Legends of Reed

In this episode of Legends of Reed, host Jo Anne Sukumaran interviews French oboist Armand Djikoloum, who shares his journey from early musical beginnings to becoming a professional musician. He discusses the challenges of being an oboist, the importance of physical fitness through running, and the impact of social media on musicians. Armand emphasizes the need for self-care, mental resilience, and creating positive environments in music. He also reflects on the recording process and the significance of staying true to oneself in the competitive world of classical music.   French born oboist Armand Djikoloum enjoys a varied and highly successful career as both a soloist and chamber musician, featuring frequently as a guest with some of Europe’s finest orchestras and ensembles. Armand will be joining a star-studded group of YCAT artists in February 2025, as they celebrate YCAT’s 40 year anniversary, performing at venues such as BoulezSaal Berlin, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Philharmonie Cologne, Tauberphilharmonie Weikersheim and Wigmore Hall.  Armand Djikoloum, is a multi prize winning soloist and chamber musician and, in 2022, was recognised as one of Classic FM’s Rising Stars. Find out more about Armand here: https://www.ycat.co.uk/armand-djikoloum Listen to the latest chamber music album "Zelenka: Trio Sonatas Zwv 181 & Ghosts" :https://open.spotify.com/album/0FlcdMG3wFLoFJkE0udTPF?si=5xFDJfG_Sl-UkpitZr2VMw Photo credit (c) Kaupo Kikkas IG: https://www.instagram.com/armandjikoloum/ Hosted by Jo Anne Sukumaran https://www.joannesukumaran.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/jewelair2.0/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Armand  03:08 Early Musical Beginnings 07:03 Recording Process and Collaboration 11:41 Running as a Complement to Music 16:26 Injury and Recovery in Music 24:20 Creating Positive Musical Environments 30:25 Challenges of the Oboe as a Solo Instrument 37:46 Social Media and the Musician's Image 42:01 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Summary   In this conversation, José Javier Romero, a bassoonist and reed specialist, discusses his journey in music and his work with the Swiss Orchestra and Georg Rieger GmbH. He shares how he started playing the bassoon and the important lessons he learned from his mentors. José also talks about his favorite concert halls, the bassoon and reeds he plays on, and the common questions and problems people bring to him in his workshops. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the instrument and finding the right balance between the reed and the bassoon. In this conversation, José Javier Romero discusses his approach to reed making and shares insights on various aspects of the process. He provides tips for adjusting reeds to improve their performance in the low register and offers advice on finding the right balance between flexibility and stability. José emphasizes the importance of having an open mind and learning from others in order to grow as a musician. He also discusses his motivation to keep going and shares his upcoming projects and plans.   Takeaways:   ·      Understanding the instrument and finding the right balance between the reed and the bassoon is crucial for a musician. ·      The choice of concert halls can greatly impact the performance experience. ·      The process of making and selecting reeds is highly individual and requires experimentation and understanding of the instrument. ·      Working with a mentor can provide valuable guidance and inspiration in a musician's career. ·      Common questions and problems in reed making include finding the right material, achieving stability and flexibility, and improving articulation and intonation. ·      The reed is a vital component of a musician's sound and can greatly impact the performance. Adjusting the tip of the reed can improve its performance in the low register ·      Finding the right balance between flexibility and stability is crucial for a good reed ·      Having an open mind and learning from others is essential for growth as a musician ·      Finding motivation in the process and striving to be the best version of oneself is key ·      José has upcoming projects with his orchestra and chamber music performances     To find out more about Javier, please visit: https://www.instagram.com/kunfubassoon   Swiss Orchestra: https://swissorchestra.ch/en/musicians   To sign up for the exclusive online reed-making webinar With Javier: https://forms.gle/RqGiupJpE8V3x9uc9  Host: Jo Anne Sukumaran https://www.instagram.com/jewelair2.0/

Fredrik Ekdahl is leader of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra’s bassoon section and held the same position in the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. He performs regularly with orchestras including London Symphony Orchestra, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Australian Chamber Orchestra. He has appeared as soloist with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra. New works have also been composed especially for Ekdahl, such as Jesper Nordin’s bassoon concerto, Vicinities. Fredrik Ekdahl is a dedicated chamber musician and regularly performs in festivals all over the world. He has collaborated with world-class musicians such as violinist Janine Jansen and clarinettist Martin Fröst. Ekdahl is a Professor at the Hochschule för Musik Trossingen in Germany.     Summary   Fredrik Ekdahl discusses his journey as a bassoonist, his experiences in orchestras, his love for chamber music, and his passion for contemporary music. He shares insights on his early musical inspirations, working with renowned conductors, being well prepared for performances. He enjoys playing in orchestras and chamber music ensembles, finding joy in the direct communication and collaboration with other musicians. He also shares his passion and approach to contemporary pieces, including performing and recording Jesper Nordin’s bassoon concerto “Vicinities”.    Fredrik also talks about his role as a bassoon professor in Trossingen and his hobbies outside of music. As a bassoon professor, Fredrik emphasizes the importance of a supportive and collaborative learning environment for his students.   Find out more about Fredrik’s bassoon studio here: https://www.hfm-trossingen.de/hochschule/personen/detail/fredrik-ekdahl   Thank you to Tutti Fagotti GmbH for sponsoring this episode. Use discount code “legendsofreed” to enjoy a 10% discount from today until 31.08.2024 for online purchase of bassoon accessories on their website: https://www.tutti-fagotti.com   hosted by Jo Anne Sukumaran     Chapters   00:00 The Beginning of a Musical Journey 08:24 Collaborating with Conductors 15:05 The Importance of Preparation 28:32 Teaching Bassoon and Fostering a Musical Community 31:54 Finding Balance and Looking Ahead Opening credits: Camille Saint-Saëns Bassoon Sonata, courtesy of artist I. Allegretto Moderato, bassoon - Fredrik Ekdahl piano - Stefan Lindgren Recorded in Grünewaldsalen/Stockholms Konserthus in December 2021 as a part of the film series Mankind and Music at Konserthuset Play. Film - David Tarrodi Sound engineer - Håkan Ekman

In 2019 Theo was appointed principal of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra and he won 3rd Prize at the ARD Competition in Munich. As a soloist Theo has appeared with the Munich Chamber, Dortmunder Philharmoniker, the Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz and Beethoven Orchester Bonn. Recent highlights include recitals at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Beethoven-Haus in Bonn, Prinzregententheater in Munich and the Heidelberger-Frühling Festival. An avid chamber musician he has taken part in the Schleswig-Holstein, Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Molyvos, Davos and ‘Spannungen’ Heimbach Festivals, collaborating with Lars Vogt, Christian Tetzlaff, Antje Weithaas, Vilde Frang, among many others. He is a member of the prize-winning Monet Wind Quintet, whose first CD in collaboration with Sudwest Rundfunk will be released by AVI later this year. In 2018 Theo was appointed principal of the German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. He has appeared as guest principal with leading orchestras including the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, the WDR Sinfonieorchester and the Hessiche Rundfunk. Born in Koblenz, Theo completed his Masters at the Hochschule fur Musik Munchen with Professor Dag Jensen. In 2018 he won a prestigious Deutsche Musikwettbewerb prize and in 2019 was selected for representation by Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT). Other awards include 1st Prize in the Munich Gasteig Competition (2014), Aeolus Wind Competition (2012), Crusell Competition in Finland (2011) and the Hummel Competition in Wurzburg (2011). During his studies Theo has participated in masterclasses with Klaus Thunemann and Sergio Azzolini, and been the recipient of numerous scholarships including the Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben and Mozart Gesellschaft Dortmund awards. Since 2016 he has taken part in the Rhapsody in School project, founded by Lars Vogt, bringing classical music to children throughout Germany.   Show Notes: Theo Plath, a bassoonist, shares his journey in music and his passion for playing the bassoon. He discusses how he started playing the instrument and his love for all types of music, including string repertoire. Plath also talks about his albums, including 'Lost Times' and 'Balkan Discoveries,' and the inspiration behind them. He shares his experiences working with renowned musicians and his approach to staying motivated and focused. Plath also provides insights into orchestra etiquette, his reed-making process, and his hobbies outside of music. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:12 Discovering the Bassoon 04:09 Exploring String Repertoire on the Bassoon 08:00 Transcribing and Playing Violin Repertoire 11:30 Staying Motivated and Focused in Music 31:14 Creating Vibrating Reeds for a Dark and Robust Sound 33:13 Sewing Clothes and Reed-Making: Similar Hobbies 34:10 Enjoying the Mountains and Bringing a Bassoon   Find out more about Theo Plath here: https://www.theoplath.de IG: https://www.instagram.com/theoplathbassoon/ Host: Jo Anne Sukumaran, https://www.joannesukumaran.com IG:   / jewelair2.0   Support the show - Buy me a Coffee here: https://buymeacoffee.com/jewelair Beginning video courtesy Theo Plath: Niccolò Paganini: Caprice Op.1 No.5 Transcription for bassoon solo Artist photo (c) Marco Borggreve

A passionate advocate for the bassoon, Amy Harman is much sought after as a soloist, chamber musician, teacher and communicator.   Amy was a professor at the Royal Academy of Music from 2013 to 2024 and gives masterclasses and coaches internationally. She was appointed professor of bassoon at the Robert Schumann Hochshule Düsseldorf in 2024, the first woman to hold such a position in Germany.  Aged 23 Amy was appointed solo bassoon of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Sought after as guest principal with leading orchestras in Europe including Paavo Järvi’s EFO and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, she is currently principal of Aurora Orchestra. She was selected by YCAT in 2014. Solo highlights include premiering Roxanna Panufnik’s concerto for bassoon & string orchestra with the Royal Northern Sinfonia, Strauss's Concertino with the English Chamber Orchestra, Mozart’s Concerto at the Festival Suoni dal Golfo in Lerici and appearing as a flying soloist at the world premiere of Stockhausen’s Mittwoch aus Licht. Amy was the first bassoonist to perform a live broadcast solo recital for BBC radio 3. She performs recitals regularly in UK and Germany with her collaborator Tom Poster. Summary: Amy Harman shares her journey to becoming a bassoonist, including her early musical inspirations and her transition from playing the cello to the bassoon. She discusses her experiences with the Aurora Orchestra and their memorized performances, as shares some practice tips for listeners. Amy also talks about the importance of the Young Classical Artist Trust in shaping her career and the significance of being the first female bassoon professor in Germany, at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Dusseldörf. In this conversation, Amy discusses the challenges facing the arts industry, particularly in the UK, and offers words of encouragement to young musicians. She emphasizes the importance of creating art and suggests pursuing a portfolio career, and shares her experience of balancing a busy career with being a mother of three. She also mentions upcoming projects she's excited about, including a performance of Elizabeth MacConkey's concertino and various chamber music festivals. Chapters   00:00 Introduction and Amy's Musical Background 07:24 Memorized Performances with the Aurora Orchestra 24:38 The Power of a Portfolio Career 30:35 Finding Inspiration in Different Genres 38:42 The Art of Memorizing Music ************************************ Find out more about Amy here. Amy's Instagram Host: Jo Anne Sukumaran, find out more here. Legends of Reed is sponsored by Barton Cane, enjoy free shipping with coupon code" legendsofreed", on their website. Opening credits: Concert recording of Amy Harman with Castalian Quartet - Cantator and Amanda (2011), by Roxanna Panufnik - courtesy of Young Classical Artist's Trust.Photo credit: Kaupo Kikas

In this episode of Legends of Reed, oboist Celia Craig shares her journey of how she accidentally started playing the oboe and fell in love with it. She discusses her experiences as an orchestral player, touring the world and adapting to different cultural expectations. Celia also talks about her memorable concerts, including playing with Leonard Bernstein and the London Symphony Orchestra. She shares her experience of synesthesia, seeing music in colors, and how it enhances her musical performances. Celia explains why she chose to leave the orchestra and start her own recording label, Artaria, and the importance of diversity and mental health in the music industry. In this conversation, Celia discusses her experience with synesthesia and how it influences her music. She shares and describes the colors she sees when playing certain pieces. Celia also talks about her passion for photography and how it helps her relax away from music. She emphasizes the importance of innovation in the classical music industry and breaking barriers between audiences and performers. Celia discusses her efforts to create intimate concert experiences and showcase the skills of musicians in film recordings. She also highlights the need for arts bodies to support independent artists and provide career planning guidance for young musicians. To find out more about Celia, visit her website: https://www.celiacraig.com.au https://www.instagram.com/celiacraigonline/ Legends of Reed is sponsored by Barton Cane, use coupon code, "legendsofreed" for free shipping on https://www.bartoncane.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:54 Discovering the Oboe 04:16 Career as an Orchestral Player 06:05 Cultural Differences in Orchestras 07:27 Memorable Concerts 08:24 Mentored by Leonard Bernstein 09:47 Leaving the Orchestra and Starting a Recording Label 13:07 Synesthesia and Music 18:43 Discovering Synesthesia 21:02 Promoting Diversity and Mental Health 23:00 The Importance of Music and Color in Modern Life 25:23 The Flow State and Synesthesia 26:18 Associating Colors with Music 26:45 Synesthesia and Mental Health 27:14 Perfect Pitch and Synesthesia 28:09 Challenges of Synesthesia 28:37 Synesthesia in Music 29:34 Describing Colors in Music 30:03 Synesthesia Experience with Elgar's Symphony 31:00 Unexpected Performance Experience 32:46 AI-Generated Art and Chamberworks 33:16 Unwinding and Relaxing with Photography 34:13 Innovating the Classical Music Industry 35:07 Intimate Concert Format 36:30 The Power of Live Music 37:28 Recognizing Performers in Film Music 38:24 Importance of Independent Art Scene 39:23 Supporting Independent Musicians 40:18 Teaching Career Planning and Entrepreneurship 42:06 Breaking Barriers and Unmasking Performers 43:03 Connecting Double Reed Players 43:58 Advice for Young Musicians 45:21 Playing in a Relaxed and Flow State 46:16 Practicing in the Dark 49:04 Upcoming Project: Researching Miriam Hyde

Michaela Špačková is a curious and creative artist who seamlessly integrates her passions for music, humanity and nature into her musical work, lifestyle and intercultural activities – from music education concerts to her development of permaculture gardening. She regularly performs works dedicated to her for solo bassoon by contemporary composers, She began playing the bassoon at the age of 12 and made her debut five years later with the PKF Prague Philharmonia, following appearances with the ORF Vienna, Munich Chamber Orchestra and Czech Philharmonic, receiving more than 20 prizes at various competitions such as the ARD Music Competition and Prague Spring Competition, and performing worldwide in the most prestigious halls such as the Berlin Philharmonie, Philharmonie de Paris, Suntory Hall Tokyo, etc. She was solo bassoonist in the Konzerthausorchester Berlin with Christoph Eschenbach and Academist with the Staatskapelle Berlin under Daniel Barenboim, played with conductors such as Sir S. Rattle, Z. Mehta, I. Fischer, W. Jurowski and others. In this episode, we speak about her start on the bassoon, her experiences and insights on taking part and winning numerous competitions, some of her favorite contemporary composers, educational music concerts, her passion for permaculture gardening, how she overcome a challenging moment in her career and we are joined by a super-cute guest right at the end! Legends of Reed is sponsored by Barton Cane. Use coupon code "legendsofreed" for free shipping. https://www.bartoncane.com Find out more about Michaela here: https://www.michaelaspackova.com

Since 2022, Sanja is artist of the French instrument maker Buffet Crampon Paris, playing oboe model „Légende”. With their support,  she is bringing to life new Oboe Concerto composed by Nimrod Borenstein. World premiere will happen on March 8, 2024 with Beograde Philharmonic Orchestra, as part of 100 Years Anniversary celebration of the orchestra. Highly active as soloist, she performed with Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, Al Bustan Festival Orchestra, Macedonia Philharmonic Orchestra, Salzburg Kammerphilharmone, Vojvodina Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Metamorphosis, Zagreb Soloists, Slovene Army Band, Erdödy Chamber Orchestra from Hungary and traditional tamboura orchestra from Slovenia. Sanja is associate professor for orchestral studies for woodwind instruments at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad. Until 2024 she was solo oboist of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra for 12 years. In this episode, I interview the inspiring oboist, Sanja Romić. We speak about topics such as how she started playing the oboe, her collaboration with Buffet Crampon and the oboe model Légende, her upcoming premiere of a oboe concerto by Nimrod Borenstein, to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of her orchestra, her podcast on playing and living with ease, her future plans after leaving an orchestral career, and more. Legends of Reed is sponsored by Barton Cane, for free shipping on any order, use coupon code "legendsofreed". To find out about Sanja Romić visit: https://sanjaromic.com

In this episode, I catch up with the inspiring and creative jazz bassoonist Michael Rabinowitz over his illustrious jazz career and we chat about topics such as his early days of studying at SUNY Purchase, how he amplifies the bassoon for the jazz stand, a life in jazz and improvisation, moving to NYC, making a living while balancing family life, his latest album "Next Chapter", and his recent activities.  Find out more about Michael here, and listen/stream & purchase his album "New Chapter" on his website: ⁠https://www.jazzbassoonist.com/⁠ LOR Podcast is sponsored by Barton Cane, to enjoy free shipping on orders, use coupon code, "legendsofreed" for free shipping: ⁠https://www.bartoncane.com/

After a long absence, LOR returns with the wonderful bassoonist, Lola Descours. Lola is currently the principal bassoon in the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, under chief conductor, L. Shani. In this episode, Lola speaks to me about topics such as her concert and touring with the Rotterdam Philharmonic, her tips for auditions and competitions, her inspiration behind her album "Bassoon Steppes" and the charming video series "Bassoon in the Wind" with filmmaker, Pierre Dugowson. And she also shares with me her definition of success. A very inspiring interview and the musical extract is from the First Movement of the Rachmaninoff Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 19 from her album, with pianist Paloma Kouider. Her debut album was released in 2022 on Orchid Music and received critical acclaim in multiple countries. Follow Lola on: www.loladescours.com IG: @loladescours https://orchid-music.lnk.to/loladescours

Benjamin Coelho, professor of bassoon, has been at the University of Iowa since 1998. He has appeared as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, teacher, and clinician in several countries including the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Panama, Portugal, France, Romania, Australia, Canada, and the Czech Republic. An avid chamber musician, he has performed with the Gramado Woodwind Quintet (Brazil), the Alaria Chamber Ensemble (New York), and the Contemporary Music Group of Minas Gerais (Brazil). As a founding member of the Manhattan Wind Quintet, Mr. Coelho performed numerous recitals and concert tours throughout the United States. The group won various chamber music competitions including Artists International, Coleman, and Monterey Peninsula Chamber Music Competition. An enthusiastic proponent of new music, Mr. Coelho has commissioned, performed, and recorded many works by European, American, and Latin American composers. His recordings include Bassoon Images from the Americas (2003), released by Albany Records; Bravura Bassoon (2005), Pas de Trois (2006) released by Crystal Records; and Explorations (2007), Dreaming in Colours (2011) and Agnus Dei (2012) all released by MSR Classics. The specialized media has continuously praised his recordings "...Ben has such a gorgeous sound, such impeccable technique, and such sensitive musicality, that it is a real pleasure to recommend this album very strongly to all of you!" (Ronald Klimko, IDRS Journal), "Coelho's program is an international affair that shows the range of colors and character that the bassoon can explore in tandem with string colleagues. His playing is unfailingly sonorous, expressive, and alert, and he champions the pieces on this recording as if he believed in them without reservation." (Donald Rosenberg, The Gramophone), "Coelho is fantastic. His sound is brilliant, resonant, and strong, and he has a warm tone that blends superbly with the strings." (Schwartz, American Record Guide). As a member of the group Wizards! A Double Reed Consort, Coelho has recorded two CDs released by Crystal and Boston Records in 2000 and 2003 respectively. Mr. Coelho has written articles on bassoon performance and literature. His work has been published in the International Double Reed Society Journal, as well as the British Double Reed Society Journal. His article "Francisco Mignone and the Sixteen Waltzes for Solo Bassoon" has been translated into German, and published in the German double-reed magazine ROHRBLATT. Before his position at the University of Iowa, Mr. Coelho was the vice dean and bassoon professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (Brazil). He also worked extensively as a performer in his native Brazil, including principal positions with symphony orchestras in Rio de Janeiro, Campinas, and Belo Horizonte. In the United States, Mr. Coelho has played with the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony (Iowa), The Camerata Chamber Orchestra (Indiana), The Bloomington Pops Orchestra (Indiana), The Bronx Opera Company (New York), and Orchestra Iowa. Currently, he performs as the principal bassoon with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (Iowa/Illinois). Ben attended Indiana University, Manhattan School of Music, S.U.N.Y. at Purchase, and the Tatuí Conservatory in his native Brazil. His major teachers include Clóvis Franco, Donald MacCourt, Arthur Weisberg, and Kim Walker. Ben lives in Iowa City, IA, with his wife Karen and their wonderful daughters Liliana and Julia. legendsofreed" to enjoy free shipping.

The Wire places Sara Schoenbeck in the "tiny club of bassoon pioneers" at work in contemporary music today, while the New York Times has called her performances "galvanizing" and "riveting.” She has performed with or been a member of Anthony Braxton’s 12+1(tet) and Tri-Centric Orchestra, Wayne Horvitz’s Gravitas Quartet, Harris Eisenstadt’s Golden State, Wavefield Ensemble, SEM Ensemble, Wet Ink, Marty Ehrlich’s Duende Winds, Nels Cline's Lovers, Adam Rudolph's Organic Orchestra, and the Michael Leonhart Orchestra. She has worked with many of creative music’s luminaries including Roscoe Mitchell, Henry Threadgill, Butch Morris, Yusef Lateef, Wadada Leo Smith, George Lewis, and Pamela Z. She can be heard on music and film recordings including Matrix 2 and 3, Spanglish and Dahmer. She has performed at major venues throughout North America and Europe. A partial list includes Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, the Kitchen, Iridium, Disney Hall, Redcat, the Kennedy Center, the Free Music Festival in Antwerp Belgium, Biennale Musica in Venice Italy, the American Festival of Improvised Music, MicroFest, SXSW, New Orleans, Newport, Berlin, Victoriaville and Ottawa Jazz Festivals; the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Angel City Jazz Festival in Los Angeles; San Francisco, Saalfelden and Tempere Jazz festivals. Sara received her BFA from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and MFA from the California Institute of the Arts. Sara has been adjunct faculty at California Institute of the Arts, Citrus College, and Pasadena Conservatory and has given master classes at Amherst College, Hampshire College, Cornish College, University of Denver, and Western Washington University. She is currently on faculty at Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and Packer Collegiate Institute. In this episode, I speak to Sara about her musical journey, how her career developed and took off, and the inspiration behind her recent self-titled album release, she gives me some practical tips on how to become a better improviser and how to approach free improvisation, tips on creativity, her main musical influences, the challenges of working as a female musician, tips for young musicians and she fills me in on the jazz/music scene in New York, and which jazz clubs I should visit in New York.  Listen to her album here: https://open.spotify.com/album/6SMnwqkm8odd2KXNaUqku9?si=3JzotXziSY6u_InOokxYfA Find out more about Sara: https://www.saraschoenbeck.com LOR podcast is being sponsored by Baron Cane, use the coupon code "legendsofreed", to enjoy free shipping on Barton Cane.  https://www.bartoncane.com/

French oboist Philippe Tondre has secured a place among the finest musicians of his generation. «Master of the oboe » (Bonner General Anzeiger), his music-making is packed with emotional sensitivity and stunning virtuosity. Principal oboe of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and the SWR Symphony Orchestra, Philippe Tondre is also a member of the Mito Chamber Orchestra, the newly-founded Kammer Ensemble Paris, and Principal Oboe of the Saito Kinen Orchestra Matsumoto. From 2014 until 2020 he was Solo Oboe of the Budapest Festival Orchestra and from 2016 until 2017 Solo Oboe of the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig. He has worked with eminent conductors, amongst others Seiji Ozawa, Yannick Nezet-Séguin, Sir Simon Rattle, Gustavo Dudamel, Andris Nelsons, Ivan Fischer, Daniele Gatti, Teodor Currentzis, Franz Welser- Möst, Sir Roger Norrington, Fabio Luisi, Herbert Blomstedt, Esa-Pekka Salonen und Daniel Harding. In November 2015 Philippe Tondre was nominated Professor for Oboe at the Hochschule für Musik Saar. He gives masterclasses in China, Taiwan, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, and Germany. Philippe Tondre plays a Buffet Crampon « Légende » Oboe. ********************************************************************************************************************************************** In this episode, I speak to Philippe about his early musical journey, the key teachers and mentors that had a great influence on him, what studying with Maurice Bourguewas like; his tips for competitions and peak performance, why having active sports and exercise regime is important for wind players, how he toggles between playing in the US and Europe, his upcoming projects, recordings and concerts, the French school of oboe, and his personal tips for young musicians. To find out more about him, visit: http://www.philippetondre.com LOR podcast is sponsored by Barton Cane. To enjoy free shipping, use coupon code, “legendsofreed”, all one word on any order. https://www.bartoncane.com

I recently interviewed the fabulous bassoon soloist and conductor Peter Whelan. Peter is not only a concerto soloist, he is in constant demand as a soloist and chamber musician. He has performed in many prestigious venues around the world, and he is also the founder and Artistic Director of Ensemble Marsyas, and the Artistic Director of the Irish Baroque Orchestra. He is also an Artistic Partner of the Irish National Opera. We speak about many interesting and inspiring topics like his musical journey, how he found his voice in early and baroque music, his studies with Sergio Azzolini, how he got into conducting and directing, his work with the Ensemble Marsyas, how we can stay inspired when performing and interpreting overly-played repertoire, “the game” in interpreting early music, the importance of musicians in finding “a middle ground”, his upcoming projects and he speaks about his new disc, “Mozart’s Bassoon. Works for solo Bassoon”. He even teaches me some Irish slang. Listen to his album here: https://open.spotify.com/album/4FhwOW1szuLuPMhpAsWeK8?si=EogfQ_wpRvSQw1Y1DlWuGw Find out more about him: https://www.peterwhelan.co.uk/about/ LOR is now sponsored by Barton Cane, to enjoy free shipping use the coupon code "legendsofreed".  https://www.bartoncane.com/

Daniel Matsukawa has been the principal bassoon of The Philadelphia Orchestra since 2000. He studied at the Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music. His teachers include Harold Goltzer, Alan Futterman, and Bernard Garfield. Mr. Matsukawa made his solo concerto debut in Carnegie Hall at the age of 18 and was featured in a Young Artist’s Showcase on New York’s WQXR classical radio station. Since then he has appeared as a soloist with orchestras in the United States, Japan, and New Zealand. Prior to his post with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Mr. Matsukawa served as principal bassoon with the National Symphony in Washington D.C., the Saint Louis Symphony, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and the Memphis Symphony. Mr. Matsukawa is a member of the faculties at both the Curtis Institute of Music and the Boyer College of Music at Temple University. In 2019, Mr. Matsukawa has served as a member of the prestigious jury panel for the Tchaikovsky Competition in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Later that same year, he served as a member of the jury panel for the ARD Competition in Munich, Germany. Find out more about him here: https://www.philorch.org/your-philorch/meet-your-orchestra/musicians/daniel-matsukawa/ I am joined by my friend, bassoonist Francisca Bastos who is a guest co-host on this episode. BYOM Academy: https://www.beyourownmanager.com

On this episode I am very pleased to share my interview with one of most renowned American bassoonists, Mr. Frank Morelli.  He is the first bassoonist awarded a Juilliard doctorate, and has been a Carnegie Hall soloist nine times. He performed at the last White House State Dinner for President Clinton and is Co-principal bassoon of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Faculty positions include Juilliard, Yale, Manhattan School of Music, SUNY Stony Brook and Queens College. His over 180 recordings include MSR Classics solo CDs From the Heart, Romance and Caprice, Bassoon Brasileiro and Baroque Fireworks. Gramophone Magazine proclaimed that "Morelli's playing is a joy to behold." American Record Guide stated: "the bassoon playing...is as good as it gets." We speak about his teaching philosophy, his musical journey and being one of the first bassoonists to have a "portfolio career", his musical influences, his favourite memories playing with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, his foray into jazz with the album "The Ox-Mo Incident", his thoughts on the classical music industry and tips for the future generation of classical musicians, what he would like to be remembered for and even what the "theme song" of his life would be.  Visit his website at www.morellibassoon.com

On this episode, I am pleased to have bassoonist, Judith Farmer on the show. We had an interesting chat about interesting topics such as her teaching philosophy, how she stayed productive during the pandemic, what working in film recording and session work is like, what are the differences between American and European bassoon playing styles and more. 2016 GRAMMY® Award nominee Judith Farmer’s playing has been described by critics as “impeccable” (American Record Guide), "masterly" (Fanfare Magazine), “absolutely superb”(Classical CD Reviews) and "brilliant" (Kronenzeitung, Austria). Judith is currently a member of the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, the Pasadena Symphony and the Long Beach Symphony. She has played on the scores of over 200 major motion pictures, such as Frozen, The Pirates of the Caribbean,  Toy Story 2, Spiderman 3, Indiana Jones IV, Star Wars VII and A. I., Men in Black III and many more. She teaches  bassoon at the University of Southern California and held guest master classes at numerous American universities. She received her education at Indiana University and at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna. Judith is an avid chamber musician, who enjoys collaborating with composers on new works and has had numerous works written and dedicated to her. Together with her husband, composer Gernot Wolfgang, she co-produced four CDs of his chamber music for Albany Records, including Passing Through for which she received a 2016 GRAMMY® nomination in the category Best Classical Compendium. Her latest release, “Judith Farmer plays Favorites” is available on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2Q6wl6WCgsC1FQFvo0Z6ts https://www.judithfarmerplaysfavorites.com/ Opening music: "Low Agenda" by Gernot Wolfgang for bassoon & contrabass

Martin Kuuskmann is a multiple Grammy-nominated Estonian-born bassoon virtuoso, Moosmann artist, and the Professor of Bassoon and Chamber Music at the University of Denver. A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music and the Yale School of Music, his mentors include Stephen Maxym, Frank Morelli, Rufus Olivier and Ilmar Aasmets. On this episode, we talk about his recent and upcoming projects, some of his favourite musicians and collaborators, his partnership with Moosmann bassoons, and some of the lessons he learnt in his career. To find out more about him, please visit: http://kuuskmann.com

Welcome back to a brand new season of LOR. In this episode (recorded in summer 2020) I interview Alban Wesly, a musician based in Amsterdam. He is proud to be the bassoonist/founding member of Calefax (Amsterdam) and to have been the bassoonist of Ensemble Musikfabrik (Cologne) for 22 years. Since September 2018 Alban teaches bassoon at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. As the bassoonist of the award winning reed quintet Calefax and the internationally acclaimed Ensemble Musikfabrik Alban  is considered as one of the most versatile bassoonists of this time. Calefax is one of the longest operating chamber music groups in the Netherlands, and worldwide trendsetter for a new genre: the Reed Quintet.  We talk about interesting topics such as touring, his interest in new music, tips on maintaining a chamber ensemble, making programming choices, and a funny travel anecdote of the "airline baggage crisis" in Aberdeen and much more. To find out more about Alban, visit: http://wesly.eu https://calefax.nl/en/ If you've enjoyed this podcast, do share/like/subscribe! :)

Joost Flach’s long and fruitful musical journey as an oboist began in the Netherlands. During 1984, following the completion of his studies, he began a global search for work opportunities. This planted his migration and  current residency to Singapore. Over the years this initial venture has blossomed, and developed into many opportunities throughout South-East Asia.  He has been a regular member (namely as Sub-Principal Oboist) of the Malaysian Philharmonic, The Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Bangkok Symphony Orchestra. Since his retirement from the Malaysian Philharmonic in 2014, Joost has become more involved with teaching and education.  Connecting with Asian composers has evolved into the commissioning of several chamber music works that feature the oboe, and other works for wind ensembles. His multitude of skills as a performer, teacher and composer has also developed into the conducting of many wind ensembles. Through these experiences, he has witnessed enormous expansions within the Southeast-Asia music scene. Joost has also worked for the Ministry of Education in both Singapore and the Netherlands, and is currently Head of Winds at NAFA School of Music.