Backstage: Classical Conversations
Join host Katrina Stroud as she sits down with professional classical musicians to uncover the personal journeys behind public performances. In each episode, you'll hear conversations that reveal the passion, struggles, and turning points that have shaped the lives of classical musicians.
Hear some of the greatest classical artists in the world share their stories of resilience, artistry, and inspiration and give their advice to aspiring professional musicians. Whether you're a seasoned musician, working student, or someone who loves the transformative power of classical music, this podcast invites you to listen deeply -- to the music, and to the stories behind it.
Love the show? Support Backstage Classical Conversations with a donation at paypal.me/backstageccc — every bit helps us share more inspirational stories!
Episodes
25 episodes
Jesse Mills: Horszowski Trio
Violinist Jesse Mills is a founding member of the critically acclaimed Horszowski Trio. Listen as he shares his journey from childhood to professional stages, mentorship experiences, and insights into the importance of new music and mentorship ...
Devin Moore: Isidore Quartet
Devin Moore is the violist of the internationally acclaimed Isidore String Quartet. Listen as he talks about his musical background from growing up in Pittsburgh to becoming a Kovner Fellow at the Juilliard School. Moore talks about the creatio...
Erin Keefe: Minnesota Orchestra
Erin Keefe is the concertmaster of the Minnesota Orchestra and faculty member at the Curtis Institute of Music. Listen as she talks about her musical background and education, her Minnesota orchestra audition and experience as concertmaster, th...
Misha Amory: Brentano Quartet
Listen to the season finale with violist Misha Amory, teacher at the Juilliard School and Curtis Institute, and founding member of the Brentano String Quartet, the quartet-in-residence at the Yale School of Music. In this insightful interview, ...
Danielle Belen Part 2: University of Michigan
Professor of Violin at the University of Michigan, Danielle Belen, talks about how she prepares her students for auditions, creating a supportive studio environment, entrepreneurship, and gives her advice to aspiring professional musicians.&nbs...
Danielle Belen Part 1: Center Stage Strings
Danielle Belen, Professor of Violin at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance, shares her journey though the music world and finding her passion for teaching the violin. Listen as she discusses her musical background, stu...
Jacob Warren: Multi-style Bassist
Multi-style double bassist Jacob Warren shares his journey of being a classically trained bassist and learning different genres of music. Listen as he speaks about musical mentors, co-creating the chamber groups Warren and Flick and Westbound S...
Nathan Cole: Boston Symphony
Concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Nathan Cole shares his journey from a young violinist influenced by his musical family to becoming a prominent figure in the orchestral world. He discusses his experiences at the Curtis School of Music, the ...
Paul Watkins: Yale School of Music
Paul Watkins is an esteemed cellist on faculty at the Yale School of Music and a member of the Emerson String Quartet starting in 2013. He discusses the influence of his musical education, the importance of mentorship, and the experiences that ...
Robert McDuffie: Center for Strings
Violinist Robert McDuffie talks about obtaining his Guaneri del Gesu violin in a limited partnership, starting the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings, and creating the Rome Chamber Music Festival. To learn more about the McDuffie C...
Robert McDuffie: American Violinist
Robert McDuffie is a distinguished American violinist. Listen as he talks with host Katrina about his musical mentors including Dorothy DeLay and Yehudi Menhuin and lessons he learned while touring around the world. McDuffie tells the stories o...
Fabiola Kim: University of Michigan
Violinist Fabiola Kim is a renowned solo violinist and teaches at the University of Michigan and Colburn School. Listen as she talks about her musical mentors, finding her passion for teaching, lessons she's learned performing, and advice she h...
Sarah Ying Ma: Poiesis Quartet
Sarah Ying Ma is a violinist in the Poiesis Quartet that just won the Banff Competition Grand Prize. Ma shares her musical background, the importance of new music, and how to keep "classical" music relevant in today's society. They discuss the ...
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Jeffrey Turner: Indiana University
Double bassist Jeffrey Turner is a renowned principal orchestral musician, conductor, and pedagogue and teaches at the Indiana University Jacob's School of Music. Listen as he walks through each of his career paths, explains his teaching method...
Nancy Zhou: Concert Violinist
Violinist Nancy Zhou shares her journey as a musician raised in an immigrant family, influenced by traditional music and her father's teachings. She discusses her education at prestigious institutions, the impact of competitions, and the import...
Annie Fullard Part II: Art of Collaboration
Annie Fullard, first violinist of the Cavani String Quartet and head of chamber music at the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings and Peabody Institute, talks about developing her chamber music pedagogy and chamber music legacy in part two of her...
Annie Fullard Part I: Cavani String Quartet
Violinist Annie Fullard is a founding member of the Cavani String Quartet and head of chamber music at the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings and Peabody Institute. Listen as she talks about her musical development and early life in the Cavani ...
Estelle Choi: Calidore String Quartet
Cellist Estelle Choi is a founding member of the award-winning Calidore String Quartet. Listen as she talks about her musical background and education, life in a professional string quartet, the lineage of the older generation of chamber musici...
Victoria Chiang: Peabody Institute
Renowned viola pedagogue Victoria Chiang is on faculty at the Peabody Institute, Robert McDuffie Center for Strings, and the Aspen Music Festival. Listen as she talks about her time studying with Dorothy Delay and Heidi Castleman, finding her p...
Eugene Watanabe: Gifted Music School
Eugene Watanabe founded the Gifted Music School with his wife Dr. Vera and was the first person to graduate Curtis with a double degree in violin and piano. Listen as he talks about his violin and piano careers, starting the Gifted Music School...
Simon James: San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Violinist Simon James is a renowned pedagogue at the San Fransisco Conservatory of Music, veteran of the Seattle Symphony for 30 years, and recorder of hundreds of soundtracks. Listen as James talks about being a musician contractor, recording ...
Lawrence Dutton: Emerson String Quartet
Violist of the Emerson String Quartet that won 9 GRAMMYS, Lawrence Dutton talks about his life before the quartet, collaborations and stories from the Emerson Quartet, and gives his advice for aspiring professional musicians.
David Kim: Philadelphia Orchestra
Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra for the past 26 years, violinist David Kim joins host Katrina to share his stories of studying with Dorothy DeLay, challenges he faced in his career, his journey to the Philadelphia Orchestra, the imp...
Amy Schwartz Moretti: Robert McDuffie Center for Strings
Artistic Director of the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings and violinist of the Ehnes Quartet, Amy Schwartz Moretti is a violinist who has established herself as a soloist, chamber musician, and guest concertmaster. Listen as Moretti shares st...
