Erin Burkholder plays violin in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. We discuss the joy of practicing, the way recordings affect listeners and performers, and her trick for having lots of hobbies.

Jesse Morrison plays viola in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. We discuss his new album, commissioning new works, and the special atmosphere of a great university viola studio.

Patrick Staples plays double bass in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. We discuss bowmaking, electronic music, and the importance of a great first teacher.

Laurie Blanchet plays Assistant Principal Clarinet in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. We discuss finding your way to a career in music, persistence in auditions, and dogs.

Eric Auerbach plays in the first violin section of the Calgary Philharmonic. We discuss joining an orchestra after freelancing in it, his favourite Schubert Piano Sonata, and applying skills across disciplines.

Miranda Cairns plays Assistant Principal Trumpet in the Calgary Philharmonic. We discuss the art of section playing, a shared great teacher, and which section of the CPO is most likely to bring a tomato plant to rehearsal.

Recorded on-site at this year’s Nutcracker run with Alberta Ballet, this episode is all about our annual Nutcracker Tea Club, generously supported by the Tea Trader. Hear all about the teas we’re sampling, and get a window into what happens backstage as we play Nutcracker after Nutcracker after Nutcracker.

Theresa Dumbrique plays Second Violin in the Calgary Philharmonic. We discuss starting professional life while still in school, dancing, and circus aerials.

David Sussman plays Assistant Principal Oboe and Principal English Horn in the Calgary Philharmonic. We discuss sailing, making reeds, and tea.

Cellist Robyn Neidhold joins the Calgary Philharmonic this season. We discuss her family connection to Calgary, teaching, and books.

Violist Alexander Beggs joins his hometown orchestra the Calgary Philharmonic this season. We discuss the importance of first teachers, literature, and life after music school.

Danielle Greene joins the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra’s first violin section this season. We discuss teaching, the joys of chamber music, and coffee.

Jonathan Yeoh has played bass in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra since 2020, and this year begins working as Assistant Principal Double Bass. We discuss starting work during the pandemic, working towards a titled chair in the section he had already been a member of, and powerlifting.

Alisa Klebanov has played viola in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra since 2019. We discuss summer inspiration, the upcoming orchestra season, and switching from violin to viola.

Maxwell Stein has played Third Horn in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra since 2019. We discuss starting his first orchestral job here, supporting your section, and what it’s like reconnecting with a high school friend at work.

Principal Percussionist Chris Sies joined the Calgary Philharmonic this season. We discuss freelancing, the Sound Atlas New Music Festival, and what goes in to making dreams become reality.

Jocelyn Colquhoun has played Assistant Principal Clarinet in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra since 1988, and is retiring at the end of the ‘24-’25 season. We discuss the many hats an assistant principal player has to wear, retirement plans, and the magic of the tango.

Alexander Cohen is the Principal Timpanist of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. We discuss the joys of making music together, Chamberfest West, the Summer Percussion Institute (SPIN), and what it’s like playing one of the most striking instruments in the orchestra.

Craig Hutchenreuther plays violin in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. We discuss the art of section playing, his time as Concertmaster of the Calgary Civic Symphony, and dogs.

Kathryn Davies does not play in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Nor do Daniel Brown or Tiffany Fauvel. But nobody outside the orchestra is as involved as they are, being married to orchestra members. They discuss the reality of being partners with three of the people you see onstage at the CPO every week.