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Melissa White: Breaking Down Barriers

Performing Labor

Release Date: 08/06/2020

Alex Laing: Sounds. Words. People show art 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 -...

info_outline Ben Sollee: Growing a Sense of Togetherness show art 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 -...

info_outline Holly Mulcahy: Igniting Imaginations show art 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...

info_outline Meredith Snow: Looking Towards the Future show art 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...

info_outline Mikaela Davis: An Unconventional Path show art 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...

info_outline Sarah Whitney: Unlocking Possibility show art 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...

info_outline Dr. Lisa Brooks: Putting Education into Practice show art 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...

info_outline Alanna Tonetti-Tieppo: A Place for Everyone in Music show art 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...

info_outline Craig Wagner: Keeping Your Own Counsel show art 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...

info_outline Teddy Abrams: Music as Service show art 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 -...

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An interview with violinist Melissa White from the Grammy-winning Harlem String Quartet and Co-founder of Intermission.

 

Highlights

  • Rescheduling dates and postponing events - 5:49
  • Music, movement, and life - 11:29
  • The panic aspect - 13:17
  • Classes online - 13:56
  • Teaching violin virtually - 15:52
  • The more you practice, the better you get - 20:55
  • The conservatory education - 32:51
  • Providing mentorship - 36:48
  • Starting to create programs - 44:57
  • Prioritizing storytelling - 47:13
  • What happens when people come to a concert - 1:00:37
  • Breaking down barriers - 1:01:59

 

Episode Resources