Sunday Baroque Conversations

There have been numerous studies over the years about the positive impact of music on people's lives. Children, especially, seem to benefit from early musical training, although not all kids have equal access to quality musical education. Music Haven in New Haven, Connecticut is a program that offers tuition-free music education, mentoring, and performance opportunities to children from the first grade through high school. Suzanne spoke with one of Music Haven's Teachers – Gregory Tompkins – and his violin student, Reign, who is also now working part time at Music Haven helping younger students.

Baroque music expert JungHae Kim is a sought-after harpsichordist who performs as a soloist and chamber music collaborator all over the world. Her training included studies at Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam with legendary Dutch musician Gustav Leonhardt, who profoundly influenced her own approach to teaching music theory, ear training, keyboard performance, and chamber music. JungHae Kim spoke with Suzanne about her life in music and her passion for skiing as a polio survivor.

Cellist Khari Joyner is a sought-after musician who performs with numerous top ensembles such as Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. The charismatic young American instrumentalist is also a passionate music teacher who has inspired students all over the world. Dr. Joyner has performed for a number of important occasions, such as the 2008 Maya Angelou Birthday Celebration, and a private performance for President Barack Obama in the Oval Office. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The Juilliard School, where his dissertation -- The Vertex: An Analysis of Mathematics and Music for the 21st Century Student and Performer – looked at the connections and overlap between mathematics and music. Khari Joyner spoke with Suzanne about his music, teaching, and his passion for learning and experiencing new things.

Flutist Demarre McGill exudes energy and passion – for music, for his students, for whatever project he is working on. The Seattle Symphony's Principal Flute is also a busy soloist and chamber musician who immerses himself in the moment, applying his extraordinary talent to playing everything from baroque, classical and romantic era music, to cutting-edge contemporary compositions. Suzanne spoke with Demarre McGill about what makes him tick as a musician and as a person.

Professional musician and teacher Patricia Ann Neely is also a highly respected advocate for diversity and inclusion in the world of classical music and, specifically, early music. She and Suzanne have an ongoing discussion, and in this interview they address the question: what is Black History Month and is it still needed in the year 2022?

British violinist Rachel Podger is internationally renowned as a leading interpreter of music from the Baroque and Classical periods in history. Since childhood, when she was still a beginner violin student, she was a trailblazer – secretly signing up for lessons on Baroque violin in addition to her other studies. Rachel Podger is founder and director of Brecon Baroque Festival in Wales, and she spoke Suzanne about her life as a musician and teacher.

Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons Concertos are some of the "greatest hits" of the baroque era. They've been recorded many times, and in many different instrumentations. Conductor and keyboard player Jeannette Sorrell and her group Apollo's Fire collaborated with violinist Francisco Fullana on a recording of the Four Seasons that uniquely reflects the rustic spirit of the sonnets that accompany each movement. Suzanne spoke with Jeannette Sorrell about their approach to the Four Seasons, and about her career in music.

Courtney Beck is Executive Director of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale, and bass-baritone Davóne Tines is the ensemble's Creative Partner. They joined Suzanne to discuss PBO's mission and the scope and goals of Mr. Tines' newly-established Creative Partner position.

"Davóne Tines Is Changing What It Means to Be a Classical Singer" That was headline of a New Yorker article about the versatile bass-baritone. It's just one of many profiles of the extraordinary young musician and his passion for opera, gospel music, spirituals, and so much more. The award-winning musician spoke with Suzanne about his life in music.

Dr. Albert Lee is a tenor who has crafted a broad career as a classical vocalist in opera, oratorio, recital, and liturgical music. Dr. Lee received his degrees from The University of Connecticut, The Juilliard School, and Florida State University. Since summer of 2021, Dr. Lee has been Associate Professor of Music and the inaugural Director of Equity, Belonging, and Student Life at Yale University. He spoke with Suzanne about his life in music, and his hopes and plans for his new role at Yale.

Emily Lau is a composer, singer, teacher and restauranteur who has carved out her own, unique career blending many art forms – and her projects often bridge the gaps between ancient music and modern themes. Her work includes helping creative people channel their empathetic impulses in healthy ways, and impart a spirit of true understanding and collaboration. Suzanne spoke with Emily Lau about what she's most passionate about in this moment.

Mexican musician Krishnasol Jiménez is an expert in baroque guitar and lute, and historical performance practice. He studied in his native Mexico City, as well as in Spain and Switzerland. Krishnasol Jiménez talked with Suzanne about his career in music, including his collaboration with singer Maria Cristina Kiehr and bassist Roberto Koch on a program that combines music by Spanish baroque composers Santiago de Murcia and Gaspar Sanz with Son Jarocho, present-day folk music from Veracruz in South Mexico. He also shared the story of how he was allowed perform and record on an extraordinary and rare instrument.

Laury Gutiérrez is a performer, scholar, teacher, and passionate advocate for underrepresented musicians. The Venezuelan viola da gamba player became a Fellow in 2008–2009 for the Harvard Radcliffe Institute working on a project to develop the repertory of music composed by Italian women into concert and educational programs for performance and professional recordings. Suzanne spoke with Laury Gutiérrez about her work as an instrumentalist and scholar, and her passion and enthusiasm for music.

Award winning cellist Bion Tsang is an international soloist and chamber musician, as well as a teacher. He recently released a recording of Johann Sebastian Bach's 6 Suites for Unaccompanied Cello – the "holy grail" for all serious cellists. Bion Tsang's performance is extra-special because he used an extraordinary instrument considered one of the world's finest. Suzanne spoke with Bion Tsang about Bach, the instrument, and his passion for music.

Johann Sebastian Bach's Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello are such exquisite compositions that it's not only cellists who are eager to play them. Zachary Carrettín is a violinist, violist, and conductor. He has a new recording of Bach's Cello Suites played on viola, and he joined Suzanne to talk about it, and about his varied career as a musician.

Rafael Sanchez Guevara is a viola da gamba player and cellist based in his hometown of Mexico City. Suzanne discovered one of his exquisite performances on YouTube and featured it on her daily BEAUTIFUL MUSIC blog. She connected with the musician about his early introduction to music, his passion for the baroque era, and his international career as a performer and teacher.

Award-winning American musician Richard Danielpour is a prolific composer, and many of his high-profile works have embraced timely, topical and historic subjects. In early 2020, Danielpour was deeply troubled by COVID-19. Suffering from insomnia and anxiety, he found solace in pianist Simone Dinnerstein's Bach recordings. As he witnessed extraordinary heroism by so many people across the country, Danielpour wanted to honor them. It seemed only natural to write something for solo piano, and to ask Simone Dinnerstein to give the premiere of his composition, An American Mosaic. Richard Danielpour spoke with Suzanne about his new work, Bach, Simone Dinnerstein, and more.

Dr. Joyce Chen is an award-winning harpsichordist who performs frequently as a soloist and in various ensembles in the northeast US, across the country, and internationally. She is a woman of many talents, interests and accomplishments, and Suzanne was fortunate to speak with her about some of them, including her pandemic-era apprenticeship in making her own harpsichord!

Bassoonist Andrew Brady is at the top of the top tier instrumentalists. Immediately after graduating from the prestigious Colburn School in Los Angeles he won the audition to become Principal Bassoonist in the Louisiana Philharmonic in 2013. Soon after, he earned the Principal Bassoon job in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The young virtuoso has also long been deeply committed to his family and to community service. Andrew Brady spoke with Suzanne about how he started playing bassoon, and what he hopes to accomplish in his future.

Acclaimed soprano Sherezade Panthaki has an international career as a singer, teacher, and expert in the field of baroque and early music. Born and raised in India, Ms. Panthaki began her musical education at an early age, first as an accomplished pianist, until she discovered that singing was a more personal and expressive means for her to connect with audiences. Sherezade Panthaki chatted with Suzanne about her career, and some of the music she finds most compelling.