Katherine Needleman is a wonderful oboe player, who has been the principal oboist of the Baltimore Symphony since 2003. She’s also active as a solist and chamber musician, and is on faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music. She is a champion of music of our time and you’ll find her recordings and many projects on her website. To many listeners in the Classical Music world, she’s probably better known for her Substack articles and posts on social media that address misogyny, sexual misconduct and assault, and the lack of diversity and equity in the Classical music world. In this conversation you’ll hear about some of her activism and advocacy work , and different aspects of Katherine’s life as a musician, including her work as a composer and educator, and mentors including Jennifer Higdon. Please note the timestamps to navigate the episode. I regret that I didn’t get into improvisation with her, because she’s also an excellent improvisor and has put out an album of improvised chamber music “The Marmalade Balloon”. Perhaps we can get into this next time she comes on the podcast!
You can watch this on YouTube or listen to the podcast, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/katherine-needleman
Katherine Needleman website
“Land Where My Fathers Died”
Aria for oboe and piano by Jennifer Higdon (sheet music available on the composer’s website)
It’s a joy to bring these inspiring episodes to you every week, and I do all the many jobs of research, production and publicity. Please look at the links for different ways to support this independent podcast. Original Merch for sale
Can you buy this independent podcaster a coffee?
In January 2025 I’ll be releasing Season 5 of this series. I’ve linked some other episodes that may interest you: Anna Petersen, Gail Archer, Omo Bello, Karen Donnelly, Renee Yoxon and Jessica Cottis, among many others!
Linktree for social media
Timestamps
(00:00) Intro
(03:20) Katherine is also a composer and improvisor, her feminist posts
(05:54) fund for new music, Fatima Landa
(12:40) parenting, performance anxiety, oboe reeds
(18:46)activism, starting to write about lack of diversity, etc
(21:44) Katherine’s experience at Curtis as a student, her approach as a teacher
(26:02) Katherine the composer
(27:00) excerpt from “Land Where My Fathers Died” (link in description to complete performance)
(32:26)challenges of performing as an introvert
(34:13)other episodes you’ll like, different ways to support this series
(34:53)solo broadcast concerts, importance of exercise
(37:22) auditions
(43:02) reactions to her posts
(44:39)orchestra musicians as soloists with their orchestras, Kevin Puts oboe concerto
(47:06) Marin Alsop, lack of gender diversity in the conducting world
(51:21) Queen of Filth digest
(55:52) the mandatory dress story and gendered dress codes
(59:22) Jennifer Higdon
(01:01:24) excerpt from Aria for oboe and piano by Jennifer Higdon with Jennifer Lim on piano (link in description to complete performance)
(01:04:37) what Katherine has changed her mind about, presentation and tone, need to prioritize
(01:07:50) orchestra playing, chamber music, music education
(01:11:50) Katherine’s determination to continue Substack and activism, and need to compartimentalize for mental health
