Maestro's On Air

Eric Lee and his Tuba

A great honor is bestowed as Eric Lee is named Resident of the Month by The Beachside Resident magazine. 

Our guest for the hour is writer Nataleigh Palmer who takes the helm and turns the tables on Eric to interview him for his upcoming feature in the July issue, available at more than 300 locations in Brevard county or at www.TheBeachsideResident.com.

Bob Gloppen playing the Big Band Bash

There's no stoppin' Bob Gloppen and he illustrates this point through tales of overcoming lost luggage containing his instrument for that night’s gig, the intricacies of European driving regulations during the Cold War, and what to do when locked out of a radio station in downtown Chicago at 7:00 on a cold winter morning.   

Who is Bob Gloppen, you ask?  He’s a professional musician from Chicago, one of Eric Lee’s longest-standing friends, and if you were at last weekend’s Big Band Bash, you would have seen his guest performance on bass guitar.

Unfortunately Bill Trudeau was under the weather.  Still, Eric, Bob and Jeremy pressed-on and discussed last weekend’s concerts of the Space Coast Symphony Jazz Orchestra, played a few clips, and even managed to get in a tutorial on good bass amp technique before the research department unveiled it’s discovery of a relic from the 1980s.

Also, we announced the newest winner of the First Friday Fizz Quizz and discussed pending concerts, including the upcoming patriotic (and FREE, get your tickets before they are gone) America the Beautiful concerts.     

Michele Campanelli

Maestro's On Air 23 - Michele Campanelli

It's a feast of mutual adoration today in the Café as we are joined by our biggest fan.  Plus, another precedent is broken by having the subject of Aaron Collins’ interview as our guest for the entire hour.

Michele Campanelli is a writer first published in the best selling series Chicken Soup for the Soul, and whose many works span genres from Science Fiction, to Children’s books, to somewhat more adult fare. 

Locally, Michele is also known as an operatic and choral singer and has performed with the SCSO.  She has much to say about upcoming events, as well as her thoughts on various styles of singing, plus teaching and learning to sing, and reveals a special offer.

Click to see Michele's first children's book, "Music at the Watering Hole" on Amazon.com.

Also, it’s time again for the First Friday Fizz Quiz. Submit your answers by midnight Sunday for a chance to win symphony tickets and be sure to check out the answers next week at .

Also, it’s time again for the First Friday Fizz Quiz.  Submit your answers by midnight Sunday for a chance to win symphony tickets and be sure to check out the answers next week at Encore.

Maestro's On Air 22 - Jennifer Royals

Jennifer Royals, SCSO Principal Clarinetist

This week in the Café we welcome Jennifer Royals, an original member and principal clarinetist of the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra. 

Over the hour the discussion ranges from retrospective of various clarinet solos and features, to Bill’s acknowledgment of the discovery of fire, and a look ahead at the upcoming season.

Be sure to check out Encore to see links to items referenced in the show.

Adam Lydon

Maestro's On Air 21 - Adam Lydon

Recorded at the Riverhouse, SCSO's headquarters, Aaron Collins interviews Adam Lydon about his growth as a musician and composer.  Key in the discussion is the pending world premier of Adam's piece EARTHSCAPE, to be performed by the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra during the season's final concert weekend. 

Plus Aaron, Eric, Bill and Jeremy preview other items on the agenda for the upcoming Earth Odyssey concerts, including a performance of Also Sprach Zarathustra in its entirety.  

And at long last, the unofficial Maestro's On Air position regarding Deflate-gate.

Dr. Pat Hennessey, Conducting in Hawaii

Maestro's On Air 20 - Dr. Pat Hennessey

This week in the Café we spend time getting to know Dr. Pat Hennessey, trombonist and new Director of the Space Coast Symphony Jazz Orchestra.  In addition to his affiliation with the SCSO, he is Director of Jazz Studies at Stetson University. 

Over the hour Dr. Hennessey shares much from his life as a professional trombonist and instructor.  His career spans multiple states, from a start in New Orleans, to a stint in the LA music scene plus many years at the center of music and culture in Hawaii, and includes stories of playing with some of the most famous musicians and singers of the last few decades.

Maestro's On Air 19, Barbara Hoffman.

International Tuba Day has come and gone, but we've still been celebrating all week.

Barbara Hoffman, Executive Director
Cultural Council of Indian River County

The show features Aaron Collins' discussion with Barbara Hoffman, Executive Director of the Cultural Council of Indian River County.

Plus, we uncork the questions, answers and winner of the inagural First Friday Fizz Quiz.
 

Be sure to check out bonus content at Encore.

Maestro’s On Air 18, Cathryn Leasure. 

Cathryn Leasure on Trombone

Another special guest musician joins us in the Café this week.  This time, it’s someone from SCSO’s own origin story.  Cathryn Leasure tells her side of the story surrounding the conversation spawning creation of the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, and why she soon agreed with Eric that Aaron Collins, “was their guy”. 

Plus, Cathryn talks about taking music lessons while growing up, participating in UK Brass Bands and a number of other interesting stories.

Also, included are two music pieces from the SCSO’s last performance of Carmen.  Thanks again to Andy Allen for use of his excellent recordings.

Check out bonus content at www.MaestrosOnAir.com/Encore.

We’re back in the Café this week, and Eric Lee fills us in on some of his many adventures while out of state.  Also featured is an interview with Eric’s friend Mike Grose.  Mike has been cataloging a series of interviews dedicated to highlighting the pedagogy and professional stature of longtime Chicago Symphony principal tubist, Arnold Jacobs. Mike get’s to add an interview of one more of Dr. Jacobs’ students, our own Eric Lee. 

Also featured is a discussion of SCSO’s new Symphony for Good campaign, plus a recording of Gabriel’s Oboe, performed at the recent concert in Viera.  Thanks again to Andy Allen for use of his excellent recording.

Mike Grose and Eric Lee

Oboist Kristin Naigus featured with SCSO

Maestro's On Air 16, Chuck McGee

Chuck McGee, oboist

With Eric Lee on the road again, we took our cups of coffee over to the River House for a discussion with Aaron Collins regarding the upcoming performance of Carmen. 

Also featured is Aaron’s interview with Chuck McGee, an excellent oboist and member of the SCSO discussing the path leading to a career in music, plus music education and the challenges of different types of music. 

Included partially in this show, thanks to Andy Allen for his recording of  SCSO's performance of Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony.

Plus there were a few announcements, and we tried unsuccessfully to extract details of the upcoming symphony season from Aaron...

Alas, that will have to wait for a future episode.