Greenroom Conversations

Listen to S04E04, our conversation with Cecile Licad on Apple, Spotify, and Sticher. Cecile Licad called "a pianist's pianist" by The New Yorker, joined us to talk about her international career, starting as a prodigy and leading to her current project of American music. http://www.barrettartists.com/artist.php?id=clicad

Jazz French Hornist and composer John Clark talked about his career path in both classical and jazz improvisation, playing, teaching, recording, composing and publishing. He remains one of the first and few full-time jazz horn artists in the US. Currently, he freelances in NYC, records and publishes under his label Hidden Meaning Music.

https://hmmusic.com

Tosca Opdam is among the most prominent artists to have emerged from the Netherlands in recent years. Dividing her time between the US and Europe, she embraces the idiosyncratic qualities of both cultural worlds to enrich a personal expressiveness in music.

We talked to her about her debut of a new violin concerto and various projects. On April 23, 2020 she performs again at Carnegie Hall, Zankel Hall.

We are so embarrassed about the long wait and if you're reading this that means you've stuck around! Yeah for you... and Thank you!

Best Morgan. Betsy entered the studio for our interview like a true New Yorker carrying an old full Ikea bag of tasks and errands and yet also with the positivity and friendliness of a midwesterner both of which she identifies as being. And all while being 8 ½ month pregnant.

Betsy tells Ryan and Kevin all about being a multifaceted performer with lots of hats to wear which she does so well from on-stage every day to understudying, standby and swing. Hang on tight; there's a lot to learn form Betsy in all of the ways.

• Betsy's Playbill Page

George Farmer. Ryan and Kevin were delighted to have George Farmer in the studio to discuss how he got to broadway and how he feels about lending a hand to aspiring performers. George is truly a musician's musician. He clearly loves everything about the industry. Enjoy!

• George's Website
• George's Playbill Page
• Interview with Bass Musician Magazine
• FaceBook

Ryan Driscoll. Ryan is currently on faculty at NYU and works as a music copyist for Broadway. Most recently Ryan was the copyist for the musical COME FROM AWAY, a show he feels incredibly proud of. Listen in to find out how Ryan's path led from early success as a performer in his teens (starring opposite Idina Menzel), to following his heart to teaching and being a music copyist. His love of what he does is infectious; you are going to be entertained listening to Ryan tell his story and explain the world of the copyist.

• NYU Faculty Bio
• COME FROM AWAY

Paul Sheftel, Pianist, Composer and Pedagogue joined us in the studio to share his story about his teaching experience and his path to the use of technology in his piano teaching. We discussed many aspects of his remarkable career.

• Paul's Website
• Yamaha Artist Website
• Faculty Website-Rider

Lisa Alexander, bassoonist, is a solo recitalist and chamber musician in the New York metropolitan area and currently holds positions with The Ridgefield Symphony and The Little Orchestra Society. She is a founding member of the Glickman Ensemble, a bassoon chamber ensemble that has toured the United States and Europe. Ms. Alexander is Adjunct Professor of Bassoon at Hofstra University. She shares with us her career experience, reed making, synthetic reeds and all about Bassoons manufacturers and sound.

• Glickman Ensemble Website
• Glickman Ensemble Facebook Page
• Faculty Website-Hofstra

Check out this episode!

Chris Fenwick. Chris was the Music Director of the Tony award winning production of FUN HOME, and is currently on staff at City Center as the Music Director of Encores! Off-Center. He sat down with us in the studio after his hugely successful run of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, that starred Jake Gyllenhaal and an all-star cast. Listen in to find out how he chooses to learn rather than panic in stressful situations, and why he as achieved so much so early in his career.

• Chris Fenwick
• Encores! Off Center