The Mind Over Finger Podcast

Today, I’m very excited to have the brilliant violinist, violist, and conductor Julian Rachlin on the show! At the end of this very busy week, playing with and conducting the Chicago Symphony, Julian graciously took the time to sit with me and discuss meticulous practicing, mindful music-making, and his deep love of the art form! He covers many topics, including studying with Boris Kuschnir and Mr. Kuschnir’s thorough approach to mastering the instrument, his views on the lifelong path that is growing as an artist, his daily practice regimen, and how playing the viola and conducting have allowed him to explore music from different angles. Julian elaborates on: How he believes we are never done learning How the fact that his parents never made him practiced helped foster his deep love of music His daily practice regimen Why the responsibility to grow as an artist lies with the student How musicians are a community How playing the viola and conducting allow him to explore music from different angles Why we should brush our taste as often as we brush our teeth Finding the right balance between being completely open-minded and fully convinced (and when to be which)   MORE ABOUT JULIAN RACHLIN: Website: http://www.julianrachlin.com/ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm_Eyb3YAt3m7_ic4VTA84A Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julianrachlin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianrachlin/ Elisabeth Gilels: Daily Exercises for the Violinist Boris Kuschnir: http://www.boriskuschnir.com/   Violinist, violist and conductor Julian Rachlin is one of the most exciting and respected musicians of our time. In the first thirty years of his career, he has performed as soloist with the world's leading conductors and orchestras. Mr. Rachlin is Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Northern Sinfonia, Turku Philharmonic Orchestra and Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra. He also leads the "Julian Rachlin & Friends Festival" in Palma de Mallorca. Highlights of Mr. Rachlin's 2018/19 season include performances with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic and Mariss Jansons, Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Christoph Eschenbach, Boston Symphony Orchestra and Juanjo Mena, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Manfred Honeck, as well as the KBS Symphony Orchestra and Myung-Whun Chung. Alongside soloist Sarah McElravy and the Royal Northern Sinfonia, he will perform the UK premiere of Penderecki's Double Concerto for Violin and Viola, which is dedicated to him. Additionally, Mr. Rachlin will conduct among others the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic, Moscow Philharmonic, St. Petersburg Symphony, Essen Philharmonic, Strasbourg Philharmonic, Slovenian Philharmonic, Zagreb Philharmonic and Trondheim Symphony Orchestra. Julian Rachlin's recent highlights include a residency at the Prague Spring Festival and his own cycle at the Vienna Musikverein. He also performed with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra and Yuri Temirkanov, Filarmonica della Scala and Riccardo Chailly, Munich Philharmonic and Zubin Mehta, Philharmonia Orchestra and Jakub Hrůša, Orchestra del Maggio Musicale and Vladimir Ashkenazy, as well as the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and Lahav Shani. As conductor, he toured Europe with the English Chamber Orchestra, and led the Royal Northern Sinfonia across South America and Japan. Additionally, he conducted the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia, Hungarian National Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Prague Philharmonia, and made his USA conducting debut at the Grand Teton Music Festival. In recital and chamber music, Mr. Rachlin performs regularly with Itamar Golan, Denis Kozhukhin, Denis Matsuev, Mischa Maisky, Sarah McElravy, Vilde Frang and Janine Jansen. Born in Lithuania, Mr. Rachlin immigrated to Vienna in 1978. He studied violin with Boris Kuschnir at the Vienna Conservatory and with Pinchas Zukerman. After winning the "Young Musician of the Year" Award at the Eurovision Competition in 1988, he became the youngest soloist ever to play with the Vienna Philharmonic, debuting under Riccardo Muti. At the recommendation of Mariss Jansons, Mr. Rachlin studied conducting with Sophie Rachlin. Since September 1999, he is on the violin faculty at the Music and Arts University of Vienna. His recordings for Sony Classical, Warner Classics and Deutsche Grammophon have been met with great acclaim. Mr. Rachlin, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, is committed to educational outreach and charity work. Julian Rachlin plays the 1704 "ex Liebig" Stradivari and a 1785 Lorenzo Storioni viola, on loan to him courtesy of the Dkfm. Angelika Prokopp Privatstiftung. His strings are kindly sponsored by Thomastik-Infeld.   If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes!  I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice. Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/     THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme!  Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!   MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/

047 James VanDemark: Technical Discipline & Interpretive Magic This episode is full of inspiration and extremely useful information!  Eastman School of Music Bass Professor, James VanDemark, offers us tip after great tip to bring our practice and performance to the next level! Among many topics, James talks to us about creating a technical discipline that leads to interpretive magic, and about on how crucial it is to have clear goals and setting the intention to build up our entire identity as an artist whenever we enter the practice room.  He elaborates on the importance of: using the bow in an imaginative way (having the bow be an extension of our imagination) while having a left hand that is as immaculate as can be acutely playing in the present moment establishing a great basic posture slow practice using the mirror having interpretation be at the center of the technical work create the concert experience in the practice room ear training - through listening to recording actively and with imagination, and through exercises having a schedule, have a clear intent, and be kind to others   MORE ABOUT JAMES: Eastman School of Music: https://www.esm.rochester.edu/faculty/james-vandemark/ YouTube Videos: Here Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bassfilm1/     "Some people seemed destined to lead unconventional lives, and James VanDemark is certainly one of them," said the New York Times in the first of its three profiles on VanDemark. Performer, academic, boxer, producer, and entrepreneur - these are the principal roles VanDemark has successfully played in a highly diverse career spanning nearly four decades.   VanDemark's arts and culture projects have been featured in the New York Times, Connoisseur Magazine, on the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, the BBC, CBC, NPR, and in many other media outlets around the world. In considerable demand as a speaker on entrepreneurial skills at colleges across the United States and Canada, VanDemark has also received great acclaim for his frequent role as narrator with many prominent symphony orchestras, including more than 40 performances with the Rochester Philharmonic and 15 with the Texas Festival Orchestra.   Appointed to the Eastman School of Music at the age of 23, VanDemark was the youngest faculty member ever appointed to a professorial position at a major American music school. His students perform in many of the world’s great orchestras – the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Buffalo Philharmonic, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Tokyo Chamber Orchestra, Singapore Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic – and many more. His students have also been nominated for—and won—numerous Grammy awards in various categories, including classical, contemporary, jazz, and bluegrass.   VanDemark’s students have also held positions at major music schools, including Indiana University, Oberlin Conservatory, Eastman School of Music, Louisiana State University, Carnegie-Mellon, Peabody Conservatory, University of Delaware, NYU’s Steinhardt School of Music, Michigan State University, University of Colorado, University of Alabama, University of Tennessee, and many others.   VanDemark’s performing career has included solo appearances with the New York Philharmonic, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, National Symphony of Mexico, Netherlands Radio Symphony, Symphony Nova Scotia, Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec, Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, and many more. Chamber music appearances have included the Cleveland, Guarneri, Muir, Colorado and Ying Quartets, the Gryphon Trio, violinist Yehudi Menuhin, as well as legendary pianists Andre Watts, Alfred Brendel, and Gary Graffman. VanDemark has also been featured on Lincoln Center’s “Great Performers Series” on three occasions, including in recital with Andre Watts.   VanDemark is also the recipient of commissioned works by many composers, including three Pulitzer Prize winners: Gian-Carlo Menotti, Joseph Schwantner, and Christopher Rouse. As a founding member of Square Peg Entertainment, VanDemark developed and represented screenplays and properties of Oscar winners Ernest Thompson, Horton Foote, Eiko Ishioka, Ron Harwood, Oscar nominee Hesper Anderson, Stu Silver, Paul Theroux, and many others. VanDemark also developed the World War I story CODE BROTHERS for CTV (Toronto), THE WAYNE AND SUE SHOW for Tribune Entertainment, produced the album and music video THE GIFT with singer Linda Eder for Atlantic Records, and with television legend Sir David Frost, developed the Frederick Forsyth novella THE SHEPHERD in conjunction with Shaftesbury Films (Toronto). VanDemark also co-produced and cast SPEAK LOW, the highly successful Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Gala featuring Jerry Orbach, Donna Murphy, Duncan Sheik, and other stars of Broadway and the Metropolitan Opera in the music of Kurt Weill. VanDemark has also served as Music Supervisor for John Cougar Mellencamp's film, AFTER IMAGE.   Acclaimed for his extensive work in the Native American community, VanDemark commissioned and developed the Native collaborative musical work CIRCLE OF FAITH, profiled in The New York Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Detroit Free Press, Minneapolis Star and Tribune, Denver Post, Lakota Times, and on NPR's Morning Edition. VanDemark has helped produce more than 40 performances of the work in the United States and Canada.   As an accomplished amateur boxer, VanDemark was recently profiled on the front page of The Wall Street Journal, The Strad, on CBC's "Q," WNYC's "Soundcheck," and was featured at length on ESPN's E-60. VanDemark’s conditioning and boxing program for students, musicians, and the general public has also brought him considerable worldwide acclaim. His recent boxing/ conditioning presentations include the University of Tennessee, the University of Alabama, Louisiana State University, Loyola University New Orleans, and the University of Santiago (Chile).   VanDemark attributes the longevity and diversity of his career not only to his own athletic training, but also to his work in the the health care field in the 1970’s, when he worked extensively under the renowned neurologist Dr. Howard S. Barrows at the McMaster University School of Medicine in Canada in developing the groundbreaking Simulated/Standardized Patient Program (SPP). As a result of these achievements, VanDemark was named to the Industry Board of the American Health Council in October 2017.     If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes!  I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice. Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/     THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme!  Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!   MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/

In this episode, Billy Hunter, Principal Trumpet with the Metropolitan Opera, talks about how meditation transformed his approach to music-making – from practicing to preparing for audition, and performing. Billy elaborates on: How he used and still uses meditation and mindfulness to center himself before a performance How he focuses his mind on “Intending to play well” when performing How he believes in the importance of a regular meditation practice – in the cumulative effect of practicing meditation daily Why he wants to feel like he’s practicing when he’s performing How Bikram Yoga brought him a lot of focus How mindfulness helps him learn faster   ALL ABOUT BILLY: http://www.metorchestramusicians.org/billy-r-hunter-jr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billyhunter1812/   A native of Austin, Texas, Billy Hunter is currently Principal Trumpet with the Metropolitan Opera in New York and Assistant Principal Trumpet with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra in Chicago. Before this, he was Principal with the New World Symphony and Spoleto Festival Italy orchestras, and has performed as Guest Principal with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony in Germany, Malaysian Philharmonic in Kuala Lumpur, and the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. Other orchestras he has performed with are the New York Philharmonic, Boston, Baltimore, and Dallas Symphonies. As a chamber musician and soloist Mr. Hunter has performed with several ensembles and music festivals including Grant Park Orchestra, New World Symphony, University of Texas Symphony and Wind Ensemble, Prometheus Chamber Orchestra, Eastern Music Festival Orchestra, American Brass Quintet, the Martha's Vineyard Chamber Music Festival and the MET Chamber Ensemble. His honors and awards include first prize in the Kingsville International Solo Competition Brass and Non-string divisions, second prize in the National Trumpet Competition, recipient of the Roger Voisin Trumpet award as a fellow of the prestigious Tanglewood Music Center in the Berkshires, and most recently, the University of Texas at Austin Outstanding Young Alumnus Award. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and the Juilliard School, his teachers have included Mark Gould (former Principal Trumpet of the Met), Raymond Mase  (Principal Trumpet of the NYC Ballet and ABQ), Raymond Crisara (former trumpet of the Met and NBC Symphony), and Harry Shapiro (former horn player of the Boston Symphony).   If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes!  I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice. Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/     THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme!  Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!   MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/    

Today’s show brings you a powerful and honest conversation on very important topics, including how changing your mindset can change your life, how focusing on your musical voice instead of perfection in execution and external validation can transform your relationship with practicing, enrich your playing, and affect the trajectory of your career.  Milan Milisavljevic, Principal Viola with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, elaborates on: the major impact a mentor had in his life the importance of knowing where you’re coming from as a musician the importance of having a clear intention of what you want to sound like and listen intently to yourself and monitor your body when playing why shame has no business in the practice room his scale routine how he feels sound production in his arm the importance of “reducing the distance between thought and sound (I love that one!!!) how the fear transmitted from a teacher made him dread practicing, and how that has since changed how he uses the Pomodoro technique why it’s important to be calm when we’re facing things that make us feel uncomfortable how changes in our lives come from us making the effort to go through the reflection and do the work the important of courage in approaching music why serving others and serving music IS THE POINT of music-making! why it’s about “saying something meaningful rather than being perfect”     MORE ABOUT MILAN:   Website: http://milanmilisavljevic.com/ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsqbMHG_aOg5dgnTX_jYApw The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra: http://www.metorchestramusicians.org/milan-milisavljevi Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milimusique/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quincejuice/   Widely considered one of the leading violists of his generation, Milan Milisavljević is Principal Viola with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and is on the viola faculty at Mannes School of Music in New York. His performances combine intense expression with an immediate and profound link to his listeners and have won much critical acclaim. The Strad magazine has described his playing as “very imaginative, with a fine, cultured tone.” Milan’s solo album Sonata-Song, released by Delos Music, has received glowing reviews, with the recording of A. Khachaturian’s solo sonata on the album hailed as “definitive”. He has won prizes at competitions such as Lionel Tertis and Aspen Lower Strings and has performed at Marlboro, Cascade Head, Classical Tahoe, Agassiz and Grand Teton music festivals. Milan has appeared as soloist throughout the world, with orchestras such as the Munich Chamber Orchestra, the Belgrade Philharmonic, Aspen Sinfonia, Classical Tahoe, Orquesta Filarmónica de Boca del Río and many others. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with members of the Guarneri and Mendelssohn String Quartets, as well as Joseph Kalichstein, Sergiu Luca, Cho-Liang Lin and many others. Milan has been heard worldwide on countless recordings and broadcasts of the MET. He previously served as its Assistant Principal Viola for twelve seasons. He is a former member of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and has served as guest Principal Viola of many orchestras, such as the Toronto Symphony. In addition to his teaching activities at Mannes, Milan has coached violists in masterclasses at universities and conservatories worldwide, as well as at Verbier Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, and as a volunteer at Ecole de musique St-Trinite in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He is also increasingly in demand as a conductor. Milan’s teachers include Jutta Puchhammer, Atar Arad, James Dunham, Nobuko Imai and Samuel Rhodes. He plays a viola made by Joseph Curtin of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is a Larsen Strings Artist. Milan is also active as a conductor and founder of Music for the People, a New York-based ensemble dedicated to a new perspective and concert experience of classical music. In addition to his musical interests, he is also an avid runner, an occasional triathlete and a huge fan of modern architecture and design, especially the Mid Century Modern style.     If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes!  I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice. Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/     THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme!  Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!   MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/

Sarah Whitney: Thriving Through Injury Today on the show, I’m really happy to bring you violinist Sarah Whitney to cover a VERY important topic: dealing with injuries as a musician! In this episode, Sarah talks to us about how you can not only prevent and treat injury, but also thrive in the aftermath – how to handle recovery, the ways she warms up to prevent injury, and how important the mental aspect of recovery is.  She also talks about how she helps musicians achieve their career goals and why life and career coaching can be a real game changer. And don't forget to share your injury story with us, and let us know what resonated with you in the episode! ALL ABOUT SARAH: Website: https://www.sarahwhitney.com Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/theproductivemusician/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahwhitneyistall/ Sybaryte5: https://www.sybarite5.org/ https://www.facebook.com/SybariteFive/ https://www.instagram.com/sybarite5/ Trifecta String Trio https://www.trifectatrio.com/about https://www.instagram.com/trifectastringtrio/   The violinist Sarah Whitney is celebrated as a performer, teacher, entrepreneur, career coach, and musical maverick. Praised by The Washington Post for her “marvelous violin acrobatics,” Sarah has appeared on stages worldwide as a soloist and collaborative artist throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Comfortable in a wide range of settings and musical styles, she is fiercely dedicated to bringing fresh new ideas to classical music and empowering musicians to find their own voice. Sarah is a founding member of the acclaimed string quintet SYBARITE5, which won the Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition in 2011 and continues to perform extensively around North America. Sarah has also performed with SYBARITE5 at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall, the Library of Congress, the Aspen, Caramoor, Chautauqua, Grand Teton, and Ravinia Festivals, and on the CBS Early Show. Their latest album entitled Outliers reached No. 1 on the Billboard Charts, and they recently premiered Dan Visconti’s Beatbox: Concerto for String Quintet & Orchestra with the South Carolina Philharmonic, Midland Symphony Orchestra, and Duluth-Superior Orchestra. Recognized as a pioneer in changing the perception of classical music and committing to building new audiences, in 2015, Sarah founded Beyond the Notes, an innovative concert series dedicated to breaking down the barriers between performers and the audience. The series is rooted in the Boston-area but has expanded in recent years to present performances throughout North America. She is also currently the Music Director for Lincoln Center Stage — an innovative partnership between Lincoln Center and the Holland-American Cruise Lines. This initiative organizes highly-coveted residencies for top young chamber musicians on board cruise ships elevating the performance level to that  heard in leading concert halls. Sarah’s writing is featured regularly in for Strings Magazine and 21CM.org. Her widely-read blog The Productive Musician focuses on health and wellness, productivity, and strategies for developing and maintaining an effective mindset. She has served on the New York State Presenters Network Panel in discussions about progressive programming and innovation. Defying categorization and welcoming diverse collaborations, Sarah has collaborated with the Alvin Ailey and Jose Limon dance companies and has been featured on-stage with Adele, Ellie Goulding, the Transiberian Orchestra, Jeff Beck, Anne Murray, Andrew Wyatt, Tommy Lee, and with Father John Misty. Active as a recording artist, Sarah has performed on albums with Darlene Love, Josh Ritter, Stephen Kellogg, Mark Geary and Etienne Charles and can be heard on William Bolcom's Grammy-winning album ‘The Songs of Innocence and Experience’. She has also collaborated with DJ Doug E. Fresh and opened for Jennifer Hudson and Diana Ross. She recently recorded together with the legendary clarinetist Richard Stoltzman. Sarah also performs regularly in the Seeing Double Duo with violinist Julia Salerno, and the Trifecta Trio together with violist Angela Pickett and cellist Laura Metcalf. Sarah is co-founder of the Jingle Punks Hipster Orchestra that has been featured on Mashable, Perez Hilton, Revolt TV, as well as with the rapper NAS in Johannesburg, South Africa. Guiding students with an especially collaborative teaching approach, Sarah works nationally with students of all levels. She has given guest master classes and entrepreneurial workshops at the Curtis Institute, New England Conservatory, DePauw University, University of Oklahoma, University of Arizona, Grinnell College, Ohio University, University of North Florida, the Walnut Hill School, the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, among others, and has been guest artist-in-residence at Eastern Washington University. She has served on faculty at Music in Chappaqua, The Music School of New York City and the Walla Walla Suzuki Institute. She previously served as co-director of the Sato Center Outreach Group at the Sato Center for Suzuki Studies in Cleveland, and received Suzuki teacher training from the renowned pedagogue Kimberly Meier-Sims. Currently based in New York City, Sarah holds degrees from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance and the Cleveland Institute of Music. Additional studies include at the Aspen Music Festival and School, the Music Academy of the West, and the Meadowmount School of Music. Her teachers included Paul Kantor, William Preucil, Kathleen Winkler, Aaron Berofsky, Cyrus Forough, Stephen Shipps and Irina Muresanu. Sarah performs on violin made by J.B. Vuillaume in 1850.   If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes!  I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice. Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/     THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme!  Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!   MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/    

This week I’m really excited to bring you Frank Rosenwein, Principal Oboe with the Cleveland Orchestra and oboe teacher at the Cleveland Institute of Music. In this episode, we discuss stepping into the role of a principal wind player in a major orchestra, transitioning from student to professional life, how to keep playing at the highest level consistently, the importance of having a strong vision and cultivating an ever inquisitive mind, what teaching brings to one’s playing, and much more!   More about Frank Rosenwein:   The Cleveland Orchestra: http://www.clevelandorchestra.com/ The Cleveland Institute of Music: https://www.cim.edu/faculty/frank-rosenwein YouTube videos: https://www.google.com/search?q=frank+rosenwein&newwindow=1&sxsrf=ACYBGNRqML7ag5XPsKlpQNJ0oNqu2arXKw:1568685892756&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjf8pqr4tbkAhVHX60KHQ1YBDIQ_AUIFSgE&biw=1920&bih=937   Frank Rosenwein joined The Cleveland Orchestra as principal oboe at the beginning of the 2005–06 season. He made his solo debut with the Orchestra in February 2007, in Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2.  Since then he has performed many times as soloist, including playing the Richard Strauss Oboe Concerto in 2012 and the first Cleveland Orchestra performances of the Vaughan Williams Oboe Concerto in 2017. Since 2006, Mr. Rosenwein has served as head of the oboe department at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where in 2015 he was given the Alumni Achievement award.  He also teaches at the Kent Blossom Music Festival, and is in demand as a guest artist and masterclass clinician in schools all over the world.  An avid chamber musician, he has spent many summers at the Marlboro Festival and has performed with the Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and the Seattle Chamber Music Society.  Born in Evanston, Illinois, Mr. Rosenwein holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with John Mack (Cleveland Orchestra principal oboe, 1965–2001), and a Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School.  Prior to coming to Cleveland, he served as principal oboe (2002–05) of the San Diego Symphony and San Diego Opera. Mr. Rosenwein is married to Cleveland Orchestra associate concertmaster Jung-Min Amy Lee.  They live in Cleveland Heights with their twin boys, Joshua and Julian, and their dog, Sofie.   If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes!  I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice. Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/     THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme!  Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!   MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/    

In this episode, I discuss with solo violinist Arnaud Sussmann.  He elaborates on the mindsets and strategies to adopt when working on sound quality, the importance of having a strong concept of phrasing and of bow distribution in musicality, the importance of creating fluency in his playing and how he achieves it, the importance of purpose in our practice, warming up during busy periods, the value of recording ourselves when we practice, and why he believes it’s important to work hard. Nous avons aussi une discussion en francais!  Nous vous offrons un retour sur certains point abordés en anglais en ce qui a trait à la production du son et du phrasé, et une conversation sur l’importance de la curiosité dans la pratique et sur comment il aborde une œuvre nouvelle.   MORE ABOUT ARNAUD SUSSMAN: Website: http://arnaudsussmann.com/ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/violinice Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arnaudsussmannviolin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arnaudsussmann/ Boris Garlitsky: http://www.talentmusicmasters.it/boris-garlitsky   Winner of a 2009 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Arnaud Sussmann has distinguished himself with his unique sound, bravura and profound musicianship. Minnesota’s Pioneer Press writes, “Sussmann has an old-school sound reminiscent of what you'll hear on vintage recordings by Jascha Heifetz or Fritz Kreisler, a rare combination of sweet and smooth that can hypnotize a listener. His clear tone [is] a thing of awe-inspiring beauty, his phrasing spellbinding.” A thrilling young musician capturing the attention of classical critics and audiences around the world, Arnaud Sussmann has appeared with the American Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, New World Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Paris Chamber Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Further solo appearances have included a tour of Israel and concerts at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, Dresden Music Festival in Germany and at the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C. Mr. Sussmann has been presented in recital in Omaha on the Tuesday Musical Club series, New Orleans by the Friends of Music, Tel Aviv at the Museum of Art and at the Louvre Museum in Paris. He has also given concerts at the OK Mozart, Chamber Music Northwest and Moritzburg festivals and appears regularly at the Caramoor, Music@Menlo, La Jolla SummerFest, Seattle Chamber Music, Moab Music and Saratoga Springs Chamber Music festivals. Recent concerto appearances include performances with Maestro Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra at the White Nights Festival in St Petersburg, the Santa Rosa Symphony, the Albany Symphony, the Jacksonville Symphony and the Grand Rapids Symphony. This past season, chamber music performances included tours with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center to Korea’s LG Arts Center, Shanghai’s Oriental Center and Hong Kong’s Music Academy. Arnaud Sussmann has performed with many of today’s leading artists including Itzhak Perlman, Menahem Pressler, Gary Hoffman, Shmuel Ashkenazi, Wu Han, David Finckel, Jan Vogler and members of the Emerson String Quartet. He has worked with conductors such as Cristian Macelaru, Marcelo Lehninger, Rune Bergmann and Leon Botstein. A dedicated chamber musician, he has been a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center since 2006 and has regularly appeared with them in New York and on tour, including a recent concert at London’s Wigmore Hall. A frequent recording artist, Arnaud Sussmann has released albums on Deutsche Grammophon’s DG Concert Series, Naxos, Albany Records and CMS Studio Recordings labels. His solo debut disc, featuring three Brahms Violin Sonatas with pianist Orion Weiss, was released in December 2014 on the Telos Music Label. He has been featured on multiple PBS’ Live from Lincoln Center broadcasts alongside Itzhak Perlman and the Perlman Music Program and with musicians of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Born in Strasbourg, France and based now in New York City, Arnaud Sussmann trained at the Conservatoire de Paris and the Juilliard School with Boris Garlitsky and Itzhak Perlman. Winner of several international competitions, including the Andrea Postacchini of Italy and Vatelot/Rampal of France, he was named a Starling Fellow in 2006, an honor which allowed him to be Mr. Perlman’s teaching assistant for two years. Mr. Sussmann now teaches at Stony Brook University on Long Island and was recently named Co-Artistic Director of Music@Menlo’s International Music Program.   If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes!  I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice. Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/     THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme!  Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!   MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/    

To start Season 2, I’m really honored to bring you a conversation with the incredible Marin Alsop, who’s someone I’ve admired so much for so many years! In this episode, we discuss Making things happen for yourself, finding balance between pushing yourself to grow and not becoming overly self-critical, bringing a score to life, how she nurtures focus in her work by planning carefully, and the importance of becoming our own best teacher!   ALL ABOUT MARIN ALSOP: Website: https://www.marinalsop.com/ Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: https://www.bsomusic.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinalsop.conductor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marin.alsop.conductor/   Marin Alsop is one of the world’s great orchestral conductors. She’s described as an inspiring and powerful voice in the international music scene, and a Music Director of vision and distinction who passionately believes that “music has the power to change lives”. She is recognized across the world for her innovative approach to programming and for her deep commitment to education and to the development of audiences of all ages. Upon her appointment as Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 2007, Maestro Alsop became the first woman to head a major American orchestra, and was the first woman to conduct last night of the Prom in its 100 year history. Among her many awards and academic positions, Marin Alsop is the only conductor to receive the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, she’s an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music and Royal Philharmonic Society, and was recently appointed Director of Graduate Conducting at the Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute. She attended the Juilliard School and Yale University, who awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in 2017. Her conducting career was launched in 1989, when she was the first woman to be awarded the Koussevitzky Conducting Prize from the Tanglewood Music Center. As part of her artistic leadership in Baltimore, Mastro Alsop has created several bold initiatives: including ‘OrchKids’, for the city’s most deprived young people, and the BSO Academy and Rusty Musicians for adult amateur musicians. Maestro Alsop conducts all of the world’s major orchestras, and in addition to her position with the Baltimore Symphony, she is Principal Conductor and Music Director of the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, Chief Conductor of the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Music Director of California’s Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. Her extensive discography has led to multiple Gramophone awards and includes highly praised recordings with all of the major labels, including Naxos, Decca Classics, Harmonia Mundi and Sony Classical. If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes!  I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice. Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/     THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme!  Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!   MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/

The conclusion of this series covering the Fischoff Competition, including a summary of some of my favorite takeaways, tips, and advice, and with a conversation with my fellow podcaster friend, Nathan Cole, on what it was like for us there!   CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF THE 46TH FISCHOFF NATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION   Grand Prize Aruna Quartet – Texas Tech University Senior Division Strings/Piano Gold Medal Winner: Merz Trio – New York City Silver Medal Winner: Abeo Quartet – Juilliard School Bronze Medal Winner: Dior Quartet – Indiana University ; Jacobs School Senior Division Winds/Brass Gold Medal Winner: Aruna Quartet – Texas Tech University Silver Medal Winner: Khroma Quartet – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Bronze Medal Winner: Catharsis Winds – Cleveland Institute  Junior Division Strings/Piano Gold Medal Winner: Fervida Trio – Young Chamber Musicians, Burlingame CA Silver Medal Winner: Éclatante String Quartet – Starling Preparatory String Project, Cincinnati OH Bronze Medal Winner: Meraki Quartet – Crowden Music Center, Berkeley CA Junior Division Winds/Brass Gold Medal Winner: Golden Melody Saxophone Quartet – Middle School of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China Silver Medal Winner: Quantum Quartet – Hebron High School, Carrollton Texas Bronze Medal Winner: The Bone Rangers – Merit School of Music     Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition: https://www.fischoff.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFischoff/   Nathan Cole: https://www.natesviolin.com/ Stand Partners for Life: https://www.natesviolin.com/the-stand-partners-for-life-podcast/     If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes!  I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.   THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme!  Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!   MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/   Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

Experience the 2019 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition from the perspective of the Grand Prize-winning group of the competition – the Aruna Saxophone Quartet.  Member Will Pyle talks about how they prepared for Fischoff and what it’s been like for them!   Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition: https://www.fischoff.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFischoff/                   FIND THE ARUNA SAXOPHONE QUARTET ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM!     If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes!  I truly appreciate your support! Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.   THANK YOU: Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme!  Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson. Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!   MIND OVER FINGER: www.mindoverfinger.com https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/ https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/   Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/