CT Arts Talk

In this episode William Boughton and Tom Duffy broadcast from the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, birthplace of American Impressionism. They open with a listener favorite: candid advice for young musicians weighing a professional path, covering the benefits of learning an instrument and the cognitive, social, and emotional case for starting kids young. The heart of the episode is a conversation with Executive Director Peter Steer and Senior Curator Jenny Parsons about Patchwork, a juried exhibition of 86 Connecticut artists created for America's 250th anniversary, touching on how the show was curated, why wall labels were left off, and the museum's upcoming expansion. The episode closes with statewide arts news for September 28–October 11, a "What the Critics Say" segment of infamous musical reviews, and a Connecticut history note on Alice Cogswell and the founding of the American School for the Deaf. New episode topics and events are previewed for October 11th's discussion of Bach's St. Matthew Passion.

Dani Howard and Peter Moore in conversation www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSM9sg3pLSE

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00:00 — Intro from the Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme
00:26 — Preview: the Patchwork exhibition with Peter Steer and Jenny Parsons
00:30 — Listener topic: should I pursue music professionally?
01:17 — The benefits of learning an instrument, starting with fourth-grade instrument selection
01:35 — Boughton and Duffy share their own musical origin stories
04:06 — Why kids should play music: it's fun, and good for the brain and social life
05:58 — Music as self-expression
06:42 — The social dimension of making music together
07:42 — How music builds confidence and performance resilience
09:21 — Music as the only art engaging hearing, sight, and touch at once
09:52 — Closing thought: music as a bridge between the senses
11:08 — Sponsor: Bagley Strategic Advisors, LLC
11:39 — History of the Griswold family and the Lyme Art Colony
12:54 — Welcoming Peter Steer and Jenny Parsons
13:13 — Jenny Parsons' path to the museum
13:34 — Peter Steer's path from Yale to museum director
14:19 — What a senior curator does
14:58 — Broadening the collection to include artists of color
16:48 — Introducing Patchwork: 86 CT artists, four America 250 themes
17:17 — How the jury and submission process worked
19:37 — Nearly 300 submissions received
21:03 — What made a piece selected or not
23:46 — The choice to skip wall labels — and the companion book
27:14 — Will Patchwork become a recurring show?
27:52 — What happens to the art afterward — artists keep it
28:07 — Sustaining interest over a multi-month run
30:27 — Built-in word-of-mouth from 86 artists; Meet the Artist Day
31:00 — The show spans summer into fall through November
31:39 — On museum benches, pacing, and "museum fatigue"
35:49 — Tips for introducing kids to art
36:24 — The "Can You Find Me" gallery game
37:06 — How the museum trains its docents
41:07 — Upcoming expansion: new galleries and archive space starting in November
42:44 — Thanking Peter and Jenny
42:51 — Sponsor: Bagley Strategic Advisors, LLC
43:20 — Statewide arts news, Sept 28–Oct 11
43:27 — Horowitz Piano Series continues
43:44 — Scott Hartman trombone recital; Acropolis Wind Quintet
44:01 — Weekend of orchestral concerts statewide (Oct 2–4)
44:18 — Bridgeport Symphony: Still's Afro-American Symphony
45:14 — Hartford Symphony: Brian Deal premieres a new trombone concerto
46:11 — Yale Symphony Orchestra premieres "The Sky Between," plus Hindemith
46:34 — Greenwich Symphony: "An American Port of Call"
47:09 — Theater: Dracula opens at Hartford Stage
47:23 — TheatreWorks: Little Bear Ridge Road
48:06 — The Great Gatsby musical at The Bushnell
48:46 — "What the Critics Say": favorite scathing reviews from music history
50:12 — Connecticut history: Alice Cogswell and the American School for the Deaf
51:30 — Closing and preview of October 11th's episode on Bach's St. Matthew Passion

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Hosts William Boughton and Tom Duffy open the new season from the orchestra rehearsal room at Yale School of Music, sharing memories of the space and a look at the school's history, alumni, and mission.

The episode features two guest conversations. Evan Yionoulis, the new Dean of the David Geffen School of Drama and artistic director of Yale Repertory Theater, discusses her path from student director to leading both institutions, and previews the Rep's upcoming season, including a new production of August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and the world premiere of Elektra in America.

Renowned organist James O'Donnell, who directed music for the funerals of Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother and the wedding of Prince William and Katherine, talks about his path from Scotland to Cambridge to Westminster Abbey, and what brought him to Yale's Institute of Sacred Music.

The episode also includes a statewide arts calendar for September 14–29, a "Composer Speaks" segment with Katherine Balch on her piece Musica Pyralis, and a Connecticut history note on Hiram Bingham II's discovery of Machu Picchu.

Sponsored by Bagley Strategic Advisors, LLC. Recorded at Yale School of Music.

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00:00 — Intro: William Boughton and Tom Duffy welcome viewers to the new season

00:21 — Summer catch-up and season anticipation

01:00 — Setting the scene: this week's episode comes from New Haven

02:05 — Recap of the season-opening episode at Hartford Stage, and introduction to this week's location

03:06 — Inside the Adams Center for Musical Arts and the Yale School of Music: history, acceptance rates, notable alumni, and past masterclass guests

04:39 — Sponsor message: Bagley Strategic Advisors, LLC

05:14 — Guest introductions: Evan Yionoulis (Dean, David Geffen School of Drama; Artistic Director, Yale Repertory Theater) and James O'Donnell (organist)

05:46 — Interview with Evan Yionoulis begins: her path from student director to Yale College to a career in theater

08:54 — What draws her to directing, and how she works with actors and designers

12:20 — On holding the dual role of dean and artistic director

16:02 — Previewing the Yale Rep's upcoming season, starting with Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and its connection to August Wilson's history at Yale

19:05 — Elektra in America, a new Yale Rep commission

20:53 — Rounding out the season: a new adaptation of Chekhov's The Seagull, Cascadia on the Hudson, and Watch Me Walk

21:44 — Thanking Evan and wrapping the interview

22:00 — Statewide arts news for September 14–29

22:17 — Emanuel Ax opens the Horowitz Piano Series

22:39 — Vista Quartet's multimedia performance on climate change

22:57 — Ellington Jazz Series featuring Jeff Fuller

23:19 — New Haven's orchestra season kicks off: New Haven Philharmonia and New Haven Symphony Orchestra

24:47 — Heads-up: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at Yale Rep and Dracula at Hartford Stage

24:59 — Yale University Art Gallery's exhibition, Keeping Alive the Remembrance

25:50 — Launch of "The Composer Speaks" series, featuring Katherine Balch on her piece Musica Perales

28:32 — Introduction of guest James O'Donnell

29:32 — James O'Donnell's early life: Scotland, Essex, and discovering the organ

32:20 — His path through the Royal College of Music and Cambridge

35:19 — Life as organ scholar at Jesus College, Cambridge

39:47 — Career at Westminster Cathedral and the move to Westminster Abbey

43:06 — Reflecting on performing at royal occasions, including state funerals and royal weddings

47:36 — A typical day as Director of Music at Westminster Abbey

52:57 — What brought him to Yale's Institute of Sacred Music

57:41 — Preview of his October 18th organ recital

51:03 — Yale Consort and its weekly choral services at Christ Church New Haven

52:53 — Upcoming performance of the St. John Passion in Salt Lake City

56:00 — Excerpt from James O'Donnell's 2024 organ recital performing Vidas' Sixth Symphony

58:00 — Little-known Connecticut fact: Hiram Bingham II and the discovery of Machu Picchu

59:27 — Sponsor message: Bagley Strategic Advisors, LLC

59:33 — Closing and preview of the next episode from the Florence Griswold Museum

This is Episode 1 of Connecticut Arts Talk, a new biweekly podcast hosted by William Boughton (conductor, former music director of the New Haven Symphony and Yale Symphony Orchestra) and Tom Duffy (longtime Director of Bands at Yale). Recorded live in the rehearsal room at Hartford Stage, the episode opens with the hosts' own backgrounds in music, then moves into a wide-ranging conversation with Hartford Stage managing director Cynthia — covering her path from actor to arts administrator, how the theater casts and builds productions, its nonprofit funding model, and the craft behind sets, lighting, costumes, and sound. The episode also includes an interview with Hartford Symphony Orchestra CEO Steve Collins about the orchestra's ongoing search for its next music director, a statewide arts events roundup, a lighthearted "bad reviews" segment, and a Connecticut history fact.

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Welcome to Connecticut Arts talk.  A podcast hosted by William Boughton and Tom Duffy.
This fortnightly podcast will discuss music, drama, dance and fine art all taking place right here in Connecticut.  As well as all the up to date news of what's happening in the arts.
Join William and Tom for lively conversations with Cynthia Rider, Augustin Hadelich, Chris Brubeck, James O'Donnell, Evan Yionoulis, and many more.
Tune in to CT Arts Talk starting on Sunday, August the 30th at 6 p.m.  Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Instagram, TikTok and all the usual platforms.

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