Music on the Rocks – Details, episodes & analysis

This episode of MOTR I have the pleasure of the company of fellow Yamaha Horn Artists Mike McCoy (former hornist of Presidio Brass, studio musician and Faculty at San Diego State University and Point Loma Nazarene University) and Larry Williams (Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra, Lyric Brass Quintet and Adjunct Professor of Horn at Washington Adventist University).  Grab a cold one and join us as we talk about our hate / hate relationship with bell covers, reminisce on stories and antics of long running shows and what its like to be a horn player in the world of professional Brass Quintets!

This episode of MOTR I am joined by the Associate Principal Trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Jeffrey Curnow!  Jeff is a former member of the Empire Brass, former principal trumpet of the Dallas Symphony and is currently on faculty at both the Curtis Institute and Temple University.  Jeff is also a weekly contributing cartoonist for NPR!
Grab a cold one and join us as we talk about his love for cartooning, his touring days with Empire, the differences between playing in a chamber group and being Principal Trumpet of a ajor Symphony Orchestra and of course ... gin!  

This episode of MOTR, I had the pleasure of chatting with the incomparable hornist Rick Todd!  You name it, he's done it.  From Orchestral playing to Hollywood Studio playing to putting out burning Jazz Albums, Rick Todd is at home with it all.  
Grab your favorite sipping drink and join us while we talk about cutting his teeth as a student and colleague of Vince DeRosa, jamming with Clark Terry, touring with Barbara Streisand, his new project "The Art of Practicing" and much more!  

www.richardtoddmusic.com

I'm delighted to be joined this episode by world class instrument case maker Howard Wiseman.  Known throughout the music world for his beautiful, innovative, super light and durable carbon fiber instrument cases, Howard Wiseman has been at the top of his craft since he was a teenager!  Grab a drink and join us for a great chat about how he built a thriving business at the young age of 15, how he combines his love for sports with music and whats next for Wiseman of London! 

This episode, I am thrilled to have my dear friend and musical mentor Tom Leslie.  Tom is the Director of the Division of Wind Band Studies and Professor of Conducting at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada.  He has conducted, and recorded twenty-one highly acclaimed albums with the UNLV Wind Orchestra and has served as the 75th President of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association.  
Grab a drink and join us as we talk careers, cars and everything in between!

My guest this episode is my former horn professor and good friend Bill Bernatis!  Bill is the Assistant Professor of Horn at the University of Nevada Las Vegas and serves as Principal Horn with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, as well as Assistant Principal Horn with the Chautauqua Symphony.  
So grab your favorite libation and join us for the next hour or so as we talk about his eclectic career as a hornist, his love of tequila and as always, great stories ... including an audition for the Empire Brass!  

This episode I am joined by Michelle Baker, retired second horn of The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chair of the Brass Department at the Manhattan School of Music. Join us as we explore her career at the Met, talk about movie scores she's played on as well as favorite foods to cook and shows to binge watch!  

This episode of MOTR, I am joined by Horn Professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison and Meridian Arts Ensemble Hornist Daniel Grabois.  You won't wanna miss this one as we chat about everything from his time on Broadway to what he did to secure a six figure grant from his university to playing for Frank Zappa in his home!  
So grab your drink, kick up your feet and press play!
http://www.danielgrabois.com/

This episode, I sit down with world renowned Dutch composer and conductor Johan de Meij!  Grab your favorite beverage and join us as we discuss everything from his beginnings in music as young low brass player in military bands to his award winning / best selling compositions.  
https://johandemeij.com

In this episode, I interview Imani Winds hornist and newly minted Oberlin Associate Professor of Horn, Jeff Scott.  Join us as we talk about his career, life on the road and reminisce with stories we've shared over the years!  I honestly haven't laughed this hard in a long time, so grab a drink and prepare to kill an hour or so hanging with us on Music on the Rocks!