show episodes
 
Two professional violists, Liz O'Hara and Stephanie Knutsen, explore diverse perspectives in the music field through conversations together and with friends. Whether gaining fresh insights from industry innovators or laughing their way through a show like Mozart in the Jungle, Liz and Steph hope to inspire musicians, particularly freelancers, to feel a sense of agency in their lives. **Note: This podcast was formerly titled the ViolaCentric podcast**
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! What happens when your body sends you warnings that something is seriously wrong? Join us as we recount Liz's unexpected journey through debilitating health challenges, including severe migraines and a frightening ER visit. After numerous consultations and tests, Liz was diagnosed with Addison's disease, …
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! In this week's recap, we're here to whisk you away on a South American escapade—minus the need for frantic passport updates or surprise visa requirements. Our favorite orchestra is on TOUR! Find out what happens when there's apparently no rehearsal itinerary and musicians are unleashed on Mexico City! *If…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! Discover the keys to turning artistic flair into financial success as we sit down with the extraordinary Miriam Schulman, the mind behind "Artpreneur." Her book lights the way for artists to thrive in the marketplace, and we're diving deep into her treasure trove of strategies. From setting the right pric…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! Ever looked at your music career and wondered if there's more to it than the path you're currently on? Katherine Emeneth joins us with her wealth of experience as a studio building expert and career coach for creatives, ready to shed light on the vast potential that lies beyond traditional music paths. Sh…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! Unlock the backstage pass to an evening where classical music meets wild party vibes, and where industry giants cameo as themselves, merging the highbrow with pop culture. Episode four of "Mozart in the Jungle" has us wrapped around Dermot Mulroney's fingers just like his cello strings, as we gush over hi…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! In this episode we talk shop with violin maker and luthier Robyn Sullivan! She tells us about her path to the bench and what her experience has been as a woman in the sometimes male-dominated field of lutherie. Robyn is not only busy in the shop at Potter Violins in Washington, DC, but is advocating for w…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! **This is Part 2 of our conversation with Drew. Be sure to look for Part 1 in our feed to hear the whole glorious episode! Ever wondered how to carve out a successful career in music, with or without the classical repertoire? That Viola Kid, Drew Ford, rejoins us to unravel the secrets of thriving as an “…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! Ever wondered how to carve out a successful career in music, with or without the classical repertoire? That Viola Kid, Drew Ford, rejoins us to unravel the secrets of thriving as an "extra classical musician" in today's dynamic industry. We start off with a little Valentine's Day banter and a nod to the e…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! ** This is the second of two parts of our conversation. If you haven't yet, be sure to listen to the first part! Pull up a chair and join the intimate discussion with Ernest Stewart, whose vast trombone performing experience transcends genres. Ernest now works with Mid Atlantic Arts, bringing his insights…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! 🎉 HAPPY NEW YEAR! We're shaking things up with a slight change to our episode lengths this year...so let us know what you think! This is the first of two parts of our conversation. Stay tuned to the feed for Part Two, available in a matter of days. Pull up a chair and join the intimate discussion with Ern…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! Join us as we rewind the scenes of the sometimes-celebrated TV show, "Mozart in the Jungle"! Rodrigo finds out what too many bacchanals means for his housing status and Bradford moves in with Lizzie and Hailey. Gloria reveals a 'shocking' new talent and we're introduced to a very charming oboist with a we…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! Our guest today is Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, a composer, pianist and member of the Chickasaw Nation! Jerod shares valuable insights on his journey of self-discovery, embracing his roots, and the significant role they play in his artistic expression. Jerod tells us about his creative process, how he ba…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! And now for something completely different! As a big fan of reality show podcast recaps, Steph convinced Liz to dive into the MITJ universe. Neither of us had watched this series or heard much about it, and you can bear witness as our innocence is ripped away! Well, we weren't deterred by Season 1, so joi…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! And now for something completely different! As a big fan of reality show podcast recaps, Steph convinced Liz to dive into the MITJ universe. Neither of us have watched this series or heard much about it, and you can bear witness as our innocence is ripped away! Join us as we recap Season 2: episode-by-sal…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! Have you ever felt stuck in a career that doesn't resonate with you? With an exciting transition from law to career coaching, our guest Astrid Baumgartner has plenty of wisdom to share, having journeyed through such a change herself. Her invaluable insights from her book, Creative Success Now, are a beaco…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! In this episode, we welcome the dynamic Aubrey Bergauer, the brilliant mind behind the upcoming book 'Run it Like a Business.' Aubrey brings a fresh and thought-provoking perspective to our conversation, shedding new light on arts administration, nonprofit organizations, and her unique strategies for buil…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! Welcome back from summer vacation! Well, if your school changed names and had a big makeover, that is...ViolaCentric is now MusicianCentric. We've rebranded our podcast to create more inclusive conversations that resonate with all musicians. With a fresh line of merchandise and a revamped Patreon, we're t…
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Sam builds guitars out of his workshop in Stockton on Tees. I met him at the Ullapool Guitar Festival in October 2022 and he very kindly agreed to sit down and have a chat with me on tape. Full show notes here: https://acousticguitar.io/?p=2589 Watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LNjsUu-v0oA ▶LINKS AND THAT◀McClaren GuitarsKatherine P…
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Recorded at the Ullapool Guitar Festival in October 2019. Watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Tk55A3IrEEg Full Show Notes: https://acousticguitar.io/john-goldie/Links and that. https://www.johngoldie.co.uk/https://www.facebook.com/johngoldieguitar/https://twitter.com/johnsgoldiehttps://www.youtube.com/c/JohnGoldieGuitarhttps://www.ins…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! On June 22, 2023, Liz and Steph were joined by two legends in the viola pedagogy world - Atar Arad and Paul Neubauer! Atar and Paul sat down for a virtual Q and A via Facebook livestream from the Heifetz Institute in Staunton, VA. You can also view the video conversation on our Facebook page. Special than…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! It's the first season finale of the recap no one asked for! This time we're joined by a special guest, our friend and fellow freelancer, oboist Alicia Maloney! Alicia answers all of our burning questions from the first season. Let us know what you think - and if you'd like us to keep it going! (We might d…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! Our guest today is violist Alice Ping! Based in Los Angeles, Alice makes her career as a freelancer and teacher, performing with a wide variety of musical acts live, in session recordings, and notably as one of the talented string musicians on NBC’s The Voice! Alice is not only an accomplished and hard-wo…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! And now for something completely different! As a big fan of reality show podcast recaps, Steph convinced Liz to dive into the MITJ universe. Neither of us have watched this series or heard much about it, and you can bear witness as our innocence is ripped away! Join us as we recap Season 1: episode-by-sal…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! And now for something completely different! As a big fan of reality show podcast recaps, Steph convinced Liz to dive into the MITJ universe. Neither of us have watched this series or heard much about it, and you can bear witness as our innocence is ripped away! Join us as we recap Season 1: episode-by-sal…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! Our guest in this episode is Eva Cappelletti Chao, a professional violinist and life coach who specializes in working with her people: classical musicians! Early in her career as a performing musician, Eva was forced to confront very personal and persistent challenges. We talk with her about her struggles…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! And now for something completely different! As a big fan of reality show podcast recaps, Steph convinced Liz to dive into the MITJ universe. Neither of us have watched this series or heard much about it, and you can bear witness as our innocence is ripped away! Join us as we recap Season 1: episode-by-sal…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! Our guest in this episode is Brian Fitzy, a central PA native, and friend of the pod! From his humble beginnings as a violinist to literally performing on the Grammy’s with the Foo Fighters, Brian has had an extremely varied performing career. Not only does he play, but he produces and records for clients…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! S3:Bonus - Mozart in the Jungle (MITJ) Season 1 And now for something completely different! As a big fan of reality show podcast recaps, Steph convinced Liz to dive into the MITJ universe. Neither of us have watched this series or heard much about it, and you can bear witness as our innocence is ripped aw…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! Our guest in this episode is American bassist Joseph Conyers! Thanks to social media, Joe (@weatherclef) has become known worldwide for his approachable and warm personality as well as his absolutely stunning sound and technique. We had the pleasure of getting to know Joe on a more personal level, talking…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! And now for something completely different! As a big fan of reality show podcast recaps, Steph convinced Liz to dive into the MITJ universe. Neither of us have watched this series or heard much about it, and you can bear witness as our innocence is ripped away! Join us as we recap Season 1: episode-by-sal…
  continue reading
 
Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! And now for something completely different! As a big fan of reality show podcast recaps, Steph convinced Liz to dive into the MITJ universe. Neither of us have watched this series or heard much about it, and you can bear witness as our innocence is ripped away! Join us as we recap Season 1: episode-by-sal…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! Our guest in this episode is violist Matthew Lipman, one of his generation’s great talents! After sufficient fan-girling, we got to ask Matt all of our burning questions about life in the most high-profile of freelancing careers: as a soloist and professional chamber musician. If there’s anything universa…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! S3:Bonus - Mozart in the Jungle (MITJ) Season 1 And now for something completely different! As a big fan of reality show podcast recaps, Steph convinced Liz to dive into the MITJ universe. Neither of us have watched this series or heard much about it, and you can bear witness as our innocence is ripped aw…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! Today we’re talking with our friend and fellow DC-area freelancer, percussionist Donnie Johns! Donnie is the founder of the DMV Percussion Academy which aims to fill in the gaps in training for percussion students in the DC/Baltimore/Virginia region. We talk with Donnie about the value of community for st…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! And now for something completely different! As a big fan of reality show podcast recaps, Steph convinced Liz to dive into the MITJ universe. Neither of us have watched this series or heard much about it, and you can bear witness as our innocence is ripped away! Join us as we recap Season 1: episode-by-sal…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! As freelance musicians, we have a very unique income situation. Our guest on this episode is no stranger to the financial insecurity of freelancing, and has made it her mission to give us the tools to feel more in-control of our money. Anamarie Diaz, also known as ‘The Financial Flutist’, has taken it upo…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! And now for something completely different! As a big fan of reality show podcast recaps, Steph convinced Liz to dive into the MITJ universe. Neither of us have watched this series or heard much about it, and you can bear witness as our innocence is ripped away! Join us as we recap Season 1: episode-by-sal…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! If you are/were a music student or have taken an audition in the past 12 years, you know our guest, Noa Kageyama! Through his blog “The Bulletproof Musician” and more recently his podcast of the same name, Noa has made the field of performance psychology digestible and accessible for musicians. He tells u…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! In this episode, we learn about what happened when two freelancers: Ellen Trainer and Marjorie Goldberg, started a movement for change in the Philadelphia Musicians’ Union: Local 77. A true story of grassroots organizing in the musician community, Ellen’s and Marj’s experiences with poor working condition…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! In this episode, we talk with someone (way) funnier than us: stand-up comedian and classically trained violist Isabel Hagen! From her appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to her headlining gig at the American Viola Society Festival in June of 2022, she is becoming known for her unique brand of…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! In this episode, we talk with collaborative pianist (and freelancer!), Dr. Elizabeth G. Hill who’s known for her work as a solo performer, chamber musician, educator, and lecturer. Liz dedicates much of her career to bridging cultures together through music, and is a recognized leader in contemporary musi…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! We’re back! In this episode we talk with the recently unmasked Monochrome Viola, Lauren Spaulding! Lauren is an avid chamber musician, performing with her viola duo Talla Rouge and the acclaimed Thalea Quartet which is currently in residence at the University of Maryland. She is very forthcoming about her…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! In the first ever ViolaCentric LIVE podcast event, we got to go back to college and play musical trivia games! This episode was recorded live at The Loft in Columbus, SC, just a stone's throw from Columbus State University. It was part of the late night cafe events for the American Viola Society Festival/…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! In this, the last episode of Season 2, we talk about adjusting to the return of regular freelance work and finding a new ‘normal’ of work/life balance. The inner workings of the music community are probably a microcosm of what the world has been experiencing in this phase of the pandemic and the adjustmen…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! Liz and Steph have a delightful conversation with violist CAROL RODLAND! Carol enjoys a distinguished international career as a concert and recording artist whose playing has been described as “larger than life, sweetly in tune and infinitely variegated”. Ms Rodland is also currently professor of viola an…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! Liz and Steph welcome celebrated violinist Melissa White to the pod! As an early first-prize laureate of the Sphinx Competition, Melissa burst onto the concert scene in the early 2000’s, and has been a trend-setter and trail-blazer ever since. A founding member of the Harlem Quartet, she reflects on how t…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! Liz and Steph welcome Tanner Guss of The Happy Musicians Podcast! Freelance drummer Tanner Guss is making his way in the New Orleans music scene, navigating pandemic life and learning what he can about happiness from his musical guests - and giving us the nuggets he’s gleaned so far. We talk about getting…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! Liz and Steph welcome Venezuela-born, Philadelphia-area violist, Adriana Linares! Starting on violin in her native Venezuela, Adriana had always experienced music as a community activity. Through her work in chamber music as the violist of the award-winning Dali quartet, and the founding of ArCoNet, a Pen…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! We chat with violinist and arts activist Laura Colgate! As colleagues in the Washington, DC freelance scene, we’ve seen Laura enjoy a versatile career as a chamber and orchestral musician, soloist, educator, curator, activist, and innovator. Not only does she serve as the Concertmaster of the National Phi…
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Stories? Questions? Thoughts? TEXT us here! The dynamic and charismatic conductor Luke Frazier joins Liz and Steph for a casual chat about the unique model of the American Pops Orchestra, which he founded in 2015. Luke believes that the future of orchestral music is breaking down barriers between orchestras and audiences. He describes how his upbri…
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