Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

di Leah Roseman
Società e cultura
Stagione 37
Jeremy Mastrangelo: A Joyful Musical Journey and Unexpected Discovery
Conversations with Musicians with Leah Roseman is available wherever you listen to podcasts. The video and transcript are linked here on my website, where you can check out my episodes catalog and sign up for Sneak Peeks for upcoming guests: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/jeremy-mastrangelo This week’s guest is violinist Jeremy Mastrangelo, who’s a wonderful colleague of mine in Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra. He’s known in our greenroom as a great storyteller, onstage as an excellent musician, and having heard him give brilliant masterclasses I can attest to his excellence as an educator as well. This episode is infused with Jeremy’s wit and wisdom as well as a couple of beautiful violin performances. We talk about violin shopping in Cremona, teenage life at Interlochen Academy, the difficulties and joys of a career as an orchestral musician, family, and the benefits of deepening our understanding of the composers we play. You will find that one of the wonderful stories in this episode reveals an unexpected discovery! This independant podcast needs your support. Can you help with $3? https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman Thanks so much! Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (02:11) Jeremy’s brother Dave, his childhood starting violin (10:31) Bach Aria from Goldberg Variations (13:23) Dave Mastrangelo arrangements (15:05) orchestra audition process (19:11) working conditions, collective agreements, Syracuse orchestra experience, Sara Mastrangelo (27:21) please support the podcast! (28:00) different roles and chairs in the orchestra (30:31) Interlochen (34:13) intro to Piazzolla etude (35:45) Piazzolla Tango Etude no. 3 (39:34) dealing with uncertainty, pandemic Syracuse then Ottawa with Pinchas Zukerman (45:37) ideal orchestra experiences, role of conductor and players (50:15) Cremona with wife Sara, Italian heritage, Vittorio Villa (55:54) Jeremy’s violin teachers Rafail Sobolevsky, Bill Preucil, Hal Grossman, Paul Kantor (01:03:26) Rafail Sobolevsky story (01:10:13) Sally Thomas, James Ehnes (01:14:12) cooking (01:16:07) great books about composers and performers (01:20:37) solo experiences, stress dreams, benefits of knowing more about the composers (01:28:16) one final orchestra story
S37 · E3
4 nov 2023
1:31:33
Stagione 14
Avi Kisha Sarod player: Community and Innovation
Avi Kishna is a Dutch sarod player based in Amsterdam, of Indo-Surinamese heritage. You’ll get to know the sarod as an instrument and hear Avi’s perspectives on Dutch society and his interesting collaborations. Among his mentors is his inspiring father, Ramdew Kishna, a multi-talented musician, director, and painter, who played a pivotal role in shaping Avi's musical journey along with his guru, Koustuv Ray. As a young man, Avi embarked on a successful career as in sales and marketing, but during this time he pushed music aside, and I found it deeply touching to hear how he was able to come back to music with the wisdom of having left such an important part of himself behind. You’ll hear about Avi’s project working with schools in Amsterdam to help provide music programs in underserved communities and this episode features some of his sarod music. Like all my episodes, you can also watch this on my YouTube channel, and I’ve also linked the transcript here to my website: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/avi-kishna Can you buy this podcaster a coffee to support this series? https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman Thanks! Here you'll find the links to Avi's projects like Raga Reflections, where to stream and buy his music, upcoming performances, including a video with dancer Shailesh Bahoran (which we talk about): https://www.sarodbyavi.com/ Link to Muziek Educatie Centrum Amsterdam: https://www.muziekeducatiecentrum.nl/jeugd-fonds-sport-cultuur-amsterdam Follow me on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/leahroseman Episode with sitar player Mohamed Assani: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/mohamed-assani Episode with bansuri player Milind Date: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/milind-date-bansuri-player Complete Catalog of Episodes: https://www.leahroseman.com/about Newsletter sign-up: https://mailchi.mp/ebed4a237788/podcast-newsletter Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (03:42) the sarod (11:57) Indo-Surinamese heritage and history (16:16) South Asian music in the Netherlands (19:38) dancer Shailesh Bahoran (25:00) excerpt from While She Sleeps (28:06) bringing different music together, Soundscape Sessions (38:01) please support this podcast! (38:39) Ramdew Kishna, Avi’s father (43:27) racism and inclusion (50:53) sarod guru Gungun Kaustuv Ray (56:14) learning from others (57:56) Raga Reflections (01:04:19) Darbari (01:08:00) sales and marketing career, return to music (01:13:05) giving back through music education
S14 · E8
23 mar 2024
1:19:35
Stagione 6
Mary Beth Orr: The Singing Horn, Appalachia and Resilience
Mary Beth Orr is a wonderful award-winning horn player and folk vocal artist. Throughout this moving episode you’ll be hearing short excerpts from her album “The Singing Horn” which celebrates traditional Appalachian songs with Mahler and contemporary works composed for Mary Beth through Vox Novus’ Fifteen Minutes of Fame Project. Mary Beth is currently 3rd Horn of the Grand Rapids Symphony, and she shares the best advice I’ve heard about succeeding at orchestral auditions. Mary Beth also experienced a serious accident that threatened her life and then her ability to play the horn and she shares many other difficult personal challenges. I was so moved to hear her story and wisdom and I encourage you to come back and listen to the end. You can watch the video on my YouTube or listen to the podcast, and I’ve also linked the transcript. Have a look at the show notes of this episode on my website, where you’ll find all the links (suggested episodes, podcast merch, newsletter, and of course Mary Beth and her album). SHOW NOTES: IMPORTANT LINKS! (00:00) Intro (01:43) The Singing Horn, with clips of tracks 1,2,6,3 (12:37) 15 Minutes of Fame project Robert Voicsey with clips of tracks 15, 13 (16:26) Mahler, The Singing Horn album inspirations, clips track 4 (22:45) becoming a mother, creative process, clip of her song Good and True track 25 (28:51) live experience, connecting with audiences, arrangements and collaborators with clips track 7, 24, 26 (40:41) other suggested episodes (41:50) Appalachian singing style, why the horn is hard (50:13) female brass mentors (53:11) the accident and recovery with clip track 12 (01:07:24) grief and living life with joy with clip of track 18 (01:14:06) Mary Beth’s sister Ann Marie Orr, disability awareness (01:19:31) audition and career advice
S6 · E22
13 lug 2026
1:33:51
Recording Global Music with Producer Ian Brennan Part 3: Azerbaijan, Malawi, Parchman Prison
This is my third conversation with Ian Brennan in this mini ongoing series with him, within my podcast. If you missed Parts 1 and 2 they are linked in the show notes for you. Today you’ll hear about how he recorded some of the oldest voices in the world in Azerbaijan, and some of the bonus tracks including the Kronos quartet and The Good Ones. Ian shared how he met the Malawi Mouse Boys and then brought them to international attention, and what that has meant for them. We talked about the Chicago Gunfire Survivors project, Ian’s book Peace by Peace, 99 Steps Toward Violence Prevention and De-escalation, and the powerful Parchman Prison albums. At the end I asked him about his Grammy-nominated album with Ramblin’ Jack Elliot “I Stand Alone”. In the show notes you’ll find photos from the album covers by Ian’s wife the Italian-Rwandan filmmaker and photographer Marilena Umuhoza Delli. You'll find the track information for the excerpts in the timestamps and everything is linked in the show notes on my website. You can also watch the video on my YouTube or listen to the podcast on your preferred platform and I've also linked the transcript. Have a look at the show notes where you'll find all the links, including different ways to support this podcast . Please note that I’ve linked suggested episodes you’ll find interesting along with other episodes with Ian, each focusing on different albums he’s recorded. Complete show notes (00:00) Intro (02:40) Azerbaijan “The Oldest Voice in the World” album with clips tracks 1, 5, album linked in show notes (13:13) Ageism, Azerbaijan, clips of tracks 23 Kronos and 26 The Good Ones (17:58) the Malawi Mouse Boys with clips, In Memory of a Hungry Child and tracks 2, 5 “Score for a film about Malawi without music from Malawi”, NPR Tiny Desk (26:30) Malawi Mouse Boys touring, WOMAD, daily struggles (34:50) Other suggested episodes (35:51) Malawi Mouse Boys homemade instruments, Track 14, album linked in show notes (46:17) Chicago Gunfire Survivors clips track 3, 2, 6 (55:23) book Peace by Peace, non-violent crisis intervention, great advice for all of us (01:08:12) Parchman Prison Project with clips from 2 albums linked in show notes Break Every Chain, MC Hammer, Parchman Prison Blues (01:17:20) Ramblin’ Jack Elliott “I Stand Alone”, Grammy nomination
S6 · E21
6 lug 2026
1:22:00
Ruby Colley: the Story of "Hello, Halo", Celebrating Artistic Expression and Neurodiversity
I’m so happy to bring you this episode with the British Ivor-nominated composer, violinist and sound artist Ruby Colley. She grew up with her artist parents and her brother Paul who is neuro-divergent and non-speaking. This conversation shines a light on her beautiful album Hello Halo with the brilliant Exaudi vocal ensemble. She composed this alongside her brother, transcribing Paul’s sounds and using recordings of his voice to make a vocal map of his life & relationships. You’ll be hearing music from this work as well as her project Overheard. Ruby spoke to me about the influence of Breton folk music and J.S. Bach and how she uses field recordings. You’ll also hear about how she has collaborated in some of her audiovisual projects with her mother the artist Kate Adams who founded Project Art Works, a visual arts organization that collaborates with neurodiverse individuals and those with cognitive impairment and high support needs. We talked about navigating music education, stepping away from competitive environments, the joy of improvisation and Ruby’s upcoming project inspired by the beauty of swifts. You’ll find the track information for the musical excerpts in the timestamps and everything is linked in the complete show notes on my website. You can watch the video on my YouTube or listen to the podcast on your preferred platform, and I’ve also linked the transcript. It’s a joy to bring these inspiring episodes to you, and I do all the many jobs of research, production and publicity. Have a look at the show notes of this episode on my website, where you’ll find all the links, including different ways to support this podcast, and other episodes you’ll enjoy, with Karen Power, Gaelynn Lea, Ian Brennan, Mack Hagood, Mark Growden and Teagan Faran, among so many since 2021. (00:00) Intro (02:28) Hello, Halo, Paul’s communication with clips of track 1, 4 (09:37) Kate Adams Cosmology of Care with clip of track 6, what we all need (13:37) notation, clip of track 3, field recordings, Ivor Novello nomination, film (17:13) Project Art Works, makaton sign language, connecting with other families (22:46) Overheard, Edgeland, audio-visual work, how birds change their song, with clips of track 7, 8, 2 from Overheard (31:20) other episodes you’ll enjoy and ways to support this podcast (32:13) field recordings, creating Overheard, clip of track 5 Bell of the Waves from Overheard, improvisation, Bach, Breton folk music (37:56) music education, Dartington College, neurodivergent (42:51) becoming a parent, interdisciplinary approach to the arts (46:52) new project with swifts, teaching
S6 · E20
29 giu 2026
52:15
Gilded Age Women Composers: Duo FAE Charlene Kluegel Katherine Petersen
This episode is with Duo FAE violinist Charlene Kluegel and pianist Katherine Petersen. The first part of this conversation focuses on their album Dissidents of the Gilded Age. You’ll be hearing excerpts from this beautiful program and learning about the composers Dame Ethel Smyth, Cécile Chaminade and Amy Beach. Charlene and Katherine are long-time collaborators and close friends and we got into conversations around education, what a path to a career in classical music can look like, and how they have dealt with challenges including becoming mothers. Wth hundreds of kilometres separating us, I really felt like I was enjoying a thoughtful coffee date with brilliant new friends, and I hope you feel that as well. Show notes bring you to: their websites, suggested episodes, video version, transcript, podcast merch, podcast newsletter and how you can buy me a coffee to support this independent project! Show notes with all the links (00:00) Intro (02:17) Dissidents of the Gilded Age album Amy Beach, Cécile Chaminade (06:58) Dame Ethel Smyth, Sufragette movement, clip of her anthem March of the Women complete video linked in show notes (09:08) Dame Ethel Smyth with clip Track 6 Smyth A minor sonata, op. 7, III Romanze (12:40) Cécile Chaminade with clip Track 1 Chaminade Trois Morceaux, op. 31, no. 1 and Track 3 no. 3 Bohémienne, finally clip of track 2 Romanza) (19:23) Amy Beach, linked episodes with Samantha Ege and Juliana Soltis, with clip of Track 11 Beach Sonata in A minor, op. 34, IV Allegro con fuoco (25:47) friendship started at the Aspen festival 2008 (27:36) touring the program in Europe, clip of Track 9 Beach Sonata in A minor, op. 34 II Scherzo (29:28) FAE, bonding over Brahms and starting the duo, Boman Desai’s book (32:43) Charlene’s university years, baroque violin minor (34:51) other linked episodes and ways to support this podcast (35:54) Charlene’s pedagogical handbook on style considerations in orchestral excerpts (38:52) Charlene’s decision to pursue music, broader education at Cornell (40:42) Katherine’s educational path and discovering chamber music with clip Track 10 Beach Sonata in A Minor, op. 34 III Largo con dolore (45:04) collaborative pianist career, Sarah Lehman mentor (50:03) classical music career danger of burnout (52:45) next projects and past experiences (59:32) European educational differences (1:02:00) becoming parents and taking care of ourselves (01:05:44) music educators Photo: Brittany Purlee
S6 · E19
20 giu 2026
1:10:32
Folk Creativity in the 21st Century: Embracing a Playful Life with Jayne Dent (Me Lost Me)
Jayne Dent is a British interdisciplinary artist, singer and composer and I was absolutely delighted to explore ideas around a creative and playful life with her. You’ll be hearing clips of music from Me Lost Me, with inspirations from folk culture old and new. She opened my mind to what folk creativity and community can mean in the 21st century. You'll also hear about community music making, collaborations with dancers, experimentation with e-textiles, and the challenges and joys of her career path. I was really struck by her creative and curious spirit and you’ll be hearing about some of her chance-based writing tips and her varied interests from creating costumes to medieval sword fighting. Show Notes: Jayne Dent, Me Lost Me, Suggested episodes, Podcast Merch, Newsletter, Buy me a coffee, Video version, Full transcript photo: Amelia Read (00:00) Intro (02:36) Me Lost Me RPG, clip of Marie it is While Summer I Last (09:46) Me Lost Me, RPG video game inspirations, clip of track 2 (11:32) residencies in Aarhus, writing the Oldest Trees Hold the Earth with Ditte Elly, with clip track 8 (14:20) community music making, song writing and improvisation (17:22) future folk, what folk can mean (19:03) Me Lost Me, PHD research, folk use of tech, e-textiles (25:44) costumes, childhood inspired by parents and folk community (31:29) other episodes you’ll like, podcast merch and more (32:24) chance-based writing, CAMP France with clip of track 10 This Material Moment (35:25) challenges of freelancing, mesostic writing with clip of track 12 This Material Moment (39:38) touring, collaborators with clip of track 4 This Material Moment (45:57) more about creative process with clip Ancient Summer track 7 (48:39) making, coding, improvising, Abundance with dancers (54:01) Worm Saliva experimental improvised music with clip of Brass Neck Melt (57:56) where the name Me Lost Me came from, folk use of technologies, Guidonian hand, sword fighting
S6 · E18
10 giu 2026
1:07:12
PJ Adzima: From The Book of Mormon to Stage Time CEO
I was fascinated to meet PJ Adzima, and learn about his path from his childhood on a farm to his career as a Broadway performer in the Book of Mormon. A chance encounter with a legendary composer changed his life forever and now as the CEO of the production company Stage Time, he’s paying that forward by discovering and curating talent across genres through many projects. He talked about how embracing vulnerability and studying drag has been transformative and helped him take up space, challenge norms, and create with purpose. A joyful and deep appreciation for the performing arts certainly has driven his excellence and helped him transform his side project into his full-time business, and I’m sure you’ll find PJ’s energy infectious. Like all my episodes, you can also watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on many podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript. It's a joy to bring these inspiring episodes to you every week, and I do all the many jobs of research, production and publicity. Have a look at the show notes of this episode, where you’ll find all the links, including different ways to support this podcast, and other suggested episodes: Show Notes (00:00) Intro (01:55) Book of Mormon (06:37) Stage Time (11:23) power of drag (16:59) Masquerade nighclub curation Phantom of the Opera (21:00) The Stuppets (25:20) history of Vaudeville, dealing with racism, minstrelsy and history of Broadway (29:43) acting career (30:10) linked episodes and how to support this series (31:11) from childhood on a farm to Broadway, his big break (39:44) comedy, Louis C.K. story (43:10) curating new shows, Slam Frank (51:42) challenges and joys entrepreneurship Photo: Shawn Salley
S6 · E17
31 mag 2026
57:58
Vivienne Aerts on "Current", Mindfulness, Jazz and Psychology
Vivienne Aerts is a NYC-based Dutch Singer, Educator, and Psychologist, for many years on the faculty of the Berklee College of Music. I’ve been following her inspiring creative practice for a couple of years and I’m excited to tell you that for this episode you’ll be hearing clips from her beautiful upcoming album Current, produced on a tiny 1951 Dutch sailboat, blending jazz, electronics, and vocal loops with water-inspired soundscapes. Her husband, the renowned pastry chef Ted Steinebach also made a documentary film about the journey, which features several other wonderful musicians who hopped on the boat to record. I found it uplifting to get to know Vivienne’s interdisciplinary approach, rooted in mindfulness and how she got started as a student creating interesting opportunities for artists. You’ll also be hearing clips from a couple of her previous projects including the award-winning Typuhthâng featuring 100 female musicians which supports Congolese female cacao farmers through a partnership with Original Beans. In this age of AI, I’m inspired by Vivienne's trust and hopefulness in the need for us to engage all of our senses and the power of mobilizing micro-communities to support meaningful creative work. You can also watch this video on my YouTube; I’ve also linked the transcript, Vivienne's website, other suggested episodes, podcast newsletter sign-up, podcast merch, and how you can buy me a coffee to support this independent podcast! Everything linked here in the complete show notes: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/vivienne-aerts photo: Ted Steinebach (00:00) Intro (02:48) album Current and film with excerpt of track 1 (08:30) collaborations with husband chef Ted Steinebach (12:54) Current, mindfulness, the film, excerpt of track 5 (17:33) creative process Current, excerpt strack 5 and 11 (22:08) songwriting, South Korea (27:49) Current, clip of track 8 Closer, living on the boat (35:26) other linked episodes (36:23) creative process album Polaroid with clip of Streetlamps (39:16) Susanne Alt with clip of track 11 (43:31) Typuhthâng album with clips track 9, 4, 1, 6, Original Beans chocolate (50:17) Vivi Talks podcast, teaching, Berklee, entrepreneurship (55:16) her educational path, railway festival, micro-communities (01:04:51) album launch concerts on boats (01:08:12) career path with psychology and music, Dutch culture (01:12:15) Effortless Mastery Kenny Werner, different approach to teaching mindfulness with self compassion
S6 · E16
23 mag 2026
1:26:04
Nancy Shear on Stokowski, Rostropovich, and "I Knew a Man Who Knew Brahms"
I was so honoured and delighted to have this opportunity to have this conversation with Nancy Shear, whose diverse career in classical music will fascinate you. I loved reading her memoir “I knew a man who knew Brahms” which is very much a book about appreciation for great music making as well as the importance of reflecting on the legacies our elders. You’ll hear about insights gleaned from her close releationships with many luminaries including Leopold Stokowski and Mstislav Rostropovich. Nancy was a troubled teenager when she began working as part of the Philadelphia orchestra library staff, and her brave determination, sensitivity and brilliance have led her to many unexpected opportunities. Whether or not you are currently a fan of classical music, I’m sure Nancy’s wisdom and storytelling will inspire you. We’re also including Nancy’s suggested listening links in the show notes, as well as other episodes you’ll enjoy. Complete show notes take you to: video, transcript, Nancy's website and listening suggestions, other episodes you'll enjoy, podcast newsletter sign-up, podcast merch store, podcast support page to buy this independent podcaster a coffee, and more! SHOW NOTES with ALL links! (00:00) Intro (01:38) memoir “I Knew a Man Who Knew Brahms” (12:01) Leopold Stokowski and her memoir (38:14) William R. Smith (43:25) Eugene Ormandy (52:48) other suggested episodes (53:47) Stokowski, excerpt from the book (56:50) Stravinsky Rite of Spring, Stokowski, Mahler (01:00:35) Rostropovich (01:08:49) Nancy’s career and independence (01:17:35) Stokowski’s fascination with technology (01:20:32) great concerts, Byron Janis, Jacqueline du Pré, Ormandy (01:24:22) Curtis (01:27:41) growth mind-set, healthy tech boundaries, writing (01:36:45) final excerpt from “I Knew a Man Who Knew Brahms” about Stokowski, Saul Caston, music appreciation (01:40:14) who was the man who knew Brahms, importance of legacy photo of Nancy: David Teubner
S6 · E15
14 mag 2026
1:45:28
1 di 25