How does a symphony find a 9 foot concert grand piano befitting the worlds’ greatest piano concerto soloists? Peter Stumpf, piano technician and curator of the finest pianos in Pittsburgh, walks us through the process a major symphony orchestra like Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra goes through when its time to find a new concert grand. Read more in the show notes at accelerandocast.com
Ralph Farris is an American Violist who studied classical music and graduated from Julliard, but then decided to make his mark in the music world by creating an electric string quartet that follows the Kronos Quartet’s style. ETHEL takes the notion that a string quartet can do …anything. His artistic vision was shaped by his early years studying with Ben Zander, and the realization that the world was his oyster. Read more in the show notes at accelerandocast.com
Ask a bunch of kindergarteners if they are artists and they will mostly say yes. But then people lose their belief in their creative abilities the older they get. What is it about creativity that makes humans doubt themselves? Lots of people in design, marketing and psychology have examined the creative nature of mankind. This episode brings a few new ideas to the table including getting cozy with not being successful, a requirement for success. Read more in the show notes at accelerandocast.com
Pittsburgh Saxophonist, Eric Defade has sheperded many jazz students on the road to learning improvisation. His performance and recording career and teaching seem to go hand-in-hand. Eric shares insight to the legacy of Pittsburgh Jazz, and tells us about the multi-generational milestone recording he and his family recently released. Read more in the show notes at accelerandocast.com
Charles and Rachel Stegeman team teach violin and viola in their Boot Camp, but they also possess sightreading skills that make them extremely desireable players in some of the most competitive corners of the music industry. Read more in the show notes at accelerandocast.com
The PBT Orchestra has had several conductors in its thirty years at the Benedum Theatre. Here you’ll meet them and get a backstage insight to life in the orchestra pit. Maestro Charles Barker takes the lead in a campaign to fund live music for the next 50 years. Read more in the show notes at accelerandocast.com
We look at University of Pittsburgh’s 2016 Diversity challenge, and into the Late 19th century when Czech composer Antonin Dvorak came to America and incorporated the music of the oppressed members of American culture into his own music, as he did in his homeland in Bohemia/Moravia.
This podcast takes a dive into orchestra audition lists and an article by Holly Mulcahy that addresses some conflicting messages Arts Organizations are sending to potential new hires. Musicians can do their part by diversifying their own recitals and concerts. Read more in the show notes at accelerandocast.com
The Benedum Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was renovated by the Cultural Trust, but the restoration began under H.J. Heinz II. This magnificent hall became the home of Pittsburgh’s second orchestra that plays for the Pittsburgh Opera and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. The orchestra has been in business for over 30 years. This episode gives historic information about the hall. Stay tuned for upcoming segments where we’ll talk about some of the people that came across the podium and the stage during the first three decades. Read more in the show notes at accelerandocast.com
The audition process has been looked at from many angles. But what if the people listening were to take a beat and think how we’ve changed over the pandemic and put some ideas to work to make the process much less painful – for everyone. Musicians are careful to study themselves in the practice room. This episode looks at some habits away from the practice studio and in the chair of the being an audition panelist. Read more in the show notes at accelerandocast.com
