A single question—“Can I have it?”—nearly sent a child’s cello out the door. Instead, that moment lit a fuse that carried Hee-Young Lim from piano lessons and packed Korean school days to principal chair in Rotterdam and a teaching home at Beijing’s Central Conservatory of Music.

The Cello Sherpa Podcast host, Joel Dallow, interviews Hee-Young, and they take a deep dive into the chain of choices that shaped her artistry: the advantages of piano-first training for cello technique, how small hands and big extensions can coexist, and what it means to study across traditions with mentors from the French, German, Russian, and American schools. Hee-Young takes us inside the orchestra, sharing what she learned from working closely with Yannick Nézet-Séguin, decoding massive symphonic scores, and adapting to different halls on tour. Then she opens up about a turning point at thirty, why prestige wasn’t enough, how proximity to home and a lifelong dream to teach redefined success, and what makes Beijing’s conservatory culture distinct, from studio sizes to the freedom to teach across ages.

We also explore the heart behind her album Encores. Built one piece at a time in a colleague’s studio, the project gathers short works she first loved on piano and now sings through the cello. She explains how bow and breath reshape phrasing once sustained by pedal, why encore repertoire can carry the deepest personal stories, and how a DIY recording approach can yield a more intimate, honest sound. Throughout, her advice to young musicians is frank and generous: stay curious, stay open, and build resilience for a field that asks for both excellence and grit.

If you enjoy candid artist stories, real talk about career pivots, and behind-the-scenes insight into orchestral life, conservatory teaching, and recording strategy, this one’s for you. Listen, share with a friend who needs a nudge of courage, and leave a rating so more musicians and music lovers can find us.

For more information on Hee-Young: https://www.crossovermedia.net/artists/hee-young-lim/projects/the-encores-album/bio/

You can also find Hee-Young on Instagram and Facebook: @heeyounglim_official

or Youtube: @hee-younglim2202 

If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa

For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com 

A cello can feel like an escape, a calling, and eventually a limb. That’s how Johannes Moser describes the moment the instrument clicked for him and why, decades later, he still loves the daily work most players dread. Our conversation traces his path from messy youth concerts and amateur orchestras to major stages, revealing how real leadership grows when the horn enters early, the violas miss a cue, and the soloist still carries the story.

We dig into what actually sustains a modern career: commissions that energize seasons, manuscripts that change how you read the classics, and the habit of talking with audiences as openly as you play. Johannes explains how performers like Casals and Rostropovich expanded the cello’s possibilities and how today’s social media era risks trading depth for dazzle. His antidote is simple and demanding—feed your inner life with books and theater, cultivate personal relationships that lead to invitations, and practice with curiosity so conviction can bloom on stage.

Along the way, Johannes shares why new music keeps Dvorak and Schumann fresh, how shared ownership of premieres strengthens the repertoire, and what “productive doubt” looks like in the practice room. He also offers grounded advice for young players navigating a noisy landscape: value the people in the room over the algorithm, and let your voice—not just your velocity—set you apart. If you’re hungry for a clear, human blueprint to grow artistry, connect with listeners, and build a resilient life in music, this conversation will meet you where you are and push you forward.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more musicians can find it.

For more information on Johannes Moser: https://www.johannes-moser.com/

You can also find Johannes on Instagram and Facebook: @cellistjohannesmoser

If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa

For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com 

Perfectionism can sharpen your playing or steal your joy. The Cello Sherpa Podcast Host, Joel Dallow, sits down with clinical psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen to unpack where that line lives for working musicians and how to keep your standards high without letting self-worth rise and fall with every take. Ellen breaks down seven core patterns behind perfectionism—over-evaluation, self-criticism, rigid rules, mistake avoidance, procrastination, social comparison, and perfectionistic self-presentation—and shows how they quietly fuel audition anxiety, practice paralysis, and post-concert spirals.

Together, we reframe procrastination as an emotion management habit rather than a calendar problem, then trade approval-seeking for intention-setting you can control. Ellen offers practical ways to normalize a non-zero failure rate in auditions, interpret criticism without outsourcing your identity, and use both acceptance tools and cognitive restructuring to soften the inner critic. You’ll learn how to treat harsh thoughts like background noise, play with them to drain their power, and coach yourself with firm, kind language that actually leads to better performances.

We also explore the “perfectionistic climate” many musicians train in, the difference between healthy and maladaptive perfectionism, and small daily choices that reduce shoulds and increase motivation. If you’ve ever walked offstage to applause while frowning inside, this conversation gives you a path back to meaning, agency, and sustainable growth. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs it, and leave a quick review—what intention will you set for your next performance?

For more information on Ellen Hendriksen: https://www.ellenhendriksen.com/about

If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa

For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com 

What does it really take to lead a world-class cello section while raising two young kids and navigating an orchestra’s evolving culture? The Cello Sherpa Podcast Host, Joel Dallow, sits down with San Francisco Symphony principal cellist Rainer Eudeikis for a candid, witty, and deeply practical conversation about moving from Utah to Atlanta to the Bay Area, why some orchestras feel close-knit while others run purely professional, and how life stage changes your sense of community as much as geography does.

Rainer opens the front-stand playbook: direct conversations with the conductor, shaping section sound in real time, and the hidden grind of bowings that can make or break a rehearsal. He explains why he once resisted pops and movie concerts, how he came to value their physical and mental reset between heavy rep, and how smart rotation preserves endurance across a demanding subscription season. His practice advice is refreshingly doable—an under-30-minute daily routine that maintains intonation, articulation, and vibrato, plus “simmering” solos weeks in advance so they peak on cue. He also shares how to turn stage time into training, using lighter programs to refine shifts, bow control, and contact.

On auditions, Rainer pulls back the curtain on San Francisco’s process: resume screening, when and why tapes help, the pros and cons of recorded prelims, and the committee discipline needed to keep standards high without wasting candidates’ time or money. He describes hiring multiple young players—some initially asked to submit tapes—and what separates winners: musical identity, adaptability, and the ability to move a room in the first 30 seconds. For students and early-career musicians, his guidance is sharp and actionable: define your niche early, seek mentors who do the job you want, and build the psychology to perform under pressure without losing musical voice.

If you care about orchestral life, cello leadership, audition strategy, or simply practicing smarter, this conversation is rich with takeaways you can use today. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s prepping auditions, and leave a review to tell us your biggest question about principal leadership.

For more information on Rainer Eudeikis: https://www.rainereudeikis.com/

You can also find Rainer on YouTube: @Eudeikis

If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa

For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com 

What if a great music career isn’t either–or but yes–and? The Cello Sherpa Podcast Host, Joel Dallow, sits down with violinist Eunice Kim to explore how a childhood steeped in sound turned into a life that balances the intimacy of chamber music, the rigor of orchestral work, and the freedom of solo projects. From a seven-year-old debut in Seoul to the charged Saturdays at the San Francisco Conservatory prep division and the whirlwind of Aspen Music Festival, Eunice learned early to juggle scope and to listen as intensely as she plays.

That mindset prepared her for the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, a conductorless ensemble where every rehearsal is chamber music at scale. Eunice shares what it takes to thrive in that environment: crisp time management, shared leadership, and the courage to contribute without crowding the room. We talk through her unusual path into the SPCO—from recruitment play-ins to a recital-style audition heavy on chamber interaction—and why fit matters as much as chops. She pulls back the curtain on section size, rotating seats, balancing the hall’s acoustics, and how “wearing different hats” each week keeps her learning and inspired.

Outside the orchestra, Eunice maps out a modern approach to projects, programming, and management. After formative years with Astral Artists, she connected with Jonathan Wentworth Associates by pairing thoughtful repertoire with authentic stage presence, then shaped a partnership that respects her SPCO home base. We dig into how programs get built, why presenters chase narrative and variety, and how collaborations—from piano sonatas to a violin–double bass duo—can open doors. Her advice to young players is frank and generous: stay curious, try things twice, understand how organizations work, advocate clearly, and protect your energy to avoid burnout.

Subscribe for more conversations that demystify auditions, artist–manager relationships, and the real craft of making a sustainable, creative life in music. If this resonated, share it with a friend and leave a review to help others find the show.

For more information on Eunice Kim: https://www.eunicekimviolin.com/

You can also find Eunice on Instagram and Facebook: @eunipalooooza

If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa

For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com 

What if the thing that makes people laugh at your art is the same thing that makes them listen closer? That’s the tension—and the opportunity—at the heart of our conversation with cellist and filmmaker Nick Canellakis, whose viral sketches and serious performances are two sides of one craft. We dig into the roots: a musical family, early piano, and the moment the cello took hold. Then the parallel story: childhood home videos evolving into a full-fledged filmmaking habit, culminating in a Curtis holiday “skit night” that became a real short film. Nick walks us through his modern toolkit—single-camera iPhone shoots, simple mics, thoughtful coverage, and Adobe Premiere—to show how cinematic instincts can thrive without massive crews. The secret isn’t chasing trends; it’s writing what you know: the anxious, funny, fiercely devoted inner life of musicians.
That creative momentum has reshaped his concertizing. Nick shares how a five-minute live sketch can prime an audience for Tchaikovsky or Dvorak without diluting the music’s weight. We talk about the Orlando Philharmonic collaboration, the balance between entertainment and excellence, and why he refuses to become “a comedian who plays cello.” The music leads, the comedy widens the door, and both raise the stakes for connection.
We also explore his role on the Curtis Institute faculty and a fresh teaching model where students study with multiple mentors, including visits from artists like Gary Hoffman. It’s a system built for synthesis: different bowings, fingerings, and philosophies that invite players to own their choices and find their sound. Finally, Nick offers grounded advice for young musicians—swing bigger, don’t sell yourself short, and choose paths for love, not fear. If you’ve wondered how to blend passions without losing rigor, this one maps the territory.

If this conversation moved you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more musicians and creators can find it. 

For more information on Nick Canellakis: https://www.nicholascanellakis.com/biography

You can also find Nick Canellakis on Instagram and Facebook: @nick.canellakis_cellist

If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa

For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com 

A sacred plant, a living coastline, and a cello that sings in two voices—Sweetgrass brings them together with uncommon clarity. 

The Cello Sherpa Podcast Host, Joel Dallow, sits down with composer Dawn Avery and cellist Wilhelmina Smith to share how a pandemic idea turned into an immersive album where Mohawk language, indigenous song forms, and contemporary classical textures breathe the same air. Dawn traces her journey from conservatory training to a compositional practice grounded in Mohawk heritage, storytelling, and soundscapes that fold in blues, meditative space, and rock energy. Wilhelmina reflects on early breakthroughs at Curtis, a life-shaping stint in George Crumb’s experimental lab, and the chamber instincts that make her a natural collaborator. Together they unpack the title track’s symbolism—sweetgrass as strength and tenderness—and the craft behind multitracking cello lines that anticipate each other’s rubato, merging voice and instrument into a single, human pulse. We go inside key works, including We Enter Together and Decolonization, a gripping solo journey that threads a healing song, a women’s stomp dance, blues gestures, and a Hendrix-tinted national anthem to reframe what “American music” can hold. The conversation widens into a practical guide for making records today: funding with grants and community programs, choosing the right hall and producer, navigating label partnerships, owning your masters, and prioritizing digital releases when physical CDs gather dust. At heart, this is about why artists still record: to plant repertoire for younger players, to carry culture forward with respect, and to keep curiosity at the center of the craft. If you care about new music, indigenous voices, recording workflows, or the evolving music industry, this story offers both inspiration and a roadmap. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves the cello, and leave a review with the track that stayed with you.

For more information on Wilhelmina Smith: https://www.wilhelminasmith.com/bio.html

For more information on Dawn Avery: https://www.dawnavery.com/

You can also find Wilhelmina and Dawn on Instagram and Facebook: @dawnaveryartist @wscello

If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa

For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com 

The Cello Sherpa Podcast Host, Joel Dallow, interviews Cellist and Franchomme Scholar, Louise Dubin. She shares about her incredibly varied career as a freelancer, and her love of research, particularly on French compositions. Louise gives details about her experience recording her widely acclaimed album "The Franchomme Project" and her latest album "Passages." These albums reflect the culmination of her research in to discovering compositions that have never been recorded, and her drive to be the first one. She also shares about her experience working at Prussia Cove with Steven Isserlis, Ralph Kirshbaum, and William Pleeth. 

For more information on Louise: https://www.louise-dubin.com/

You can also find Louise on Instagram and Facebook: @weezeedee 

Check out Louise Dubin's upcoming concert on 10/25 at 7pm, where she will be performing selections from her latest album, "Passages" and from "The Franchomme Project" https://bachtrack.com/venue/st-johns-in-the-village-church

If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa

For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com 

The Cello Sherpa Podcast Host, Joel Dallow, interviews Cellist, Pablo Ferrández. Pablo has been working all over the world as an international soloist. He shares about the experience of being born into a musical family and named after his father's idol, Pablo Casals. He also talks about what its been like to build an international career over the past decade, become a Sony recording artist, and he shares details about recording his latest album, "Moonlight Variations."

For more information on Pablo: https://www.pabloferrandez.com/

You can also find Pablo on Instagram: @pabloferrandez.cellist     

and Youtube: @pabloferrandez

If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa

For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com 

The Cello Sherpa Podcast Host, Joel Dallow, interviews Clay McKinney, Orchestra Director and Cellist at Parkway Schools located in Chesterfield, Missouri. Clay shares how he developed an incredible passion for teaching, particularly as an Orchestra Director of a middle school. He also offers tips for building a following on social media, and talks about how he built an impressive following of over 10K on his Youtube channel.  

For more information on Clay: https://www.thecello.online/

You can also find Clay on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube: @thecelloonline

If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa

For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com