If you've ever been interested in what goes on behind the stage of the classical music industry, this episode is for you! Lydia Connolly is Senior Director and Head of Inclusion & Access at leading management agency Harrison Parrott and in this episode, she shares how she got started in the industry, what her day-to-day life involves and the changing trends in the industry from programming to gender inclusivity. We also chat about her work as a Trustee of the HarrisonParrott Foundation and hear about her upbringing in a very musical household.

HarrisonParrott website: https://www.harrisonparrott.com/
Personal Blog article by Lydia: https://www.harrisonparrott.com/news/2023-04-14/lydia-connolly-my-relationship-with-music

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In this episode, learn all about the work of music charity Brass for Africa through a series of interviews that Matilda conducted during her trip to Uganda in February 2024! As an Ambassador for the charity, Matilda visited many of the different programs in and around Kampala, learning about how Brass for Africa provides Music and Life Skills education for around 2000 disadvantaged youths across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Find out more about Brass for Africa here: https://www.brassforafrica.org/

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In this conversation, Matilda interviews Owain Park: conductor, composer, organist, singer and the founder of the Gesualdo Six vocal consort. They discuss the group's formation, the challenges of singing one to a part and the importance of maintaining a mailing list to directly communicate with their audience. Owain shares his first introduction to classical music and how he became an organ scholar. They discuss the educational work and outreach that the Gesualdo Six does, as well as the importance of professional choirs like the BBC Singers. Owain also talks about his compositional process and the different approach he takes when writing for instruments. He introduces the Gesualdo Six's latest album, Morning Star, which features works for Epiphany. 

Owain's Website: https://www.owainpark.co.uk/
The Gesualdo Six Website: https://www.thegesualdosix.co.uk/

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Meet Rakhi Singh, co-founder of the Manchester Collective, violinist, composer and more! In this week's episode we chat to the extremely creative Rakhi, who explores her identity through music in many ways, including composing, performing as a solo violinist (on her new album Purnima) and touring the country with her ensemble. She delves deep into the realities of being a touring musician: rest and recuperation, performance preparation, adrenaline, finding the balance, and also shares with us how and why she helped form the ensemble.

Rakhi's website: https://rakhisinghmusic.co.uk/
Listen to Purnima on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4uw6q4ogsRCtXAnS7nRkhH?si=C6uoKC5TQGeXuP-wCKhv1A
Manchester Collective tour: https://manchestercollective.co.uk/events

This week's guest is British conductor Duncan Ward, who makes his Barbican debut with the London Symphony Orchestra later this month - more details below! Alongside touring the world guest conducting top orchestras, Duncan is Chief Conductor of the South Netherlands Philharmonic and Music Director of the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra. In this chat, find out why he is so passionate about working with youth orchestras, the craziness of jump-ins, the unconventional path of being a conductor and how he rests and recuperates away from the podium.

Duncan's website: http://www.duncan-ward.co.uk/
16th November LSO Concert: https://www.lso.co.uk/whats-on/a-world-of-possibilities-duncan-ward-abel-selaocoe/ 
23rd November LSO Concert: https://www.lso.co.uk/whats-on/bartok-janacek-debussy/ 

Keep up to date with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicalrootspodcast

Everyone working in the music industry (in any capacity) needs to hear this awesome episode with Vick Bain, Past President of the ISM. We discuss all of the challenges of being a woman in the industry, especially in a leadership role, including being looked over for promotions, imposter syndrome, her experience at Henley Business School and more. We also delve deep into all of Vick's important research, including Counting the Music Industry: The Gender Gap, the ISM's Dignity at Work 2022 report, her ongoing PHD and her non-profit directory of female musicians: The F-List.

Counting the Music Industry: The Gender Gap Report - https://www.ukmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Counting-the-Music-Industry-full-report-2019.pdf
ISM Dignity at Work 2022 Report - https://www.ism.org/images/files/ISM-Dignity-2-report.pdf
The F-List: https://thef-listmusic.uk/
The F-List Spotify Playlists: https://open.spotify.com/user/ka6zto60tlvre9fug8cxx4mi0

Our guest this week is star guitarist Miloš! In our conversation with Miloš, we track his incredible journey from Montenegro to arriving at the Royal Academy of Music in London aged 17. He shares with us the challenges that came with this (including awful British canteen food!) and other barriers that he faced early on in his career as a guitar soloist. Having recovered from a debilitating hand injury, Miloš has now signed with Sony Classical and his first album with them, BAROQUE, will be released on Friday 13th October 2023!

Pre-order Miloš' new album BAROQUE: https://milos.lnk.to/baroque
Miloš' website: http://milosguitar.com/

Follow our podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicalrootspodcast

In this week's episode we chat to composer Deborah Pritchard! We learn all about her compositional process, and her unique synaesthetic connections between colour and music that cause so much of her music to be inspired by visual artworks. We also discuss creating art from music, finding a balance in life, how nature inspires her and her advice for young composers.

Find out more about Deborah: https://naomibelshaw.com/deborah_pritchard_2 

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicalrootspodcast

Even though you haven't met him yet, you've already heard Giles' fabulous work... we proudly present an episode with the composer of our podcast jingle that begins and ends every episode! This week we sit down with Giles, who mainly works as an orchestrator and arranger on films and TV in studios like Abbey Road and AIR for Netflix, Disney, Jules Buckley and more. Come behind the scenes of these famous studios and learn about Giles' work, his passion for sailing, and his career advice for young musicians.

Giles' website: https://www.gilesthorntonmusic.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicalrootspodcast

This week's guest is freelance violinist Ellie Consta, who founded Her Ensemble in 2020: a free-form group that aims to dismantle gender stereotypes and address the gender gap in classical music. In this episode, we discuss the differences between the pop and classical music worlds, self-expression through concert clothes, the difficulties of being a freelance musician, the challenges of stepping into a role as a director, how to research music by female composers, burnout and more!

Her Ensemble Website: https://www.herensemble.org/