Podium Time

This week we’re speaking with George Jackson , a London-Based conductor who works entirely as a freelancer and Guest Conductor. We’ve split this interview into three parts as an experiment we’re running on the podcast, and this third part is all about how we can use podcasts, film music, and Steve Reich to help revitalize Classical Music in America. Be sure to check out the two previous episodes,...

This week we’re speaking with George Jackson , a London-Based conductor who works entirely as a freelancer and Guest Conductor. We’ve split this interview into three parts as an experiment we’re running on the podcast, and this second part is all about George’s education in Vienna and how learning deeply with less podium time can help you develop as a conductor. Be sure to check out the previous e...

This week we’re speaking with George Jackson , a London-Based conductor who works entirely as a freelancer and Guest Conductor. We’ve split this interview into three parts as an experiment we’re running on the podcast, and this first part is all about becoming and being successful as a guest conductor, as well as what it’s like working with a manager. Be sure to tune in to the next few episodes, a...

Today we chat with to chat with Julius P. Williams , President of the International Conductors Guild and professor of conducting and composition at Berlkee College of Music . We're also experimenting with releasing some shorter, more focused podcast episodes so today is Part 2 of 2.  In our first release with Julius we talked about conducting and composing for the ensemble that you have, and...

Today we chat with to chat with Julius P. Williams , President of the International Conductors Guild and professor of conducting and composition at Berlkee College of Music . We're also experimenting with releasing some shorter, more focused podcast episodes so today is Part 1 of two. This first episode from our talk with Julius is all about conducting and composing for the ensemble that you...

Today we speak with Aram Demirjian , Music Director of the Knoxville Symphony , about how he transitioned from an Assistant Conductor to a Music Director, how to determine what “relevant” means to your community, and why conductors are like politicians in our responsibilities, relationships, and the influence we wield.  You will learn: How Aram transitioned from Assistant Conductor to Music Direct...

Today we talk with Teddy Abrams , music director of the Louisville Orchestra and the Britt Festival , about redefining the orchestra for maximum impact. We talk about the future of classical music after COVID-19 and why orchestras were hit particularly hard, everything wrong with how classical music approaches education and how we can change to actually make a difference, and the qualities that ma...

Today we’re starting a new program in which we interview select composers about their music and how they relate to orchestras, conductors, and audiences. We start off with Gary Kuo , an Emmy Award Winning composer of music for television and the concert hall. Gary played as a session musician for hundreds of recording projects before turning to composition. We talk about his philosophy of accessib...

Hello, and welcome to Podium Time. Today we’re welcoming a returning guest on the show, Maestro Gianmaria Griglio , who first appeared on the podcast all the way back on episode 18, " If You Miss a Cue ." Today’s discussion is all about technique and rehearsals, and why just knowing the score is not enough to effectively communicate with an orchestra. We dig into how to translate the sco...

Hello and welcome to Podium Time! Today we’re talking with Roderick Cox about how you should Think Before you Feel when you start conducting professional orchestras, or really any ensemble at any level. In his words: develop your intellectual interpretation before you develop your emotional interpretation. We tend to feel the music first or follow our favorite recordings, but Roderick teaches us t...

Today David Hattner walks us through the spectacular world of Historic recordings by some of the greatest conductors of the past and what we can learn by studying their interpretations. We dig into some of the most important recordings of Brahms’ 4th symphony, how and why some conductors were different in rehearsal, live performance, and studio recordings, and look at a side of Bernstein as a cond...

Today we talk with Markand Thakar , Music Director and Conductor of the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra , about creating the transcendent experiences possible in your music making. We discuss how “interpretation” is not an effective word for what we can do as conductors, what Sergiu Celibidache understood about classical music and performance that almost no other conductors understand, and how Markand...

Today we talk with Phil Aguglia of PaGu Batons about he learned about the baton preferences of hundreds of conductors, how he started making custom batons for JoAnn Falletta of the Buffalo Philharmonic, his custom Baton for the 2020 Oscars celebration, and how differences in material and proportions affect just about every aspect of our batons. This episode is also available in video on Youtube: ...

If you’re a conductor in quarantine and willing to question the meaning of music and your place in the world, then this is the interview for you! We talk with Christopher Rountree about how and why he realized he wasn’t interested in the standard career path for orchestral conductors, why classical music education is about isolating the work from its context, and how we can elevate the goals of ou...

Today we talk with JoAnn Falletta about what can set you apart in an audition, how to effectively communicate with an orchestra, and why we need music now more than ever. You will learn: The difference between listening alone and listening to live music How JoAnn is spending her time in self-quarantine JoAnn's advice for anybody taking auditions What you need on the podium when you step into...

Today we talk with Charles Gambetta about how you can raise your awareness of your body as a conscious mover, what conductors actually control on the podium, and how to revolutionize your conducting with Laban movement analysis. You will learn: A comprehensive system for analyzing, observing, and experiencing movement How you can raise awareness of your body as your musical instrument What Charles...

Today we talk with Kenneth Kiesler about rehearsal technique and priorities, the things that he looks for in an audition candidate, and his workshop on the new critical edition of Appalchian Spring. You will learn: The mistakes in Appalachian Spring that Copland never fixed How to fix details in rehearsal without ever addressing the details Why young conductors tend to avoid the standard repertoir...

Today we’re talking with Apo Hsu , and this interview has been literally years in the making. She was the conductor of our city’s orchestra before we started in music, so we just missed her there by a few years. And then when Luke and and I were at Bard in 2016 we finally set concrete plans to start Podium Time just before spending an incredible week working with Apo at the workshop, so she was on...

Today we talk with Ian Passmore about how opposite conducting styles can synergize, why you should join the Conductors Guild , and how to show the ensemble that you trust them. Find this and all other episodes at PodiumTimePod. Wordpress.com . Subscribe and download Podium Time on your favorite podcast player and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter , and Instagram at @PodiumTimePod. You can also...

Today we talk with Joshua Weilerstein about the surprising things he’s learned from hosting a Classical Music Podcast, why a chamber orchestra may be ideal for a Brahms Symphony, and how a teacher can identify what’s behind your bad habits. Find this and all other episodes at PodiumTimePod. Wordpress.com . Subscribe and download Podium Time on your favorite podcast player and connect with us on Fa...

Welcome everybody to the 2nd bonus episode between seasons 3 and 4 of Podium Time. Today I’m really excited to share with you another clip from my time in Bulgaria this summer. In it, Don Schleicher shares the 12 ingredients to make a perfect conductor.  These were compiled by Don and Gustav Meier, and now Don shares them at his workshops, and he was kind enough to allowed me to record and publish...

Hello, and welcome to the first bonus episode from Season 3 of Podium Time. Today we're sharing a new format that we've put together for our patrons over at Patreon : the PT Recap! After each interview we conduct, Luke and I recap what we've just discussed with the guest and share it with everybody supporting our Patreon at $4 and up per month. So you can get the inside scoop months...

We're ending this season on a high note! Today we talk with Matthew Salvaggio, Music Director of the Euclid Symphony, University Heights Band, and Orchestra 19 about how we can bring our volunteer and community ensembles to a new level by collaborating with new artists and composers. We talk about rehearsing and growing these groups to lead them towards greater music and music making together...

Today we talk with Tito Muñoz about why orchestras don’t actually lag behind the conductor, why we should update our understanding of the Rite of Spring, and the ultimate advice for improving as a musician. Find this and all other episodes at PodiumTimePod. Wordpress.com . Subscribe and download Podium Time on your favorite podcast player and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter , and Instagram at...

What does it really take to be a successful conductor? Today, Tito Muñoz walks us through why technique is the least important thing that we need on and off the podium. He walks us through his definition of musicianship and how we can develop it, and why leadership is the most important skill we can build.  You will learn: Why David Zinman was happy to accept musicians to his conducting program wi...