Classical Schmassical

By Alexa Letourneau, Composer

What's Classical Schmassical about?

Classical Schmassical: an Anti-Classical Classical Music Podcast is a new podcast about the world of classical music. Join me for weekly discussions with guests as we question what it means to be a classical musician in the 21st century, tackling everything from extended techniques to arts activism and much more.

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Classical Schmassical episodes:

09.11.2023
Career Diversity, Physical Health, and DJ Violin: A Conversation with Asher Laub
Join me in conversation with Asher Laub about his career path as a multidisciplinary musician, shaped by changing goals, influences, and even his physical health. ____________________________________Guest BioAsher began classical violin training at the tender age of 2 and had already...
06.17.2023
Iconic Composers and those who write about them: a Conversation with Emi Ferguson
Join me in conversation with Emi Ferguson about her work as a flutist, composer, and most recently, author, with the release of her new book Iconic Composers.____________________________________Guest BioEmi is very proud to be named a 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant...
03.05.2023
Note to Self: Music Education and Building Community with Adrian Gordon
Join Murph and Alexa as they talk with composer, educator, and publisher Adrian Gordon about his career and new book, Note to Self: A Music Director’s Guide for Transitioning to a New School and Building a Thriving Music Program___________________________________Adrian Gordon...
01.11.2023
Artistry with Joshua Roman
Join me (new host Murphy Severtson!) as I talk with Joshua Roman on what it means to be a soloist, artistry, collaboration, and chronic health._________________________________Joshua Roman is a cellist, composer and curator whose performances embrace musical styles from Bach to...
12.15.2022
A Musical Mosaic: Individuality within a Composers Collective
Join me as I talk with the members of the newly formed Mosaic Composers Collective, of which I am a member! Collective Mission Statement:Mosaic Composers Collective, featuring Kevin Arthur Jr., Aidan Arbona, Naamia Rivera, Murphy Severtson, Alexa Letourneau, and Athos...
10.02.2022
Percussion, Collaboration, and Crossing Genres
Join me as I talk with Robert Dillon of Third Coast Percussion about his work as a percussionist, composer, and ensemble member, including working with Philip Glass and their exciting upcoming season, both in Chicago and around the world. _________________________________Robert...
04.30.2022
Arts Admin, Accessibility in Orchestra, and Community Engagement
Join me as I talk with arts administrator Christina Salerno about her artistic practice!Guest Bio:Appointed the Executive Director of Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra in January 2017, Ms. Salerno joined the symphonic world having spent seven years as Executive Director of Salt...
04.02.2022
Composing, Concert Programs, and the Latin American Baroque
Join me as I talk with composer Reinaldo Moya about his artistic practice!Guest Bio:Reinaldo Moya is a graduate of Venezuela’s El Sistema music education system. He is the recipient of the Charles Ives Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts...
03.06.2022
Radical Acceptance
Join us as Joy Guidry and I talk about their new album, identity in music, and how to fix the problems with the music community as a whole. Guest Bio:Radical self-love, compassion, laughter, and the drive to amplify Black artmakers...
02.26.2022
How To Opera
Join me as I chat with Wang Lu and Kelly Rourke about what it means to write an opera, as well as their most recent project, "The Beekeper."Guest Biographies: Composer and pianist Wang Lu writes music that reflects a very...
12.12.2021
Conduct Yourself Accordingly
Join me as I chat with Lidiya Yankovskaya about her work as the first female conductor of a multi-million dollar opera company!https://www.facebook.com/ClassicalSchmassicalGuest Bio: Russian-American conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya is a fiercely committed advocate for Russian masterpieces, operatic rarities, and contemporary works...
10.31.2021
Violinequality
Join me for a discussion with violinist Caitlin Edwards as we discuss her career as a violinist, the relationship and intersection between Classical and Black music, and her recent grant from 3arts Entertainment.Guest Bio:Caitlin Edwards is a classically trained violinist,...
10.30.2021
Navigating Your Music
Elijah Daniel Smith and I discuss compositional process, pedagogical development, and his upcoming piece for the Chicago Symphony's Homecoming concert. Guest Bio:Described by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as a “rising star”, composer Elijah Daniel Smith is quickly establishing himself as...
10.30.2021
Celebrating 55 Years of the AACM
Join me in conversation with powerhouse musicians Renee Baker, Adegoke Steve Colson, and Vanessa Rose discussing the upcoming anniversary concert, put on by the AACM, ACF, and Great Black Music Ensemble. Guest Bios:A visual artist, filmmaker, composer, violinist and re-contextualist,...
10.24.2021
Play It Like You Mean It
Today on Classical Schmassical, internationallly renowned pianist and commercial musician Emile Pandolfi talks about his career, making his start, and bringing emotion into your playing, as well as his newly released book, "Play it Like You Mean It."Guest Bio:With over...
09.19.2021
Trombone in a Million
Join me for a short and sweet episode of Classical Schmassical, where I talk to Lena Smith about trombone, mental health, personal identity, and belonging in the music world. Subscribe to Classical Schmassical: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKHLhYNkfCuZs6lu-7a3-wQJoin the Discord: https://discord.gg/Qc7mnVbBFollow Classical Schmassical: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicalSchmassical
09.05.2021
The GLORY of Composing
Classical Schmassical returns with an incredible discussion featuring Marcus Norris, new composer in residence with the Chicago Philharmonic. Guest Bio: Marcus Norris’ first foray into making music came in the form of producing rap beats on pirated software, installed on...
06.13.2021
The Guitarist Was Not the Imposter
Join me as I talk with multi-instrumentalist and musical theater performer Meghan Doyle about guitar in different contexts, gear setup in a big city context, and dealing with imposter syndrome. Guest Bio: Meghan Doyle is a New Jersey based multi-instrumentalist....
06.06.2021
Keeping Score
On today's episode of Classical Schmassical, I'm joined by score-maker James Creed as we talk about a composer's role in music through notation, performance, score, and compositional voice. Resources mentioned:Piano Studies 1-6 Bandcamp: https://jamesmcreed.bandcamp.com/album/piano-studies-1-6James' Scores: https://jamescreedmusic.wixsite.com/website/scoresTalk with Lola de la...
05.30.2021
Classical Schmassical: Now With Double the Flutist-Composers!
Join me as I talk with astrid [Seamus] hubbard flynn about being a composer-flutist and incorporating equity into artistic practice as white musicians. Resources mentioned: Alex Temple's article Composers Performers and Consent: https://nmbx.newmusicusa.org/composers-performers-and-consent/Resmaa Menakem's book My Grandmother’s Hands: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781942094470Subscribe to...
05.16.2021
Electronic Music? It's Electrifying!
Join me for a discussion on electronic music, education within the classical canon, and allyship in musical practice with Jonathan Baldwin. Subscribe to Classical Schmassical: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKHLhYNkfCuZs6lu-7a3-wQJoin the Discord: https://discord.gg/Qc7mnVbBFollow Classical Schmassical: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicalSchmassicalGuest Bio:Jonathan Baldwin is an electronics and woodwind musician...
04.24.2021
Duck, Duck... Guitar?
Guitarist and composer Duck Armstrong joins me today to discuss guitar, genre, accessibility, and the way that art is all a social construct, and what that means for us as artists. Subscribe to Classical Schmassical: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKHLhYNkfCuZs6lu-7a3-wQJoin the Discord: https://discord.gg/Qc7mnVbBFollow Classical...
04.17.2021
Frustrations of Voice and Voicing Your Frustrations
Soprano Jessica Lewis joins for a talk about effective use of the voice and the opera industry at large on today's episode of Classical Schmassical. Subscribe to Classical Schmassical: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKHLhYNkfCuZs6lu-7a3-wQJoin the Discord: https://discord.gg/Qc7mnVbBFollow Classical Schmassical: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicalSchmassicalGuest Bio:Jessica Lewis is a...
04.10.2021
So Many Interests, So Little Time
On today's episode of Classical Schmassical, Mark Mathison talks about being a multi-instrumentalist with degrees in bassoon performance and physics, and how such diverse interests can find balance in his life. Subscribe to Classical Schmassical: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKHLhYNkfCuZs6lu-7a3-wQJoin the Discord: https://discord.gg/Qc7mnVbBFollow Classical...
03.28.2021
It's Trumpet Time
In this episode, Connor Johnson talks about trumpet, composing, and accessing new genres of music! Subscribe to Classical Schmassical: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKHLhYNkfCuZs6lu-7a3-wQJoin the Discord: https://discord.gg/Qc7mnVbBFollow Classical Schmassical: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicalSchmassicalGuest bio:Hi, I’m Connor Johnson and I’m a trumpet player and composer from Michigan. I’m...
03.20.2021
Theoretical Musings
Sam Moffett discusses theory, pedagogy, and the ways education shapes young musicians in today's episode of Classical Schmassical!Subscribe to Classical Schmassical: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKHLhYNkfCuZs6lu-7a3-wQJoin the Discord: https://discord.gg/Qc7mnVbBFollow Classical Schmassical: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicalSchmassical
03.16.2021
zFestival zFriends
In this episode, Shoshana Klein, one of the two directors of zFestival arts organization, chats about building community, running a festival with only two months notice, and perfectionism in the music education system.Subscribe to Classical Schmassical: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKHLhYNkfCuZs6lu-7a3-wQJoin the Discord: https://discord.gg/Qc7mnVbBFollow...
03.06.2021
Double Bass, Double Trouble
From double bass extended techniques to how new music can fit in to the orchestral audition circuit, Dean Mason and Ian Fales share their thoughts on the music of the past and present.Subscribe to Classical Schmassical: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKHLhYNkfCuZs6lu-7a3-wQJoin the Discord: https://discord.gg/Qc7mnVbBFollow...

What's Classical Schmassical about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Classical Schmassical episodes:

Career Diversity, Physical Health, and DJ Violin: A Conversation with Asher Laub

Iconic Composers and those who write about them: a Conversation with Emi Ferguson

Note to Self: Music Education and Building Community with Adrian Gordon

Artistry with Joshua Roman

A Musical Mosaic: Individuality within a Composers Collective

Percussion, Collaboration, and Crossing Genres

Arts Admin, Accessibility in Orchestra, and Community Engagement

Composing, Concert Programs, and the Latin American Baroque

Radical Acceptance

How To Opera

Conduct Yourself Accordingly

Violinequality

Navigating Your Music

Celebrating 55 Years of the AACM

Play It Like You Mean It

Trombone in a Million

The GLORY of Composing

The Guitarist Was Not the Imposter

Keeping Score

Classical Schmassical: Now With Double the Flutist-Composers!

Electronic Music? It's Electrifying!

Duck, Duck... Guitar?

Frustrations of Voice and Voicing Your Frustrations

So Many Interests, So Little Time

It's Trumpet Time

Theoretical Musings

zFestival zFriends

Double Bass, Double Trouble