Entr'acte with Julia

Today we get to meet Julie Bruskin, cellist with the Met Orchestra. Julie joined the Orchestra 6 years ago, in 2014. She is an incredible cellist with an AMAZINGLY impressive resume. Julie is unique in the fact that she’s encompassed the entire gamut of the different professions a classical cellist can have. Not only is she an orchestral cellist, she also still tours the world with her piano trio, The Claremont Trio. She has soloed with so many major orchestras, won competitions including the YCA, and is also a recording artist. She is currently Co-Artistic Director of the Skaneateles Festival with her husband, Dr. Aaron Wunsch. Julie attended Juilliard and Columbia, and has been a faculty member of the Juilliard Pre-College and Queens College. She is also a mother of two. I am so excited to share my conversation with Julie today! Come join us as Julie walks us through her career and how she's been faring the pandemic. 

Today I had the great privilege of speaking with Chelsea Knox, who is one of the principal flutists of the MET Orchestra. Chelsea joined the Orchestra 3 years ago in 2017. There are so many new things I learned about Chelsea through this interview! She’s had quite the professional past. Chelsea is an artist in both music and in visual art, and her work has been displayed in various galleries throughout NYC and Connecticut. She studied at Juilliard, and prior to her appointment at the Met, she appeared with numerous orchestras including the Seattle, Vancouver, San Diego, Princeton, New Haven, and Baltimore Symphonies. I am so excited to share my conversation with Chelsea today. Without further ado, let’s meet Chelsea!

Meet Katherine Fong! Kat is a violinist at the Met Orchestra with a MULTI-faceted career and is the coolest human being I know. Aside from the Met, she’s played in various other groups as well, which we speak about in the episode. Kat also has a business called Luxitune and is also a mom of two INSANELY beautiful and smart kids. She’s played in a bunch of rock bands, and as if that wasn’t enough, she used to take acting classes and is personnel manager of the Montclair Orchestra!! Insanity! She is the coolest and a huge inspiration to me, so I am super excited for you to get to know her a bit through this interview!
Connect with Kat on Instagram: @katscheindlin
Connect with Kat on Facebook: facebook.com/katherine.fong.963

Rob Knopper speaks not only about his life and his specific journey to the Met, but in this specific episode, we delve into the world of auditions. If you're not a musician but were always curious about the audition process, you'll learn so much of just that in this episode! This one is a *must-listen* for all our friends out there on the audition circuit! If you've ever wanted an overview or summary of some of the subjects Rob addresses in his "auditionhacker", you're in luck! We've done just that for you in this very interview. Rob Knopper is  a percussionist of the Met Orchestra. Rob joined the Orchestra 9 years ago, in 2011. Rob has also performed with the New World Symphony, All-Star Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and has taught clinics and masterclasses at many places. Rob graduated from The Juilliard School in 2009. Since then, he has released an album for snare drum, and has been a great resource for musicians in the process of auditioning. I can’t wait for you to join us!

Today you'll get to meet Joseph Anderer, recently retired Principal Horn of our Met Orchestra. Joe began his Met career in 1984 and has served many roles, including as acting Principal Horn, Second horn, Third horn, and ultimately was appointed Principal Horn by James Levine in 2003, a position he held until this season in 2020. In his spare time, Joe was Principal Horn of Orchestra St. Luke's (for 46 years!) where he is a founding member. He has had an AMAZINGLY illustrious career, and I had a blast listening to all of his stories and advice!
In this episode, Joe tells us about his childhood, his upbringing in Philly, schooling at Juilliard, and living in NYC. He spoils us with the greatest stories from his careers both as a freelancer in NYC for 14 years, AND as an orchestral musician at the MET for 36 years & at OSL for 46 years.

Did you know how serious he is about his coffee? And that his cousin is the chef/owner at Anton's on Hudson Street?
I am honored to speak with Joe today, and can’t wait for you to meet him. Join us!

Today you get to meet a great friend of mine, Angela Qianwen Shen! Get to know Angela, who is one of the most recently hired first violinists of the MET Orchestra, up close and personal! Born and raised in Anhui and Shanghai, China, Angela pursued her dreams -- and after attending Shanghai Conservatory of Music, as well as the New England Conservatory, Mannes School of Music, and New World Symphony, she ultimately landed the job of her dreams. Listen to her speak about her experiences, how music education contrasts between various countries, as well as audition tips and advice... AND her top three *must-haves* in boys!!! I had such a great time, thanks to coffee over zoom, and I hope you will too!

Instagram: @angela______s (6 underscores)
Facebook: angela.shen.357

When else do you ever get to sit down and talk to both of these extraordinary beings at once? This has got to be one of the biggest silver linings for me! Join us as Nancy and Leigh tell us about how they got started on their instruments, share hilarious stories on the job, talk about the cool nooks and crannies of the behind the scenes backstage area at the MET Opera House, impart their wisdom on auditions, the ins and outs of sitting in the orchestra, and what their roles specifically entail.
Nancy has been the Associate Concertmaster of the MET orchestra since 1989, and Leigh has been the Associate Principal Bass since 1993. Leigh is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, and Nancy graduated from Stanford University and the Vienna Hochschule für Musik. Their performances have taken them across the globe and they are also very much looked upto for their pedagogy. Nancy currently teaches at the Mannes School of Music, and Leigh at Bard Conservatory of Music. They are also the violin and bass coaches for musicians at the Verbier Festival in the summers! They are also just the most awesome people ever and I learn so much from just speaking with them.

Meet Catherine Ro! She is the ultimate BONAFIDE BADASS... violinist with the Met Orchestra, mom of 3, instructor at The Bar Method, real estate agent, etc etc. Join us as she speaks from her experience about literally EVERYTHING you can imagine: dating, NYC, music, the job, barre, boys, advice for students and for parents, and more. There are so many golden nuggets of wisdom in this episode that you won't want to miss out on! 

Connect with Cat on Instagram: @mothertuckercat or @catherinero1
Connect with Cat on Facebook: facebook.com/catrow

This episode is also available in video form on YouTube!

Meet Hugo Valverde, Second Horn at Metropolitan Opera Orchestra! Hugo comes to the MET from his native Costa Rica, where he is currently sheltering in place. Listen to learn more about Hugo's journey to and at the MET. You'll find out how his horn took him from Costa Rica to Lynn University, then Rice University to the MET. Listen til the end for the fun round of RAPID FIRE Questions! Can you guess his *go-to* drink?

Connect with Hugo on Instagram: @hughorn
Connect with Hugo on Facebook: facebook.com/hugo.valverdevillalobos

This episode is also available in video form on YouTube!