Tuning Into Tompkins Orchestras

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the Tomkins Orchestra podcast! Today, we are sitting down with a musician who—according to his own college essay strategy—is the "best violin player in the entire universe" . While he might be joking about the universe, Arjun is a legitimate four-year All-Stater, the concertmaster for the Houston Youth Symphony, and a state-level chamber music champion. B...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when our two podcasts hosts are "unconducted" and off script for the whole show? Well, if you check this episode out you will find out! We hope you enjoy these random musings during your spring break time off from the regular routines of life! Support the show Follow us on Insta @tompkinsorchestras  

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the Tuning into Tomkins Orchestra podcast . In this special episode, Rithik sits down for an exclusive interview on the San Antonio Riverwalk with Dr. Kilburn , a guest conductor for the All-State Sinfonietta Orchestra at the All-State convention. Dr. Kilburn, who teaches at Michigan State University , discusses the unique challenges of conducting an ensemble where...

Send us Fan Mail Step inside the creative world of the Tomkins Theater Company in this latest episode of the Tomkins Orchestra podcast . Host Vicky sits down with the cast and crew of the unique production, The Old Man and The Old Moon , to discuss the magic—and the chaos—behind the scenes. Listeners will get an inside look at the latest TTC production, where the story of a moon-obsessed man and h...

Send us Fan Mail In this "holiday" episode of the Tompkins Orchestra podcast Vicky and Rithik interview  David Michael Hyde , the composer of "Christmastide," a piece being commissioned by the Tompkins orchestra and choir. Hyde shares that his love for the holiday inspired the piece, and the central message is a timely reminder "not to forget what it's truly all about...

Send us Fan Mail It's Pie Day! Hosts Vicki and Rithik are joined by orchestra presidents and violin-playing seniors, Aimee and Jooni (Jooni, a.k.a. J-Dog), to dissect the most chaotic social of the year! The seniors reveal the full Pie Day itinerary, which includes serving many awesome pies—like the highly anticipated matcha pie for all the "performative males" who bring their wired...

Send us Fan Mail Join hosts Vicky and Rithik on the Tompkins Orchestra podcast as they welcome Stanford, a freshman piano player at Tomkins. This episode explores the unique experience of what it’s like to be a piano player in orchestra. Stanford, who transitioned from playing violin in middle school, discusses the rewarding aspects of his new role, noting that while the piano supports the orchest...

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Send us Fan Mail Get ready for an insightful and hilarious dive into the high-stakes world of competitive high school orchestra! Hosts Vicki and Rithik of the Tomkins Orchestra podcast welcome two special guests: Arjun, a successful senior violinist, and Dhruv, a freshman violist. In this must-listen episode, we break down the recent region orchestra auditions and look ahead to the upcoming area a...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the world of music and the world of yoga collide?  Join hosts Vicki and Rithik as they welcome 10th-grade violinist Aaptika and 11th-grade violist Ojaswee to discuss their upcoming yoga relaxation session, a key event designed to help students prepare for the "very, very stressful" high school region orchestra auditions.  Aaptika and Ojaswee, who have p...

Send us Fan Mail In this archival episode of the Tuning into Tomkins Orchestra's podcast (from 2024), we welcome Tompkins' graduated senior Mr. Jake Jiang , a four-time region orchestra member and three-time all-state musician. Jake joins the host and co-host Vicki to tackle one of music's toughest challenges: performance anxiety and choking moments during high-stakes auditions. Jak...

Send us Fan Mail Join co-hosts Vicky and Rithik for this quick catch-up episode, Generational Thoughts, as they reflect on how they’re doing and share their “big plans.” It’s officially October, the schedule is getting intense, but there’s still the rewarding feeling of being “proud of what you’ve done afterwards.” In this episode, they unpack the whirlwind orchestra calendar, featuring: The quest...

Send us Fan Mail Join hosts Vicky and Rithik as they welcome special guests Fiona and Andrew for a hilariously winding recap of the Tompkins High School Orchestra's social events! This episode dives into the behind-the-scenes antics and memorable moments from the Post Rally, Buddy Social, and Car Wash , with a sneak peek at upcoming events like the International Food Fest, Pie Day, Halloween...

Send us Fan Mail Join Vicky and Rithik on the Tompkins Orchestras Podcast as they welcome junior violinist Melinda and sophomore violist Yuna to discuss TV show scores . Inspired by the Emmys, this episode explores the powerful impact of music on our favorite series. The quartet dives into diverse scores, from the iconic cello work in Wednesday by Danny Elfman to the K-pop hit "Love Maybe&quo...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready for a new season of the Tompkins Orchestras Podcast! Hosts Vicky and Rithik dive into the chaos of a fresh school year, spill the secrets behind senior traditions, and share all the wonderfully cringe-worthy moments that make orchestra life hilariously unforgettable. Support the show Follow us on Insta @tompkinsorchestras