The Muse in Music - Geoffrey Robson on Bridging Tradition and Today's Sound Worlds in Orchestral Music

By, Dan Perttu

Please join me as I talk with Jeffrey Robson, Music Director of the Arkansas Symphony, about his musical inspirations and experiences. Geoffrey, a former violinist, discusses his love for symphonic music, particularly from the Romantic and early 20th-century eras, and his admiration for composers like Tchaikovsky, Strauss, and Mahler. He highlights the importance of being a generalist in music and his appreciation for contemporary composers like Thomas Adès. Geoffrey emphasizes the collaborative relationship between conductors and living composers, noting the dynamic process of creating and performing new music.  

The Muse in Music - Chad Goodman on Finding the Music's Truth and Orchestral Programming

By, Dan Perttu

Please join me as I talk with Chad Goodman, Music Director of the Elgin Symphony, as he discusses his journey from trumpet playing to conducting, inspired by a transformative experience with Dvorak's New World Symphony. He emphasizes the deep connection and authenticity required in conducting and highlights his love for Beethoven, Sibelius, and various living composers. We talk about the importance of engaging audiences with new music, using pre-concert talks and innovative programming to bridge the gap between contemporary and classical works. Please listen and watch below!

Photo by Tommy Ly

The Muse in Music - Holly Mulcahy on Reimagining the Connection between Orchestras and Audiences

By, Dan Perttu

Please join me as I talk with violin soloist Holly Mulcahy, who is also concertmaster of the Wichita Symphony, about her work in audience engagement. Holly discusses her background coming from a family that was not deeply into "classical" music and how this informs her approach to making classical music accessible. She highlights the importance of inviting non-musical families to concerts and providing value beyond just performance. We also talk about her super-popular Rose of Sonora violin concerto, which combines film narrative with live performance, and her collaboration with Dan on the Stealing from Birds concerto, which incorporates bird calls and themes into the fabric of the piece.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg