistic graphics and compelling storylines, high production quality demands a great music score. This is where my guest Jason Graves comes in. A classically- trained composer and world percussionist, Jason has written music for film, TV, and nearly 80 games, and has won BAFTA awards and nominations for his work on the Dead Space and Tomb Raider games. For his work on Far Cry: Tribal, a game set in the stone age, Jason created an entirely organic score, blending sounds created from natural materials, such as wood, bushes, bones, antlers, clay pots, as well as a ram’s horn, wooden flutes, female vocals, and an instrument called an Aztec Death Whistle.

Links

Jason's Website: http://www.jasongraves.com/

Jason's Banoffee Pie Recipe on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonwgraves/media_set?set=a.1942210203112.122469.1478182287&type=3

Far Cry: Primal from Ubisoft: http://far-cry.ubisoft.com/primal/en-us/home/

 

Jun 6, 2016
Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Project

World renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma established Silkroad in 1998 to explore how music can advance global understanding. Since 2000, the musicians of the world music collective, Silk Road Ensemble, have been on a mission to change the world by connecting diverse cultures and traditions in performances, workshops, and residencies.

Yo-Yo Ma and the Grammy-nominated Silk Road Ensemble recently released their sixth album, "Sing Me Home", which was developed and recorded alongside "The Music of Strangers", a new documentary movie from Oscar and Emmy-winning director Morgan Neville that tells the story of the Ensemble and Silkroad, its parent organization. "The Music of Strangers" is slated for theatrical release later this week, and is one of the most breathtaking, beautiful, and moving documentaries I have ever seen. In this episode, we'll meet some of the remarkable musicians featured prominently in the film, and listen to excerpts from "Sing Me Home", an album which explores the musical roots of individual members of the Ensemble.

Links

The Silk Road Project website: http://www.silkroadproject.org/

Yo-Yo Ma's website: http://www.yo-yoma.com/

 

May 30, 2016
Greg Sandow, Classical Music Futurist and Thought Leader

Music critic and composer Greg Sandow has written extensively on the future of classical music. As a critic, Greg covered new classical music in The Village Voice and was senior music editor for Entertainment Weekly. As a thought leader, Greg works on defining the problems in classical music and finding innovative solutions for them.

What if orchestras could perform in stadiums packed with 20,000 passionate fans and had all their financial problems solved? What would that look like? How could they make that dream come true? This is the kind of question that Greg Sandow poses to major symphony orchestras and classical music institutions to help them explore innovative solutions to make their art more relevant and fiscally solvent in today’s cultural climate. Nowadays, Greg is returning to his composer roots, and recently had a “reemergence” with a full recital featuring his works at The Mansion at Strathmore in Maryland.

Links

Greg's Website: http://www.gregsandow.com/

Greg's Program Notes from his Reemergence Recital at The Mansion at Strathmore
April 14, 2016: http://www.gregsandow.com/Strathmore/StrathmoreProgramLinks.pdf

 

 

May 23, 2016
Peter Schickele, Composer & P.D.Q. Bach Specialist

Composer Peter Schickele has written over 100 works for a wide variety of orchestral, chamber, and vocal ensembles and genres, as well as scores for film and television. As the world’s leading - ah, make that, only - authority on P.D.Q. Bach, the oddest of J.S. Bach’s 20-odd children, Professor Shickele has for the past 50 years unwittingly lampooned classical music culture with his mis-discoveries of works for such bizarre instruments as the left handed sewer flute, the windbreaker, and the bicycle siren.

Peter Schickele has been one of my musical heroes since childhood, ever since my first general music teacher played one of his P.D.Q. Bach albums in class and had everyone howling with laughter! From his humble beginnings as the only bassoon player in Fargo, North Dakota, to his collaborations with legendary folk singer Joan Baez and score for the seminal sci-fi movie, “Silent Running”, as well as his long-running radio show, “Schickele Mix” on Public Radio International, Peter Schickele is perhaps best known for his comedic persona as P.D.Q. Bach, the 21st of J.S. Bach’s 20 children, and the only “dead” composer who can still take commissions. What a thrill to have Peter and P.D.Q. on my show!

Links

Peter Schickele's/P.D.Q. Bach's Website: http://www.schickele.com/

 

May 16, 2016
Rendra Zawawi, Malaysian Musician, Composer & Producer

Rendra Zawawi co-wrote and co-produced, “Arena Chahaya”, the theme song for the 2016 Malaysian soccer movie, “Ola Bola”, sung by Zee Avi. As a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the Berklee School of Music, Rendra brings an astonishing diversity of styles to his music and career.

We’re continuing our series on Musical Entrepreneurs. As I mentioned in the intro, Rendra Zawawi is one of the most diverse musicians I’ve come across. Hold on to your hats, cause we’re going to be listening to a really wide variety of musical styles that Rendra writes and produces. And later in the episode, I’m going to introduce another special guest who has created a fascinating music consultation company for corporations, where Rendra works as a branding expert.

Links

Rendra's Website: http://rendrazawawi.com/

Sound Leadership: http://getsoundleadership.com/

 

May 9, 2016
Brandon Pearce, Music Teacher's Helper Founder and World Traveler

Brandon Pearce is the founder of Music Teacher’s Helper, a website that does just that - it helps music teachers organize, schedule and receive payments for music lessons, and so much more. From the proceeds of his company, Brandon lives a remarkable life, traveling around the world full time with his family, free of material possessions and with the luxury of time to ponder life’s beauty and mysteries.

We’re continuing our special series on Musical Entrepreneurs, and I’m so excited to share one of the most fascinating interviews to date. Classically trained pianist Brandon Pearce started out juggling a small studio of piano students and a full time job while raising a young family. To solve some of his own problems as a piano teacher, Brandon created Music Teacher’s Helper, which then went on to grow into a business that gave him the opportunity to live and think outside the box. WAY outside the box. We’re talking about leaving a full time job, selling all his possessions, leaving the country and living around the world with only what he and his family could carry. In the process, he made some important discoveries that turned his world upside down. This is one of the most thought-provoking interviews I’ve conducted so far, and I really appreciate Brandon’s openness and transparency in sharing his remarkable story.

Links

Music Teacher's Helper

Studio Helper

Brandon's Family Blog, "Pearce On Earth" - http://pearceonearth.com/

Brandon's Music Page on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/brandags

Facebook Groups

Families who love travel
https://www.facebook.com/groups/familieswholovetravel/
Families on the move
https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelfamilies/
World schoolers
https://www.facebook.com/groups/worldschoolers/

House Sitting Sites

lovehomeswap.com

homeexchange.com

https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/ca/

WWOOF Organic Farm Work Exchange

http://wwoofinternational.org/

 

 

May 2, 2016
Tim Topham, Piano Pedagogy Pioneer

Tim Topham is a prolific blogger and host of the Tim Topham TV piano teaching podcast, a resource for piano teachers looking for creative ways to teach and engage their students. Tim’s writing and training courses have been featured in several music journals and publications, and he regularly speaks at local and international music conferences.

Tim and I have connected several times over the years, beginning back when I was working at AirTurn. Tim has created some amazing resources for piano teachers looking for innovative ways to instill excitement and creativity in their students, including courses for teaching pop piano, articles on integrating technologies like iPad apps into pedagogy, and now a special online community for piano teachers called The Inner Circle.  Tim has been kind enough to feature me twice on his wonderful podcast, Tim Topham TV, so now it’s my pleasure to return the favor.

Links

Tim's website: https://timtopham.com/

Tim Topham TV Podcast: https://timtopham.com/tim-topham-tv-piano-teaching-podcast/

Inner Circle Community for Piano Teachers: https://members.timtopham.com/inner-circle/join-the-community/

Piano Flix course for teaching pop piano: https://timtopham.com/pianoflix/teaching-pop-video-1/

 

Apr 25, 2016
Kerry Muzzey, Film and Modern Classical Composer

Kerry Muzzey is the composer for “The Seer”, a new documentary by director Laura Dunn and executive producers Robert Redford and Terrence Malick that just premiered at the 2016 SXSW film festival. Kerry’s music has also been heard on TV shows like “Glee”. His 2014 album, “The Architect”, debuted at #5 on both the Billboard Classical and Contemporary Classical charts.

We’re continuing our special series on Musical Entrepreneurs with film and modern classical composer Kerry Muzzey.  If you’re a composer looking to make a living from your compositions, then you’re going to really enjoy listening to Kerry’s story. One of the most remarkable things about Kerry is the fact that he actually left a well-paying corporate job at MTV Networks in New York City to become a full-time composer. The way he did it, and the way he was able to get his music into TV and film, is very insightful. Kerry’s music is full of atmosphere and intimate passion, perfectly suited for telling stories on the big screen.

Links

Kerry Muzzey's Website: http://kerrymuzzey.com/

The Seer Film Website: http://www.theseerfilm.com/

"The Case Against 8" HBO documentary featuring the music of Blake Neely: http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/the-case-against-8

Music Licensing Libraries: http://musiclibraryreport.com

 

Apr 18, 2016
Dave Tamkin, Singer/Songwriter and Internet Marketing Master

Singer/songwriter Dave Tamkin hails from Chicago and currently lives in Boulder, CO. His music can be described as “rhythmic acoustic rock” and features lyrics that capture a passionate sincerity and poetic exploration of modern life. As an expert on Internet marketing, Dave helps musicians and music companies - like AirTurn - share their message to the world.

We’re continuing our series on musical entrepreneurs with singer/songwriter and Internet marketing master Dave Tamkin. I first met Dave when I was working at AirTurn. We needed help getting our Internet marketing to the next level, and that’s where Dave applied his magic through his consulting company, Head Above Music. I then learned that Dave is an extraordinarily talented singer and songwriter, and absolutely fell in love with his unique musical style that’s instantly relatable. If you’re a musician looking for ways to grow your fan base, then you’ll find Dave’s insights and practical advice as both musician and marketer really helpful. And getting back to Dave’s musical hat, his newest song, “Mary”, has just been released this month.

Links

Dave's Website: http://www.davetamkin.com/

Head Above Consulting: http://headaboveconsulting.com/

Dave's music on Bandcamp: http://davetamkin.bandcamp.com/

Apr 11, 2016
Time For Three

Time for Three is made up of Violinists Nick Kendall and Nikki Chooi and Double Bassist Ranaan Meyer, and can probably be best described as a “classically trained garage band”. With an exciting mix of originals, covers and classical music with a capital 'T' “Twist”, these guys have electrified audiences around the world and were recently featured on a PBS special performing with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

We’re starting a special series of episodes that focus on entrepreneurial musicians who think way outside the box. I’m so excited to have Time for Three on the show to help me kick this off. I recently met up with Nick, Nikki, and Ranaan after one of their jam session rehearsals at The Curtis Institute of Music. Nikki Chooi, by the way, is the newest addition to Time for Three, having replaced co-founder Zach DePue, who is currently the concertmaster of the Indianapolis Symphony.

Links

Time For Three's Website: http://www.tf3.com/

Time For Three on PBS: http://www.tf3.com/#!national-pbs-broadcast/q0o1q

 

Apr 4, 2016
Jasmine Choi, Flutist

Jasmine Choi has been hailed by Sinfini magazine as “one of the 10 greatest flutists in history”. As the last student of the legendary flutist Julius Baker, Jasmine is known for her gorgeous tone, dazzling technique, and boundless creativity.

I’ve known Jasmine Choi ever since she was a student at The Curtis Institute of Music, studying under the legendary flute teacher Julius Baker. Since graduating from Curtis and Juilliard, Jasmine has had an incredible career and gained a devoted worldwide following. Her passion for her music has helped her overcome a number of difficult circumstances, and her creativity has helped her reshape her own career in remarkable ways.

Links

Jasmine's Website: http://www.jasminechoi.com/

 

Mar 27, 2016
Crystal Mangano, Composer for the Documentary

Crystal Mangano is the composer for “Asperger’s Are Us”, a new documentary that follows the story of the first comedy troupe made up of people with Asperger’s syndrome. What makes Crystal’s education unique is the fact that she actually double majored in both film and composition, giving her a deep perspective when it comes to providing music to film and television projects.

With the 2016 SxSW festival behind us, we’re wrapping up our look at some wonderful composers who contributed to some amazing films that premiered there. Crystal currently resides in Los Angeles, and works as a music editor for several films and television shows. What does a music editor do? Well, you’re about to find out!

Links

Crystal Mangano's Website: http://www.crystalmangano.com/

Asperger's Are Us on IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4109268/

Legativity Music: http://www.legativity.com/Home.html

 

 

Mar 21, 2016
Sage Lewis, Film and Virtual Reality Composer

Sage Lewis is a composer who uses his music to explore multiple relationships between electronic and acoustic sounds, virtual and physical reality, as well as cultural divides and bridges. Sage is the composer for the new film, “Operator”, as well as the groundbreaking virtual reality piece “The Surrogate”, both of which just premiered at the 2016 SXSW festival in Austin, TX.

SXSW is one of the biggest festivals for film, music, technology, and interactive media, held every mid-March in Austin, TX. My guest, Sage Lewis, has composed music for two projects that explore different facets of our relationships with technology. In addition, Sage has written music for Google, Facebook, and Maiyet, a New York based fashion brand. He also has a passion for Cuba, and has stated in his bio that he hopes to eventually become the ambassador to Cuba, after he’s finished scoring films for 20 more years.

Links

Sage Lewis' Website: http://sagelewismusic.com/

"Operator": https://twitter.com/operatorfilm

"The Surrogate": http://www.flahertypictures.com/surrogate/

South by SouthWest (SxSW): http://www.sxsw.com/

Maiyet Italy Shows Video: https://vimeo.com/37256736

"Far Away" collaborative/virtual performance with Cuban and American childrens' choirs: http://sagelewismusic.com/#!far-away-performance

 

Mar 14, 2016
Paul Englishby on the Psychology of Film, TV & Theater Music

If you’ve seen an episode of the hit BBC detective show “Luther” starring Idris Elba, then you’ve heard the powerful music of Paul Englishby. Paul is also the composer for “The Musketeers”, another hit BBC television series, and has written music for several productions of the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as for such movies as “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day” and the 2009 Oscar-nominated film, “An Education”.

Music brings movies and television shows to life, and in the skilled craftsmanship of a master composer, music can also add a powerful layer of commentary on the stories presented on the screen. Paul Englishby displays a remarkable versatility in the dazzling array of genres he works in and creates. After you listen to this remarkable interview, I promise you’ll never watch a movie or TV show the same way again!

Links

Paul Englishby's Website - http://www.englishby.com/

The Royal Shakespeare Company's "King and Country" tour at The Brooklyn Academy of Music - http://www.bam.org/theater/2016/king-and-country-shakespeares-great-cycle-of-kings

"Pinocchio" by The National Ballet of Canada - http://national.ballet.ca/Productions/2016-17-Season/Pinocchio

 

Mar 7, 2016

What do you wear to a symphony concert? When do you clap? And why is the timpani player smelling his drums? If you’ve never been to a classical music concert, it can be a bit intimidating the very first time you go to one. There seems to be a whole world of etiquette and protocol that can make the experience seem - well, aloof and elitist, at least in some people’s eyes. Orchestras and arts administrators are keenly aware of how important it is to make classical music more accessible to grow future audiences, and in some cases are trying to think of ways to do away with some of the traditional conventions. But for Violinist Holly Mulcahy, the "Queen of Classical Music Culture", these rituals and rules of etiquette are part of what makes the classical music concert so special, and a deeper understanding of them can serve to enhance one’s experience in a concert hall, making it much more memorable and enjoyable. Holly maintains a busy schedule as concertmaster of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera and as a soloist and chamber musician. She is also the author of Neo Classical, a blog that discusses the future of classical music, and helps to demystify the culture of classical music in a warm, witty, and welcoming way.

Links

Holly Mulcahy's website: http://www.hollymulcahy.com/ 

Holly's blog Neo Classical: http://www.insidethearts.com/neoclassical/

Bowing for Mahlers; decisions on bowing directions: http://www.insidethearts.com/neoclassical/2015/09/bowing-for-mahlers/

The Higdon Cocktail: http://www.insidethearts.com/neoclassical/2015/02/concerto-in-cocktail-form/

Holly's article on happiness as a musician: http://www.insidethearts.com/neoclassical/2014/02/happiness-quantified-humanist-qualified/

Blog article on Holly's upcoming performance at the Walker State Faith and Character Based Prison in Georgia: http://www.insidethearts.com/neoclassical/2016/02/medium-security-maximum-benefit/

Feb 29, 2016
Demarre McGill, Principal Flutist of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Demarre McGill is one of the leading young American flutists of our time. Winner of the Avery Fisher Career Grant, Demarre has been a sought after soloist and chamber musician. He is also the co-founder of The Art of Élan, an innovative chamber music organization in San Diego that introduces new audiences to classical music in unique venues and programs.

I’ve known Demarre ever since his student days at Curtis, studying under Julius Baker and Jeffrey Khaner. He was amazing from the get go, and it’s been no surprise to see his stratospheric rise to the top of the classical music world. Demarre has appeared as soloist with several of the top orchestras in the US, worked as principal flutist with several others, collaborated in chamber music around the world, and has made multiple television appearances on PBS, A&E, NBC, and even Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood.

Links

Demarre McGill's Website - http://demarremcgill.com

Art of Élan - http://artofelan.org/

Dallas Symphony Orchestra - https://www.mydso.com/

Merit School of Music in Chicago - http://meritmusic.org/

The Curtis Institute of Music - http://www.curtis.edu

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