Stephen Nachmanovitch is the author of both Free Play and more recently The Art of Is. Yo Yo Ma wrote that “Stephen Nachmanovitch’s The Art of Is is a philosophical meditation on living, living fully, living in the present. To the author, an improvisation is a co-creation that arises out of listening and mutual attentiveness, out of a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity. It is a product of the nervous system, bigger than the brain and bigger than the body; it is a once-in-a-life...
Jun 11, 2022•1 hr 41 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Brendan Power is famous internationally as a phenomenal harmonica player in many genres and also as an instrument innovator. He’s invented many unique harmonicas to increase the expressiveness and range possibilities of the instrument family, and is constantly experimenting. Brendan also has a fascinating personal story in that he discovered the harmonica in his university years, and changed his life in order to master it. He is completely self-taught and you may have heard his playing on albums...
Jun 04, 2022•56 min•Season 2Ep. 15
This is a short bonus episode in my "Inspiring Excerpts" series, featuring the wonderful violinist Kerson Leong, in which he gives great advice for not only musicians, but anyone striving to live a more meaningful and mindful life. The full episode is here, available in podcast format and soon with the full transcript: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/e8-s1-kerson-leong-violinist Virtuoso violinist Kerson Leong is as eloquent in his musicality as in the way he talks about music and violin pl...
May 28, 2022•7 min•Season 1Ep. 8
In this short bonus episode in my Inspiring Excerpts series, Violinmaker Theo Marks talks about discovering these, as he calls them, “compelling wooden boxes", his childhood, learning the cello, and the craft and magic of violin making! The full episode is available in both video and podcast form, wherever you listen to podcasts, along with the transcript : https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/e7-s1-theo-marks-luthier On my podcast website you can sign up for my podcast newsletter to get sneak p...
May 21, 2022•5 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Shahriyar Jamshidi is a Kurdish-Canadian kamanche player, composer and improvisor who grew up in Iran, and lived through some very difficult times. He has collaborated with many musicians including heavy-metal cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne (also a guest of this series) in their duo Kamancello, and has released numerous albums which feature his unique improvisational style. I find his playing to be extremely expressive and his personal story compelling. In this conversation he introduces us to ...
May 14, 2022•1 hr 36 min•Season 2Ep. 14
This is a short bonus episode in my Inspiring Excerpts series, featuring the violinist Veronica Thomas. She speaks about some of the incredible outreach the unique Préville Fine Arts Centre is doing, of which she is General Director. There’s also a clip about her experience of being on the jury of the Canadian Music Competition. In the full episode, she speaks about her unique and fascinating childhood, and reflects on her life in music. The link to the full transcript of the whole interview is ...
May 07, 2022•5 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Jesse Stewart is an award-winning percussionist, scholar, composer, artist, writer, instrument-maker and community activist. In 2012 he founded “We Are All Musicians” founded on his belief that music is a fundamental human right, through which he helps create opportunites for people to make music regardless of age, musical training, socio-economic circumstance and ability. During the conversation he demonstrates how any object can be used to create interesting music, and we also get to hear him ...
Apr 30, 2022•1 hr 25 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Diane Nalini is an incredibly nuanced jazz singer, and composer. She performs in 4 languages and teaches jazz ukulele as well. I hope you’ll join me in my fascination with the incredible range of Diane’s interests and expertise. Besides being a phenomenal musician she also is a Rhodes scholar with Phd in Applied Physics from Oxford university and presently works in environmental science policy for the Canadian government. Not only is she a great lyricist, but she has also written songs inspired ...
Apr 23, 2022•1 hr 46 min•Season 2Ep. 12
I'm re-releasing my very first episode, recorded May 27, 2021 with the wonderful nyckelharpa player, violinist, teacher, and composer Kirsty Money. During the episode she plays some wonderful music for us and shares some charming stories about how she got to know this beautiful and unusual instrument. All of these episodes are also in video format, and I have also published the complete transcript of this episode. Video, transcript and short bonus episodes are linked here: https://www.leahrosema...
Apr 20, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1
I speak with Elaine Klimasko, who is a Canadian violinist who joined the newly-formed National Arts Centre Orchestra in 1969 as the youngest member, and is well-known as a teacher. Her students are very frequently winners of competitions and hold important positions as chamber and orchestral musicians all over North America. In 2003 NACO Music Director Pinchas Zukerman asked her to launch the first Junior Young Artists Programme for the NAC Summer Music Institute. In this episode she tells many ...
Apr 16, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Season 2Ep. 11
This short bonus episode in my Inspiring Excerpts series is with Québecois traditional fiddler Alexis Chartrand, created from clips from Episode 5 Season 1. We first hear Alexis perform a jig by Josef Allard. Alexis learned a lot from playing with dancers from a young age, and In the next clips you’ll hear him discuss both groove and ornamentation in traditional Quebecois fiddling. The full transcript is now available, and the links to the full episode in both podcast and video format (with time...
Apr 09, 2022•5 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Megan Jerome is a really special musician with a wonderful creative voice. In this episode you’ll hear her perform some of the songs from her new up-coming album, which will be the seventh album of her original compositions. We also talk about her unique and inspiring teaching style, her experiences through some very difficult personal losses, some ways she has found healing and connection, and her song-writing process. Timestamps below. Every episode is available in video format: https://www.le...
Apr 02, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 2Ep. 10
This short bonus episode in my Inspiring Excerpts series has clips from E4 S1 with erhu player, educator, and author Patty Chan. The links for both video and podcast versions of the original conversation as well as the complete transcript, are on my podcast website: http://leahroseman.com/blog/e4-s1-patty-chan-transcript-links-for-podcast-and-video photo credit: SG Won Patty Chan on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzHGmYuiO7Wx-OMpmDgn9_A Please help me keep this podcast afloat! https:/...
Mar 26, 2022•4 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this short bonus episode, you'll hear clips from the conversation I had with the amazing award-winning singer, song-writer and motivational speaker, Kellylee Evans. You'll also hear short clips from the performance she gave of "Feelin' Good", one of the most-requested songs in her repertoire, by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse. For the complete episode in both video and podcast format, as well as the complete transcript: https://www.leahroseman.com/blog/kellylee-evans-transcript-podcast-an...
Mar 26, 2022•6 min•Season 2Ep. 4
At the end of E9 S2, my conversation with the incredible cellist Rachel Mercer, you will find Rachel's heartfelt introduction to this inspiring performance which she made for this podcast. I have added it here as a special bonus episode in case listeners wish to listen to it again without having to scroll through the interview. For those listeners who have discovered this recording separately from the interview, I invite you to listen to Rachel's perspectives on her life and career. You can find...
Mar 19, 2022•9 min•Season 2Ep. 9
In this conversation with the really inspiring cellist, Rachel Mercer, we discuss the arc of her career so far as a chamber musician, soloist, principal cellist, the late Yehonatan Berick, an amazing violinist and pedagogue, who was her life partner, "Our Strength, Our Song" with her sister, the wonderful violinist Akemi Mercer-Niewöhner and many other chamber music collaborations and unique projects, as well as her way of approaching music. Rachel very generously made a special recording of the...
Mar 19, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 9
I have re-released this in video format for those who follow this podcast on Spotify! Here’s my very first interview of this podcast, recorded May 27, 2021 over Zoom, I spoke with Kirsty Money about her nyckelharpa journey and she demonstrates this beautiful instrument for us, as well as shares some charming stories about how she learned about the nyckelharpa. She plays some Bach, a traditional Swedish tune, and one of her own compositions, The Grind Polska . As a separate bonus, at the end of t...
Mar 16, 2022•28 min•Season 1Ep. 1
This is a short bonus episode in my Inspiring Excerpts series, from E3 S2 with guest Sophie Lukacs, the kora player, singer and songwriter. You'll hear a short clip of her performance of a traditional tune "Jula Jegere", you'll hear her explain about the kora a bit, and then you'll hear her talk about her unique personal journey, leaving medical school to go live in Mali and immerse herself in the culture and master the kora. Finally, you'll hear a clip of her original song, "Falling". Links to ...
Mar 11, 2022•7 min•Season 2Ep. 3
In this short bonus episode, violinist and Concertmaster of the National Arts Centre Orchestra Canada Yosuke Kawasaki gives wonderful advice for musicians playing orchestral auditions, which I think applies to everyone in their lives about being aware of our strengths. Also in this short episode, he tells us about some of his memorable experiences studying with the legendary Doronthy Delay. The full episode is available in both podcast and video formats, along with the full transcript: https://w...
Mar 10, 2022•6 min•Season 1Ep. 3
I was really honoured to have this opportunity to sit down and talk with the dynamic conductor, composer, multi-instrumentalist and radio host of CBC's CentreStage, Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser. We explored many interesting and important ideas around creating spaces for diverse audiences, amateur versus professional musicians, LGBTQ rights, his project with the drag queen Thorgy Thor, the lost music of Florence Price, and wonderful advice not only for conductors, but for everyone seeking more balan...
Mar 05, 2022•57 min•Season 2Ep. 8
In this Inspiring Excerpts short bonus episode you'll hear violinist, educator and entrepreneur Lynn Kuo talk about dealing with her playing injuries while writing her DMA thesis at University of Toronto while working as the Assistant Concertmaster of the National Ballet Orchestra, some lessons learned from Lorand Fenyves, and her perspectives on new opportunities for Classical musicians online. The full episode, both podcast and video with transcript is here: https://www.leahroseman.com/blog/e2...
Feb 19, 2022•5 min•Season 2Ep. 2
This is a short bonus episode in my Inspiring Excerpts series, with violinist and vocalist Carissa Klopoushak who is a member of National Arts Centre Orchestra and Ironwood Quartet, and the Artistic Director of Ottawa Chamberfest and Co-director of both Ritornello Chamber Music Festival and Classical Unbound Festival . In this short video we are treated to Carissa's singing and violin playing, around our discussion of her Ukrainian roots. All these podcast epsiodes are available in video format,...
Feb 19, 2022•6 min•Season 1Ep. 2
This interview really had to be a longer one because Josh just does so much creatively, and I had so much I wanted to ask him about! We start with his remix of Curried Soul for CBC radio's daily show As It Happens, and circle around to topics (timestamped below) including: sampling, Yiddish culture, changes in the industry from when he got his start selling CDs mail-order to touring internationally and collaborating with many musicians, including the funk legend Fred Wesley, David Krakauer, Kira...
Feb 12, 2022•1 hr 37 min•Season 2Ep. 6
In this short bonus episode you'll hear short clips from my conversation with jazz violinist and vocalist Eva Slongo. She lets us listen in a little to her creative process, and she speaks about her journey from being a classical violinist to the world of jazz, and learning to be an improvisor. If you enjoyed this, please have a listen to the complete episode, linked here both podcast and video: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/e1s1evaslongo https://www.evaslongo.com/en/jazz-violin/ Buy me a...
Feb 05, 2022•3 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Nyckelharpa player Kirsty Money introduces us to this beautiful instrument in this short bonus episode . She also performs one of her original tunes, The Grind Polska. This is compiled from excerpts from the original episode, which is also in video format, available here: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/e1s1kirstymoney For more about Kirsty and her current projects: http://kirstymoney.ca/about/ Please help me keep this podcast going! https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman If you enjoyed this, please...
Feb 04, 2022•6 min•Season 1Ep. 1
I spoke with the renowned bassoon player Christopher Millard about many topics, including many fascinating insights into the orchestra profession, the physics of sound production on both the bassoon and violin, great advice on how best to practice music, the legendary flutist Marcel Moyse and much more. Timestamps listed below! Like all my episodes, this is also a video, linked here on my website to the transcript as well: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/e5s1christophermillard Please consid...
Jan 30, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 5
In this episode we hear the incredible award-winning singer Kellylee Evans talk about her life and some of the challenges she has faced in her life, including two near-death experiences. She talks about her upbringing, her journey to jazz, her creative process, and much more. She is such a wonderfully engaging person, and I hope this episode will help listeners feel inspired by her story. We talk about her new album Greenlight and many of her other projects. Near the end of the episode at 43:00 ...
Jan 23, 2022•50 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Hi! I’m a violinist and my podcast Conversations with Musicians with Leah Roseman follows my curiosity about fellow musicians: how did they get to where they are today, what are their perspectives on a life in music?In my interview with the kora player, singer and violinist Sophie Lukacs we hear her very unique and personal story and also learn about this beautiful instrument. She plays a traditional tune for us and also a couple of her original songs from her new album. To find out more about h...
Jan 16, 2022•48 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Hi! I’m a violinist and my podcast Conversations with Musicians with Leah Roseman follows my curiosity about fellow musicians: how did they get to where they are today, what are their perspectives on a life in music? The format is in-depth conversations prepared with lots of research and many episodes also feature the guests playing music. I speak to musicians playing in different styles of music, different instruments, and with really different careers. In Season One, I spoke with quite famous ...
Jan 14, 2022•1 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In Episode 2, Season 2 of "Conversations with Musicians with Leah Roseman" I speak with the wonderful violinist and educator Lynn Kuo. In this wide-ranging discussion we covered a lot of topics, some of which include: injury prevention, performance anxiety, lessons learned and advice for musicians in a post-pandemic world. To follow Lynn or get in touch with her about her current courses and workshops: https://lynnkuo.com/ The full transcript and video format for this episode are linked here: ht...
Jan 09, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 2
