Let's Talk Off The Podium

Ep. 95: Holly Mathieson, conductor

Let's Talk Off The Podium with Tigran Arakelyan

New Zealand-born Holly Mathieson is an award-winning conductor, regularly working with opera houses, ballet companies and orchestras in Europe, Australasia and North America. She is the Music Director Designate of Symphony Nova Scotia, Co-Artistic Director of the Nevis Ensemble with Jon Hargreaves, and founder and artistic director of Rata Music Collective. She frequently records for BBC Radio, and her first major commercial recording with Decca reached #1 on the UK classical charts. Her work has seen her travel to nearly every continent on the planet, and perform for audiences spanning from the British Royal Family and Europe’s political elites, to Scotland’s homeless and refugee communities.

In this podcast we talk about programming, her time as an orchestra librarian, working with young musicians and music in time of Covid-19. Fascinating conversation with lots of stories!

For more information about Holly Mathieson please visit: https://www.hollymathieson.com/

© Let's Talk Off The Podium, 2020

Ep. 94: Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Children's Chorus

Let's Talk Off The Podium with Tigran Arakelyan

Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, internationally regarded choral conductor, clinician and educator, began his tenure as Artistic Director of Los Angeles Children’s Chorus in the 2018-19 season. He has worked with children’s and youth choirs his entire career. From 2004 to July 2017, Malvar-Ruiz was the Music Director of The American Boychoir, leading some 150 performances and up to five national and international tours annually. He prepared the choir for appearances with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestra, among others, working with such conductors as Marin Alsop, Pierre Boulez, Charles Dutoit, Michael Tilson Thomas and Valery Gergiev and artists ranging from cellist Yo-Yo Ma, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and pop legends Beyoncé Knowles, Sir Paul McCartney and Josh Groban to opera singers Kathleeen Battle and Jessye Norman. He also conducted the choir on six recordings, led its performances on the Academy Awards and a 9/11 Memorial Service, broadcast globally on CNN and was the music director on the film “Boychoir.” Malvar-Ruiz previously served as The American Boychoir’s Associate Music Director from 2000-2004 under James Litton. An expert in the adolescent male evolving voice, Malvar-Ruiz has guest conducted children’s and youth choirs around the globe. He has a master’s degree in Choral Conducting from Ohio State University and completed the coursework toward a doctoral degree in from the University of Illinois.

In this podcast we talk about his passion for youth choirs, music education, inspirational mentors, programming, and collaborating with orchestras as a choral conductor. He also talks about his journey to working with choirs and specifically his passion for youth and music education.

For more information about the Los Angeles Children's Chorus please visit: https://www.lachildrenschorus.org/

© Let's Talk Off The Podium, 2020

Ep. 93: Evelyn Glennie, virtuoso percussionist

Let's Talk Off The Podium with Tigran Arakelyan

Performing worldwide with the greatest orchestras, conductors and artists, Dame Evelyn Glennie’s solo recordings, which now exceed 30 CDs, are as diverse as her career on-stage. A double GRAMMY award winner and BAFTA nominee Evelyn is a composer for film, television and music library companies. Evelyn was awarded an OBE in 1993 and now has over 100 international awards to date, including the Polar Music Prize and the Companion of Honour. Evelyn is currently embarking on the formation of The Evelyn Glennie Collection. The vision is to open a centre that embodies her mission to Teach the World to Listen.

In this podcast I spoke with one of the most iconic figures in classical music, Dame Evelyn Glennie. We spoke about improvisation, her journey to the Royal Academy of Music, life changing moments, music education and advice to young musicians. Glennie also talks about her first music teacher, collection of over 2000 instruments and hearing loss.

For more information about Evelyn Glennie please visit: https://www.evelyn.co.uk/

© Let's Talk Off The Podium, 2020

Mark O'Connor began his creative journey at the feet of American fiddling legend Benny Thomasson, and the iconic French jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli. Now, at age 55, he has melded these influences into a new American classical music, and is perpetuating his vision of an American School of String Playing. Mr. O’Connor has won three Grammys, seven CMA awards as well as several national fiddle, guitar and mandolin champion titles. His distinguished career includes representing the United States Information Agency in cultural diplomacy to six continents and performing in front of several U.S. presidents including being invited to the White House by President Ronald Reagan to perform as a teen.

In this podcast we talk about O'Connor's groundbreaking violin concertos, passion for education through the O'Connor Method, collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma, his mentors, American string playing and much more. Fascinating conversation with visionary whose approach to music and education has brought millions of people to the world of classical music and beyond.

John Daversa is a multi-Grammy winning artist, composer, arranger, producer, bandleader, educator, and Chair of Studio Music and Jazz at The Frost School of Music, University of Miami.

​ Daversa’s celebrated and distinctive musical perspective has been a passport to performances on world stages such as The Today Show, Late Nite with David Letterman, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Live 8 (Berlin), Hamburg Music Festival, Java Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Montreux Festival, and the Playboy Jazz Festival. He has also had the opportunity to perform or record with artists such as Fiona Apple, Michael Bublé, Dori Caymi, Andraé Crouch, Sheryl Crow, Herbie Hancock, Bob Mintzer Big Band, and The Yellowjackets.

In this podcast we talk about his move from Los Angeles to Miami, recorded albums, big bands, a jazz trumpet concerto, future projects and much more. Lastly, we discuss his journey and success with the multi-Grammy award winning album titled American Dreamers.

Ep. 90: Jaime Martín, conductor

Off The Podium with Tigran Arakelyan

In September 2019 Jaime Martín became Chief Conductor of the RTE National Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. He has been Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Gävle Symphony Orchestra since 2013, and his time there has brought the orchestra a new level of international recognition through highly acclaimed recordings and touring performances. Having spent many years as a highly regarded flautist, working with the most inspiring conductors of our time, Jaime turned to conducting full-time in 2013 and has become very quickly sought after at the highest level.

In this podcast we talk about the pandemic and the impact on the world of music, orchestral programming and diversity in Los Angeles. We also discuss the importance of new works, youth and community engagement. Lastly, Maestro Martín talks about the importance of Nikolaus Harnoncourt on his career and musical outlook.

For more information about Jaime Martín please visit: https://imgartists.com/roster/jaime-martin/

© Off The Podium, 2020

Ep. 89: Shiva Shafii, Director of Communications at Seattle Symphony

Off The Podium with Tigran Arakelyan

My guest is a young and dynamic Director of Communications for the Seattle Symphony, Shiva Shafii. In this episode we talk about the orchestral world during the pandemic and the future. Shiva talks about an injury in her early 20's and how she continued to be involved in music as an arts leader. We also talk about diversity in programming, connecting with audiences and much more!

Follow Shiva Shaffi on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/shivashafii...

Ep. 88: Robert Aldridge, composer

Off The Podium with Tigran Arakelyan

GRAMMY®-winning composer Robert Livingston Aldridge (1954, Richmond,VA) has written over sixty works for orchestra, opera, music-theater, voice, dance, string quartet, solo and chamber ensembles. His music has been performed throughout the United States, Europe and Japan and Australia. He has received numerous fellowships and awards for his music from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Guggenheim Foundation, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, National Endowment for the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Massachusetts Artist's Foundation, the Lila Wallace Reader's Digest Fund, Meet the Composer, The American Symphony Orchestra League, the New Jersey Council on the Arts and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. In this podcast we talk about his approach to composing, commissions, revisions and music education. Aldridge also talks about his journey from an English literature student to an award winning career in music. Lastly, he talks about his father as an inspirational figure, gives advice to young composers and what it means to be a successful composer.

For more information about Robert Aldridge please visit his official website: http://www.robertlivingstonaldridge.com/index.php

© Off The Podium, 2020

Ep. 87: Ran Blake, pianist/composer/educator

Off The Podium with Tigran Arakelyan

In a career that now spans five decades, pianist Ran Blake has created a unique niche in improvised music as an artist and educator. With a characteristic mix of spontaneous solos, modern classical tonalities, the great American blues and gospel traditions, and themes from classic Film Noir, Blake’s singular sound has earned a dedicated following all over the world. His dual musical legacy includes more than 40 albums on some of the world’s finest jazz labels, as well nearly 40 years as a groundbreaking educator at Boston’s New England Conservatory.

In this podcast the legendary musician and educator talks about his teachers, collaborations, Gunther Schuller and creating a new department at the New England Conservatory. He also talks about his MacArthur fellowship, George Avakian, Thelonious Monk, Oscar Peterson and his many solo albums.

For more information about Ran Blake please visit his official website: https://ranblake.com/

© Off The Podium, 2020

Ep. 86: Stephen Hartke, composer.

Off The Podium with Tigran Arakelyan.

Winner of the 2013 GRAMMY Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition, Stephen Hartke is widely recognized as one of the leading composers of his generation, whose work has been hailed for both its singularity of voice and the inclusive breadth of its inspiration. From 1987 to 2015, he taught at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, retiring as Distinguished Professor Emeritus. He now serves as Professor and Chair of Composition at Oberlin Conservatory. “One of the most distinctive and important living composers.” - New York Times

In this podcast we talk about his move from CA to OH, his passion for non-western music genres and incorporating those ideas in his compositions. We also talk about composing with boundaries and having the freedom to compose without any restrictions. Hartke also gives advice to young composers, talks about inspirational figures in his life, and the future of classical music.

For more information about Stephen Hartke please visit his official website: http://www.stephenhartke.com/

© Off The Podium, 2020