This is an episode of the old podcast, called Artists on the Verge. I decided to keep these conversations up in the feed because they are, in fact, part of what led me to create Classically (Un)Trained. I have taken down all except the artist interviews - but you can check out an expanded archive here: https://classicallyuntrainedpodcast.com/former-podcast-archive/

Check out the current podcast here: https://classicallyuntrainedpodcast.com/

Omar Shahryar calls himself a composer, facilitator and peace-maker. We talk about the meaning and importance of an education in the arts, letting go of the perfection and expectations drilled into academically-trained artists, re-thinking the idea of an audience and – don’t worry – we also talk about getting that all-important funding for indie projects. 

Links: 

Omar's website: http://omarshahryar.info/

Opera Schmopera's website: http://www.operaschmopera.co.uk/

Channel 4 News report on the children's opera Shoe Full of Stars: https://www.channel4.com/news/students-stage-opera-about-terrorism-threat

Music on this episode: 

NELV collective: "Trust the Person": https://soundcloud.com/user-126957820/trust-the-person

Excerpts from the children's opera A Shoe Full of Stars

(Words by Ed Harris

Music by Omar Shahryar and students from North Huddersfield Trust School

Ensemble: Dark Inventions

Conducted by Christopher Leedham 

Soprano: Lizzie Holmes

Baritone: Neil Balfour)

All 4 minutes of our improv are available to patrons of the On the Verge Series! You can sign up for a free trial here: https://steadyhq.com/en/opera-on-the-verge

💋👁👂🏼 Artists on the Verge website: ⁠www.artists-on-the-verge.com⁠

👀 Instagram: @artists_on_the_verge