Speaking Soundly

We're continuing our celebration of Women's History Month with British organist, conductor, broadcaster, and social media sensation Anna Lapwood who is a long-time champion of the organ. She discusses the early challenges of playing the instrument with her feet, what it feels like to "pull out all the stops," and the 20 instruments she could perform by the age of 10. Anna tells David about her biggest musical challenge ever, when she truly fell in love with the organ, why she is proud to #playlikeagirl, what it's like to popularize the instrument with her viral videos on TikTok, and how she came to perform with the electronic musician and producer Bonobo at Royal Albert Hall.

Check out Anna Lapwood on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web.

Follow Speaking Soundly on Instagram.

Follow David on Instagram.

You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram and the web.

Photograph of Anna Lapwood by Nick Rutter.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We continue our celebration of Women's History month with American classical pianist and trailblazing cultural activist Lara Downes who captivates audiences with brilliant performances highlighting the rich contributions of underrepresented females and Black composers. Lara talks with David about this musical mission and how it stems from personal experiences, which she reckoned with in her early twenties. Reflecting on her "freakishly good" sight reading skills from an early age, Lara describes the "creepy" piano in her childhood basement, how her dad infused her ear with Jazz, and her trick for passing the time while she practiced. She also discusses the joyful discovery of Florence Price's music, the mutual communication that happens when she is performing, and how she discovered she was a New York Times crossword clue.

Check out Lara Downes on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web.

Follow Speaking Soundly on Instagram.

Follow David on Instagram.

You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram and the web.

Photograph of Lara Downes by Max Barrett.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're kicking off a brand-new season of interviews and our celebration of Women's History Month by featuring David's conversation with Grammy Award-winning soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan. Renowned for her exceptional voice, dynamic stage presence, and inspired conducting skills, any of these talents is enough to distinguish Barbara at the forefront of creation. But, when she decided to sing, act, and conduct simultaneously, Barbara found herself forging new ground. She shares where she got the idea to try conducting, how she developed signals to use when simultaneously singing and leading, and why she programs as much Haydn as possible. Barbara reflects on her first teachers, describes how she worked like a professional athlete to overcome performance anxiety, and shares why she feels it's so important to foster the next generation of musicians.

Check out Barbara Hannigan on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web and learn more about Barbara's initiatives Equilibrium Young Artists and Momentum.

Follow Speaking Soundly on Instagram.

Follow David on Instagram.

You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram and the web.

Photograph courtesy of Barbara Hannigan.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with a brand-new season of inspiring conversations featuring British organist and TikTok sensation Anna Lapwood, eighteen-time Grammy Award winner and America’s preeminent banjo player Béla Fleck, Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges, and many more!

Follow Speaking Soundly on Instagram.

Follow David on Instagram.

You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram and the web.

Photograph of Anna Lapwood by Andy Paradise, Béla Fleck by Jesse Borrell, and J'Nai Bridges by Dario Acosta,.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2024 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're closing out our celebration of Black History Month with one of David's favorite artists and the inaugural guest of the podcast Christian McBride! From the age of seventeen, Christian has been playing with jazz legends and, over the past 30 years, has become one himself. The eight-time Grammy Award-winning bassist recalls a brief stint at Juilliard, the strong influence of his musical family, and how the music of James Brown got him through some tough times.

Check out Christian McBride on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web.

Follow Speaking Soundly on Instagram.

Follow David on Instagram.

You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram and the web.

Photograph of Christian McBride by David Salafia.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview originally aired on September 9, 2022. It has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2022 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we continue our celebration of Black History Month by featuring the eight-time Grammy Award winner and two-time Oscar nominee Terence Blanchard whose interview with David originally aired in April of 2023. 

Original show note: Six-time Grammy Award winner and Oscar nominee Terence Blanchard is a famed trumpeter, band leader, and composer. Recently, he also became the first Black composer commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera since it opened in 1883. Terence discusses his debut at the Met and the enormity of the experience, along with his start at age 19 with The Jazz Messengers, and the greatest lesson he learned from jazz legend Art Blakey. Terence reflects on his expansive work for film, including 17 collaborations with Spike Lee, and answers David's specific questions about a pivotal scene in Mo' Better Blues.

Check out Terence Blanchard on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, or the web.

Follow Speaking Soundly on Instagram.

Follow David on Instagram.

You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram and the web.

Photograph of Terence Blanchard by Cedric Angeles.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview originally aired on April 11, 2023. It has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re continuing our celebration of Black History Month with Avery Fisher Prize winner and clarinetist Anthony McGill. Anthony is the first African-American to hold a Principal chair in the New York Philharmonic’s 180-year history. He sees his high-profile position as an opportunity to inspire a new generation of diverse musicians. Anthony discusses his work as an artist and activist, the greatest experience of his life, and how Michael Jordan inspired him to strive for excellence.

Check out Anthony McGill on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, and the web.

Follow Speaking Soundly on Instagram.

Follow David on Instagram.

You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram and the web.

Photograph of Anthony McGill by Chris Lee.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview originally aired on October 15, 2022. It has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2022 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we begin our celebration of Black History Month by featuring David's conversation with his longtime mentor and dear friend, the legendary Wynton Marsalis. The Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, nine-time Grammy Award winner, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center talks about his musical development, the benefits of music, and a treasured gift with David.

Check out Wynton Marsalis on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, Vimeo, YouTube, or the web.

Follow Speaking Soundly on Instagram.

Follow David on Instagram.

You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram and the web.

Photograph of Wynton Marsalis by Luigi Beverelli.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview originally aired on October 11, 2022. It has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2022 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eight-time Grammy Award-winning pianist Emanuel “Manny” Ax has performed in the world’s greatest concert halls, playing on a different piano in each city, and enjoys the challenge of adjusting to each unique instrument. He recalls how an accidental trip to Carnegie Hall ignited his fantasy to perform on that very stage and reveals the secret to making the piano sing.

Check out Emanuel Ax on Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, Apple Music, or the web.

Follow Speaking Soundly on Instagram.

Follow David on Instagram.

You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram and the web.

Photograph of Emanuel Ax by Lisa Marie Mazzucco.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview originally aired on September 19, 2022. It has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2022 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

International violin virtuoso, Ray Chen is redefining the role of today’s classical soloist. Using social media, Ray aims to educate, enlighten, and entertain his audience before they get to the concert hall. He credits his grit and determination to his experience of being a first-generation immigrant and likens playing his ten-million-dollar Stradivarius violin to wielding Thor’s hammer.

Check out Ray Chen on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, or the web.

Follow Speaking Soundly on Instagram.

Follow David on Instagram.

You can find out more about Artful Narratives Media on Instagram and the web.

Photograph of Ray Chen by John Mac.

The Speaking Soundly theme song is composed by Joseph Saba/Stewart Winter and used by permission of Videohelper.

Speaking Soundly was co-created by David Krauss and Jessica Handelman. 

This interview originally aired on November 1, 2022. It has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2022 Artful Narratives Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.