Keeping Cup with Ariana

Ariana is joined in this episode by her good friend and former studio-mate, cellist Francesca McNeeley. Francesca took an unusual path towards becoming a professional musician, having first studied politics at Princeton. She now lives in Boston, where she leads a varied musical life involving performing and teaching. She particularly enjoys playing contemporary music, and talks about how she got interested in it, and the reasons why she is drawn to it. Francesca and Ariana also talk about navigating the tough nuances in today's climate. They discuss the call-out culture of social media, regarding racist allegations in the classical music world. Francesca gives her perspective on how there has to be accountability, not just "canceling," in order for real progress to be made. 

You can find more about Francesca and the group Castle of Our Skins (which celebrates Black artistry through music) here.

Thanks for listening! Hit that subscribe button and please rate, review, and share with your friends :) New episodes uploaded every Friday.  Contact me with comments/suggestions via my website www.ariananelson.com Follow along on Instagram at @keeping.cup.with.ariana Support this podcast here!

Today's episode is a little different - an impromptu mother/daughter chat in Seattle, Washington. Violinist and chamber music guru Karen Iglitzin (AKA Ariana's mom) talks about what it was like to be the first violinist of the Philadelphia String Quartet, playing 80 concerts a year and traveling the world. Karen also founded a chamber music program in 2000 called Chamber Music Madness, and led it through 2011.  That name pretty much sums up her life. How 'bout some Hungarian music? Listen up to hear the mother/daughter team perform from their living room. 

Learn more about Karen at her website kareniglitzin.com

Thanks for listening! Hit that subscribe button and please rate, review, and share with your friends :) New episodes uploaded every Friday.  Contact me with comments/suggestions via my website www.ariananelson.com Follow along on Instagram at @keeping.cup.with.ariana Support this podcast here!

NYC based composer Paul Frucht joins the podcast this week! Paul talks about his latest composition project, "A More Perfect Union," which features text from Barack Obama's speeches. He and Ariana discuss the Charles Ives Music Festival, which is a chamber music concert series and camp that Paul founded. They also discuss what a composer and artistic director’s role is in promoting the works of BIPOC composers and artists going forward. Former roommates in the city, Paul and Ariana reminisce on fun and weird times they've shared in the apartment.

The excerpts from Paul's piece are from a video filmed by Zach Bell, produced by Yuga Cohler, and performed by bass-baritone Kenneth Kellogg and pianist Kevin Korth.

Find Paul’s music and more information at paulfruchtmusic.com and learn more about the Charles Ives Music Festival at https://charlesivesmusicfestival.org/

Thanks for listening! Hit that subscribe button and please rate, review, and share with your friends :) New episodes uploaded every Friday.  Contact me with comments/suggestions via my website www.ariananelson.com Follow along on Instagram at @keeping.cup.with.ariana

This week, Ariana (virtually) sits down with her friend Mayu Isom. Mayu plays oboe in the Houston Grand Opera and Ballet Orchestras. Finally, a non-string player! She loves to cook and bake - when she's not making reeds of course. We'll hear about her adorable cat Gnocchi, her new herb garden, recent baking projects, and what she's been listening to these days. If you're lucky, you might even get to hear the dulcet tones of an English Horn...

Here's where you can find Mayu @lanamayu_ and her cat Gnocchi @gnocchi_the_tortie on Instagram. Check out her website mayuisom.wixsite.com/oboe

Thanks for listening! Hit that subscribe button and please rate, review, and share with your friends :) New episodes uploaded every Friday.  Contact me with comments/suggestions via my website www.ariananelson.com

Violinist Natalie Gaynor joins the podcast to talk about her side hustle! Natalie is the principal second violinist of the Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet orchestras. Besides being a successful performer and teacher in the Houston area, Natalie is also a very talented photographer, and is well known in the musical community for taking beautiful headshots. Natalie and Ariana have known each other since their sophomore year at Rice University. They discuss how having a hobby or side job can add fulfillment and variety to one's life - if there's something you want to start, go for it, people! This episode is the first (of many to come) to feature performances by the guest, and even your host. Natalie and Ariana will be performing for you...listen up for some fiddly fun!

Find Natalie and her photography on Instagram at @nataro0o and @shotbynataro0o, and on her website www.nataliegaynor.com

Thanks for listening! Hit that subscribe button and please rate, review, and share with your friends :) New episodes uploaded every Friday.  Contact me with comments/suggestions via my website www.ariananelson.com 

Double bassist Michael Marks joins Ariana today to talk about all things orchestra auditions! Michael studied at the Colburn School and at Rice University, and won his first orchestral audition when he was just 19. Since then he has taken many more auditions, and recently won a BIG one. Michael shares his biggest takeaways from his auditions, and who has inspired him. He and Ariana discuss the importance of being kind and encouraging to yourself through the process. Get your notebook out for some hot tips!

ATTN BASS PLAYERS: Michael forgot to mention that he did in fact change his strings before his National Symphony Audition, to FLEXOCOR DELUXES. This is very important info :)

Find Michael on Instagram @michaelmarksthespot

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Contact me with comments/suggestions via my website www.ariananelson.com 

It's not every day that one gets to chat with someone so smart and talented...unless he’s your best friend. Jacob Shack discusses his unique trajectory of studying religion at Harvard, and then deciding to pursue a graduate degree in music at Juilliard. And now he's a tenured member of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He talks about the challenges he faced as well as the amazing opportunities he's had. Ariana and Jacob reminisce and cackle (as per usual) about some fun (and unfun) aspects of life at Juilliard!  

Find Jacob on Instagram @jacobrshack

Check out the Baltimore Symphony www.bsomusic.org 

Thanks for listening! Hit subscribe so you get notified when new episodes are uploaded. Contact me with comments/suggestions via my website www.ariananelson.com 

Ariana is joined by her friend, violist Molly Goldman, who is a performer and teacher in New York City. She has been very successful navigating the gig scene in the city, something that is not easy to accomplish. She recently went on a 6 month tour around the country performing on the Broadway show, Miss Saigon. Molly shares some crazy stories about what happens behind the scenes on tour, and the challenges of being on the road for so long. 

Find Molly on Instagram @mollygoldman  

Thanks for listening! Hit subscribe so you get notified when new episodes are uploaded. 

Contact me with comments/suggestions via my website www.ariananelson.com 

Ariana introduces herself and gives listeners a sneak peak of what to expect from upcoming episodes and fun interviews -  audition success (and failure), what it means to be a chamber music guru, having a side hustle, being a touring musician, what it’s *really* like to attend Juilliard, and everything in between. Be sure to stay tuned!