ALL EARS with Everett Hopfner

Cellist Seth Woods is the latest guest on ALL EARS. Originally from the USA, Seth has cultivated an international profile with frequent performances around the world. Having spent time studying and researching in Basel and Huddersfield, Seth is now developing his career in dual home bases of Chicago and New York City. His unique performances combine interactive media, visual projections, body movement, and dance with his virtuosic cello playing. Seth is also a member of the new Chineke! Orchestra based in the United Kingdom. In this interview, we discuss Seth's personal path through contemporary music, from his early development to managing the complicated logistics of a fast-paced international career. Show notes and links at everetthopfner.com

The good news just keeps rolling in for Canadian violinist Joshua Peters. Already the current Doris McLellan and Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition winner, Joshua's just been awarded a violin from the Canada Council for the Arts Instrument Bank. I caught up with Joshua this past summer in Casalmaggiore: we discussed his musical development throughout his education, including his early start in Winnipeg. I also asked Joshua about the appeal of competitions and his personal goals for the 2015 E-Gré Winner's Tour and beyond. Show notes and links at everetthopfner.com

Nova Scotian pianist and composer Edward Enman joins ALL EARS for its twentieth episode. In a friendly conversation, we'll trace Edward's path through studies in Wolfville, Ottawa, and Montréal, and a few interesting detours along the way. He reflects on finding the balance between playing piano and composing, and how that relationship has fluctuated over the years. Edward is an active performer in the Canadian new music scene and a former prizewinner in the E-Gré Competition. Show notes and links at everetthopfner.com

Erica Iris Huang is a fearless Canadian mezzo-soprano, former winner of the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition and a current member of the Canadian Opera Company Chorus. Erica's passion for her art form shines through in this conversation. I met Erica several years ago in Casalmaggiore, where I was able to experience her powerful voice and magnetic charisma in person. On this episode of ALL EARS, Erica reflects on her journey, her career and the development of her musical abilities. Show notes and links at everetthopfner.com

Rex Murphy, beloved host of the long-running CBC Radio program Cross Country Checkup, has left his broadcasting studio for the last time. After 20 years answering calls from Canadians on any number of topics, Rex is passing the torch to a rotating panel of CBC talent. I had the great fortune to speak to Rex on December 14, 2014, when the topic was "What is the future of classical music?". As a bonus ALL EARS episode, and as a personal tribute to the esteemed Mr. Murphy, check out our conversation. You can stream the entire original program on the Cross Country Checkup website. ALL EARS will return with regular episodes in October. Show notes and links at everetthopfner.com

After an unfortunate delay caused by the Great Computer Meltdown of 2015, ALL EARS returns with a vengeance! For this episode, I sat down with Philipp Krebs, a young German composer and a colleague of mine from our time together at Musikhochschule Stuttgart. Philipp creates spectacular music - quite literally spectacular, involving large performative and multi-media elements that create music for the eyes, not just for the ears. We chatted about his musical background and the influences that have led to his personal style. You can keep up with Philipp on his personal website, SoundCloud and YouTube channels. He also performs regularly with the band Oleg and the Popovs. Show notes and links at everetthopfner.com

Daniel Espie is a London-based American pianist. A graduate student at the Royal Academy of Music, Dan is passionate about collaboration between instruments and across disciplines. He's an active chamber musician and member of the Temple Ensemble. I had the great pleasure to meet Dan this past summer at Casalmaggiore International Music Festival, where we collaborated together on a Fluxus concert. On this episode of ALL EARS, Daniel discusses his experiences in Philadelphia and London and the people who helped him reach his musical goals.

Germany-based, emerging Croatian composer Sara Glojnarić is my guest for this episode. We discuss her upbringing through the Croatian music schools system, her decision to move to Stuttgart, and the interesting conceptual directions her newest works have evolved.  You can connect with Sara through her Soundcloud page - a personal homepage will be active very soon. Keep an eye out for it! Show notes and links at everetthopfner.com

ALL EARS is back with its first-ever dual interview! Joining me on this episode are soprano Christie Finn and clarinetist Felix Behringer. This husband-and-wife team make up the NOISE-BRIDGE duo, exploring experimental repertoire and commissioning new works for their unique instrumentation. Felix and Christie maintain varied and robust freelancing careers from their current home base in Stuttgart, Germany. They discuss their wide variety of current projects and share the story of how they came to meet in New York City. Show notes and links at everetthopfner.com

Versatile trumpeter, composer, musical inventor, and pride of Saskatchewan, Julian Beutel is my guest this week. Julian and I attended Brandon University at the same time for our undergraduate degrees. Since then, he's settled in Los Angeles to study at the California Institute of the Arts. During his time at CalArts, Julian developed a trumpet-attachable sensor-based MIDI controller to add a new dimension to his musical output. He's now active as a freelance trumpeter in a great variety of performing groups and interdisciplinary projects. Show notes and links at everetthopfner.com

Our lucky thirteenth guest is a multi-faceted artist. Stuttgart-based Timm Roller is a brilliant guitarist and a technological wizard. He is equally comfortable on stage, behind a mixing board, and working overtime behind the scenes. Timm is a gifted improviser, a natural collaborator, an endlessly curious soul. He's heard often in his duo AAA---AAA with guitarist Thilo Ruck, and in countless other "mix and match" settings around Stuttgart. We discuss Timm's passion for media arts, his collaborations and his connection to the contemporary music scene. Of course we'll also get into his plans for the future and chat about the people who have helped along the way. Show notes and links at everetthopfner.com

Pianist and composer Jesse Plessis joins me for a wide-ranging conversation on the latest ALL EARS. Jesse holds degrees from the University of Lethbridge and Brandon University, and will be heading to the Université de Montréal to commence doctoral studies this fall. In the meantime, he's been keeping busy within his community of Lethbridge. On this episode, we discuss Jesse's contributions to his local music scene, as well as some of his past performance and compositional highlights. Jesse also previews this year's Centric Festival in Lethbridge (coming up June 24-28), of which he is founder and artistic director. Show notes and links at everetthopfner.com  

Next up on the podcast: a fellow pianist and new music explorer, Stephanie Chua. Stephanie grew up in Richmond, BC, and has been based in Toronto since 2002. She is active as a freelance performer and teacher. In this episode, we discuss Stephanie's educational background, the contemporary music scene in Toronto, and how she develops her own performance projects. We also talk about junctQin Keyboard Collective, an innovative keyboard ensemble that Stephanie co-founded with pianists Elaine Lau and Joseph Ferretti. Show notes and links at everetthopfner.com

ALL EARS returns with the powerful Carissa Klopoushak. Originally from Saskatoon, this versatile violinist maintains an active freelancing career across Canada in addition to her permanent post at the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa. Carissa is also co-founder of the Ritornello Chamber Music Festival in Saskatoon, which will celebrate its 7th edition at the end of this month, May 29-31. Carissa gives a preview of this year's festival and talks about what makes Ritornello so special to her. We also discuss Carissa's early development in Saskatoon, her Ukrainian party band Tyt I Tam, her experience on the 2009 Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition Winner's Tour, her beautiful violin on loan from the Canada Council's National Instrument Bank, and an exciting CD release expected later this year. Show notes and links at everetthopfner.com

As the 2015 Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition gets underway in Brandon, Manitoba, ALL EARS catches up with last year's first-place winner, soprano Sarah Jo Kirsch. Sarah has found her artistic home in Winnipeg, where she sings regularly in duo with pianist Madeline Hildebrand, with musical experimentalists The Gritty, and as soloist with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. She also hosts a radio program for Winnipeg's Classic 107. Show notes and links at everetthopfner.com

Jade Conlee is rolling through a fast-paced year in Stuttgart, studying and compiling research for a Fulbright Grant. The emerging American pianist has developed a lifelong affinity for contemporary repertoire. In this interview we discuss Jade's musical upbringing in Salt Lake City, some treasured memories of studying and performing in New York City, and the particular thrills and challenges of moving to Germany. Show notes and links at everetthopfner.com

Underestimate this week's guest at your own peril. Roldon Brown is a passionate, determined American flutist currently based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. His singular drive for achievement was sharpened through years of facing unique personal circumstances that would stop many in their tracks. Roldon excels as a flutist and on the tennis court through some combination of sheer willpower, belief in his own potential, and a deep understanding of just how far he's come. On this week's ALL EARS, we discuss Roldon's upbringing, the decision to move to Europe, and his work as a public speaker and advocate for people who stutter. Show notes and links at everetthopfner.com

This week's guest is Canadian conceptual composer and flutist Luke Nickel. Luke has established a great network in Winnipeg, Montréal, and now in his new home base in Bristol, England. Together with composer Heidi Ouellette, Luke has co-founded and directed a thriving new institution in Winnipeg: Cluster New Music and Integrated Arts Festival. In this conversation, we find out about Luke's past and current musical activities, talk about the history of Cluster and get a preview of the exciting 2015 edition, taking place from April 27 - March 3 in Winnipeg. Show notes and links at everetthopfner.com

ALL EARS continues with violinist and educator Carole Bestvater. Carole and I were classmates during undergraduate studies and we often performed chamber music together. In the intervening years, she has completed a fellowship with Community Music Works in Providence, Rhode Island and earned a master's degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Carole has integrated into her new community of St. John's: she's the assistant principal second violin of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra and the coordinator of the NYSO Suncor Energy Strings Program.  In this interview, Carole discusses finding her passion for community-based music education, and her journey toward establishing her own program based on the Community Music Works model. She also describes her current activities as a violinist and, of course, shares stories about the people who have helped her along the way.

Luis Ramirez: pianist, composer, mensch. Luis has had quite the journey through music - originally from Aguascalientes, Mexico, he has since settled in Brandon, Manitoba, where he has carved a niche for himself in the university and the wider community. Luis discusses some of his compositions, his current piano projects, and his first trip to Europe this past summer. Throughout the conversation, he reveals his natural curiosity and genuine appreciation for the support he has received throughout his journey. Show notes and links at www.everetthopfner.com