Sunday Baroque Conversations

Composer Melika M. Fitzhugh is a multi-instrumentalist whose interests transcend centuries, from modern instruments and genres, all the way back to Renaissance and Baroque instruments and music. She especially loves composing modern music for historical instruments because of the unique "chocolatey" sound they impart. Mel Fitzhugh is energetic and upbeat about her life as a composer and music teac...

Like many musicians, Dr. Justin Bland has had to adjust his career and his expectations for life during COVID-19 lockdown. 2020 was supposed to be a big year for the American musician, who now lives in Denmark. His engagements as a concerto soloist were all put on hold, and he has used the time to practice and work on projects he might not otherwise have had time to tackle. You can hear some of hi...

Although Ann Hobson Pilot retired in 2009 after decades as Principal Harpist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, she continues to make music and inspire others. The award-winning international musician spoke with Suzanne about her introduction to music, her trailblazing career as an orchestral harpist, and even how she stays in physical shape to play such a physically demanding instrument. Ms. Pilo...

Morris "Mo" Pleasure is a global artist with a career spanning more than three decades. He moves effortlessly between a wide range of musical genres including rock, R&B, and jazz, and his early training was in classical piano and gospel music. The Connecticut native is now based in the UK, where even the pandemic has not stopped his projects, such as an upcoming charity single with other stars, in...

Canadian musician Brandyn Lewis is a professional double-bass player, currently an interim member of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, which he has called a "dream come true." He chatted with Suzanne about the trial and error process of finding the right instrument to play when he was still a child, the teachers, mentors and experiences he had along the way, and his growing career as a performer an...

Oleg Timofeyev plays guitar and lute, and is a musicologist. The Moscow-born musician has a particular interest in reviving the Russian 7-string guitar and its repertory. He lives in Iowa now, where he teaches, and recently released a download-only album, MUSIC BY 18TH CENTURY WOMEN COMPOSERS. He spoke with Suzanne about his career, the Russian guitar, and his new recording and the collaborators w...

Kayoko Dan stands confident and poised in front of the orchestras she conducts, drawing on her extensive training as a conductor and educator, and her innate passion for music. So it's a bit disarming that she describes herself as "shy" and "introverted." She says she simply knows when and how to assert herself to get what she wants. That started as far back as when she was 3 years old, and convin...

Pianist Kyle P. Walker is a busy musician with a wide range of interests and activities: soloist, chamber musician, teacher, and social justice advocate. He says he, "believes music can speak to social issues better than verbal language can." Kyle P. Walker spoke with Suzanne about his career and collaborations, including The Dream Unfinished, an activist orchestra and collective which supports NY...

Have you ever seen a carillon? Better yet, have you ever heard one played? There are more than 150 carillons across the United States, and one of them may well be in your community. David Maker is a retired University of Connecticut music professor who became smitten with carillons many years ago when he learned there was one on the UConn campus. He has become an expert about carillons, and has pl...

Brought up in Israel, the eldest child of two University Professors, David Greilsammer is a curious man. He is curious about music, of course. But he is also curious about the world in general: the environment, social issues, and other important issues of our time. He spoke with Suzanne and shared a glimpse into his passionate curiosity, and his broad and inclusive approach to music and the creati...

California native Lara Downes was already studying piano at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as a 5 year old! She grew up to be a virtuoso player with passionate curiosity and a voracious appetite for interesting music and musicians, captivating projects, and meaningful collaborations, and she refuses to be constrained to a singular definition of what a classical musician can and should be....

A fine musical instrument is a vital tool for a professional musician. String players often use instruments that are centuries-old, with characteristics particular to the luthier who crafted them. Ilya Finkelshteyn has had the great fortune to play many extraordinary cellos, including the 17th century Montagnana instrument he uses as principal cellist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Suzanne...

As a child, Brandon Patrick George was instantly drawn to the flute. It looked beautiful, and shiny, and he just knew in his heart that he was meant to play it. When he finally had the chance to pick an instrument to learn, there was no question he would choose the flute, and it has proven to be his perfect partner. The talented young musician is full of enthusiasm for everything from baroque musi...

Countertenor Reggie Mobley is a man of many talents. He once considered becoming a visual artist, then he tapped into his extraordinary musical ability. He has sung all over the world, and has a broad range of musical interests, as well as a passion for social justice. Suzanne spoke with him about his career and favorite baroque music and composers (Bach and Handel) and some of the projects he is...

Countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen sings the role of David in Philharmonia Baroque's 2020 recording of George Frideric Handel's oratorio SAUL. Still in his 20s, the young American musician is a rising star with numerous awards and ambitious projects already under his belt. He chatted with Suzanne about his path to becoming a professional musician.

Violinist Julien Chauvin is a baroque music specialist who has studied with some of the world's prominent early music experts, including flutist Wilbert Hazelzet, cellist and viol player Jaap ter Linden and cellist Anner Bylsma. Julien Chauvin has also played in many of the leading European Baroque ensembles AND has founded several period instrument ensembles, too. One of those groups is Le Concer...

Mark Kroll is a harpsichord and fortepiano player, a scholar, educator and enthusiastic advocate for early music. He is Early Music America's 2020 Howard Mayer Brown Award winner for lifetime achievement for his career, which spans more than a half century. He is passionate about music and, especially, the harpsichord and he is an engaging raconteur. Mark spoke with Suzanne about his favorite musi...

One of the most important jobs in a symphony orchestra is that of the Concertmaster. What exactly are the Concertmaster's duties and what skills make for an outstanding Concertmaster? Stefani Matsuo became Concertmaster of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in September 2019, following a competitive audition process that attracted candidates from around the world. Suzanne spoke with Stefani about h...

I recently had the pleasure to meet Patricia Ann Neely (Pat Neely) in person, when I interviewed her about her career as a musician for this podcast series. Pat has had a long and varied career as a musician, educator, and administrator. She is also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, especially in the early music community, and serves as Chair of Early Music America's IDEA (Inclusi...

The King's Singers is a 6-member British vocal group that was established in 1968, before its current members were even born! The a capella ensemble is internationally celebrated for its broad repertory, virtuosity, charming audience connection, and versatility of musical genres. Chris Bruerton and Nick Ashby are the two baritone singers in the group, and they joined Suzanne in the studio to talk...

Patricia Ann Neely has a broad range of accomplishments and intellectual interests. She is a professional musician with experience in historical performance practice playing viola da gamba, vielle, violone and double bass. She's performed with prominent early music ensembles all over the world, and has founded her own groups, including Parthenia consort of viols and Abendmusik - New York's Early M...

Even as a child, Awadagin Pratt had many interests and talents. He was an excellent student, and he excelled at music and tennis with seriousness and intent beyond mere hobbies. He spoke with Suzanne recently about how he made the choice to pursue music when he realized it was the thing he could not live without. They also chatted about his recording projects - past and future - and other mileston...

Lee Pringle is passionate about music. He's a singer and conductor with an exciting career that spans musical genres including classical, African American spirituals, and more. Lee Pringle is also passionate about shining a bright light on music, musicians and history that have been overlooked for far too long. He spoke with Suzanne via Skype about some of his many musical projects.

Most people who play period instruments like viola da gamba and baroque violin start their training using the modern versions of those instruments and ultimately stumble onto their Baroque ancestors. Usually they are adults, often training as musicians in college or working as professionals. But thanks to a unique and groundbreaking program founded by Angelo Moreno at Davis High School in Davis, C...

For more than 15 years, the Naive recording label has been releasing performances of a huge collection of autograph manuscripts by Antonio Vivaldi contained in an archive in Turin, Italy. The extensive and varied contents illuminate the extent of Vivaldi's prolific and creative genius - an extraordinary cross-section of concertos, operas, and sacred music. Susan Orlando is the artistic director of...