As It Comes Podcast: Life from a Musician's Point of View
56 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago -This podcast aims to explore life from a musician's point of view: the peaks, troughs and the downright unexpected. Hosted by London-based cellist Davina Shum
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Episodes
Episode 55: Fred Thomas ”I like to discover new music all the time”
February 22, 2022 09:30 - 25 minutes - 19.7 MBWelcome back to the podcast! (Welcome back Davina, that is) Producer/arranger/multi-instrumentalist/composer/cat lover Fred Thomas is my guest this episode. We spoke about his musical journey, which includes growing up in a household of a former CBSO concertmaster, making music playlists to fall asleep to, as well as how the key to learning lots of musical instruments is learning how to "cheat". Fred also spoke about his pandemic experience, as well as what he'd like to be if he weren't a m...
Episode 54: Bethany Norman ”You‘re always learning”
October 19, 2021 07:30 - 33 minutes - 25.1 MBWe're back! Episode 54 features flute player, pianist, teacher, musician Bethany Norman. We chatted about her anti-climactic graduation from music college mid-pandemic, the challenges of being a recent music grad in the current climate, being versatile (including teaching your secondary instrument) and what Bethany would be if she weren't a musician. If you fancy supporting the podcast, you can do so here: ko-fi.com/asitcomespod. Leave me a nice review or rating on Apple Podcasts! Follow a...
Episode 53: George Wakerley aka Confidential 'Give yourself something to look forward to'
July 27, 2021 07:30 - 41 minutes - 32.7 MBGeorge Wakerley aka Confidential joins me for Episode 53. He's a producer of lo-fi hip-hop beats and shared with me the story of his musical journey, struggles with his mental health, as well as being a role model for his son. Content warning: depression, binge eating and suicide. If you fancy supporting the podcast, you can do so here: ko-fi.com/asitcomespod Mentioned in this episode: George's socials: Instagram: @confidential_lofi Facebook: @confidentiallofi Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/conf...
Episode 52: Sarah Nicolls and Maja Bugge "Empowered by change"
June 18, 2021 07:30 - 35 minutes - 25.6 MBPianist Sarah Nicolls and cellist Maja Bugge spoke to me about raising awareness of the climate crisis via their show “Ballad of a Changing World.” Listen to how they collaborated during the pandemic and how they’re able to push the limits of their creativity with Sarah’s Inside-Out Piano and Maja’s enthusiasm for jazz and free improv. We also spoke about the unspoken art of good pizzicato, as well as well-rotted manure (stay with me…) This is not indicative of the quality of the chat, by th...
Episode 51: Ellie Consta from Her Ensemble "I'm open to change"
June 08, 2021 07:30 - 39 minutes - 28.1 MBEllie Consta from Her Ensemble joins me for Episode 51. We spoke about how working with pop musicians opened her eyes to the many gender imbalances in the classical music world. Realising the various injustices, she set up Her Ensemble, the UK’s first all-female and non-binary string orchestra to provide a safe space for marginalised genders and create a platform for female and non-binary composers overlooked throughout history. Tune in for chat about how showcasing your vulnerability and le...
Episode 50: Sonja Schebeck "Curiosity is the main factor"
May 28, 2021 07:30 - 41 minutes - 30.5 MBSonja Schebeck joins me for this milestone episode. She’s an Australian violinist based in Vienna, who is also a fire performer as well as the founder and artistic director of The Freestyle Orchestra – an ensemble that combine their skills as classical musicians with their curiosities in other performing art disciplines. Expect acrobatics, theatre, costume design, and much more! We spoke about artistic versatility, keeping your skills alive during lockdown, and Sonja’s recent commemoration o...
Episode 49: Channa Malkin "Trust whatever comes along"
May 18, 2021 07:30 - 36 minutes - 26.9 MBSoprano and Spice Girls fan Channa Malkin joins me for this episode. We spoke about her experiences of motherhood, which has influenced her freshly released album “This is not a lullaby.” Find out which Spice Girl Channa wished she could be, as well as advice to new parents during the pandemic. Like what you hear? Buy the podcast a coffee: ko-fi.com/asitcomespod. Remember to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts! Give the podcast some love on Instagram and Facebook @asitcomespod....
Episode 48: Katharine Carter "You pick yourself up and off you go again"
May 07, 2021 07:30 - 53 minutes - 42.7 MBFlute player and food blogger Katharine Carter joins me for Episode 48. The parallels between music and food are endless, as you will hear from our chat we had in-person (outdoors, in my garden). We chatted about the types of recipes that get Katharine through her busy days as a freelance performer and teacher, as well as a mother; the value of making mistakes and how music and food are best shared. We also talked about teaching during the pandemic, as well as special travel destinations tha...
Episode 47: Charles Owen "That's our duty and destiny"
April 27, 2021 07:30 - 40 minutes - 30.6 MBTaking time out of his busy schedule of being a UK Ambassador for Steinway and Professor of Piano at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, concert pianist Charles Owen had a chat with me on the one-year anniversary of the UK lockdown. Charles reminisces about fond times performing at Fidelio café in the summer of 2020 as well as performing down in Cornwall for the St Endellion Festival and International Music Seminar at Prussia Cove before the mess of the pandemic; in addition to challenges t...
Episode 46: Tine Thing Helseth "I love the result"
April 16, 2021 07:30 - 36 minutes - 26.9 MBJoin me and trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth for Episode 46, where we explore topics such as the wonderful world of Norwegian traditional instruments and the language, attempting to stay motivated during a pandemic and acting our age, whatever that means. Tine also shares her musical journey and recollections that led her to select special pieces for her upcoming album, Magical Memories. Photo credit: Anna-Julia Granberg. Like what you hear? Buy the podcast a coffee! ko-fi.com/asitcomesp...
Episode 45: Urška and Helena from Duo Furioso "Stay in touch"
March 30, 2021 07:30 - 45 minutes - 32.1 MBEpisode 45 features three cellists in the room! Two of which, Urška Horvat and Helena Švigelj perform collectively as Duo Furioso. We chatted about having to embody a whole string quartet within the instrumentation of two cellos, POPPER (yep), the challenge of capturing live spontaneity when performing in front of a camera, as well as Urška and Helena’s advice to ensembles for staying motivated during the pandemic. Topics also include sushi, humidifiers (OMG) and having cellos by the same ma...
Episode 44: Anna Tsybuleva "Save your power"
March 19, 2021 07:30 - 40 minutes - 29.5 MBEpisode 44 features international piano superstar Anna Tsybuleva. We chatted about her attachment to nature and the cosmos, recent motherhood, as well as her preparation for Leeds International Piano competition which she won in 2015 with her performance of Brahms’ Piano Concerto number 2. This is a piece very close to Anna’s heart, as she managed to record it shortly before the pandemic in 2020. She also shares a very valuable message of saving your power when performing a big work. Lik...
Episode 43: Oliver Davis "Make your own voice heard"
March 09, 2021 08:30 - 36 minutes - 29.7 MBComposer Oliver Davis joins me for Episode 43 to chat about finding his own compositional voice (via 1980s synthesisers), writing for ballet choreography, and the absolute mission of writing, recording and producing his new album Solace during a global pandemic; drawing inspiration from Greek mythology, traveling to the Isle of Bute, and curiously, a game of Scrabble. You’ll also hear about Ollie’s favourite live performance he ever went to! Buy the podcast a coffee! ko-fi.com/asitcomesp...
Episode 42: Dwight Pile-Gray "Just put your toe in the water"
February 26, 2021 08:30 - 38 minutes - 26.3 MBAs a commentary on the times we currently live in, in preparation for some work this week, my nostrils have well and truly been penetrated. Horn player, conductor, researcher and fellow podcaster Dwight Pile-Gray is my guest for Episode 42. He’s the creator of “The Black Maestro” podcast, and recently we chatted about the way the pandemic is changing up approaches to classical music, creating space in the industry and promoting excellence. This episode is also accompanied by a Spotify playl...
Episode 41: Leah Broad "A completely new way of thinking about music"
February 16, 2021 08:30 - 37 minutes - 25.6 MBI had a chat with music researcher Leah Broad recently, about her journey into academia, the thrill of finding new music, and her upcoming book shining a light on four composers: Ethel Smyth, Rebecca Clarke, Dorothy Howell and Doreen Carwithen. Listen and learn a little more about these composers, including which social media platform we reckon they’d be suited to best if they were around today. Accompanying this episode is a special playlist including some pieces from these composers, plus...
Episode 40: Southbank Sinfonia's Alec and George "Walk away with a new skill"
February 05, 2021 08:30 - 45 minutes - 33.1 MBThis episode is all about Southbank Sinfonia, the one-year orchestral fellowship where 33 musicians from around the world come together to embark on a journey of professional development and creative fulfilment. I’m joined by two members of the 2020/21 cohort, Canadian percussionist Alec Joly Pavelich and British viola player George White. We spoke about their unusual situation of being part of the fellowship during the pandemic, what they can’t wait for in 2021, as well as their recommendat...
Episode 39: Peter Riley "Taking the risks"
January 26, 2021 08:30 - 45 minutes - 35.2 MBStop! Tax time! Doing your tax return for 2019-20 is a retrospective into another world... Episode 39 features composer, arranger and orchestrator Peter Riley. We met up in person in early-December (back when you could) for an al fresco park podcast, where we spoke about so many topics, including Peter's work arranging and orchestrating for Squarepusher, Pete Tong, Jules Buckley and the Heritage Orchestra, sticking to crazy deadlines, being a musician with a mortgage, and how making music i...
Episode 38: Lucy Drever "Stay open"
January 15, 2021 08:30 - 35 minutes - 25.4 MBWelcome to the January slump, 2021 edition! My guest for Episode 38 is Lucy Drever. She’s a workshop leader and presenter who heads up musicianship at the Benedetti Foundation. We chatted in December 2020 about how she got into community-based music making, creating a music making environment with a level playing field, challenging prior perceptions of music education as well as how to stay motivated musically during times of fluctuating restrictions. Find out also about a delightful cheesy...
Episode 37: Joe Di Fiore "I just kept going with it"
January 05, 2021 08:30 - 37 minutes - 30.7 MBJoe Di Fiore kicks things off for 2021. He’s an American sax and wind player who also composes and arranges. In a fantastic American accent, he shares some helpful tips about setting your home studio for remote recording (seeing as this is the reality for a lot of musos at the moment). We also chatted about the positives of smaller family gatherings, switching between different wind instruments, the importance for composers to have performing experience and being patient. Mentioned in th...
Episode 36: Shimpski Christmas Extravaganza
December 25, 2020 08:30 - 54 minutes - 38.6 MBMerry Christmas and happy holidays! Bass player Mark Lipski joins me for this Christmassy, mince pie and mulled wine fuelled conversation. He also happens to be in my household bubble as he is my husband; collectively, we are known as “The Shimpskis”. Think of this episode as an audio Christmas card to you, for you to listen to if perhaps you’re spending Christmas alone or with fewer people than usual, or if you just want to hear voices from outside your own household bubble. We’re here to k...
Episode 35: Egīls Šēfers "This is part of who we are"
December 15, 2020 08:30 - 39 minutes - 26.9 MBEgīls Šēfers is my guest for Episode 35. He joined me from his home in Riga to chat to me about performing with the Carion quintet during the pandemic, his musical journey growing up behind the Iron Curtain, how global travel broadens one's musical sound, as well as Latvian voices and music-making. We also talk about his hobbies he indulges in away from playing the clarinet and being director of the Latvian Music Information Centre and SKANi Records. These days we seem to have brief sliv...
Episode 34: Jen Lang "Joining the dots"
December 04, 2020 08:30 - 59 minutes - 41 MBJen Lang is my guest for Episode 34. As well as recent motherhood, we chat about what led her to her role as Senior Manager for learning, engagement and innovation at Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, as well being a new mother in one of the longest local lockdowns in the world. Lots of laughs in this one, as well as the different ways one can make a musical contribution and providing platforms for musical voices that have previously been unheard. Music college didn’t prepare her for an experien...
Episode 33: Sarah Watkins "Keep those connections happening"
November 24, 2020 08:30 - 45 minutes - 34.1 MBPianist Sarah Watkins is my guest for this episode. She spoke to me from post-Covid New Zealand, where she's been busy working and performing (remember that foreign concept?) Along with violinist Andrew Beer, she's the winner of the Aotearoa Music Award for her album "11 Frames". We chatted about the state of composition in New Zealand and how multi-culturalism continues to influence New Zealand's musical voices. I've been watching lots of sports matches broadcast with artificially generate...
Episode 32: Violeta Vicci "It's our duty to transport people to a different world"
November 13, 2020 08:30 - 50 minutes - 38.1 MBEpisode 32: brought to you from the throes of Lockdown 2.0! Before said lockdown, I chatted with Violeta Vicci in the garden about her livestream performances in nature, interacting with a scenic backdrop through music, and the challenges of setting up a livestream performance outdoors. We also touch on sharing the stage with Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood (swoon) as well as Violeta's passion for motorbikes. Listen out for a Music College Didn't Prepare Me segment involving delu...
Episode 31: Daniel Rainey "The most important skills you'll probably ever have"
October 30, 2020 06:30 - 48 minutes - 33.1 MBThis episode’s guest is Daniel Rainey, an artist manager for Keynote Artist Management. We talk about how his training as a violinist informs his job, what an artist manager does, how the atmosphere of live music can never replace an online concert, plus lots of various chat about Shostakovich, Catdog and Nintendo 64 (there’s a sentence I never thought I’d write). I also share a recent travel fail I had on my way to a rehearsal during Covid times, plus we have a special Music College Didn’t...
Episode 30: Lucia D'Avanzo-Lewis "Start to be aware of what you're throwing away"
September 11, 2020 07:30 - 1 hour - 50.2 MBLucia D’Avanzo-Lewis (not Lucia di Lammermoor) is my guest for this mammoth-sized episode. Lucia’s the author of the Eco Notes blog, and we chatted face-to-face about how reducing waste is like learning a new instrument as well as sharing tips on how to reduce waste and reuse possessions not only in our everyday lives, but also as musicians. I share with you my experience of playing at my first post-lockdown wedding gig, plus we have a stupor-inducing Music College Didn’t Prepare Me contrib...
Episode 29: Peter Brathwaite "You can't build your life around just practising"
August 28, 2020 07:30 - 47 minutes - 31.7 MBBaritone Peter Brathwaite is my guest for episode 29. We chatted about keeping busy during lockdown, the pressures of putting out content online, adaptability, versatility and transferable skills as musicians, Peter’s recreation of Black portraiture throughout history. Find out also what Peter’s favourite plants are! This episode is brought to you reluctantly by my good friend Writer’s Block and features a Music College Didn’t Prepare Me segment all about early starts and miming. Follow...
Episode 28: Xuefei Yang "'Pioneer' sounds really fancy"
August 14, 2020 07:30 - 49 minutes - 35.3 MBEpisode 28 features guitar legend Xuefei Yang – we chat about the importance of sleep and exercise for musicians, Fei’s journey to become the first Chinese classical guitarist to reach the world stage (just don’t call her a pioneer) and her new album “Sketches of China”. Find out Fei’s recommendation of what to listen to if you’re totally unfamiliar with guitar repertoire, and what to do if you break a nail before a show. Gyms and fitness centres are now open again in the UK, so this episo...
Episode 27: Justine Cormack "There's just so much wisdom that our bodies have"
July 31, 2020 07:30 - 57 minutes - 38.1 MBMy guest this episode is Justine Cormack – a seriously accomplished violinist, creative performance coach and analogy enthusiast from New Zealand. We chat about her move from the city to the countryside, her Grand Designs featured house and her philosophy Listen Feel Play, which focuses on harnessing physical awareness in movement that we can bring to our music-making, by getting out of our heads and listening to, feeling and exploring what’s going on in our bodies instead. Find out about h...
Episode 26: Fred and Lily Scott "The gig goes on"
July 17, 2020 07:30 - 59 minutes - 38.9 MBFather and daughter unit Fred and Lily Scott are my guests for this episode. We talk about Fred’s book “One Autumn Day” which covers his experiences of being diagnosed with osteosarcoma or bone cancer at 23, as well as his tale of recovery and survivorship, how having cancer affects your family and your perspective on life, and on a lighter note, our collective obsession with Homebase, Nigella Lawson and food. This episode features quotes from the piano teaching community pertaining to tea...
Episode 25: Nadine Benjamin "We tell stories"
July 03, 2020 07:30 - 41 minutes - 27.3 MBHappy one-year Podcastiversary! My 25th episode features the wonderful soprano and coach Nadine Benjamin. Listen as she shares her experiences and insights during the pandemic, finding space in breathing and how she found her voice as an opera singer (including how to be a last-minute Tosca). She explains her role as a certified NLP mind and high performance coach and kindly provides some helpful tips for making choices and getting through this difficult time. Music college didn’t prep...
Episode 24: Jennifer Pike "It's a long road"
June 19, 2020 07:30 - 54 minutes - 37.7 MBIf you’re looking for something to put you through an emotional rollercoaster, just look at what you were doing in last year’s diary. Violinist Jennifer Pike is my guest for this episode. We shared a chat about reassessing life’s priorities in lockdown, our insights on The Lark Ascending, which she’s recently recorded, as well as the power of quiet playing and diversity in programming. Find out what she would be if she weren’t a musician, and also, because I’m in the room, cats. Thi...
Episode 23: Leon Bosch "I could either give up, or I could fight"
June 05, 2020 07:30 - 1 hour - 38.6 MBDouble bass legend Leon Bosch is my guest for this episode. We cover a huge breadth of topics; his journey from South Africa to playing with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, experiencing the essence of music, authenticity within a framework, the session business, and Leon’s passion for long-distance running. Photography by Juno Snowdon. Art direction by Adam Hypki. Mentioned in this episode: leonbosch.com imusicanti.co.uk imusicantipublishing.co.uk
Episode 22: Fiona Gibbs "Be as creative as possible"
May 22, 2020 07:30 - 46 minutes - 36.7 MBIt’s Mental Health Awareness week, so this episode begins with a few thoughts about mental health. My guest for episode 22 is Fiona Gibbs, a violinist, researcher, lecturer and founder of Orchestra Vitae. This is the last of my chats recorded face-to-face back in March and we talked about setting up your own ensemble so that you get to play Brahms, how the death of a loved one can affect the way you go to concerts leading Fiona to come up with her initiative “Concert Chums”. We also ta...
Episode 21: Jessica Cottis "Always music first"
May 08, 2020 07:30 - 49 minutes - 34.9 MBDon’t feel bad for being unproductive! Australian/British conductor and lepidopterist Jessica Cottis is my guest for episode 21. Listen to what a conductor does during lockdown, her personal story regarding physical injury, and what effective technique she DIDN’T learn in conducting school. Hear our discussion about the “buzz” of live performance, and the parallels between butterflies and music-making – you heard it here first! Don’t miss this episode’s Music College Didn’t Prepare ...
Episode 20: Jessie Grimes "There's no ceiling in what you can do"
April 24, 2020 07:30 - 54 minutes - 37.2 MBWho would’ve thought that one could do some productive practice during lockdown? Jessie Grimes is my guest for episode 20- she’s a musician who plays the clarinet, works with vulnerable and special needs people and is a presenter. Listen to her chat about how life doesn’t always go the way you planned, making tough career choices, how she maintains her mental health throughout challenging projects, and what she thinks is “the most lesbian thing in the world”. Music college didn’t prepare ...
Episode 19: Robert and Verity Simmons (Estilo String Quartet) "Sh*t Christmas on the forest floor"
April 10, 2020 08:16 - 46 minutes - 32.1 MBViolinist and cellist Rob and Verity Simmons from Estilo String Quartet are my guests this episode for my first ever remote (boozy) podcast recording. Listen to us chat about being festive despite lockdown, performing live by the seat of your pants via social media, imparting a bit of knowledge to one’s offspring from time to time (i.e. homeschooling), and WINE – things we’ve learnt from the “forest floor” from a qualified drinker. Find out also what they can’t live without and miss during ...
Episode 18: Rocío Bolaños "Open your mind, maybe?"
March 27, 2020 08:30 - 52 minutes - 41.7 MBEpisode 18 is brought to you from lockdown restrictions – you know the drill. My guest is Rocío Bolaños – a clarinettist, experimental and improvising musician who works with Distractfold Ensemble. We chatted a couple weeks ago (it feels like a lifetime ago) about teaching instruments you don’t play, being in the moment while making music, what to say to haters of new music, as well as that time she had to perform as a lung and what she would play if she hadn’t chosen the clarinet. Music ...
Episode 17: Amalia Hall "Music improves life quality"
March 13, 2020 08:30 - 39 minutes - 30.4 MBMy 17th episode features a chat with an old uni friend: Kiwi violinist and avid consumer of icecream Amalia Hall, whom I caught up with while she was in London Listen to us chat about collaborating with living composers, staying positive and well during travelling, her roles as a soloist, concertmaster of Orchestra Wellington and violinist of NZTrio, and adjusting to your teachers becoming your colleagues. This episode features a very topical "music college didn't prepare me segment" ab...
Episode 16: John-Paul Muir "Finding strength, trust and faith in something that anchors you"
February 28, 2020 08:30 - 40 minutes - 34.3 MBHello to all you wonderful people from around the globe! Kiwi pianist and coffee-drinker John-Paul Muir is my guest in this episode. There is a lot of chat about food and coffee, as well JP’s recent travels, the challenges of teaching and playing in different styles, and his new album “The Cornerstone Suite”. Our “Music College Didn’t Prepare Me” segment is dedicated to the fine art that is depping. Got an experience music college didn’t prepare you for that you’d like to share or have d...
Episode 15: Tara Minton "Multi-tasking on a ninja level"
February 14, 2020 08:30 - 1 hour - 47.5 MBWelcome to the first episode of 2020! This has been brought to you following my worst January ever. It never rains, but it pours! Australian harpist Tara Minton is my guest in this episode, whose versatility is illustrated in her ability to play and sing in various styles. We chatted about moving over to the cold of London from the heat of Melbourne, travelling with a harp, gig life, how grade 8 is just the beginning of your musical journey, and Tara's thoughts on harmony. You'll also...
Episode 14: Daniel Elms (part 2) "Untitled Podcast Episode"
December 20, 2019 08:30 - 32 minutes - 25.8 MBPart deux of my conversation with Jingle Elms is here, including chat about writing music for computer games, geese, swan necks (things took a surreal turn), plus the wildcard question round. Please excuse the nasal congestion on either side of the interview, as I wasn’t very well at the time of recording this. Also featured is a Music College Didn’t Prepare Me segment all about travel. Got an experience that music college didn’t prepare you for that you’d like to share? Tell me: asitc...
Episode 13: Daniel Elms "Just show up"
December 13, 2019 08:30 - 49 minutes - 38.5 MBComposer Daniel Elms is my guest this episode, and next episode, as we shared a lengthy chat in his flat in Hove. We cover topics such as the wonders of various northern UK accents, dealing with composition briefs, anxiety in one's creative process, and how his debut album got signed, landing a UK-wide tour, and the logistics involved in making that happen. This episode's music college didn't prepare me is about TAX because it seems no one knows anything about it until you're in the mid...
Episode 13: Daniel Elms (part 1) "Just show up"
December 13, 2019 08:30 - 49 minutes - 38.5 MBComposer Daniel Elms is my guest this episode, and next episode, as we shared a lengthy chat in his flat in Hove. We cover topics such as the wonders of various northern UK accents, dealing with composition briefs, anxiety in one's creative process, and how his debut album got signed, landing a UK-wide tour, and the logistics involved in making that happen. This episode's music college didn't prepare me is about TAX because it seems no one knows anything about it until you're in the mid...
Episode 12: Sophie Gledhill "This is something I feel I need to do"
November 22, 2019 08:30 - 56 minutes - 43.5 MBYou know the times are trying when you sit in silence and have a wee cry. Fortunately, solace can be found in some maternal love. This episode's guest is cellist Sophie Gledhill. We chatted backstage at Snape Maltings about life as a freelancer, long-distance relationships, being emotional, animals, Disney, and Sophie's drive to use music to bring about social change - leading her to take part in the Global Leaders Program and a residency at the Banff Centre. This episode features a...
Episode 11: Mike Ladouceur "If this is the music you wanna make then you just have to make it"
November 08, 2019 08:30 - 39 minutes - 32.6 MBToday’s episode is brought to you from a designated duvet day – necessary for recharging one’s batteries! My guest is Mike Ladouceur – composer and orchestrator. He’s recently released his album of original work “Between Worlds” – on vinyl no less! Find out why Mike chose to release his album via sound installation, what he has to do as a film score orchestrator, and what he’d be if he weren’t a musician. This episode features a Music College Didn’t Prepare Me segment of bowel-shaking pro...
Episode 10: Margaret Cookhorn "Yes please!"
October 25, 2019 07:30 - 53 minutes - 41.3 MBWe're 10 episodes old! Happy days! This episode was brought to you amongst the chaos and logistics of organising chamber music rehearsals and concerts. Episode 10's guest is Margaret Cookhorn, principal contrabassoon of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. We chat about life as a bassoonist - how it can take years to get your dream instrument, how practice is like Olympic training or saving to buy a house and how to get ahead with your reed-making (clue: husbands). As well as bein...
Episode 9: David Mahoney "You can't afford to wait for the opportunity to come along"
October 11, 2019 07:30 - 41 minutes - 32.8 MBThis episode was largely produced on the road - in trains, Travelodges, green rooms, you name it. Busy times - it explains my huskier-than-usual vocal register this episode. My guest is David Mahoney, conductor and founder of the Novello Orchestra, which recently performed a UK arena tour of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Live in Concert. We chatted backstage in a galaxy far, far away (Birmingham) about how he got to where he is now, what he has to deal with onstage while conductin...
Episode 8. Lucy Anderson "She'll be right"
September 27, 2019 07:30 - 54 minutes - 41.8 MBProducing today's episode has been an exercise in time management. How do you get everything done when you have a billion things on, and during the Rugby World Cup? #dilemma My guest this episode is my old friend Lucy Anderson, from Wellington, New Zealand. We chat about expat life here in the UK, the Kiwi attitude of tackling whatever may come your way, such as moving countries, language and accent comprehension, finding good coffee, and some of the challenges faced in Lucy's job as a...
Episode 7: Elisabeth Streichert "What's the point of feeling alone about this?"
September 13, 2019 07:30 - 48 minutes - 36.8 MBBack to school! Which means back to the land of seemingly unfamiliar students, wacky comments from pupils and having to wake up early again... My guest is pianist Elisabeth Streichert, the Artistic Director of the Phacelia Ensemble - a flexible ensemble which specialises in "Concertos in Miniature" arranged by Elisabeth herself as well as great staples of chamber music repertoire. This conversation occurred in July 2019 during a heatwave, where we chatted about the unexpected delights o...