The Upnote Podcast

Surround Sound Ep. 8 - THE FAREWELL! Apr 23, 2021

Jared, Ryan, and Simone wrap up the Surround Series, and Ryan and Simone part ways with The Upnote. We will be entering a new season with more content to come as the world slowly returns to normalcy of some sort!

Surround Sound Ep. 7 - Robert Lipsett Apr 16, 2021

Simone Porter sits with her longtime teacher, Robert Lipsett, to chat about all the subtle ways a performance can be elevated with proper preparation. From instrument maintenance to practicing your nerves, this is packed full of advice from a legendary duo.

Surround Sound Ep. 6 - Michele Yamamoto Apr 02, 2021

Manager of Alumni and Parent Relations at Colburn, Michele Yamamoto, chats with Ryan this week. From how to better use one's alumni network as a working professional, to how one can even use it to engage with current students, Michele shines a light on a surely lesser known aspect of our field.

Surround Sound Ep. 5 - Brian Lee Mar 26, 2021

Jared chats with Colburn and UCLA piano technician Brian Lee. Brian is a percussionist who discovered he had another calling *in addition* to his percussion career. They discuss the satisfaction of finding that balance of musical work, and how Colburn helps its students thrive.

Surround Sound Ep. 4 - Victor Pineda Mar 19, 2021

Jared and Ryan chat with Director of Production for the Colburn School, Victor Pineda.

Surround Sound Ep. 3 - Parisa Zaeri Mar 12, 2021

Jared and Ryan sit down with Colburn's Advancement Communications Specialist, Parisa Zaeri. Community engagement by the numbers, exploring diverse career paths against resistance, and a sprinkle of Texas band nostalgia in true Upnote fashion.

Surround Sound Ep. 2 - Dustin Seo Mar 05, 2021

Ryan sits down with Associate Artistic Director for Street Symphony, Dustin Seo, to talk about community engagement through music in Los Angeles' Skid Row community.

Surround Sound Ep. 1 - Intro Feb 26, 2021

The Upnote hosts Jared, Ryan, and Simone introduce this eight-episode series in collaboration with The Colburn School as Entrepreneurs in Residence.

Episode 51 - Michael Zarathus-Cook Jul 18, 2020

After a considerable pandemic hiatus, The Upnote is thrilled to feature Toronto-based music writer Michael Zarathus-Cook!

Michael shares his unique path into becoming a classical music writer, as well as his advocacy for a genuine diversity and inclusivity in the performing arts. We discuss his fantastic article, A Collective Awokening in the Performing Arts, written for Against the Grain Theatre: https://atgtheatre.com/a-collective-awokening-in-the-performing-arts/

We even squeezed in some NBA pandemic playoff predictions! You can follow more of Michael’s great work at Blue Riband: http://www.briband.com

Episode 50 - Cameron Crozman May 01, 2020

Hailed by the CBC as “Canada’s next big cello star,” Cameron Crozman has delighted audiences across the globe! Cameron chats with Ryan about how he’s spent his time in quarantine, his studies and musical awakening in Paris, and shares insider info about recording albums of all stripes!

The 1000 True Fans article mentioned in the episode: https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/

Please visit www.cameroncrozman.com to learn more about his exciting career, and buy his fantastic albums! You can follow him @cameroncrozman!

Episode 49 - Lauren Slavik Apr 24, 2020

After a considerable pause due to the global pandemic, we are thrilled to be returning to the mics! This special episode features Ryan's longtime friend Lauren Slavik, a student of occupational therapy at the University of Alberta! We learn about Lauren’s story, from her busy youth as a musician, to funneling that passion into caring for others with a holistic approach. We discuss all things occupational therapy, and why it’s important for musicians to know about this exciting health profession!

Episode 48 - Pocket Concerts: Rory McLeod & Emily Rho Feb 21, 2020

Pocket concerts, a refreshingly intimate and exciting atmosphere for live performance, was founded by violist Rory McLeod and pianist Emily Rho in the city of Toronto! This power couple has built a remarkable artistic network fixated around community, live music, and unique concert experiences! Come learn all about how they got started, the challenges along the way, and why they believe in the transformational power of music! Be sure to visit www.pocketconcerts.ca to learn more!

Episode 47 - Evan Taucher Feb 14, 2020

Classical guitarist Evan Taucher talks with Jared this week with a theme of accessibility. They get into how digital content creation can impact music education, how to engage young musicians, and more!

Episode 46 - Upbeats 10 Feb 07, 2020

The gang is BACK together for the first time in 2020 to change the playlist game once and for all! To celebrate our tenth Upbeats playlist, we each selected four tracks and discussed what we enjoy about them. These tracks are all over the map, from Dvorak to Led Zeppelin, and we hope that you like them!

Episode 45 - Rachelle Jenkins Jan 31, 2020

Jared chats with Audition Playbook creator Rachelle Jenkins. They talk auditions, habits of practicing, entrepreneurship, and everything else you want to hear. Rachelle is currently playing with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.

Episode 44 - Carissa Klopoushak Jan 24, 2020

Carissa Klopoushak is a dynamic and fluid performer, steeped in today's exciting classical music industry! She shares some of her wisdom about cultivating a balanced musical life, and explains why getting to truly know one's self when making career-related decisions is invaluable. She also touches on her role as a violinist in the National Arts Centre Orchestra, as Artistic Director for Ritornello Festival, and so much more!

You can read all about her exciting career by visiting www.carissaklopoushak.com!

Episode 43 - Taylor Rossi Jan 17, 2020

Jared chats with digital marketer and flutist Taylor Rossi. In this episode, they dive into social media and branding for musicians. If you ever felt lost navigating these avenues, this is the episode for you!

Episode 42 - Nate Zeisler/Jazmín Morales Jan 10, 2020

Jared sits down with Upnote sponsors Nate and Jazmín, who also run community initiatives at Colburn. As Entrepreneurs in Residence talking to the department that gave us the residency, that is the main subject of this episode! Come hear about breaking boundaries, radical disruption, and hear our new studio setup!

Episode 41 - Close Talker Dec 21, 2019

Ryan chops it up with Matthew Kopperud, his old bandmate and guitarist extraordinaire of Close Talker! Close Talker, a Saskatoon-born trio, has blossomed into a tremendous indie-rock band that captivates audiences with their honesty and innovative performances. In this episode, Ryan and Matt discuss what it’s like to tour around the world, record albums, write, perform, and much more! Go check out their amazing new album, How Do We Stay Here, available on all platforms!

Episode 40 - Upbeats 9 Dec 13, 2019

Jared and Simone finish 2019 with some bopping, energetic picks! There are some gems in there of all types, so make sure to listen all the way through one last time this decade!

Episode 40 - Felice Doynov Nov 15, 2019

When I say COMMUNITY, you say ENGAGEMENT! Our guest, Felice Doynov, is the Community Engagement Manager at the New World Symphony in Miami, Florida. Learn about how she is serving her community in a variety of ways, from coordinating performances, organizing children’s concerts, developing local partnerships, and so much more! Felice also shares her remarkable story as a flute performance major, and her fluid transition into exciting administrative work!

Episode 39 - Upbeats 8 Nov 01, 2019

Welcome to Upbeats 8!!! Jared & Ryan are back from the dead (just in time for Halloween festivities!) with a hot new playlist and commentary from a plethora of diverse tracks. Be sure to hit up the official Spotify playlist found in our Instagram bio (@theupnote!) to follow along with our bite-size analysis!

Episode 38 - Danny Koo Oct 18, 2019

In this episode, Ryan and Danny Koo discuss his signature enthusiasm for sharing music with a wide-ranging audience, be it through Korean TV programs or on the concert stage itself. Danny also shares his mindset of envisioning a meaningful and enjoyable career in music, all the while encouraging artists to embrace their unique strengths to achieve big things!

Episode 37 - THE GANG! Oct 11, 2019

All three Upnote hosts sit down again for a lovely chat about past, present, and future. This episode was also caught on video!!! Recalling the last year of Upnote-ery and ruminating on the next year of events! Now, go look at those beautiful faces...

Episode 36 - Jennifer Lane Oct 04, 2019

Jared sits with longtime friend Jennifer Lane to discuss marching band, injuries, career shifts, and more! From the bonding agents that make up high school marching band, to how musicians are more equipped than they let themselves believe, Jared and Jennifer dive into some of the more real aspects of being a growing musician. Life comes at you fast. Come hear how these two handled it!

Episode 35 - Fabiola Kim Sep 20, 2019

Our first episode done exclusively on the east coast! Ryan had the immense pleasure of speaking with Fabiola Kim, who is constantly on the go with a multitude of musical projects! Notably, we discussed her debut album with the Munich Symphony, “1939,” featuring violin concertos by Walton, Hartmann, and Bartok! We also spoke about her new position as visiting Professor of Violin at the University of Michigan. Listen UP!

Episode 34 - Francesca Leo Sep 06, 2019

On this episode, Jared and Francesca open up about their injury experiences, talk about the difficulty of talking about them and recovering, and offer tips and advice on what to do before, during, and after an injury. A small segment on contemporary music makes this a great episode 34!

Episode 33 - Upbeats 7 Aug 30, 2019

Ryan and Simone are back for an August playlist that should not be missed!! Catch these tracks before you get swept up in the September craziness!

Episode 32 - Claire Howard Aug 16, 2019

Jared and Claire talk wellness and health in this week's episode. Topics include yoga and meditation practices, how they help counter mental/physical health issues, and so much more! This episode covers some of the most important issues pertaining to a healthy lifestyle as a musician.

Episode 31 - Robin Schulze Aug 09, 2019

Jared and Robin talk shop about trombone, plug Tik Tok, and discuss the life of running a business while maintaining a full time performance career filled with auditions and practicing. Plenty of great topics between the cracks, don't miss it!

Episode 30 - Upbeats 6 Jul 26, 2019

Ryan and Jared continue Upbeats with some summer vibes, giving you a wide array of tracks for a July setlist. Shuffle or listen in order, this one will keep you listening through all 12 songs!

Episode 29 - Cassandra Venaglia Jul 19, 2019

In the summer return, Jared and Cassandra cover a broad range of topics: they nerd out over indeterminacy and John Cage, touch on what it means to discover a unique voice in a chaotically packed music industry, and comment on the reality of sexism and racism in our tight-knit music community.

Episode 28 - Upbeats 5 Jun 28, 2019

Simone and Ryan have got you covered for a month's worth of the best summer songs with our latest Upbeats playlist!! This one covers the gamut of musical expression with an emphasis on fluidity, featuring some of today’s most gifted artists. As always, our playlist links can be found in our Instagram bio @theupnote. Here are the tracks that we discuss:

1) Get Good - St. South
2) Bad Girls - Tennis
3) Attaboy - The Goat Rodeo Sessions
4) OooWee - Rapsody (Ft. Anderson .Paak)
5) Cheap Queen - King Princess
6) Voices From A Killing Jar - Kate Soper
7) I Will Possess Your Heart - Death Cab For Cutie
8) Take Me Home, Country Roads - Mountain Man
9) Hungboo - Peggy Gou
10) Ghosting - Mother Mother
11) Just A Little Bit - Norah Jones
12) The Good Side - Troye Sivan

Episode 27 - Horizon String Quartet Jun 14, 2019

A special summertime episode on the penultimate day of a tour! Ryan interviews his fellow quartet mates, of the Horizon String Quartet, about what it's like to have performed at over 300 schools in the past seven years! Topics range from favourite tour memories over the years, programming a perfect show for kids, and the importance of preserving the legacy of the string quartet!

Episode 26 - Gina Luciani May 31, 2019

Jared sits down with flute extraordinaire Gina Luciani to talk about all of her adventures on and off the instrument! They talk social media, what it means to make it, Kanye West, and inspiring positivity through music. This is a special episode you won’t want to miss!

Episode 25 - Upbeats 4 May 17, 2019

Jared and Ryan are delighted to present the fourth edition of Upbeats, our monthly playlist selections with musical commentary! In this episode we cover everything from Lauryn Hill to Bach! Visit our Instagram account @theupnote to get a link to the playlist to follow along!

Episode 24 - Jared & Ryan May 10, 2019

Jared and Ryan are back to discuss all things related to graduation, the conclusion of music programs, and all of the feelings that artists face in transitionary times. This episode is all about reflection!

Episode 23 - Jared, Ryan, and Simone May 03, 2019

The gang is back to discuss the importance of contemporary music, modern concert programming, and engaging with young audiences moving forward!

Episode 22 - Felicity James Apr 26, 2019

Felicity James, the new Associate Concertmaster of the esteemed Minnesota Orchestra, takes the time to dive into her exciting new career with Ryan! They discuss her audition preparation, how she approaches being a young leader of a major orchestra, and how she stays ready for anything! Come along and learn from one of the most brilliant musicians in the orchestral field today!

Episode 21 - Upbeats 3 Apr 19, 2019

Come and get boppin' with Jared and Simone’s latest playlist!! Upbeats 3 covers everything from Rachmaninoff to the newest Anderson .Paak!

Episode 20 - Erik Shinn Apr 12, 2019

Jared talks with his longtime friend Erik Shinn, Concert Operations and Personnel Manager of the York Symphony Orchestra. They discuss the many facets of the music industry and how exploring each road shaped Erik and his passions. Community, teaching, playing, administration, and composing are all featured in this episode of diverse topics! Hit it up!

Episode 19 - Dominic Cheli Mar 29, 2019

Happy Friday from The Upnote! In this episode, Ryan chops it up with his close friend and suitemate Dominic Cheli, who happens to be one of the most exciting young pianists on the scene today! Dominic shares the details about his very recent solo debut in Carnegie Hall, a landmark performance with Valery Gergiev in Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the inner workings of his approach to the piano.

Episode 18 - Jacob Wilkinson Mar 22, 2019

Our next guest, Jacob Wilkinson, gives insight into the life of a performer and athlete from the perspective of a trainer and kinesiologist. He connects dots that many musicians probably haven’t connected and explains how emotions, muscles, stress, and nerves all interact with each other. The path to wellness isn’t as complicated as one would think... come hear why!

Episode 17 - Upbeats 2 Mar 14, 2019

Our monthly playlist continues! Jared, Ryan, and Simone discuss their selections for Upbeats 2. Prepare for a wild ride…this playlist covers everything and then some!

Episode 16 - Jazmìn Morales Mar 08, 2019

Jared sits down with Jazmìn Morales, who is expanding horizons in the music world, challenging the industry to be more proactive about inequality. She discusses her Fortissima Fellowship, through which she mentors young women of color to pursue their classical music dreams in an industry that isn’t the most welcoming to them.

Episode 15 - Blake Pouliot Mar 01, 2019

Our host Simone sits down with violinist and close friend Blake Pouliot, fresh off of Blake’s JUNO nomination for “Classical Album of the Year.” They reminisce about when they first met years ago, discuss the psyche of approaching live performances, and dive into Blake’s playlist selections for Upbeats!

Episode 14 - Jiji Feb 22, 2019

Ryan takes a stab at his first long-distance interview, with none other than guitarist extraordinaire: Jiji! Jiji discusses her move to the US at a young age, developing her artistic voice, performing commissions, and her new teaching position at Arizona State University!

Episode 13 - Upnotes 1 Feb 15, 2019

Jared and Ryan discuss their delicious picks for The Upnote’s first ever playlist, aptly called Upnotes! We cover everything from Daft Punk to Schumann!

Episode 12 - ThatViolaKid (Drew Forde) Feb 08, 2019

In this episode, our host Wynton chops it up with Drew Forde, aka ThatViolaKid! They delve into Drew’s beginnings as a pioneer of sharing music over social media, examining the burnout of constant content creation, reaching increasingly wide audiences, and combating the rigidity of classical music stereotypes.

Episode 11 - Jared & Ryan Jan 25, 2019

In this episode, Jared and Ryan are back together in Los Angeles to discuss the developments of the podcast since its humble beginnings in the fall. They delve into the idea of New Year's resolutions for musicians and explore their importance, and also highlight a few expansions that will be taking place over the coming months!

Episode 10 - Nathan Chan Jan 11, 2019

Simone reconnects with an old hometown friend, Third Chair cellist Nathan Chan of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra! Nathan explains his infectious enthusiasm for live performance, and how he's learned to engage with audiences of all kinds through the use of technology and social media.

Episode 9 - The Upnote Holiday Special! Dec 21, 2018

This is The Upnote Holiday Special! To finish off 2018, all four of our hosts gather around the table once again to discuss some current trends in the classical music industry! We discuss a recent Washington Post article written by Jennifer Gersten, shoot the breeze about how we can better classify and categorize our art form, and even throw in some of our New Year’s Resolutions!

Episode 8 - John Romero Dec 14, 2018

Jared interviews John Romero, newly appointed principal trombone of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. They discuss audition preparation techniques, what it’s like behind the screen on the committee, and weigh the pros and cons of having a completely blind audition process. A few more tangents and laughs in between tie up this last interview of 2018!

Episode 7 - The Viano String Quartet Nov 30, 2018

Jared and Ryan had the immense pleasure of interviewing the Viano String Quartet, comprised of Hao Zhou, Lucy Wang, Aiden Kane, and Tate Zawadiuk. In addition to finding out about how the quartet formed, about their rehearsal techniques, and their competition successes, stay for the laughter with one of the most brilliant young ensembles on the scene today!

Episode 6 - Huei-Yuan Pan Nov 16, 2018

Jared and special guest Huei discuss navigating the music world through an entrepreneurial lens, embracing change, and how their similar upbringings in Texas shaped their musical growth. Huei explains how he developed a passion for a community-driven career, after entering college with the ambition of becoming a percussion instructor at a university. Our first guest interview features great questions, humour, and plenty of band nerd nostalgia!

Episode 5 - Up In My Head, Part 4 - Ryan Davis: “Musical Resilience” Nov 02, 2018

Our host Ryan closes out the Up In My Head series while stressing the importance of cultivating musical resilience. He examines his experiences as a loop pedal artist, basketball player, and long-time music student, highlighting the ways they have all given him a greater understanding of what it will take to become an artist that creates impactful change.

Episode 4 - Up In My Head, Part 3 - Wynton Grant Oct 19, 2018

Our host Wynton continues the Up In My Head series! Wynton talks about how to find identity and happiness as a musician by accepting that you can be a musician and still pursue other nonmusical ventures simultaneously and successfully.

Episode 3 - Up In My Head, Part 2 - Simone Porter Oct 05, 2018

In this next installation of the Up In My Head series, violinist Simone Porter discusses an interpretive process that looks to literature as an optic for comprehension and expansion.

Episode 2 - Up In My Head, Part 1 - Jared Dickerson Sep 19, 2018

Episode 1 - What does it mean to "make it?" Sep 05, 2018

For our very first episode, the hosts of The Upnote (Ryan Davis, Jared Dickerson, Wynton Grant, and Simone Porter) introduce themselves and ask each other some big picture questions about being a musician, and specifically what it means to "make it."

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