173: Marc Ramirez on Portugal, life as an expat, and differences between American and European orchestras

Gulbenkian Orchestra principal bassist Marc Ramirez

Today we are featuring an interview with Marc Ramirez. Originally from New York, Marc is the principal bassist with the Gulbenkian Orchestra of Lisbon, Portugal. Marc and I had a great conversation about his path to this job overseas, where he has now been for 17 years. We talk about similarities and differences in American and European orchestras, auditioning, traveling with a bass, his beautiful Cavani bass, and many other topics. We also feature excerpts from Marc’s performance of the Bottesini Grande Duo Concertante para Violino e Contrabaixo with Bin Chao on violin.

Up Magazine recently did a great profile on Marc covering his journey from the United States to Portugal, touring with the Gulbenkian Orchestra, and many other topics. Marc will also be performing the European premiere of the Harbison Bass Concerto in May of 2016. Enjoy!

172: Lauren Pierce and Geoff Chalmers on innovating online

Lauren Pierce and Geoff Chalmers

Today’s episode features Lauren Pierce and Geoff Chalmers, both of whom have been doing some remarkable things online in the world of the bass. What’s really cool is that these two have paired up to do a new web series called Ask Geoff and Lauren. In this episode, we talk about each of their respective sites and what they’ve been developing online. You can find Geoff online at discoverdoublebass.com and Lauren at laurenpiercebass.com and on her Facebook artist page at facebook.com/LaurenPierceBass. Enjoy!

About Geoff:

Based in the UK, Geoff has performed on numerous gigs, shows, cruise ships, tours and recording sessions. He has a degree in jazz bass, as well as a postgraduate diploma in classical music. In addition to being a busy freelance bassist Geoff is also an experienced educator having taught bass at schools, colleges and universities, as well as to hundreds of private students.

In August 2013 Geoff founded Discover Double Bass with it’s free lessons library covering a wide range of styles and techniques. The videos are now being viewed thousands of times each week and a new lesson is released every two weeks.

About Lauren:

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Lauren began her musical studies at the age of seven on piano and voice. Later, she was introduced to the Double Bass and soon began lessons with the late Douglas Sommer, section bassist for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. While studying with Douglas Sommer, she continued her studies at the University of South Carolina under the tutelage of Dr. Craig Butterfield. During her studies at USC, Lauren was given the Presser Scholar Award, named a Magellan Scholar, and in 2010, performed a concerto with the University of South Carolina Symphony as the winner of that years USC Concerto Competition. After graduating from USC, Lauren moved to Denton, Texas to study the double bass with Jeffrey Bradetich. During this period, Lauren competed in the American String Teachers Association Competition and the International Society of Bassists Competition. In 2014, she was named coordinator of the Bradetich Summer Bass Camps.

171: Paul Ellison on musical athletes, period performance, and the comprehensive undergraduate experience

Paul Ellison working with young bassists.

It is our pleasure to bring you this interview with Paul Ellison. Paul is chair of strings and professor of double bass at Rice University, where he has taught for the past four decades. He is the former principal bass of the Houston Symphony, former president of the International Society of Bassists, and has had a significant impact on the double bass world. In this interview, we discuss Paul’s early background, his encounters with François Rabbath, being a musical athlete on the bass, gut strings and the adoption of steel strings, the undergraduate experience at Rice University, and many other topics. Enjoy!

About Paul:

Performing solo and ensemble concerts as well as giving master classes on the double bass and period instruments on four continents, Paul Ellison is the Lynette S. Autrey Professor of Double Bass and chair of strings at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, Visiting Artist-Faculty University of Southern California and guest tutor at the Yehudi Menuhin School, the Royal College of Music, and Bass Club, England. Current summer positions include principal bass at the Grand Teton Music Festival, faculty/performer at the Sarasota Music Festival and faculty/performer at Festival Domaine Forget, Quebec. Former students hold titled positions in major ensembles and institutions of higher learning on five continents. Previous positions include principal bass of Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Aspen Festival Orchestras (also faculty), professor of double bass and chair of strings at the University of Southern California, and president of the International Society of Bassists. Ellison was the first to receive both the diploma and teaching certificate from Institut International Rabbath, Paris.

170: Blair Tindall on Mozart in the Jungle, searching for a new career path, and observations on the orchestral world

We are featuring Blair Tindall on the podcast today. Blair is the author of the book Mozart in the Jungle, which explores the world of classical musicians in a very compelling narrative. Blair and I talk about life as a New York freelancer, her journey into a career as a writer, and we take a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the production of the TV series.

Mozart in the Jungle has been turned into a TV series on Amazon Video. The first season received two Golden Globe nominations (one for best comedy series and one for Gael Garcia Bernal for best actor) and the second season launches today! If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you can stream all episodes, and if you don’t yet use Amazon Prime, you can start a free 30-day trial here.

169: Shigeru Ishikawa on Switzerland and Japan, premiering new works, and studying bass in the United States

Shigeru Ishikawa performs Joe Hisaishi’s Contrabass Concerto with the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra – photograph by Jonathan Stefaniak

This week’s episode features an interview, conducted by Jonathan Stefaniak, of Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra solo double bassist Shigeru Ishikawa.

Shigeru previously served as principal bassist for the Berner Symphonie Orchester in Bern, Switzerland and the Florida Philharmonic as well as guest principal bass with the New Japan Philharmonic in 1996 under Seiji Ozawa. Shigeru was principal bassist of the New World Symphony Orchestra under Michael Tilson Thomas from 1993 to 1996.

Shigeru recently performed the Joe Hisaishi (composer of the soundtracks for Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and numerous other popular Japanese films) Contrabass Concerto , and this episode features MIDI excerpts from this super cool piece.

About Shigeru:

Born in Tokyo, Japan, Shigeru Ishikawa is one of the foremost doublebassist of his generation, both as a performer and a teacher. He is currently He is currently Solo Bass (ie. principal bass) of the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo. Shigeru previously served as the principal double bass (Solo Kontrabass) of the BernerSymphonieOrchester in Bern, Switzerland, which he started in 2006. His performance has been described as “irresistible charm” (Der Bund), “jewel of a crown” (Miami Herald), “deep-rumbling bravura with athletic, fleet-fingered virtuosity” (Sun Sentinel).

He was the principal bassist of the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra from 1997 to 2003 under the music directors of James Judd and Joseph Silverstein. Prior to that, he served as the guest principal bass with the New Japan Philharmonic in 1996 under Seiji Ozawa Music Director and was the principal bass of the New World Symphony Orchestra under Michael Tilson Thomas from 1993 to 1996. He has been also the member of Saito Kinen Orchestra (Seiji Ozawa, Music Director) since 1992 where he participated in numerous recordings on Philips and Decca label. Maestro Ozawa chose him as the solo bassist (Chamber Orchestra) of Saito Kinen Orchestra for Britten’s War Requiem both in Japan and US tour in 2009 and 2010 and recorded on Decca label.

In addition to his orchestral activities, Shigeru Ishikawa regularly presents solo and chamber music performances. Since 1991 he has given numerous recitals both in Japan and USA , places including Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Matsumoto, Sapporo, New York, Miami, Boca Raton, and has appeared on radio broadcasts in both countries.

Jonathan also did a fantastic interview with Klaus Stoll for the podcast back in 2009. Check it out if you haven’t before!