Alex Laing: Sounds. Words. People
Performing Labor
An interview with clarinetist, writer, speaker, and thought-leader, Alex Laing. Alex is the principal clarinetist of the Phoenix Symphony, an orchestra and board member of the Gateways Music Festival, and on the creative team of the NPR show, From the Top. Highlights Being an enormous positive influence professionally - 6:43 His background - 9:24 Engage, attract, and reflect - 11:31 Is there an opportunity to share new values? - 24:33 Practicing performances - 33:42 Having different narratives - 35:25 The best music played by the best musicians - 38:30 What values do we need to communicate -...
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Ben Sollee: Growing a Sense of Togetherness
Performing Labor
An interview with cellist, singer/songwriter, storyteller, composer, improviser, and activist, Ben Sollee. Highlights Combining music and drama - 6:58 Find your path and pursue it - 12:04 Why study classical music - 18:15 The culture of classical music - 22:24 The music business - 28:10 Helping people feel something - 41:18 Finding a balance point - 47:09 Consistency is really important - 48:23 His mission - 50:06 A crucial shift for growing - 51:22 It’s important to support artists - 55:10 Transparency is key - 56:16 Building trust is what it’s all about - 57:21 Handling disruption -...
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Holly Mulcahy: Igniting Imaginations
Performing Labor
An interview with violinist Holly Mulcahy, Concertmaster/Partner for Audience Engagement at the Wichita Symphony, concertmaster of the Chattanooga Symphony, soloist, recitalist, founder of Arts Capacity, and blogger. Highlights Her background - 6:47 When joy was missing - 8:26 Sometimes the energy is lacking - 11:08 Bringing out the level of the institution - 12:55 Good attitude vs. bad attitude - 14:26 Trying to influence attitudes - 16:16 Egos are so powerful - 20:00 Not feeling appreciated - 24:59 Stopped teaching and focused on her own practice - 28:25 What schools are teaching - 30:55...
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Meredith Snow: Looking Towards the Future
Performing Labor
An interview with Meredith Snow, violist in the Los Angeles Philharmonic and chair of ICSOM (International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians). We discuss the LA Phil's ascendancy and cultural impact, the changing priorities of classical music institutions, and the importance of organized labor. Highlights Success and economic prosperity - 7:15 We have to revitalize ourselves - 14:49 Have real-measuring impact - 15:54 Teaching teachers how to teach - 17:07 We have to diversify the music we play - 22:32 Being better musicians - 25:01 Change your mind - 31:39 Institutions will...
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Mikaela Davis: An Unconventional Path
Performing Labor
An interview with harpist, singer, songwriter, and Rochester, NY native, Mikaela Davis. We discuss her unconventional path from the Crane School of Music to writing, recording, and touring her own music. Mikaela has had rich experiences in many facets of music-making and the music business. She's an inspiring artist to listen to and learn from. Highlights Lives of working musicians in the 21st century - 6:38 Developing her ear - 7:41 The signing in her teenage years - 10:20 Wanting to have a degree - 12.34 A huge agency that wanted to sign her - 13:17 An extremely stressful experience...
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Sarah Whitney: Unlocking Possibility
Performing Labor
This episode features a conversation with violinist Sarah Whitney. Sarah has appeared on stages worldwide as a soloist and collaborative artist. We discuss her career with the acclaimed ensemble Sybarite5, her concert series Beyond the Notes, and her coaching practice and blog, The Productive Musician. “Marvelous violin acrobatics” - The Washington Post Highlights The music industry has been hit hard - 7:23 Brainstorming about what to do during the pandemic - 7:52 Keeping the conversations about music - 9:04 Being a violinist - 11:55 Being in a band - 16:44 People asking for...
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Dr. Lisa Brooks: Putting Education into Practice
Performing Labor
An interview with Dr. Lisa Brooks, Dean of the Jordan College of the Arts and Professor of Violin at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. Lisa is an active performer and is the principal second violin of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. We discuss her views on Butler's role in the community, turning student artists into good citizens, reforming curriculum in a large institution, and her own journey as a player and a leader. Highlights Dr. Lisa’s childhood - 6:56 Using sports metaphors in her teaching - 11:33 You have to choose one sport and do it - 12:29 We need better...
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Alanna Tonetti-Tieppo: A Place for Everyone in Music
Performing Labor
An interview with Alanna Tonetti-Tieppo, the sub-principal second violin of the Royal Northern Sinfonia in England. Before earning her current position in the Sinfonia, the Massachusetts native attended college in London and won awards with the Jubilee String Quartet. We discuss her education, auditions, and her professional philosophy and approach. Highlights What movement requires - 5:09 Her love for music - 7:31 What a good sound is - 11:37 Work hard and do your best - 14:12 How she got started - 16:48 Attention to details - 21:00 The repertoire attracted her - 24:58...
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Craig Wagner: Keeping Your Own Counsel
Performing Labor
An interview with guitarist and educator Craig Wagner from Louisville, KY. A virtuoso jazz guitarist, Craig also regularly plays as a soloist with major symphony orchestras and has toured and recorded with the platinum-selling rock band Days of the New. Highlights Craig’s unique technique - 11:48 Improvisation and playing - 14:15 How you can improvise - 21:04 Rock music and Pop music - 22:27 Craig’s College experience - 29:19 Learning with imitation at first - 30:57 Trying to avoid things - 34:48 Listening to it over and over again - 40:59 How the pandemic has affected his teaching...
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Teddy Abrams: Music as Service
Performing Labor
An interview with conductor, clarinetist, pianist, improviser, composer, and my former boss, Teddy Abrams, music director of the Louisville Orchestra and the Britt Festival in Oregon. We discuss the roots of his eclecticism, his vision for the future of orchestras, and how music can be a driving force for positive change in a community. Highlights Teddy’s background - 8:29 Listening to music at home - 9:05 His awakening - 11:26 Learning about composers - 14:51 How he became a Jazz pianist - 18:20 Learning so much - 26:46 The DNA of an orchestra - 29:06 We should all be learning -...
info_outlineInterview with Boston-based cellist Leo Eguchi. We spoke about his orchestral career with the New Bedford Symphony and Portland Symphony, studying music and physics at the University of Michigan and Boston University, his chamber music ensembles: the Sheffield Chamber Players and the Willamette Chamber Music Festival.
Highlights
- Special places to play - 6:35
- The arts industry - 8:40
- Tasting wine - 10:09
- Talking about music festivals - 12:50
- What should be happening? - 19:08
- Exclusionary problems - 21:47
- Feeling passion for music - 25:19
- There are lessons to be learned - 26:42
- A barrier between performances and audience - 27:47
- The biggest weakness of an orchestra - 31:25
- The principle of connection - 31:52
- The Boston musical community - 35:17
- It’s been hard for his colleagues in Boston - 37:07
- It’s a joy to teach students over Zoom - 39:42
- The life of a freelancer - 41:09
- Playing a program 12 times - 42:42
- Trying new programs - 44:58
- Leo’s education - 48:11
- One thing that the music industry must not forget - 49:33
- Recommendations of what to listen to - 57:30
Episode Resources
- Connect with Robert Hunt Simonds:
- [email protected]
- http://roberthuntsimonds.com/
- Performing Labor's music: http://craigwagnermusic.blogspot.com
- Connect with Leo Eguchi:
- https://www.instagram.com/WVchambermusic/
- https://www.leoeguchi.com
- https://twitter.com/leo_eguchi?lang=en
- Pre order WCMF's new record: https://www.brightshiny.ninja/her-own-wings
- Leo’s chamber ensembles:
- Willamette Chamber Music Festival https://www.wvchambermusic.org
- Sheffield Chamber Players: https://www.sheffieldchamberplayers.org
- Leo’s orchestras:
- New Bedford Symphony: https://nbsymphony.org
- Portland Symphony: https://portlandsymphony.org
- Leo’s recommendations:
- Osvaldo Golijov: https://osvaldogolijov.com
- Lina Hager Cohen: https://www.leahhagercohen.com
- Gabriella Smith: https://www.gabriellasmith.com/Home.html