Claim OwnershipOpen Notes Podcast - Fort Collins Symphony
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Classical Music for everyone! The Open Notes Podcast is the place for anybody interested in Classical Music to learn more, from newbies to seasoned veterans. Open Notes features interviews with Fort Collins Symphony musicians, soloists and composers, interactive program notes, and discussions about topics in classical music. Co-Hosted by Norman Menzales (Principal Flute, Marketing & Community Engagement Director) and Alyssa Roggow (Education and Patron Development Director). Sponsored by the Fort Collins Symphony
45 Episodes
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Today, we’re thrilled to chat with pianist Bryan Wallick. Bryan chats with us about what it takes to balance virtuosity and musical expression as a musician. Bryan also talks about his synesthesia and how it effects his view of music. Bryan is the guest artist for the Fort Collins Symphony’s Signature Concert 3: Spotlights in Drama and Virtuosity, where he’ll perform Franz Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Totentanz on Saturday, February 7th at 7:30pm. Support the show
Today, we’re excited to chat with composer Alex LaMotte! Alex LaMotte is the winner of the Fort Collins Symphony’s 2025 Composer Competition. His original orchestral piece, Land of Open Skies, was selected for its vivid orchestration, emotional depth, and evocative storytelling. Support the show
If you’ve peered your eyes to the back of the orchestra, you’ll see all these shiny brass instruments. Well, one of those in particular may stand out the most — it’s shiny, it’s coiled, it has this unmistakable rich and mellow sound. To help us explore this amazing instrument, we’re joined by one of our very own FCS musicians, french horn player Ayo Derbyshire. Support the show
Today we’re joined by the featured guest artist for our upcoming Signature Concert 2 on Saturday, November 8th, at 7:30pm. She’ll be performing Knoxville: Summer of 1915 by Samuel Barber. We are so excited to welcome soprano Dr. Stefanie Anduri! Stefanie has been teaching voice for over 15 years, performing across three continents, and giving workshops and presentations all around the world. Support the show
Today we’re here to chat with a very special guest. He’s the featured guest artist for our Signature Concert 1 on October 4th, 7:30pm, where you’ll hear him perform Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 4. He’s also the Principal Horn of the Fort Collins Symphony and the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, Professor of Horn at Regis University. He’s an incredibly talented performer along the Front Range. We are thrilled to welcome horn player Ben Shafer! Support the show
Join Norman Menzales, the Marketing and Community Engagement Director, and Alyssa Roggow, the Education and Patron Development Director, as they take you behind the scenes of the professional music world and explore why music is for everyone! Support the show
Zhu Wang started playing piano at age five when his grandfather recognized his early talent. Since then Zhu has gone on to study with some of the world's best piano teachers, perform award-winning concerts around the U.S., and make his Carnegie Hall debut, all before the age of 27. In this episode of the Open Notes Podcast, Zhu shares the most impactful lessons he learned from his teachers, why you should listen to recordings and attend live music, and the amazing story of his first time per...
Dvořák's violin concerto is one of the hardest and greatest pieces for solo violin and orchestra. So why doesn't it get played more? Yumi Hwang-Williams doesn't know, but she has a few theories. Since many audiences don't know Dvořák's violin concerto, we wanted to sit down with Yumi to learn more about her and the music and history of the piece. In this interview, Yumi shares how she started playing the violin, moved to Colorado to become the Colorado Symphony's Concertmaster over 20 years...
Guitarist Jason Vieaux joins us on the Fort Collins Symphony's Open Notes Podcast to talk about his early fascination with jazz and the Beatles, the piece he's played more than any other, and the poignant beauty of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar and orchestra. Jason will perform with the Fort Collins Symphony on Saturday, November 4th, 2023, in-person and via live-stream. Tickets and more information are available at https://fcsymphony.org/events/rodrigo-reverie/. Watch this int...
In this episode, composer Morgan Denney chats with Jeremy about her process and the challenges behind writing her new musical accompaniment to Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" for the Fort Collins Symphony. "The Raven" will be premiered at our Spellbound Halloween concert on Wednesday, October 18th, 2023 at the Lincoln Center in Fort Collins. Learn more about Morgan Denney at MorganDenney.com. Tickets and more info are available at https://fcsymphony.org/events/spellbound-halloween/ Support t...
No one has to walk the dementia journey alone. Members of Dementia Together and the Fort Collins Symphony discuss the B Sharp Arts Engagement Program and its research, which found powerful benefits for people living with dementia and their care partners from attending live symphony concerts. Read the study results and contribute to the program at https://fcsymphony.org/bsharp Support the show
Pianist Avery Gagliano joins the Open Notes Podcast to discuss Mozart's 24th piano concerto, her love of pop music, the hardest part of being a pianist, and more! Join us for the live or live-streamed concert on February 4, 2023. Tickets and more information are available at https://fcsymphony.org/delight Learn more about Avery Gagliano at https://www.averygagliano.com 02:47 What's unique about Mozart's 24th Piano Concerto 06:03 Dialogue in Mozart 24 08:36 Avery's goal as a pianist 09:44 A...
"Woman Suffrage is coming - you know it." Carrie Chapman Catt The FCS performs Battle for the Ballot on November 5th, 2022 at the Lincoln Center. Tickets and more information are available at https://fcsymphony.org/events/escape-to-new-realms-signature-concert-2/ Stacy Garrop's The Battle for the Ballot features the voices of seven Suffragists: Carrie W. Clifford, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Adella Hunt Logan, Mary Church Terrell, Jane Addams, Susan B. Anthony, and Carrie Chapman Catt. The...
In this episode, Fort Collins Composer James David sits down with FCS Assistant Conductor Jeremy D. Cuebas to discuss his new piece, Ostinato Fantastico, and the role that rhythm and dance have in his music. Ostinato Fantastico was commissioned by the FCS in 2019, but its first performance was halted by the Covid-19 pandemic cancellations. The world premiere will be on October 1st in Fort Collins, Colorado, at our opening concert of the season. Learn more on our website at FCSymphony.org. ...
Kay Edwards has just finished a project 23 years in the making. By securing 38 Endowed Chairs, one for each principal player in the orchestra, she has raised over $580,000 to support the FCS and its long-term sustainability. In this episode, FCS Assistant Conductor Jeremy D. Cuebas talks with Kay about the history of the Endowed Chairs project and the impact it will continue to have for years to come. Learn more about the Fort Collins Symphony on our website at FCSymphony.org Support the...
Pianist David Korevaar discusses Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto with Fort Collins Symphony Assistant Conductor Jeremy D. Cuebas. Korevaar also shares some of his early influences and the special place that teaching and chamber music have in his career. David Korevaar performs Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto with the Fort Collins Symphony on August 12th, 2022 at the Timberline Church Auditorium in Fort Collins as a part of the FCS Beethoven Summer Festival. 00:20 David's early influenc...
When you go to an orchestra concert or start learning about classical music, you’re likely to encounter many new words. The most common word you will see (except perhaps “symphony”) is “concerto.” So, what is a concerto? In this episode, Jeremy and Kate discuss what a concerto is, what to expect from a concerto, and some of their favorite concertos. What is your favorite instrument or concerto? Send us a message on Facebook or Instagram, or email us at note@fcsymphony.org. Find the full bl...
From favorites like Beethoven's 5th to symphonies that you've never heard before, this blog post and podcast episode gives a brief overview of the history of the symphony and what to expect when you head into the concert hall. What is a symphony? A symphony is a specific form that many composers used when writing music. These pieces are usually large in scale, were written for a large orchestra, and are made up of four individual movements. A movement is a single piece of music, like...
Dr. Erin Macdonald is a tattooed one-woman STEM career panel with recognition as a researcher, speaker, engineer, and consultant before her current career. She now lives in Los Angeles working as a writer and producer and is the science consultant for the entire Star Trek franchise. In this interview, she shares why she started giving science talks at conventions, her work as a science consultant and writer, and some of her favorite movies, TV shows, and video games. Learn more about this ...
Composer Gregory Smith sits down to discuss his compositional process, his piece "The Animated Orchestra," and how he writes excellent educational works to engage young listeners. Join us for The Animated Orchestra, live at Timberline Church in Fort Collins on Sunday, March 13, 2022. Tickets and more information available at https://fcsymphony.org/events/animated-orchestra/ Support the show
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