Speaking Soundly

In this bonus episode David talks about how Speaking Soundly got its start, what he loves most about interviewing his friends and colleagues, and his own musical background and relationship to practice. David is guest interviewed by Jason Blitman of 76West: A Podcast from the Marlene Meyerson JCC. Special thanks to 76West: A Podcast from the Marlene Meyerson JCC , host Jason Blitman , and audio en...

Performing as Principal Flute with the Boston Symphony Orchestra while simultaneously initiating a gender discrimination lawsuit against the organization for equal pay was the most difficult period in Elizabeth Rowe’s professional life. She credits the support of her colleagues, her dedication to perform under pressure, and the unique state laws of Massachusetts for getting her through this period...

Celebrated American composer Nico Muhly’s brain is wired to work at the speed of sound. His compositional style embraces old and new, and he rebels against the old-fashioned notion of being a tortured artist. Nico is smart, hilarious, and spontaneous as he discusses his musical life and invites us into his compositional workflow from brainstorming on paper to a live performance. Check out Nico Muh...

Despite multiple injuries, a pivot to seek out a degree from Columbia University, and a burgeoning corporate career, Alicia Graf Mack was always destined to be in the dance world. As the youngest and first woman of color to be the Dean and Director of Dance at the Juilliard School, Alicia aims to break the cookie-cutter mold by embracing dancers of different body types and skin tones. Check o...

American mezzo-soprano and three-time Grammy Award winner Joyce DiDonato compares singing into a packed opera house to Roger Federer’s swing, as an effortless, efficient flow that feels like you’re on a sailboat taken by the breeze. She recalls the profound process of developing her voice and marvels at its humanizing and therapeutic value. Check out Joyce DiDonato on Facebook , Instagram , Twitte...

Canadian conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson has led orchestras and opera companies around the globe to great acclaim for over two decades. Earlier this year, with her cousins on the battlefield of Ukraine, she turned her outrage into action when she founded the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra in coordination with the Metropolitan Opera and the Polish National Opera. Keri-Lynn and David talk about this meaning...

Avery Fisher Prize winner and clarinetist Anthony McGill is the first African-American to hold a Principal chair in the New York Philharmonic’s 180-year history. He sees his high-profile position as an opportunity to inspire a new generation of diverse musicians. Anthony discusses his work as an artist and activist, the greatest experience of his life, and how Michael Jordan inspired him to s...

Conductor Joshua Weilerstein catapulted to international attention at a young age when he won first prize of the world-famous Malko Competition for Young Conductors with hardly any formal training. He discusses growing up in a musical family, how performing for thousands of youth who had never heard a live concert before profoundly influenced his career, earning the trust and respect of music...

International violin virtuoso, Ray Chen is redefining the role of today’s classical soloist. Using social media, Ray aims to educate, enlighten, and entertain his audience before they get to the concert hall. He credits his grit and determination to his experience of being a first-generation immigrant and likens playing his ten-million-dollar Stradivarius violin to wielding Thor’s hammer. Check ou...

Longtime Principal Trombonist with the New York Philharmonic and Juilliard faculty member Joseph Alessi discusses his musical childhood, the key to inspiring his students, and a recent health scare that jeopardized his career and caused him to consider a life without the trombone. Check out Joseph Alessi on Facebook , YouTube , Apple Music , Spotify , or the web . Follow Speaking Soundly on Instag...

Juilliard freshman Spencer Rubin is either practicing the oboe, working on his oboe reeds, or making a TikTok video for his 1.5 million followers. The young oboist is taking the musical world by storm as he chases his dream of becoming a professional oboist, and entertains us along the way with his irreverent, honest, and hilarious viral videos. Check out Spencer Rubin on TikTok , Instagram , YouT...

Wynton Marsalis is a Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, nine-time Grammy Award winner, Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the greatest trumpeter of his generation, but to our host, David, he’ll always be his teacher, mentor, and family friend. Wynton and David chat about the benefits of music and Wynton’s musical development, and discuss a treasured gift. This episode will make David’s...

Scottish percussionist and Grammy Award winner Dame Evelyn Glennie became profoundly deaf at the age of twelve. Her unique journey to open up her entire body to sound led her to become the first person in history to create and sustain a full-time career as a solo percussionist. She explains how hearing is not only done through the ears, and has a mission to teach the world how to truly listen...

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra trombonist Denson Paul Pollard had an unconventional path to the stage and credits his grit, determination, and humble roots for taking him from a small town in rural Georgia to Carnegie Hall. Paul’s work ethic is inspiring as he describes the jobs he’s held from Iowa to Hong Kong and his daily commute from Indiana to New York City. Check out Denson Paul Pollard o...

Eight-time Grammy Award-winning pianist Emanuel “Manny” Ax has performed in the world’s greatest concert halls, playing on a different piano in each city, and enjoys the challenge of adjusting to each unique instrument. He recalls how an accidental trip to Carnegie Hall ignited his fantasy to perform on that very stage and reveals the secret to making the piano sing. Check out Emanuel Ax on F...

From the age of seventeen, Christian McBride has been playing with jazz legends and, over the past 30 years, has become one himself. The eight-time Grammy Award-winning bassist recalls a brief stint at Juilliard, the strong influence of his musical family, and how the music of James Brown got him through some tough times. Check out Christian McBride on Instagram , Facebook , Spotify , Apple Music...

Three-time Grammy Award-winning American mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard describes how she navigates the occasional chaos of backstage as she prepares to sing in the world’s greatest opera houses. She enjoys the challenge of finding emotional inroads to the operatic roles she’s portrayed, even if it's a love-stricken teenage boy. Check out Isabel Leonard on Instagram , Spotify , Apple Music...

A new show from Artful Narratives Media featuring conversations with today’s most accomplished performing artists including Wynton Marsalis, Joyce DiDonato, Emanuel Ax, and more, hosted by MET Opera Principal Trumpet David Krauss. Coming to your podcast feed on September 12th. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.