ESO OFFSTAGE – Details, episodes & analysis

Stuck in the middle of the virtuosic violins and the charming celli, the viola seldom gets the spotlight and has been the butt of many an orchestral joke. This episode we talk about a beautiful and often misunderstood inner voice of the orchestra with the help of some of our amazing ESO violists. “Tune in” as we answer the age old questions: What is a viola? What makes them so unique? And why-oh-why are there so many viola jokes? 

Featuring the voices of Principal Violist Keith Hamm and Assistant Principal Violist Ethan Filner.  

You can find the transcript of this episode here, 

Show Notes: 

Sensational Strings - Summer Day Camps at the Winspear Centre 

https://www.winspearcentre.com/tommy-banks-centre/summer-day-camps/ 

Rusty Musicians - Summer Camp 

https://www.winspearcentre.com/tommy-banks-centre/rusty-musicians/ 

YONA’s Road to Joy Fundraising Concert 

https://www.winspearcentre.com/tickets/events/other/2021/road-to-joy

Keith Hamm 

Bio 

https://www.winspearcentre.com/more/about/about-eso/meet-the-musicians/strings/keith-hamm/ 

Beethoven - Eyeglasses Duo for Viola and Cello | Keith Hamm & Julie Hereish 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_X6kvwRZic 

Keith Spotify Playlist 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1RV71l6sbcKTroIpF6udxK?si=f2d3743383fd4503 

Ethan Filner 

Bio 

https://www.winspearcentre.com/more/about/about-eso/meet-the-musicians/strings/ethan-filner/ 

Two Pieces for Violin and Viola | Ewald Cheung & Ethan Filner 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtvxmXscwL8 

Ethan Spotify Playlist 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4BP3uxtLz9XuKT6WHpTZct?si=c5e82e6a81f94ea9 

The Strad 

The History of the Viola Joke  

https://www.thestrad.com/playing-and-teaching/the-history-of-the-viola-joke/5399.article 

WQXR  

Why is the VIola the Butt of so Many Jokes? 

https://www.wqxr.org/story/why-viola-butt-so-many-jokes/ 

Carl Rahkonen 

No Laughing Matter: The Viola Joke as Musicians Folklore 

http://www.mit.edu/~jcb/jokes/viola-presentation.html 

New World Symphony 

Viola Visions Festival 

https://www.nws.edu/viola-visions/watch-now/ 

National Music Museum: Rivinus Viola 

http://collections.nmmusd.org/Violas/Rivinus/10830/RivinusViola.html 

National Music Museum: Tenor Viola 

http://collections.nmmusd.org/Violas/Guarneri3354/3354GuarneriViola.html 

The Met Museum: Viola d’Amore 

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/504490 

The Met Museum: Viola da Gamba 

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/503219 

Berliner Philharmoniker Master Class - Viola 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW0ncJ3-dxQ 

The New York Times 

This is What a $45 Million Viola Sounds Like 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe11Pp1g39I 

Did you know that the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is 68 years old?! Join us this episode as we take a trip down memory lane to learn more about the early days of the ESO by speaking to musicians that were there from the beginning.  

Featuring the voices of ESO Cellist Ronda Metszies and her mother Hope Metszies, First Violinist Broddy Olson and Musicologist David Gramit!

Ronda Metszies

Bio

https://www.winspearcentre.com/more/about/about-eso/meet-the-musicians/strings/ronda-metszies/

ESO 101

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8_11aTGQWM

Happy 90th Birthday to Hope Metszies Concert

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fNg1thNTdg

Edmonton Journal article feat. Hope Mestszies

https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/local-arts/edmonton-symphony-marks-100-years-since-first-eso-concert

Broddy Olson

Bio

https://www.winspearcentre.com/more/about/about-eso/meet-the-musicians/strings/broderyck-broddy-olson/

David Gramit

Bio

https://www.ualberta.ca/wirth-institute/people/wirth-institute-academic-advisory-board/david-gramit.html

Winspear Centre

ESO history

https://www.winspearcentre.com/more/about/about-eso/history/

Procol Harum Info and CD

https://www.winspearcentre.com/more/about/about-eso/eso-recordings/procol-harum/

Tommy Banks

https://www.winspearcentre.com/more/about/about-winspear/history/tommy-banks/

The Canadian Encyclopedia 

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edmonton-symphony-orchestra-emc

Music in Edmonton

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edmonton-alta-emc

Edmonton Historical Board

The Capitol Theatre

https://www.edmontonsarchitecturalheritage.ca/index.cfm/structures/capitol-theatre/

The New Yorker

Jane Little video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNBRl8taaQM

Rusty Musician Summer Camp

https://www.winspearcentre.com/tommy-banks-centre/rusty-musicians/

What are conductors up to on the podium, anyways? This episode we speak to four conductors in Canada to find out! Join us as they share stories, tips, and insights from on-and-off the podium - answering common questions and debunking some myths about the profession. (Bonus!) Musicologist Dave Baker speaks to us about some of the history of the ever-changing role of conductors over time. 

Featuring the voices of ESO Chief Conductor Alex Prior, ESO Assistant Conductor and Community Ambassador Cosette Justo Valdés, 

Allegra Chamber Orchestra Conductor and Music Director Janna Sailor, ESO Musicologist Dave Baker.

Artist in Residence and Community Ambassador at Symphony Nova Scotia/Barrett Principal Education Conductor & Community Ambassador with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser.  

Show Notes

• Dave Baker | Bio, ESO 101 video
• Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser | Website, Disruptor Conductor Documentary, Facebook
• The Canadian Encyclopedia | The Brunswick Four
• Cosette Justo Valdés | Bio, ESO 101 video
• Music Appreciation course: The Music of Latin America
• Janna Sailor | Website, Facebook
• Allegra Chamber Orchestra | Website, Facebook, Composer Mentorship Program
• Alex Prior | Bio, Facebook
• Music Appreciation course: Innovation & Inspiration: New Music of the Last Century

What is the difference between a violin and a fiddle? Join us this episode to find out as we look at the history of this instrument in Canada, and the impact it has had along the way. Learn more about the wonderful and diverse world of fiddling from Fiddlers, Historians and Musicologists. One thing we can guarantee- this episode is sure to get your feet tapping!

Featuring the voices of Métis fiddler John Arcand, Historian Laureate Amber Paquette, Old Time fiddler Calvin Vollrath, Musicologist David Gramit, Fiddler Daniel Gervais, and Edmonton Traditional Métis Dancer Lyle Donald!

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Show Notes

Links Mentioned

• Amber Paquette | Website | Instagram | Facebook
• John Arcand | Website
• Edmonton Traditional Métis Dancers | Facebook, Website
• Calvin Vollrath | Website
• Daniel Gervais | Website
• David Gramit | Bio
• The Canadian Encyclopedia | Fiddling, Music of the Métis, James Brady
• The National Film Board of Canada | The Fiddlers of James Bay, How the Fiddle Flows
• PEI Guardian | National Fiddle Day Senate footage
• Edmonton City as Museum Project | Garneau: A Neighbourhood of Nations
• Edmonton City Archives | Laurent Garneau Photos
• Ramona Sinclair | Manitoba Historical Society, Manitoba Archives
• Frances Beardy | Bio, Manitoba Historical Society

Mozart once said "in my eyes and ears, the organ will forever be the King of Instruments." Why, you may ask? Join us to find out! We pull out all the stops to explore this unique instrument - from its history to talking shop with organ builders, players, and maintainers. As a bonus, you’ll also get an audio tour of the instrument's power and capabilities. If you don't already love the organ, you will by the end of this episode!

Featuring the voices of Organist Jeremy Spurgeon, Davis Concert Organ Curator Jerrold Eilander, Musicologist D.T Baker, and Vice President and Artistic Director of Orgues Létourneau Andrew Forrest.

Show Notes

Links Mentioned

• Davis Concert Organ | Info, Book a Tour!
• Jeremy Spurgeon | Bio, Toccata and Fugue in D minor video
• D.T Baker | Bio, Course
• Edmonton Journal | Hidden Spaces: Davis Concert Organ (feat. Jerrold Eilander)
• Orgues Létourneau Ltée | Website
• Andrew Forrest | Bio
• The Art of the Organ-Builder book | Info
• Opus d'Amour documentary | The Making of the Davis Concert Organ
• Christopher Herrick | Organ Fireworks Recording

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We’ve all heard that expression “Practice Makes Perfect”, but what does this really mean? This episode we take a closer look at practicing and performance psychology - examining what goes through the mind of a performer when it’s time to walk on stage. This is Part Four of our “Behind the Screen” series that takes a deep dive into the past, present and future of orchestral auditions.

This episode features the voices of ESO principal bassoonist Bianca Chambul, her father and former Olympic athlete Dr. Borys Chambul, as well as the expertise of the Peak Performance Psychologist Dr. Don Greene and audition coach and Metropolitan Opera percussionist Rob Knopper.

Show Notes:

Links Mentioned:

• Bianca Chambul - Bio
• Bianca Chambul & Alex Prior - Mendelssohn Song Without Words
• Dr. Borys Chambul - Website
• Dr. Don Greene - Website, Ted Talk
• Rob Knopper - Website

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The screened audition process was adopted by orchestras in the 70’s and 80’s to try to reduce bias in the hiring process- but is it still working? This episode we look at the role of an orchestral musician in the 21st century and discusses how to change the paradigm to achieve diversity and inclusion through music. This is Part Three of our “Behind the Screen” series that takes a deep dive into the past, present and future of orchestral auditions.

Featuring the voices of ESO Music Director Emeritus Bill Eddins and Afa Dworkin, President and Artistic Director of The Sphinx Organization.

Show Notes:

Links Mentioned:

• Bill Eddins - Bio, Website
• MetroNOME brewery - Facebook, Website
• Afa Dworkin - Bio
• The Sphinx Organization - Composer Resource Directory
• The Sphinx Organization - Catalog of Latin American Cello Works
• Philip Herbert - Website, Sphinx Virtuosi recording
• Allan Gilliand - Website, ESO recording
• The New York Times - To Make Orchestras More Diverse, End Blind Auditions
• The New York Times - Musicians on How to Bring Racial Equity to Auditions

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Orchestras everywhere were once “Boys Only Clubs”. This episode we look into the gender bias and the history of women in Canadian orchestras. Join us for Part Two of our “Behind the Screen” series that takes a deep dive into the past, present and future of orchestral auditions.

Featuring the voices of Musicologist and author of the book From Kitchen to Carnegie Hall: Ethel Stark and the Montreal Women's Symphony Orchestra Maria Rachwal, ESO Assistant Principal Trombone Kathryn Macintosh, and ESO Assistant Conductor and Community Ambassador Cosette Justo Valdés.

Show Notes:

Links Mentioned:

• ESO Recording - A Concert for New York
• Maria Noriega Rachwal’s book- From Kitchen to Carnegie Hall
• Cosette Justo Valdés - Bio
• Kathy Macintosh - Bio
• Orchestras Canada - Leadership and Gender in Canadian Orchestras

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Musicians in the orchestra come from all walks of life, but there is one thing that we all have in common - auditions. This episode, we look at what a musician must go through in order to win a seat in the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. This is Part One of our “Behind the Screen” series that takes a deep dive into the past, present and future of orchestral auditions.

Featuring the voices of ESO Concertmaster Robert Uchida, Principal Cello Rafael Hoekman, and Assistant Principal Trombone Kathy Macintosh.

Show Notes:

Links Mentioned:

• Robert Uchida - Bio
• Robert Uchida - Bach’s Sonata No.2 “Allegro”
• Rafael Hoekman - Bio
• Kathy Macintosh - Bio

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Welcome to ESO Offstage - a new podcast that gives you an insider's look into the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and its community. Join ESO double bassist Max Cardilli as he covers the rapidly evolving world of the orchestra by speaking with people from all walks of life. ESO, like you've never heard it before.

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