The transcript of my interview with Jeremy Mastrangelo. The podcast and video versions are linked here. Violinist Jeremy Mastrangelo is a wonderful colleague of mine in Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra. He’s known in our greenroom as a great storyteller, onstage as an excellent musician, and having heard him give brilliant masterclasses I can attest to his excellence as an educator as well. This episode is infused with Jeremy’s wit and wisdom as well as a couple of beautiful violin performances. We talk about violin shopping in Cremona, teenage life at Interlochen Academy, the difficulties and joys of a career as an orchestral musician, family, and the benefits of deepening our understanding of the composers we play. You will find that one of the wonderful stories in this episode, reveals an unexpected discovery!

Transcript of interview with cellist Rachel Mercer, with links to both podcast and video. In this conversation, we discuss the arc of her career so far as a chamber musician, soloist, principal cellist, the late Yehonatan Berick, an amazing violinist and pedagogue, who was her life partner, "Our Strength, Our Song" with her sister, the wonderful violinist Akemi Mercer-Niewöhner and many other chamber music collaborations and unique projects, as well as her way of approaching music. Rachel very generously made a special recording of the Prelude from J.S. Bach's fifth solo suite in C minor BWV 1011 and her heartfelt introduction to the power of this music is right after our conversation.

Full transcript of interview with the inspiring trumpet player and educator Karen Donnelly. Links for full and bonus episodes both podcast and video.

I was really honoured to have this opportunity to sit down and talk with the dynamic conductor, composer, multi-instrumentalist and radio host of CBC's CentreStage, Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser. We explored many interesting and important ideas around creating spaces for diverse audiences, amateur versus professional musicians, LGBTQ rights, his project with the drag queen Thorgy Thor, the lost music of Florence Price, and wonderful advice not only for conductors, but for everyone seeking more balance and meaning in their lives. This is the full transcript of our conversation.

Full transcript with podcast and video links for interview with renowned bassoonist Christopher Millard. We covered many fascinating topics, including: Advice for music students, the art of reed-making, the physics of sound production on bassoon and violin, the advantages of studying jazz, musicians' difficulty with retiring,Marcel Moyse, the legendary Flute teacher and mentor, World Orchestra for Peace with Gergiev, the neuroscience of practicing music better, and conductors.

Christopher Millard: “So, when does the sum exceed the parts and all that? And it's very hard to know, even from physical presence. You actually need to be having the site line. You need to see the eyes. You need to feel the flow of energy back and forth on stage to really know what's working or doesn't, which is why I'm always amused when I see critics writing about concerts. Or people writing about this conductor is great, and this conductor is mediocre, or this concert ... Bless their hearts. I wouldn't be able to rate any better than they are. And I'm experienced doing it. It's really an elusive craft. And if I have a different perspective on conductors, I have a sympathy for them generally, because I think it's very difficult to do.”

Yosuke Kawasaki is a wonderful violinist and the Concertmaster of the National Arts Centre Orchestra Canada. He spoke about his experiences studying with the legendary Dorothy Delay, the inspiration he found in many of his peers growing up, and we talked about his role as a Concertmaster and his advice for young colleagues entering the profession (and that advice I feel applies to anyone in their life!). photo credit: Rémi Thériault