The Mind Over Finger Podcast

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036 The Fischoff Experience: The Performers May 20, 2019

Show notes

Experience the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition from the perspective of the musicians participating. Hear conversations about their experience at Fischoff, their preparation process, and the dedication and many sacrifices that go along with entering a national chamber music competition.

Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition: https://www.fischoff.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFischoff/

Featuring:

Dajj String Quartet - Chamber Music Connection , Worthington, OH - https://cmconnection.org/

Anna Linder & Mathias Koo, violin; Julian Tugaoen, viola; Jackson Tomsic, cello

Catharsis Winds – Cleveland Institute of Music, OH - https://www.cim.edu/

Jessica Chancey, flute; Isaac Ripple, oboe; Shihao Hugh Zhu, clarinet; Willem Crone, horn; Corbin Krebs, bassoon

Chiave Trio – Music Institute of Chicago Academy, IL - https://www.musicinst.org/academy

Esme Arias-Kim, Kelly Kim, violin & viola; Yerin Yang, piano

Fab Five Brass Quintet – Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra - https://cyso.org/

Nick Szoblik & Louis Vacha, trumpet; Miles Teague, horn; Megan Martin, trombone; Christjovan Massao, tuba

Fiero String Quartet – Music Institute of Chicago Academy, IL - https://www.musicinst.org/academy

Isabella Brown & Kaylin Liu, violin; Elena Galentas, viola; Alon Hayut, cello

Galvin Trio – Northwestern University, Evanston IL - https://www.music.northwestern.edu/

Nanao Yamada, violin; Jasmine Pai, cello; Nansong Huang, piano

Lafontaine Quartet – McGill University, Montréal QC - https://www.mcgill.ca/music/

Aaron Chan & Astrid Nakamura, violin; Emily Rekrut-Pressey, viola; Fiona Robson, cello

Precipice Saxophone Quartet- Merit School of Music, Chicago IL - https://meritmusic.org/

Emmett Connolly, Cole Moorhead, Christopher Li, Taki Salameh, saxophone

Éclatante String Quartet – Starling Preparatory Project, Cincinatti OH - http://www.starling.org/

Christina Nam & Skye Park, violin; Jennifer Armor, viola; Meagan Hipsky, cello

Avanzare String Quartet – Cleveland Institute of Music, OH - https://www.cim.edu/

Rebecca Benjamin & Yu-Ming Ma, violin; Serena Hsu, viola; Wei-An Hung, cello

The Bone Rangers – Merit School of Music, Chicago IL - https://meritmusic.org/

Liam Coyne, Jonah Blake, Christopher Tam, Rafael Noriega, trombone

Merz Trio, New York NY - https://www.merztrio.com/

Brigid Coleridge, violin; Julia Yang, cello; Eric (Lee) Dionne, piano

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:

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

035 The Fischoff Effect: Lydia Rhea – former Kairos String Quartet May 03, 2019

Show notes

Today's guest in the fifth and final episode of the Fischoff Effect series is Lydia Rhea from the former Kairos String Quartet. In this series, I bring you five former winners of the Fischoff competition to talk about their experience preparing for and competing at Fischoff, and about the wonderful adventures and opportunities that have followed their win: Blaise Magniere from the Avalon String Quartet, Dorival Puccini from Axiom Brass, Matt Landry from the Akropolis Reed Quintet , Christopher Whitley from the Thalea String Quartet, and Lydia Reah from the former Kairos String Quartet!

Whether you are a musician about to compete at the competition, or a music lover looking for a fresh approach to practicing and preparing for a concert, make sure to subscribe and tune in everyday, because those conversations are bursting with inspiration and EXTREMELY useful information! Each group has a unique and motivating story and my guests are so generous with their insightful tips and advice!

About Fischoff

Founded in 1973 in South Bend, Indiana, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition has grown to become the largest chamber music competition in the world, attracting the finest and most talented young musicians from around the globe. and is one of the most prestigious classical music prizes attainable today. Since its founding, more than 6,000 musicians have participated, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in music performance and education. Fischoff is also deeply committed to music education and partners with competition alumni to bring free, innovative Arts-in-Education programs directly to children in their own schools and community centers. Since 1995, nearly 50,000 children, youth and adults have received free educational programming of the highest order.

http://www.lydia-rhea.com/about/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/

Meet the former Kairos String Quartet – 2018 Junior Division Gold Medal

Joshua Brown & Julian Rhee, violin/viola | Thompson Wang, violin | Lydia Rhea, cello

The Kairos String Quartet, coached by Rodolfo Vieira, is comprised of Joshua Brown (violin/viola), Julian Rhee (violin/viola), Thompson Wang (violin), and Lydia Rhea (cello).

"Kairos", the decisive time for opportunity and action, captures the essence of ambition and boldness found in these four young artists. Kairos was formed in September of 2017 when all four students were scholarship recipient Fellows at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, a pre-college training program for gifted musicians. Kairos Quartet won the Gold Medal in the Junior Division of the 2018 Fischoff National Chamber Competition and First Prize in the Junior String Division of the 2018 M-Prize International Chamber Arts Competition, making Kairos the first chamber group to win the top prizes at both Fischoff and M-Prize in the same year.

They were also awarded the Grand Prize at the A.N. and Pearl G. Barnett Chamber Music Competition, First Place at the Rembrandt Chamber Players Competition, and the Silver Medal at the St. Paul String Quartet Competition. Named the Rembrandt Young Artists for 2018, Kairos was featured on a live broadcast of WFMT's Introductions. All four members are currently pursuing music performance in college; Joshua, Julian, and Thompson are students at the New England Conservatory while Lydia is studying at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Lydia Rhea, cello

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lydia_cello/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN-KjdWREr9lehnLNf8wekg

Cellist Lydia Rhea is quickly garnering international recognition as a skilled soloist and chamber musician while currently pursuing a BM in Cello Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Dr. Melissa Kraut. Formerly a scholarship recipient Fellow at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, a training center for gifted pre-college musicians, Lydia studied with artist faculty member Hans Jørgen Jensen for four years. As a soloist, Lydia has performed with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, and the New World Youth Symphony Orchestra, among others, and appeared on NPR's From the Top with world-renowned jazz pianist Fred Hersch and guest host Yuga Cohler.

An accomplished chamber musician, Lydia earned numerous honors as the cellist of the Kairos String Quartet in the 2017-2018 season. Kairos won the Gold Medal in the Junior Division of the 2018 Fischoff National Chamber Competition and First Prize in the Junior String Division of the 2018 M-Prize International Chamber Arts Competition, making Kairos the first chamber group to win the top prizes at both Fischoff and M-Prize in the same year. They were also awarded the Grand Prize at the A.N. and Pearl G. Barnett Chamber Music Competition, First Place at the Rembrandt Chamber Players Competition, and the Silver Medal at the St. Paul String Quartet Competition. Named the Rembrandt Young Artists for 2018, Kairos was featured on a live broadcast of WFMT's Introductions and NPR's From the Top.

Lydia made her debut at the age of nine with the New World Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and the Fishers Chamber Players, and she has twice served as principal cellist in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's Side-by-Side program. Most recently, in the summer of 2018, she was invited to be a Professional Performance Artist at the Boston Music Institute's 12-Hour Masterclasses with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and she attended the Festival de Écoles d'Art Americaines de Fountainebleau in France on a full scholarship as the festival's youngest participant. While there, her string quartet was awarded the Premier Prix and the Prix du Château de Fontainebleau for the best interpretation of Ravel's String Quartet in the Prix Ravel, sponsored by the Maurice Ravel Foundation. In the summers of 2016 and 2017, Lydia attended the Heifetz International Music Institute, while previous summers were spent at the Meadowmount School of Music, Sewanee Summer Music Festival, and the Indiana University String Academy. Lydia has had the privilege of taking lessons and master classes with Gary Hoffman, Philippe Muller, Pinchas Zukerman, Robert Levin, Blaise Déjardin, Sharon Robinson, Amir Eldan, Merry Peckham, Jonathan Koh, Richard Hirschl, and Richard Aaron, among others.

Lydia plays on a cello made by Lawrence Wilke in 2008.

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:

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

034 The Fischoff Effect: Christopher Whitley – Thalea String Quartet May 02, 2019

Show notes

Today's guest in this fourth episode of the Fischoff Effect series is Christopher Whitley from the Thalea String Quartet. In this series, I bring you five former winners of the Fischoff competition to talk about their experience preparing for and competing at Fischoff, and about the wonderful adventures and opportunities that have followed their win!

My guests this week are Blaise Magniere from the Avalon String Quartet, Dorival Puccini from Axiom Brass, Matt Landry from the Akropolis Reed Quintet, Christopher Whitley from the Thalea String Quartet, and Lydia Reah from the former Kairos String Quartet!

About Fischoff

https://www.thaleastringquartet.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/

Meet the Thalea String Quartet – 2018 Senior String Division Bronze Medal

Christopher Whitley & Kumiko Sakamoto, violin | Luis Bellorín, viola | Titilayo Ayangade, cello

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thaleastringquartet/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thaleasq/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfTPRC93tPtKd1zb2OAKnSg

"Thalea never failed to deliver a stirring performance" - Calgary Herald

The Thalea String Quartet is dedicated to bringing timeless music to audiences from all walks of life. From living rooms to concert stages around the world, the Thalea String Quartet aims to connect with audiences on a musical, emotional and personal level, from first time listeners to string quartet aficionados. They are devoted to building a new and diverse audience for chamber music through innovative programming and community engagement.

Formed in 2014 at the Zephyr International Chamber Music Festival in Courmayeur, Italy, the Thalea String Quartet has been praised for their "vibrant performance" and "sincere expressivity" (SF Classical Voice). The quartet has performed recitals across Europe, the United States, and Canada, and has appeared at the Kennedy Center, Massey Hall, and Weill Hall. They were the first quartet-in-residence at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music from 2015-17. They were recently named the Young Professional String Quartet at the Butler School of Music, where they are mentored by the highly acclaimed Miró Quartet. They also serve as Associated Artists at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Waterloo, Belgium, where they are mentored by the Artemis Quartet. The Thalea String Quartet were top prize winners at both the 2018 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and the 2018 Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition. They were appointed as the Sphinx Ensemble at the 2018 Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, and will return this coming summer as a Shouse Ensemble. They were ensemble-in-residence at the Bear Valley Music Festival for the summers of 2018 and 2019.

The Thalea String Quartet prides itself on the diversity of its collaborations. They have performed Mendelssohn's Octet in its original manuscript form with the award-winning Borromeo Quartet and shared the stage with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw in performances of works for voice and string quartet. They have performed alongside Geoff Nuttall of the St. Lawrence String Quartet, violist Jodi Levitz and composer Mason Bates. They were invited to participate in the 2017 KRONOS Festival, where they performed works from the Kronos Quartet's "50 for the Future" Project. Committed to collaborating with artists of all backgrounds, the Thalea String Quartet has collaborated with San Francisco-based dance theatre company the Joe Goode Performance Group at the Yerba Buena Center, appeared with acclaimed Canadian band BADBADNOTGOOD at the iconic Massey Hall.

The members of the Thalea String Quartet are dedicated educators and bring their commitment to teaching and community engagement to their frequent educational and community performances. They have performed educational concerts to students of all ages and regularly perform at care facilities and schools across the United States.

Christopher Whitley (violin) is originally from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Kumiko Sakamoto (violin) is from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada; Luis Bellorín (viola) is from Naperville, Illinois, and Titilayo Ayangade (cello) is from Cincinnati, Ohio. Christopher performs on the 1700 "Taft" Stradivari, generously on loan by the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank.

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:

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

033 The Fischoff Effect: Matt Landry – Akropolis Reed Quintet May 01, 2019

Show notes

Today's guest in this third episode of the Fischoff Effect series is Matt Landry from the Akropolis Reed Quintet. In this series, I bring you five former winners of the Fischoff competition to talk about their experience preparing for and competing at Fischoff, and about the wonderful adventures and opportunities that have followed their win!

My guests this week are Blaise Magniere from the Avalon String Quartet, Dorival Puccini from Axiom Brass, Matt Landry from the Akropolis Reed Quintet , Christopher Whitley from the Thalea String Quartet, and Lydia Reah from the former Kairos String Quartet!

About Fischoff

https://akropolisquintet.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/

Meet the Akropolis Reed Quintet – 2012 Senior Wind Division Silver Medal, 2014 Senior Wind Division Gold Medal, & 2015 Fischoff Educator Award

Kari Landry, clarinet | Andrew Koeppe, bass clarinet | Ryan Reynolds, bassoon | Matt Landry, saxophone | Tim Gocklin, oboe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akropolisquintet/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akropolis5tet/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGAiaA8x7b3W_OpBKgg7eXg

Hailed for their "imagination, infallible musicality, and huge vitality" (Fanfare Magazine), Akropolis was founded in 2009 at the University of Michigan and has won seven national chamber music prizes since 2011, including the 2014 Fischoff Gold Medal and the 2015 Fischoff Educator Award. Akropolis is an alumnus of APAP's prestigious Young Performer's Career Advancement Program and is generously supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, CultureSource, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Chamber Music America, Alice M. Ditson Fund, Amphion Foundation, High Wire Lab, and Quicken Loans.

Celebrating their 10th anniversary, Akropolis' 19/20 season features 10 commissions for the ensemble including the first concerto for reed quintet and wind band by Roshanne Etezady, a chamber concerto by Jenni Brandon with guest bassoonist Monica Ellis of Imani Winds, a work for reed quintet and rideable percussion bicycle by Steven Snowden, and more. The season also features a 10-show, choreographed and staged production with BodyVox Dance in Portland, OR and Akropolis' 3rd annual Together We Sound festival in Detroit featuring a multimedia collaboration with Detroit projection artist, L05 (Carlos Garcia).

Akropolis' recent and upcoming appearances includes stops at Caramoor, Chamber Music Northwest, the Oneppo Series at Yale University, the Chautauqua Institution, Artist Series of Sarasota, Chamber Music Abu Dhabi, Chamber Music Columbus, and more. Akropolis has been awarded a juried showcase at APAP (YPCA), Chamber Music America twice, Performing Arts Exchange, Western Arts Alliance, and the Mid-Atlantic Performing Arts Market. With three studio albums, including its March 2017 release of The Space Between Us, called "pure gold" by the San Francisco Chronicle, Akropolis has recorded 17 original reed quintet works.

Akropolis' 2018 Together We Sound festival featured an improvisatory new work with YAK and a concert with acclaimed soprano Shara Nova. Akropolis premiered the first work for reed quintet and string quartet by David Schiff with the Dover Quartet in 2015 and has performed with artists like the Miró Quartet and renowned clarinetist David Shifrin. Akropolis has even performed with HarperCollins published author and scientist, Vic Strecher. In April 2017, Akropolis' residency in Abu Dhabi featured a performance of Marc Mellits' Splinter with original Arabic poetry performed by Khalifa University students, written around Mellits' music.

Establishing Akropolis WORKS in 2016, Akropolis' members teach an annual 7-week music business mini-course at the University of Michigan as well as two semester-long courses at Michigan State University. They have delivered WORKS lectures to university musicians around the United States on marketing, financial planning, brand identity, and more. Equally committed to students K-12, Akropolis reached over 10,000 K-12 students in 2018. They conduct an annual school year long residency with students at three Detroit high schools including chamber music and music composition.

Winner of a coveted Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Grant, Akropolis has premiered more than 50 works from composers in 7 countries and was selected to adjudicate and premiere the 2018 Barlow Prize funded by the Barlow Endowment, the first time the prize was given for a reed quintet work. Akropolis' members are the first of any reed quintet to judge major chamber music competitions including the Fischoff (2018) and Chamber Music Yellow Springs (2019) competitions. Akropolis produces a YouTube Web Premiere Series with more than 50,000 views, showcasing new works, arrangements, and composer interviews for a live Internet audience. In 2012 Akropolis created Akropolis Collection and has now sold over 400 original and arranged sheet music works to more than 100 new and established reed quintets.

Akropolis regularly appears in unconventional settings, including performances in office spaces in Detroit as part of its Corporate-to-Corner Tour in January 2017. In May 2016 Akropolis conducted a live recording session featuring audience participation for John Steinmetz's Sorrow and Celebration for reed quintet and audience, which Akropolis commissioned in 2014. Akropolis presents its annual Together We Sound festival in Detroit each June, bringing together multidisciplinary collaborators, new works, and educational outreach to increase arts access throughout the city.

Akropolis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization generously supported by individuals around the world. All Akropolis events include informative musical introductions and a chance to greet the artists. Originating at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Akropolis remains its founding members: Tim Gocklin (oboe), Kari Landry (clarinet), Matt Landry (saxophone), Andrew Koeppe (bass clarinet), and Ryan Reynolds (bassoon).

Akropolis is represented exclusively by Ariel Artists. Contact Matthew Kulas at matthew@arielartists.com for booking.

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:

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

032 The Fischoff Effect: Dorival Puccini – Axiom Brass Apr 30, 2019

Show notes

Today's guest in this second episode of the Fischoff Effect series is Dorival Puccini, trumpet player and founding member of Axiom Brass.

In this series, I bring you five former winners of the competition to talk about their experience preparing for and competing at Fischoff, and about the wonderful adventures and opportunities that have followed their win!

My guests this week are Blaise Magniere from the Avalon String Quartet, Dorival Puccini from Axiom Brass, Matt Landry from the Akropolis Reed Quintet , Christopher Whitley from the Thalea String Quartet, and Lydia Reah from the former Kairos String Quartet!

About Fischoff

Founded in 1973 in South Bend, Indiana, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition has grown to become the largest chamber music competition in the world, attracting the finest and most talented young musicians from around the globe. and is one of the most prestigious classical music prizes attainable today. Since its founding, more than 6,000 musicians have participated, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in music performance and education. The Fischoff is also deeply committed to music education and partners with competition alumni to bring free, innovative Arts-in-Education programs directly to children in their own schools and community centers. Since 1995, nearly 50,000 children, youth and adults have received free educational programming of the highest order.

http://www.axiombrass.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/

Meet Axiom Brass – 2010 Senior Wind Division Bronze Medal & 2011 Fischoff Educator Award

Dorival Puccini, Jr. , Michael Hawes | Matthew Bronstein, horn | Corey Sansolo, trombone | Kevin Harrison, tuba

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/axiombrass/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/axiom_brass/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AxiomBrass5

Praised for their "high level of musicality and technical ability" and for their "clean, clear and precise sound," the award-winning Axiom Brass Quintet has quickly established itself as "one of the major art music groups in brass chamber music." As the only Brass Quintet in 27 years to ever win the prestigious Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition (2012), and the only American ensemble to ever win the Preis der Europa-Stadt Passau in Germany (2012), Axiom has also been named winners of the 2008 International Chamber Brass Competition and prize-winners of the 2016 M-Prize, 2010 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, the Plowman Chamber Music Competition, and the Jeju City International Brass Quintet Competition in South Korea. Axiom Brass is dedicated to enhancing the musical life of communities across the globe and educating the next generation of musicians.

Axiom's commitment to education and their blend of virtuosic performances and dynamic teaching have inspired young audiences around the nation, earning the ensemble the 2011 Fischoff Educator Award. Their educational concert "Let's Make Music" has captivated thousands of elementary and middle school students in the U.S. Since 2011 the ensemble has been featured as brass quintet-in-residence for the National Brass Symposium, sharing the stage with principal brass players from the Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic and Atlanta Symphony.

Internationally recognized for their groundbreaking programming, their repertoire ranges from jazz and Latin music to string quartet transcriptions, as well as original compositions for brass quintet. Axiom Brass' performances have captured the hearts and imaginations of their audiences, leading the ensemble to national radio and television appearances as well as concerts in Asia, Europe and across the U.S. Axiom's dedication to brass repertoire has led the ensemble to commission and premiere several new works, including Avian Capriccio by Augusta Read Thomas, Axiom by Liduino Pitombeira, A Martyred Village by David Faleris, Celestial Suite by James Stephenson and For Then and Now by Laurence Bitensky. For Celestial Suite, Axiom Brass partnered with the New York Philharmonic Brass Quintet, the Chicago Symphony Brass Quintet, the Chicago Chamber Musicians and the Fischoff Chamber Music Society, as well as with the Digital Visualization Theater of the University of Notre Dame and Professor Keith Davis.

Highlights of Axiom's past seasons have included concerts in the Dominican Republic, Germany, Portugal, Spain, China, South Korea and Japan; a four-week residency at the Grand Tetons Music Festival; the release of their début album New Standards, clinics and performances at the 2010, 2012 and 2015 Midwest Clinic, their New York debuts at Symphony Space and Merkin Hall, masterclasses at The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music, as well as recitals, masterclasses and solo appearances with orchestras and bands around the U.S. In October of 2013, Axiom gave the American premiere of Fantasia Flamenca and the world premiere of Raimundo Penaforte's Concertice for brass quintet and orchestra under the baton of David Lockington and the Modesto Symphony, followed by the 2015 midwest premieres of Bernard Rands' Adieu for quintet and strings, and the Midwest premiere of Fantasia Flamenca with the Grand Rapids Symphony. During the 2016/17 season Axiom commissioned and premiered ten new works as a celebration of the ensemble's 10th anniversary.

Axiom Brass performs exclusively with the Blackbinder automatic scroll app for iPads.

Axiom Brass performs exclusively on Mutec Mutes.

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:

Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/

031 The Fischoff Effect: Blaise Magnière – Avalon String Quartet Apr 29, 2019

Show notes

Today's guest in this first episode of the Fischoff Effect series is Blaise Magnière, first violin of the Avalon String Quartet. I could not be more excited to be on site at the University of Notre-Dame as one of the official podcasters covering the 46th Annual Fischoff Competition from May 10 to 12, And, I thought it would be really fun to bring you guys 5 former winners of the competition to talk about their experience preparing for and competing at Fischoff, and about the wonderful adventures and opportunities that have followed their win!

So, this week, you will hear all about the Fischoff Effect with my guests - Blaise Magniere from the Avalon String Quartet, Dorival Puccini from Axiom Brass, Matt Landry from the Akropolis Reed Quintet , Christopher Whitley from the Thalea String Quartet, and Lydia Reah from the former Kairos String Quartet!

About Fischoff

https://avalonquartet.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/

Meet the Avalon String Quartet - Grand Prize 1998

Blaise Magnière & Mary Wang, violin | Tony Devroye, viola | Chen-Hou Lee, cello

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avalonqt/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/avalonstringquartet/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=avalon+string+quartet

Described by the Chicago Tribune as "an ensemble that invites you — ears, mind, and spirit — into its music"

The Avalon has performed in major venues including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the 92nd St Y, Merkin Hall, and Bargemusic in New York; the Library of Congress and National Gallery of Art in Washington DC; Wigmore Hall in London; and Herculessaal in Munich. Other performances include appearances at the Bath International Music Festival, Aldeburgh Festival, Caramoor, La Jolla Chamber Music Society, NPR's St. Paul Sunday, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Dame Myra Hess Concerts, Los Angeles Music Guild, and the Ravinia Festival. The quartet is performing an annual concert series at historic Ganz Hall at Roosevelt University. In recent seasons, the Avalon presented the complete quartet cycles of Beethoven, Bartok, and Brahms at Fullerton Hall at the Art Institute of Chicago.

The Avalon is quartet-in-residence at the Northern Illinois University School of Music, a position formerly held by the Vermeer Quartet. Additional teaching activities have included the Icicle Creek Chamber Music Institute, Interlochen Advanced Quartet Program, Madeline Island Music Camp, and the Britten-Pears School in England, as well as masterclasses at universities and conservatories throughout the United States. Additionally, they have given numerous performances and presentations to young audiences in under-resourced schools and communities.

030 Kerson Leong: Musical Eloquence Through Heightened Awareness & Directed Thought Apr 26, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, we're ending Season 1 of The Mind Over Finger Podcast with a truly spectacular artist! I speak with violin sensation Kerson Leong about his terrific YouTube series The Art of the Etude, his wise and meaningful practicing methods, and how he approaches violin mastery, and musical expression.

Kerson has an amazingly authentic and profound approach to music making and I KNOW you will love this episode!

SEASON 2 COMING YOUR WAY ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2019! STAY TUNED!

In the show, Kerson elaborates on:

His journey from starting at the age of four and a half to winning the Menuhin Competition at the age of 13
How winning Menuhin was the start of a very long process that lead to him exploring and finding his independence in terms of how to think about music, devise his own solutions to technical problems, and develop his instinct
The importance of knowing about the tradition and thinking for ourselves
His incredible YouTube series "The Art of the Etude"
How etudes allow us to develop our technique and musicality, and teach us so much about how to learn and how to practice
How etudes were a real grounding force in his development
How we can use etudes to develop musicality
How etudes are our "playground" to work on all aspect of performing – technical and musical alike
His practicing processes
- Knowing exactly what his goal is when he enters the practice room
- Having a clear idea in his head of what he wants to execute on the instrument
- Keeping the transitions between notes executed as if they were at full speed when practicing slowly
- Never neglect the right hand when working on difficult left-hand passages
How important it is for him to focus on how relaxed and efficient his body is at all times when he practices – analyzing motions and figuring out what works best
How letting go of the shoulder rest lead him to a depth of analysis in his physical approach to playing the violin
His approach to mental practice

More about Kerson:

Website: http://kersonleong.com/

YouTube channels: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8nlRLl9jFBGaPGWMbJ5bvQ

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/kersonleong/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kersonleong/

Violin Channel Young Artist page: https://theviolinchannel.com/vc-young-artist-kerson-leong-violin/

Violin Channel Facebook artist page: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2129174167156547

Biography

Kerson Leong first took the music world by storm in 2010 by winning the coveted Junior First Prize at the prestigious Menuhin Competition. Ever since, the young Canadian violinist has astonished and won over both fellow musicians and audiences alike the world over with his rare and innovative mastery of his instrument, his natural ability to convey the subtlest of emotions, and the colossal scope of his live performances. Having been called "Canada's next great violinist" (Ludwig van Toronto), he has distinguished himself with his unique approach as one of the most brilliant musicians of his generation.

In the 2018/2019 season, Kerson is Artist-in-Residence with the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montreal under Yannick Nezet-Seguin. Other highlights to look forward to this season include his debuts with the Sinfonieorchester Wuppertal, Liège Royal Philharmonic, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and London Symphonia.

Kerson has played in some of the most prestigious concert venues around the world from Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium and the Auditorium du Louvre to Wigmore Hall and the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing. He is in regular demand as a soloist, having performed with such ensembles as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Oslo Philharmonic, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre National de Lorraine, the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra Gulbenkian, the Stockton Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre Metropolitain de Montreal, the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada, as well as numerous other orchestras in his home country.

Kerson is also an avid and passionate chamber musician. Since his debut at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival in Switzerland in 2011, he has been featured at many renowned international festivals and concert series, including the Verbier Festival, Rheingau Musik Festival, Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Fraenkische Musiktage, Flâneries musicales de Reims, Bergen International Festival, Trasimeno Music Festival, Schiermonnikoog Chamber Music Festival, Toronto Summer Music Festival, Ottawa International Chamberfest, Music and Beyond, Montreal Symphony Orchestra's Virée classique, and Domaine Forget International Music Festival among others.

Kerson released Bis, his first album for Analekta showcasing a collection of encore pieces, to critical acclaim. He recorded John Rutter's Visions with the composer himself and the Aurora Chamber Orchestra for Collegium Records, after giving its world premiere in London, UK. He has also been invited by Canadian composer Francois Dompierre to record his piece, Les Diableries. Kerson can also be heard on CBC Television, CBC/Radio Canada, the BBC Radio 3, Radio France, Radio Television Suisse, American Public Media's SymphonyCast, NRK, RAI, Deutschlandradio Kultur, and Czech Radio. He has been a recipient of many awards such as the Sylva Gelber Music Foundation Award (2015-2017) and the Young Soloist Prize 2015 by the Radios Francophone Publiques, as well as having received a Mentorship Award from the Lin Yao Ji Music Foundation of China for inspiring younger generations. He was named Revelation Radio-Canada 2014-2015 for classical music.

Since 2015, Kerson has been an Artist-in-Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium, mentored by Augustin Dumay. Teaching is becoming a growing passion for Kerson, having given masterclasses and taught at various festivals and universities including the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, the University of Ottawa, and Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland. He has always been keen on making connections between music and other fields. Ever since his dad started introducing him to physics concepts about string resonance, they have strongly influenced his playing and philosophy on sound production. Together with his dad, he has given lectures about this subject in places such as the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, the Barratt-Due Music Institute in Oslo, and various universities in California.

Kerson performs on a 1741 Guarneri del Gesu courtesy of Canimex Inc, Drummondville (Quebec), Canada

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THANK YOU:

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

029 Jamie Parker: Listening Right Here, Right Now Apr 19, 2019

Show notes

Today, I speak with renowned pianist Jamie Parker and, I need to warn you in advance: this one is filled with wonderful information and really applicable tips, so get ready to take some notes!

Among many of the topics we cover, you'll hear about Jamie's favorite practice tips - from how to mark your part clearly, to his special crazy fast technique - why it's crucial to know yourself and know how to prioritize in instrumental practice, and the importance of listening right here, right now!

As I said, there's so much wonderful information ahead and I hope you enjoy this discussion with Jamie Parker!

Jamie elaborates on:

His experience growing up in a musical family
His trajectory from Juilliard to the Gryphon Trio and the University of Toronto
The early days of a chamber music group and how instrumental the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation was during those times
His favorite practice tips
- How he marks his part and works the difficult passages
- How he likes to make things more difficult
- His "crazy fast" practicing technique
The importance of prioritization: to know what your strengths and weaknesses are so you know what and how to practice, and how often
How crucial a strong sense of rhythm is
Why he never wants to be "the slowest person in the room"
How you'll never know if you've over practiced, but you'll know if you haven't practiced enough!
Things that help him learning repertoire rapidly
- Get a good sense of the overall "lay of the land" and do formal and harmonic analyses
- Marking his score carefully
- Using a basic pencil
- A highlighter to mark important info
- Marking the passages that are important to rehearse with the group
Why it's important for us to learn to mark the info that we will need in ways that will be clear for future performances
Why he likes to practice in the dark
Why we must work on the skill of public speaking
What are the three musicians that live within each of us
The importance of listening right here, right now
His life as a performer and teacher
Aspects to consider when thinking of leading a career in a serious chamber ensemble

ALL ABOUT JAMIE:

Website – The Gryphon Trio: http://www.gryphontrio.com/james-parker/

The Gryphon Trio on YouTube: https://www.google.com/search?q=gryphon+trio+youtube&oq=gryphon+trio+yo&aqs=chrome.0.0j69i57.7943j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGryphonTrio/

Instagram Hashtag: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/gryphontrio/

Biography

Accomplished, versatile, brilliant, are descriptors frequently linked to Canadian pianist, James Parker. To put it simply, he is among the most sought-after artists. Mr. Parker's achievements are both lengthy and impressive. His musical roots can be traced to the Vancouver Academy of Music and the University of British Columbia where he studied with Kum Sing Lee. He then went on and received his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts at The Juilliard School with Adele Marcus. Dr. Parker continues the teaching tradition as the Rupert E. Edwards Chair in Piano Performance on the music faculty at the University of Toronto.

Awards came early and often. Beginning in 1984 with a first prize at the Eckhardt-Gramatté Competition, James served notice that he was a rising star. The CBC competition concurred, selecting him winner of the 25th National Competition for Young Performers. The Virginia Parker Award as the most promising young classical artist soon followed, further solidifying Parker's place as one of Canada's best. He is often invited to the international juries of such competitions as the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the Honens International Piano Competition.

Concerts given by Dr. Parker consistently garner artistic acclaim. His style has earned him praise as "one of the most searching musical intellects and 10 of the nimblest fingers in the business" according to The Globe and Mail. James has enthralled audiences in North America and Europe, counting diplomats and dignitaries among his receptive audiences. He has made frequent appearances on CBC, and has performed on Bravo!, the CanWest Global Network, MuchMusic and a myriad of stations across the globe.

A consummate professional, James is recognized as a soloist, a chamber musician and as the pianist for Canada's foremost ensemble, the Gryphon Trio. Add to this his critically acclaimed performances with major Canadian symphonies like Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Quebec City, Edmonton, National Arts Centre, Symphony Nova Scotia and many in between, one is reminded of the scope of his contributions to the national classical music scene. With three JUNO recording awards and many other nominations from his vast discography, James Parker continues to graciously strive to do it all.

James Parker is a Steinway Artist.

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:

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER:

028 Joshua Roman: Working Purposefully & Building a Meaningful Career Apr 12, 2019

Show notes

Today, I'm so happy to bring you the incredible cellist Joshua Roman! Joshua is a multifaceted artist with a remarkably vibrant career as a soloist, chamber musician, composer, curator, artistic director, and philanthropist! In this episode, we discuss practicing purposefully and building a meaningful career, and he tells about the impact and mission of his popular Popper Etude Project and Challenge.

As you'll see Joshua's journey and approach to music-making are rooted in authenticity and a sense of purpose and are highly inspiring! I know you'll find value and a source for a deeper reflection in this conversation!

In our discussion, Joshua elaborates on:

How he feels that the multiple facets of his career are all parts of being a complete musician
His beginnings in Oklahoma and his studies at the Cleveland Institute
How it's we should follow our heart and use our skills to explore what we love - pushing passed the bounds of what we were "taught" and explore further
What he thinks about building a meaningful career – how we get the career that we build
Why it's important to figure out what we want and focus on that
The importance of questioning ourselves, getting to know ourselves, exploring our passions, and see if and how we can incorporate them into our career
"Find your voice and build your career around your voice"
Why there is no luck: "it's a series of things that you build on"
Why we need both to be prepared and get opportunities
Some of the challenges he faced on the way to his dream career
How important it was for him to feel like what he did mattered
The Popper Project and the Popper Challenge – what and why
How it turned into a way for cellists to come together and created a supportive and inspiring community
"Why do we need to practice etudes at all"
How he maximizes practice

MORE ABOUT JOSHUA:

Website: https://www.joshuaroman.com/

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFT1OzgeBtU69e5v6sIwSag

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/joshuaroman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuaromancello/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuaromancello/

Biography

Cellist / Composer / Curator

Joshua Roman has earned an international reputation for his wide-ranging repertoire, a commitment to communicating the essence of music in visionary ways, artistic leadership and versatility. As well as being a celebrated performer, he is recognized as an accomplished composer and curator, and was named a TED Senior Fellow in 2015.

Recent seasons have seen Roman perform recitals and concert with orchestras around the US and the world, including performances of Mason Bates's Cello Concerto (which was written for him) and his very own concerto. Roman is also a very active chamber musician and shares the stage with today's finest musicians.

Roman has demonstrated inspirational artistic leadership throughout his career. As Artistic Director of TownMusic in Seattle he has showcased his own eclectic musical influences and chamber music favorites, while also promoting newly commissioned works. Under his direction, the series has offered world premieres of compositions by some of today's brightest young composers and performances by cutting-edge ensembles. In the 2015-16 season at TownMusic he presented his own song cycle, … we do it to one another, based on Tracy K. Smith's book of poems Life on Mars, with soprano Jessica Rivera. He has also recently been appointed the inaugural Artistic Advisor of award-winning contemporary streaming channel Second Inversion, launched by Seattle's KING-FM to cultivate the next generation of classical audiences. The cellist additionally took on a new curatorial role last summer, as Creative Partner of the Colorado Music Festival & Center for Musical Arts. The same organization sponsored him in April 2016 at the 68th Annual Conference on World Affairs on the University of Colorado campus, where he contributed his innovative ideas about how classical music is conceived and presented. Roman performed at the Kennedy Center Arts Summit that same month and is a member of the 2016 Kennedy Center Honors artists committee.

Roman's cultural leadership includes using digital platforms to harness new audiences. In 2009 he developed "The Popper Project," performing, recording and uploading the complete etudes from David Popper's High School of Cello Playing to his dedicated YouTube channel. In his latest YouTube project, "Everyday Bach," Roman performs Bach's cello suites in beautiful settings around the world. He has collaborated with photographer Chase Jarvis on Nikon video projects, and Paste magazine singled out Roman and DJ Spooky for their cello and iPad cover of Radiohead's "Everything in Its Right Place," created for the Voice Project. For his creative initiatives on behalf of classical music, Roman was named a TED Fellow in 2011, joining a select group of next-generation innovators who show potential to positively affect the world. He acted as curator for an outdoor amphitheater performance at the TED Summit in Banff in the Canadian Rockies this past summer.

Beyond these initiatives, Roman's adventurous spirit has led to collaborations with artists outside the music community, including his co-creation of "On Grace" with Tony Award-nominated actress Anna Deavere Smith, a work for actor and cello which premiered in February 2012 at San Francisco's Grace Cathedral. His outreach endeavors have taken him to Uganda with his violin-playing siblings, where they played chamber music in schools, HIV/AIDS centers and displacement camps, communicating a message of hope through music.

Before embarking on a solo career, Roman spent two seasons as principal cellist of the Seattle Symphony, a position he won in 2006 at the age of 22. Since that time, he has appeared as a soloist with the San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Mariinsky Orchestra, New World Symphony, Alabama Symphony, and Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional del Ecuador, among many others. An active chamber musician, Roman has collaborated with established artists such as Andrius Zlabys, Cho-Liang Lin, Assad Brothers, Earl Carlyss, Christian Zacharias and Yo-Yo Ma, as well as other dynamic young soloists and performers from New York's vibrant music scene, including the JACK Quartet, Talea Ensemble, Derek Bermel and the Enso String Quartet.

A native of Oklahoma City, Roman began playing the cello at the age of three on a quarter-size instrument, and gave his first public recital at age ten. Home-schooled until he was 16, he then pursued his musical studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Richard Aaron. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Cello Performance in 2004, and his Master's in 2005, as a student of Desmond Hoebig, former principal cellist of the Cleveland Orchestra. Roman is grateful for the loan of an 1899 cello by Giulio Degani of Venice.

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:

Also a HUGE thank you to my fantastic producer, Bella Kelly!

MIND OVER FINGER: