I recently reunited with an old friend and how sweet it was. Meena Bhasin, violist and co-artistic director of San Francisco’s Noe Music, and I were in a trio back in 2001! We were young students in the Chamber Music Program of New York Youth Symphony and performed Debussy’s Sonata for flute, viola, and harp (with harpist Irantzu Aguirre!), at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Oh, the memories!! She and her husband Owen Dalby, invited me to be a guest on Noe Music’s “The Listening Club,” an online series featuring performers, a curated playlist, and insightful conversation. In the beginning of our conversation, we reflected on the close-knit community of classical musicians, and our unique experience of “growing-up” together through our training. We highlighted various projects I’ve been a part of that focus on the human story and experience, including Flutronix’s latest work Discourse, Nathalie Joachim’s Fanm d’Ayiti, Amanda Gookin’s Forward Music Project, and my latest commission for Ensemble Pi. It was a true joy to spend an hour with Meena and Owen, and I’m excited to share our conversation with you all. Take a listen.

WHUP

I had a blast talking and sharing music with Tarik Ghiradella and Anna Linvill of WHUP’s “Composer’s Studio.” This show features live performances and conversations with living classical composers and musicians about music, life, and what’s happening in the genre defying world of classical music today. “Composer’s Studio” is a place where living art is made, a place without boundaries where inspiration can come from anywhere from birdsong to heavy metal, Vivaldi to the hum of a vacuum cleaner. Classical composers today are no longer confined to the concert stage or the cathedral but contribute to film scores, television commercials, video game soundtracks and beyond. With special emphasis on the local scene, this is a classical music show like none you have ever heard. Listen to the full episode here!

The Hildegard Composer Competition is National Sawdust’s mentorship initiative highlighting outstanding trans, female, and nonbinary composers in the early stages of their careers, supporting them with a commission, visionary mentorship, and access to a network of leading working collaborators.

Glad to be a part of this album, playing with The National Sawdust Ensemble. Take a listen here.

Amanda Gookin. Photo by Ryan Scherb

Excited to announce the release of cellist Amanda Gookin’s, “Forward Music Project 1.0” My piece “Stolen” is featured on this record which you can purchase here. Here’s more info about the project:

For elevating stories of suffering and joy. For raising awareness of injustice. For shining a light on a culture of musical patriarchal deification. Whether you come with caution and leave with curiosity, come as a victim and find a voice, or come as an ally and feel a sense of community, I founded Forward Music Project for you.

For mothers. For sisterhood. For brave storytellers and quiet listeners. I sing, I gasp, I fight, I breathe life into the work of these fearless artists. I founded Forward Music Project for you. And you are not alone.

-Amanda Gookin, April 2020
Cellist and creator of Forward Music Project