Talking Shop | Artist Talks

Malleable thinking, how opera is changing | Tasha Koontz, soprano | REUNION

Native Hawaiian soprano Tasha Hokuao Koontz has been lauded by Parterre Box for possessing a “sumptuous, gleaming instrument in her hauntingly beautiful and provocative s

Opera Richmond, moment of calling, vocal fachs | James Taylor, vocal coach | Ep. 31

James Taylor is an internationally celebrated performer, recitalist, and vocal coach. He has sung title roles in classically beloved operas and operettas both as a barito

Practice motivation, performance anxiety, what if I won the lottery? | Noa Kageyama, performance psychologist | Ep. 30

Noa Kageyama is a performance psychologist and faculty member at The Juilliard School and the Cleveland Institute of Music. After beginning violin at age 2, Noa experienc

The Belvedere Series, life after school | Ingrid Keller, pianist | Ep. 29

Pianist Ingrid Keller is a recitalist, collaborative pianist, educator, and Founding Artistic Director of The Belvedere Series, a chamber music series in Richmond, VA. He

From dancer to costume designer, Goat Rodeo | Susan Roemer, costume designer | Ep. 28

Susan Roemer is the founder of S-Curve Apparel & Design and TangentFit. She danced professionally for 15 years with five ballet companies, including nine years with Smuin

The loneliness of being an artist, conducting, poetry | Kalena Bovell, conductor | Ep. 27

Kalena Bovell is a Panamanian-American conductor, poet, and advocate who has been hailed as “one of the brightest stars in classical music.” In 2023, she became the first

Art chooses you, a conundrum, movement | Natasha Adorlee, choreographer | Ep. 26

Natasha Adorlee is an Emmy Award winning choreographer, filmmaker, composer, and creative leader based in San Francisco. Working primarily in contemporary ballet, her pra

One's calling, improvisation, curiosity | Christian Restrepo, pianist | Ep. 25

Christian Restrepo is a Colombian pianist, composer, producer, and educator. His music looks for intriguing combinations between South American rhythms, contemporary tech

Orchestra leadership, ballet, wild cards | Erin Freeman, conductor | Ep. 24

Erin Freeman is a versatile and accomplished conductor currently serving as the Artistic Director of the City Choir of Washington and Wintergreen Music, Director of the S

Confidence-building, your performance feeling barometer | Lloyd Van't Hoff, clarinetist | Ep. 23

Lauded by Limelight Magazine for his “Life-affirming music making,” and the Tasmanian Mercury for exhibiting “Spectacular brilliance, charisma and sensitivity,” Lloyd Van

Timpani and cymbols, collaboration, intonation | Denis Petrunin, percussionist | Ep. 22

Denis Petrunin is acting principal timpanist with the Charlotte Symphony. Denis made his performance debut at the age of 10 at the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory.

Memorization roadmap, teaching, and connecting with audiences | David (JiaJun) Lai, pianist | Ep. 19

David Lai is a phenomenal blind pianist and teacher, renowned not only for his technical mastery and lyrical musicality, but also for his resilience and innovative learni

Expression, preparation, supportive teaching | Kenneth Law, cellist | Ep. 18

Highly acclaimed cellist Kenneth Law is a performer, a teacher, and an author. He is a member of the Main Street Chamber Players, the Davenport Chamber Players, the Cirru

Formal structure challenges, the third leg | Jordan Kuspa, composer | Ep. 21

Jordan Kuspa’s music has been praised in the New York Times as “animated and melodically opulent” and “consistently alive and inspired.” His works juxtapose a bristling r

What artists are facing today, careers in opera, people pleasing | Martha Eason, soprano | Ep. 20

Martha Eason is a lyric coloratura soprano known for her strong stage presence and her ability to convey deep emotion through her singing. After representing the Jacobs S

Redefining classical music, winning a Grammy, former child prodigy | Domenic Salerni, violin

Lauded by the Washington Post as a “marvelous violinist,” Domenic Salerni is also a composer, and arranger as well as a member of the two-time Grammy Award-winning Attacc

FInding inspiration, transcriptions, sight reading | Katya Kramer-Lapin, pianist | Ep. 16

Katya Kramer-Lapin is a dynamic and versatile musician, captivating audiences as a pianist, recording artist, and educator. Since her debut solo album, "Luminesence," Kat

Dance as a way of being, media archetypes, reimagining | Joshua Peugh, choreographer | Ep. 15

Joshua Peugh is an internationally acclaimed choreographer. He is the founder and former Artistic Director of Dark Circles Contemporary Dance and co-founder of Fair Assem

From opera to art song, preparation, overlooked composers | Sarah Moulton Faux, soprano | Ep. 14

Sarah Moulton Faux is a prominent opera singer and a masterful art song interpreter. Opera News has lauded her for her “full, silvery soprano,” the Brooklyn Spectator has

Audience engagement, an artist's life, method acting | Konstantin Soukhovetski, pianist | Ep. 13

Konstantin Soukhovetski is a pianist and a composer, an original, creative force among pianists of his generation. He concertizes in the US, Africa, Asia, and Europe, gai