This was originally aired in 2023. Ceara Conway is an Irish contemporary vocalist and visual artist, and this episode features music from her album CAOIN as well as excerpts from some of her other projects. I find Ceara’s curiosity about so many important topics around arts and culture really inspiring and this conversation circled around to her explorations of different languages and cultures as well as her rootedness as an Irish speaker. She has had many interesting commissions dealing with history, illness, grief, and the natural world. She also spoke to me about some of her roles working with the Clare Arts office with artists with disabilities, how she started her career as a glassblower in Rome and how her upbringing has helped her navigate the world as a freelance artist. The video and transcript are linked here to my website

Ceara Conway website

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(02:36) Ceara’s background,

(17:03) the album CAOIN, Anach Cuain singing in different languages, (27:56) Ceara’s childhood (28:35) glassblowing, start in art and music,

(35:28) books

(41:23) Veriditas project

(43:01) Plant Chant

(49:18) Clare Arts Office Embrace arts and disability program

(56:00) Seoithín Seothó

(01:01:40) Georgian song, choirs

(01:06:17) Dochas

(01:09:05) Hanna Tuulikki, corncrake

(01:13:14) Time to Say Goodbye

(01:16:50) Irish language

photo: Julia Dunin

This week's episode is a highlight from the archive, originally aired in 2023: I was so honoured to have this opportunity to talk with the inspiring Destiny Muhammad, who is a California-based jazz harpist and composer. You’ll get to hear inspiring stories from her life as well as her music. She had a dream to play the harp but didn’t have the opportunity until she was 30 years old. She speaks openly about the challenges in the 1980s due to the crack cocaine trade, her success as a barber, her determination and mentors including John Handy, and her unique perspectives in celebrating the legacies of Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane. I’m sure you’ll be inspired by Destiny’s stories and music! The video and transcript are linked here

Destiny Muhammad website

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I’m excited to feature Bente Illevold, the internationally renowned Norwegian euphonium player who has carved out a unique career path as a euphonium virtuoso. During this podcast, you’ll be hearing clips from some of her albums and live performances, and in the complete show notes on my website you’ll find the links to these specific albums and videos. I first heard about Bente from Katherine Needleman, when she asked Bente to premiere a newly commissioned concert piece for euphonium and piano by Kyrese Washington. Bente will be playing the American premiere of this new work at the International Women’s Brass Conference right after the release of this podcast, and the clip you’re going to hear is from the world premiere performance earlier this spring. Bente talked to me about her exciting new Rendalen Low Brass Seminar and ways to address the problems around inclusivity in the low brass world. She also spoke more broadly about music pedagogy and the importance of careful listening and self-reflection, and she stressed the need for authencity in engaging with our listeners. Video and transcript and all suggested episodes

Bente Illevold website

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Other suggested episodes: Katherine Needleman

Hillary Simms (the rest in the show notes on my website linked above, since I ran out of allowed words here!)

(00:00) Intro

(02:11) Euphonium’s place in the brass world, Kyrese Washington commission from Katherine Needleman

(06:02) International Women’s Brass Conference

(07:57) clip of Sonatine de Larmes by Kyrese Washington from live performance in Oslo, with pianist Monica Tomescu-Rohd

(09:53) euphonium repertoire

(12:30) lack of inclusivity in the low brass world, taking risks

(15:45) collaborations with percussionist Anders Kregnes Hansen, Stig Nordhagen

(18:46) clip from 2nd movement of Baut by Stig Nordhagen

(20:14) problems with lack of community engagement with the arts

(27:29) Music education and advice

(36:58) why Bente loves Marcus Paus’ Notturno Lockdown Lullaby

(42:12) live performance of Marcus Paus’ Notturno Lockdown Lullaby

(45:16) Bente’s approach to writing music, perfectionism in Classical music

(56:48) other episodes linked, ways to support this series

(57:52) about Elbaus’ DSDHT Euphonium with fixed media, with audio clip

(01:00:22) touring, Northern Lights duo with David Earll, Rendalen Low Brass Seminar

(01:09:08) clip of live performance Northern Lights duo (link in show notes)

(01:10:59) lack of inclusion in low brass community, Katherine Needleman, commission from Kyrese Washington

(01:23:13) advice how to keep improving

Martha Anne Toll is a novelist and literary and cultural critic, also a violist whose classical music training informs her artistic practice. She recently published her second novel, Duet for One, a beautiful love story based on the lives of musicians.his book is also about the death of a mother, and releasing this conversation on Mother's Day (in our countries) has a particular resonance for those of us whose mothers have died, and Martha and I talked about processing our own grief. We focused on both this book and her novel Three Muses, which I also recommend. You’ll hear about her high and low points as a violist, different ways she has helped with programs related to social justice, and her involvement in the literary world including supporting less-represented authors. We also talked about the classical music world and living true to your values. Martha Toll comes to writing professionally after a career dedicated to social justice, and she shared some great perspectives on both pursuits.

I've linked Martha's list of book and author suggestions in the complete show notes on my website, where you'll also find other episodes linked that you'll like, the transcript and the video!

Martha Anne Toll website

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(00:00) Intro

(02:34) viola teachers Max Aronoff, Raphael Hillyer

(07:46)novel Duet for One

(09:24) Martha’s parents, book critic, getting published

(11:59) Duet for One

(15:30) excerpt from Duet for One

(18:59) music in the book, continuing to play viola

(24:58) Three Muses, grooming and exploitation

(28:23)Dr. Henri Parens Holocaust survivor, cousin Ellen

(31:17) Three Muses with excerpt

(34:08) other episodes, ways to support this podcast

(34:49 dealing with rejection and grief

(40:05) law school, work in social justice

(46:09) suggested authors (books listed in show notes)

(51:34) characters to meet from her books, joyful family Thanksgiving traditions

(57:37) Martha’s Substack newsletter

(01:00:53) artists’ residencies

Alisa Rose is a multi-style violinist and fiddler, composer and educator, and in this episode we’re shining a light on her wonderful new album with mandolinist Tristan Scroggins, Speranza. You’ll hear about how she found her way to such an interesting and diverse career from learning Old-Time music from retired farmers in Wisconsin as a child to classical training with the legendary Camilla Wicks at the San Francisco Conservatory, where she’s come full circle as a teacher. Alisa shared wonderful insights into teaching music, including body awareness and using creativity prompts in her improvisation classes. She shared powerful experiences from her tour in Eastern Europe as an Ambassador of the State Department, and advice about the benefits of organizing house concerts. Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on many podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website . Speranza album

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Alisa Rose Website

Percussion Caprice video

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Other episodes you'll like: Brittany Haas

Sara Caswell

Joe K. Walsh Guy Donis Gina Burgess Tracy Silverman

Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(02:02) duo with mandolinist Tristran Scroggins

(06:29) baritone violin, composing Reaper

(09:41) clip from Reaper

(10:50) writing Space Samba, with clip

(13:22) childhood Suzuki and Old Time

(17:33) Camilla Wicks

(20:19)Fiddle and Pizzicato Caprices

(22:02) live performance of Alisa’s Percussion Caprice

(25:49) other episodes you’ll like and how to support this series

(26:44) reducing tension, teaching improv

(32:37) writing Klezmer-style Lasso the Squirrel with clip

(34:27) different styles, Bettina Mussumeli

(35:37) Real Vocal string quartet, Eastern European tour

(43:09) Grammy nomination, other collaborations

(44:47) balancing parenting and performing, house concert opportunities

(46:40) clip of Pandemic Buddy

(47:41)set lists, parenthood, composing her violin concerto

Christoph Zirngibl is an award-winning German film composer who has composed music for over 120 films as well as many TV series including the Apple TV+ series Where’s Wanda. It often strikes me that even with something as specific as some of Christoph’s advice about work flow for fellow film composers, that it can apply more broadly to all of us, whatever our pursuits.. You’ll be hearing a few clips from some of his projects in different musical styles, as well as his reflecctions on his formative student years, the strengths of the apprentice system and his interest in many aspects of filmmaking. I have previously featured a few film composers on this series, and some of these episodes are linked directly in the show notes for you. It’s such an interesting career path, and I find that each of these composers have unique musical backgrounds.

Like all my episodes, you can also listen to the podcast on many platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website

Christoph Zirngibl Website

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Adam Blau

Anze Rozman and Kara Talve

Kat Raio Rende

Pat Irwin

EmmoLei Sankofa Colin Aguiar

J. Walter Hawkes

Sandro Morales-Santoro

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(02:19) John Williams inspiration

(05:41) childhood Germany

(11:13) Flight of Bryan

(13:47) clip of Flight of Bryan

(14:47) Where’s Wanda, composing process

(22:35) clip of Where’s Wanda score Ralf Wengenmayr

(23:18) apprenticeship

(29:39) life balance and productivity for film composers

(32:02) other episodes you’ll like and how to support this series

(32:57) workflow organization

(37:12) the Unexpected Journey, love of orchestras

(42:04) life balance

(46:09) Hero of Centopia

(48:47) clip from Hero of Centopia

(49:50) filmmaking, reading

(55:35) Finis Terrae, Konstantin Ferstl

(58:18) excerpt from Finis Terrae score

(59:28) writing for voice, Finis Terrae, stollen

Photo: Steffen Rauschert

Lawrence English is a brilliant artist, composer and curator based in Australia. In this wide-ranging interview, Lawrence spoke to me about many topics, touching architecture, philosophy, field recordings, running a record label, and emerging biotech. One of his many projects is the record label Room40, which is celebrating 25 years, and punctuating this podcast are some clips from some of Lawrence’s albums, including Even the Horizon Knows it’s Bounds, Shell Type, and Observation of Breath. You’ll fine several links in the show notes so you can explore each project more fully.

Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on all the podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website where you'll also find all the separate links for the albums featured in this episode.

Lawrence English website

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Other episodes which I think may interest you: with Jesse Stewart

Ceara Conway

Linsey Pollak Verna Gillis

Stephen Nachmanovitch

(00:00) Intro

(01:42) commission for Naalu Badu Art Gallery of New South Wales

(15:39) excerpt from Even the Horizon Knows Its Bounds

(20:00) architecture and design of cities, Metabolism, Japan

(28:24) Young Person’s Guide to Hustling in Music and the Arts

(34:03) sound art

(38:13) Room40 label, Akio Suzuki

(45:43) the importance of curiosity

(47:30) other episodes and ways to support this series

(48:20) about Field recordings, with clips, relational listening

(57:40) biotech cerebral organoids

(01:07:03) clip from Shell Thype

(01:08:35) Lawrence’s different musical phases and collaborations

(01:16:31) recording the organ Queensland

(01:21:28) And a Twist from Observation of Breath

(01:24:10) ambient music, harmony and pulse, Merzbow

(01:27:19) childhood musical memories

photo T. Pakioufakis

How did Noam Lemish’s experience living in Bhutan influence his outlook? A lot of Noam’s creative life is inspired by bridging cultures and being open to possibility, and you’ll be hearing some music from some of his many projects as well as hear his reflections on teaching and learning. It was fascinating to learn about his mentors including George Marsh and W.A. Mathieu, and how he started collaborating with so many incredible artists including the oud player and guitarist Amos Hoffman. I really wanted to shine a light as well on his fantastic Juno-nominated album Twelve, which is comprised of six original compositions for chamber jazz orchestra, and all the music you’ll be hearing is linked in the show notes. Dr. Lemish is a Professor at York University in Toronto, Canada and you can learn more about him on his website.

Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on all the podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website

Noam Lemish Website

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Other episodes you’ll like: Tal Yahalom, Rachel Eckroth and John Hadfield, Peter Hum and Steve Boudreau, and Ariel Bart

(00:00) Intro

(02:30) album Twelve

(06:38) clip from Song for Lia

(08:01) Bhutan

(20:08) album Twelve

(23:58) clip from Rebirth, recording process

(27:05) W.A. Mathieu

(35:07) Transcultural Jazz

(37:56) Amos Hoffman, album Pardes

(40:53) Ishal Elohay

(43:37) Noam’s music education in Israel

(46:27) other episodes, ways to support this project

(47:19) York University, Jewish Music series

(41:34 )Soveit Jewry, Anna Shternshis

(56:07) clip from Between Utopia and Destruction

(58:04) access to emotions through music, improvisation

(01:01:59) Erlebnis 16

(01:04:55) George Marsh

(01:11:16) about Beethoven 7th Visit to Romania with clip, Lemish Klezmer history

photo: Dahlia Katz

Juliana Soltis is an innovative cellist who has done extensive research to connect listeners with some forgotten stories of classical music. In this episode we talked about her recent album American Woman which features cello and piano music of women composers; you’ll hear Juliana’s insights into the lives of Mary Howe, Amy Beach, Margaret Bonds, Helen Crane, Dorothy Rudd Moore and Florence Price and hear excerpts from this album which Juliana recorded with the wonderful pianist Ruoting Li. Many listeners will be familiar with Juliana’s playing as a Baroque cellist, and it was fascinating to hear about how the French relinquished their beloved viol relunctuantly to the Italian cello. I really love Juliana’s recording of the complete Suites for solo cello of J.S. Bach and you’ll hear some music from her album Going off Script: the Ornamented Suites for cello.

Juliana shared great advice about performing from an athlete’s perspective and also the joy of connecting with audiences. This interview begins with one of her beautiful greyhounds, and for those of you watching this on YouTube, hopefully you’ll enjoy this comforting canine presence throughout this inspirational conversation. Like all my episodes , you can watch the video or listen to the podcast on all the podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website, everything linked here: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/juliana-soltis

Other episodes: Samantha Ege, Julia MacLaine, Dorothy Lawson of ETHEL, Edwin Barker, Euclid Quartet

Juliana Soltis Website

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photo: Teresa Tam

(00:00) Intro

(02:37)the greyhounds, American Woman album

(05:16) archives New York Public Library, Helen Crane

(10:42) clip of Ballade Fantasque by Howe

(12:20) Mary Howe

(16:51) racist divide between Black and white composers

(20:47) clip of Troubled Water by Margaret Bonds

(22:12) baroque cello

(33:57) Courante J.S. Bach Solo Suite in G major

(37:14) creating Going off Script: the Ornamented Suites for cello

(37:43) other episodes

(38:36) the art of ornamentation, recording the Bach album

(43:45) lessons with Catharina Meints Caldwell

(48:33) connecting with audiences, using social media

(56:37) clip of Dirge and Deliverance by Dorothy Rudd Moore

(58:00) Kermit Moore, Florence Price, Margaret Bonds, Amy Beach

(01:04:23) Berceuse by Beach

(01:10:25) 3rd Idyll op. 51 by Helen Crane

(01:19:01) how athletic training helps with performance nerves

Katherine Dowling is a brilliant Canadian pianist and in this conversation we talked about her album of solo music by Alice Ping Yee Ho, mentors including Gil Kalish and Henk Guittart, and how and why she’s developed her exceptional musical memory. Katherine shared fantastic insights into teaching and learning, the importance of inclusivity and access to arts education, and how she uses the Pomodoro technique in the practice room. She explained how sound production on the piano is about the speed of attack and we discussed different skill sets and career paths for pianists. Dr. Dowling shared many inspiring musical memories, and how she developed her ambitious Elegy project to follow her personal path through grief. You’ll be hearing some clips from the album Awake and Dreaming, which you’ll find linked below, and you can use the timestamps to navigate the eipsode. Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on all the podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website Katherine Dowling websiteWhere to listen to Awake and Dreaming I wanted to let you know about some other episodes I’ve linked directly to this one, which I think may interest you, with: pianist and musicologist Samantha Ege composer Frank Horvat organist Gail Archer Cheng2 Duo with Bryan and Silvie Cheng pianist Jeeyoon Kim Original Merch for saleCan you buy this independent podcaster a coffee? ⁠Complete Catalog of EpisodesNewsletter sign-upLinktree for social media ⁠photo: Jiyang ChenTimestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:54) Eckhardt-Gramatté competition, composer Alice Ping Lee Ho, regional music festivals(7:18) album Awake and Dreaming, solo piano music by Alice Ping Lee Ho(11:34) Elegy project, coping with grief(16:09) excerpt from There is No Night Without a Dawning from Awake and Dreaming(18:59) Memorization, Suzuki method(25:15) limitations of learning on electronic keyboards(27:08) mentor Henk Guittart, Schoenberg(29:48) appreciation for modern music in the Netherlands, Ellen Corver(32:31)connection to visual art with Alice Ho’s compositions (34:20) excerpt of Shade(35:51)experience of funnel couds on the Prairies(37:34) Cyclone by Alice Ping Lee Ho(41:12) valuable teaching experiences in Regina(42:37) other episodes you’ll like and ways to support this series(43:32) positive teaching experiences(46:48) new parent(48:18) Gilbert Kalish(53:49) Tanglewood experience, different skills and careers for pianists(56:45) sound production for pianists(01:04:31) inspiring concerts for different audiences(01:07:48) practice strategies, The Artist’s Way, Pomodoro technique(01:12:05) mentoring the next generations