It's All About That Bass

Bob Gloppen playing the Big Band Bash

Bob Gloppen playing the Big Band Bash

There's no stoppin' Bob Gloppen and he illustrates this point through tales of overcoming lost luggage containing his instrument for that night’s gig, the intricacies of European driving regulations during the Cold War, and what to do when locked out of a radio station in downtown Chicago at 7:00 on a cold winter morning.   

Who is Bob Gloppen, you ask?  He’s a professional musician from Chicago, one of Eric Lee’s longest-standing friends, and if you were at last weekend’s Big Band Bash, you would have seen his guest performance on bass guitar.

Unfortunately Bill Trudeau was under the weather.  Still, Eric, Bob and Jeremy pressed-on and discussed last weekend’s concerts of the Space Coast Symphony Jazz Orchestra, played a few clips, and even managed to get in a tutorial on good bass amp technique before the research department unveiled it’s discovery of a relic from the 1980s.

Also, we announced the newest winner of the First Friday Fizz Quizz and discussed pending concerts, including the upcoming patriotic (and FREE, get your tickets before they are gone) America the Beautiful concerts.     

Music at the Watering Hole

Michele Campanelli

Michele Campanelli

Maestro's On Air 23 - Michele Campanelli

It's a feast of mutual adoration today in the Café as we are joined by our biggest fan.  Plus, another precedent is broken by having the subject of Aaron Collins’ interview as our guest for the entire hour.

Michele Campanelli is a writer first published in the best selling series Chicken Soup for the Soul, and whose many works span genres from Science Fiction, to Children’s books, to somewhat more adult fare. 

Locally, Michele is also known as an operatic and choral singer and has performed with the SCSO.  She has much to say about upcoming events, as well as her thoughts on various styles of singing, plus teaching and learning to sing, and reveals a special offer.

 

Click to see Michele's first children's book, "Music at the Watering Hole" on Amazon.com.

 

 

Also, it’s time again for the First Friday Fizz Quiz. Submit your answers by midnight Sunday for a chance to win symphony tickets and be sure to check out the answers next week at .

 

Also, it’s time again for the First Friday Fizz QuizSubmit your answers by midnight Sunday for a chance to win symphony tickets and be sure to check out the answers next week at Encore.

Money Back Guarantee

Maestro's On Air 22 - Jennifer Royals

Jennifer Royals, SCSO Principal Clarinetist

Jennifer Royals, SCSO Principal Clarinetist

This week in the Café we welcome Jennifer Royals, an original member and principal clarinetist of the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra. 

Over the hour the discussion ranges from retrospective of various clarinet solos and features, to Bill’s acknowledgment of the discovery of fire, and a look ahead at the upcoming season.

Be sure to check out Encore to see links to items referenced in the show.

Welcome to the Thunderdome

Adam Lydon

Adam Lydon

Maestro's On Air 21 - Adam Lydon

Recorded at the Riverhouse, SCSO's headquarters, Aaron Collins interviews Adam Lydon about his growth as a musician and composer.  Key in the discussion is the pending world premier of Adam's piece EARTHSCAPE, to be performed by the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra during the season's final concert weekend. 

Plus Aaron, Eric, Bill and Jeremy preview other items on the agenda for the upcoming Earth Odyssey concerts, including a performance of Also Sprach Zarathustra in its entirety.  

And at long last, the unofficial Maestro's On Air position regarding Deflate-gate.

From Sea to Shining Sead

Dr. Pat Hennessey, Conducting in Hawaii

Dr. Pat Hennessey, Conducting in Hawaii

Maestro's On Air 20 - Dr. Pat Hennessey

This week in the Café we spend time getting to know Dr. Pat Hennessey, trombonist and new Director of the Space Coast Symphony Jazz Orchestra.  In addition to his affiliation with the SCSO, he is Director of Jazz Studies at Stetson University. 

Over the hour Dr. Hennessey shares much from his life as a professional trombonist and instructor.  His career spans multiple states, from a start in New Orleans, to a stint in the LA music scene plus many years at the center of music and culture in Hawaii, and includes stories of playing with some of the most famous musicians and singers of the last few decades.

The Largest of the Bunch

Maestro's On Air 19, Barbara Hoffman.

 

 

 

International Tuba Day has come and gone, but we've still been celebrating all week.

 

 

Barbara Hoffman, Executive Director Cultural Council of Indian River County

Barbara Hoffman, Executive Director
Cultural Council of Indian River County

 

 

The show features Aaron Collins' discussion with Barbara Hoffman, Executive Director of the Cultural Council of Indian River County.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plus, we uncork the questions, answers and winner of the inagural First Friday Fizz Quiz.
 

 

 

 

 

Be sure to check out bonus content at Encore.

 

To Thine Own Self Be True

Maestro’s On Air 18, Cathryn Leasure. 

Cathryn Leasure on Trombone

Cathryn Leasure on Trombone

Another special guest musician joins us in the Café this week.  This time, it’s someone from SCSO’s own origin story.  Cathryn Leasure tells her side of the story surrounding the conversation spawning creation of the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, and why she soon agreed with Eric that Aaron Collins, “was their guy”. 

Plus, Cathryn talks about taking music lessons while growing up, participating in UK Brass Bands and a number of other interesting stories.

Also, included are two music pieces from the SCSO’s last performance of Carmen.  Thanks again to Andy Allen for use of his excellent recordings.


 

Check out bonus content at www.MaestrosOnAir.com/Encore.

Introducing Encore!

Encore! is a new place for extra material referenced during our primary podcast, Maestro's On Air, bonus content and special announcements by the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra.

Our first installment starts with as big a topic as we can imagine.  On the heels of our special announcement of the SCSO 2015 - 2016 season, we bring you a special event.

With over an hour of discussion and music, we hear directly from the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra's Artistic Director, Aaron Collins, as he discusses what is in store for the symphony's seventh and most ambitious season yet.

Aaron is joined for the hour with special guests from the symphony, principal clarinetist  Jennifer Royals, plus Director of Communications Bill Trudeau.

Listen in by clicking on the image to the right, or save the direct link:  

www.MaestrosOnAir.com/Encore

 

Dirt and Trees, Water in the Middle

We’re back in the Café this week, and Eric Lee fills us in on some of his many adventures while out of state.  Also featured is an interview with Eric’s friend Mike Grose.  Mike has been cataloging a series of interviews dedicated to highlighting the pedagogy and professional stature of longtime Chicago Symphony principal tubist, Arnold Jacobs. Mike get’s to add an interview of one more of Dr. Jacobs’ students, our own Eric Lee. 

Also featured is a discussion of SCSO’s new Symphony for Good campaign, plus a recording of Gabriel’s Oboe, performed at the recent concert in Viera.  Thanks again to Andy Allen for use of his excellent recording.

Mike Grose and Eric Lee

Mike Grose and Eric Lee

Oboist Kristin Naigus featured with SCSO

Oboist Kristin Naigus featured with SCSO

Oboe, You Did It Again!

Maestro's On Air 16, Chuck McGee

Chuck McGee, oboist

Chuck McGee, oboist

With Eric Lee on the road again, we took our cups of coffee over to the River House for a discussion with Aaron Collins regarding the upcoming performance of Carmen. 

Also featured is Aaron’s interview with Chuck McGee, an excellent oboist and member of the SCSO discussing the path leading to a career in music, plus music education and the challenges of different types of music. 

Included partially in this show, thanks to Andy Allen for his recording of  SCSO's performance of Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony.

Plus there were a few announcements, and we tried unsuccessfully to extract details of the upcoming symphony season from Aaron...

Alas, that will have to wait for a future episode. 

 

 

Make Up Your Mind!

Maestro's On Air 15, Kevin Cline.

This week everyone is back in town and we've returned to Maestro's Café for the good eats, free parking, and a reunion of sorts...

Eric's good friend of more than three decades, Kevin Cline (the musician, not the actor) is in town and took the opportunity to come by Maestro's to discuss what Eric was like in college, Chicago's local bar and restaurant scene, as well as what it's like to play in the "Blooze Brothers" tribute band.

He also has a new CD full of great jazz music, including 4 tracks featuring flugelhorn legend, Bobby Shew.  

Today's show has music passages from Kevin's new CD, as well as last weekend's performances of the all-star quartet (featuring Daniel Askerov) and the SCSO playing Tchaik 5, plus a final end of show send-off of the Spizzwinks. 

Kevin Cline

Kevin Cline

An Hour With Askerov

Maestro's On Air 14, Daniel Askerov

In this special episode recorded at the SCSO headquarters in Cocoa, Florida, host Bill Trudeau and Artistic Director Aaron Collins spend the hour with visiting Israeli violinist, Daniel Askerov. The show concludes with a live performance.

Hear more of Daniel when he plays with the SCSO March 21 & 22 for two performances of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony Number 5.

Daniel Askerov

Daniel Askerov

Chamber Weather

Mary Ann Kruger, soprano

Mary Ann Kruger, soprano

Maestro's On Air 13, Mary Anne Kruger.

This week we decided to enjoy the warmer evening weather, along with the new free high-speed WiFi, and recorded on the patio outside Maestro's Café, located at the Brevard Central Library and Reference Center, 308 Forrest Ave, Cocoa, Florida.

In the featured interview, Aaron Collins sits down with American-born  soprano Mary Anne Kruger who came to prominence over a career in Germany, notably with the renowned Hessischen Staatstheater Darmstadt where she built a repertoire of over 40 major roles and concerts. Luckily for us, she now lives in Florida and frequently performs with the SCSO. 

Gigantic Sea Cows

Dr. William Rogan

Dr. William Rogan

Maestro's On Air 12, William Rogan.

In this episode, recorded at SCSO headquarters, The River House in Cocoa, Florida, Aaron Collins sits down with symphony Director of Development, Dr.  William Rogan.  

Dr. Rogan talks about his life as a horn player and much more.   In addition, Aaron talks about Mahler's Resurrection and Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony.

 

C'mon Get Happy

 

Maestro's On Air 11, Margaret Cross.  

Recorded at Mestro’s Café, a service benefiting the SCSO located just inside the main entrance to the Brevard Central Library and Reference Center, 308 Forrest Avenue, Cocoa, Florida. 

Our Artistic Director Aaron Collins interviews Margaret Cross, whose show "C'mon Get Happy" will be performed at the historic Cocoa Village Playhouse on February 27 and 28, 2015.


www.cocoavillageplayhouse.com

Margaret Cross on Facebook

Sugar Gliders

Ned Keller, Executive Director (Ret.), Brevard Library Foundation

Ned Keller, Executive Director (Ret.),
Brevard Library Foundation

Maestro's On Air 10, Ned Hunter.

In this episode, Bill Trudeau and Eric Lee interview Ned Kellar on the eve of his retirement as Executive Director of the Brevard Library Foundation.  Topics include career choices and retirement plans, as well as history of "The River House" and how the Brevard Library Foundation and SCSO have made for good partners, with the Foundation being host/landlord for both SCSO executive offices and Maestro's Cafe.

Recorded at Maestro’s Café, located just inside the main entrance to the Brevard Central Library and Reference Center, 308 Forrest Avenue, Cocoa, Florida. 

http://www.brevardlibraryfoundation.org

Expanded Format

Episode 9 was recorded 6 February 2015 at Maestro's Café, located just inside the main entrance to the Brevard Central Library and Reference Center, 308 Forrest Avenue, Cocoa, Florida. 

This is the first episode with an expanded one hour format, and includes Aaron Collins' interview with Col. Hal Gibson, conductor emeritus of the U.S. Army Field Band.   Aaron spends 45 minutes with Hal Gibson, as they discuss his career.  

Col. Hal Gibson

Col. Hal Gibson

A Drum Roll Please

Aaron Collins

Aaron Collins

This is Episode 8, recorded 30 January 2015 at The River House, SCSO's headquarters in Cocoa, Florida, and features the program's first in-depth discussion with Artistic Director and Conductor Aaron Collins as well as announcement of an upcoming format change.