ESO OFFSTAGE

Stuck in the middle of the virtuosic violins and the charming celli, the viola seldom gets the spotlight and has been the butt of many an orchestral joke. This episode we talk about a beautiful and often misunderstood inner voice of the orchestra with the help of some of our amazing ESO violists. “Tune in” as we answer the age old questions: What is a viola? What makes them so unique? And why-oh-why are there so many viola jokes?  Featuring the voices of Principal Violist Keith Hamm and Assistant Principal Violist Ethan Filner.     You can find the transcript of this episode here,    Show Notes:    Sensational Strings - Summer Day Camps at the Winspear Centre  https://www.winspearcentre.com/tommy-banks-centre/summer-day-camps/    Rusty Musicians - Summer Camp  https://www.winspearcentre.com/tommy-banks-centre/rusty-musicians/    YONA’s Road to Joy Fundraising Concert  https://www.winspearcentre.com/tickets/events/other/2021/road-to-joy   Keith Hamm  Bio  https://www.winspearcentre.com/more/about/about-eso/meet-the-musicians/strings/keith-hamm/    Beethoven - Eyeglasses Duo for Viola and Cello | Keith Hamm & Julie Hereish  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_X6kvwRZic    Keith Spotify Playlist  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1RV71l6sbcKTroIpF6udxK?si=f2d3743383fd4503    Ethan Filner  Bio  https://www.winspearcentre.com/more/about/about-eso/meet-the-musicians/strings/ethan-filner/    Two Pieces for Violin and Viola | Ewald Cheung & Ethan Filner  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtvxmXscwL8    Ethan Spotify Playlist  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4BP3uxtLz9XuKT6WHpTZct?si=c5e82e6a81f94ea9    The Strad  The History of the Viola Joke   https://www.thestrad.com/playing-and-teaching/the-history-of-the-viola-joke/5399.article    WQXR   Why is the VIola the Butt of so Many Jokes?  https://www.wqxr.org/story/why-viola-butt-so-many-jokes/    Carl Rahkonen  No Laughing Matter: The Viola Joke as Musicians Folklore  http://www.mit.edu/~jcb/jokes/viola-presentation.html    New World Symphony  Viola Visions Festival  https://www.nws.edu/viola-visions/watch-now/    National Music Museum: Rivinus Viola  http://collections.nmmusd.org/Violas/Rivinus/10830/RivinusViola.html    National Music Museum: Tenor Viola  http://collections.nmmusd.org/Violas/Guarneri3354/3354GuarneriViola.html    The Met Museum: Viola d’Amore  https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/504490    The Met Museum: Viola da Gamba  https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/503219    Berliner Philharmoniker Master Class - Viola  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW0ncJ3-dxQ    The New York Times  This is What a $45 Million Viola Sounds Like  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe11Pp1g39I 

Did you know that the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is 68 years old?! Join us this episode as we take a trip down memory lane to learn more about the early days of the ESO by speaking to musicians that were there from the beginning.   Featuring the voices of ESO Cellist Ronda Metszies and her mother Hope Metszies, First Violinist Broddy Olson and Musicologist David Gramit! Ronda Metszies Bio https://www.winspearcentre.com/more/about/about-eso/meet-the-musicians/strings/ronda-metszies/ ESO 101 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8_11aTGQWM Happy 90th Birthday to Hope Metszies Concert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fNg1thNTdg Edmonton Journal article feat. Hope Mestszies https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/local-arts/edmonton-symphony-marks-100-years-since-first-eso-concert Broddy Olson Bio https://www.winspearcentre.com/more/about/about-eso/meet-the-musicians/strings/broderyck-broddy-olson/ David Gramit Bio https://www.ualberta.ca/wirth-institute/people/wirth-institute-academic-advisory-board/david-gramit.html Winspear Centre ESO history https://www.winspearcentre.com/more/about/about-eso/history/ Procol Harum Info and CD https://www.winspearcentre.com/more/about/about-eso/eso-recordings/procol-harum/ Tommy Banks https://www.winspearcentre.com/more/about/about-winspear/history/tommy-banks/ The Canadian Encyclopedia  The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edmonton-symphony-orchestra-emc Music in Edmonton https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edmonton-alta-emc Edmonton Historical Board The Capitol Theatre https://www.edmontonsarchitecturalheritage.ca/index.cfm/structures/capitol-theatre/ The New Yorker Jane Little video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNBRl8taaQM Rusty Musician Summer Camp https://www.winspearcentre.com/tommy-banks-centre/rusty-musicians/

What are conductors up to on the podium, anyways? This episode we speak to four conductors in Canada to find out! Join us as they share stories, tips, and insights from on-and-off the podium - answering common questions and debunking some myths about the profession. (Bonus!) Musicologist Dave Baker speaks to us about some of the history of the ever-changing role of conductors over time.  Featuring the voices of ESO Chief Conductor Alex Prior, ESO Assistant Conductor and Community Ambassador Cosette Justo Valdés,  Allegra Chamber Orchestra Conductor and Music Director Janna Sailor, ESO Musicologist Dave Baker. Artist in Residence and Community Ambassador at Symphony Nova Scotia/Barrett Principal Education Conductor & Community Ambassador with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser.   Show Notes Dave Baker | Bio, ESO 101 video Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser | Website, Disruptor Conductor Documentary, Facebook The Canadian Encyclopedia | The Brunswick Four Cosette Justo Valdés | Bio, ESO 101 video Music Appreciation course: The Music of Latin America Janna Sailor | Website, Facebook Allegra Chamber Orchestra | Website, Facebook, Composer Mentorship Program Alex Prior | Bio, Facebook Music Appreciation course: Innovation & Inspiration: New Music of the Last Century

What is the difference between a violin and a fiddle? Join us this episode to find out as we look at the history of this instrument in Canada, and the impact it has had along the way. Learn more about the wonderful and diverse world of fiddling from Fiddlers, Historians and Musicologists. One thing we can guarantee- this episode is sure to get your feet tapping! Featuring the voices of Métis fiddler John Arcand, Historian Laureate Amber Paquette, Old Time fiddler Calvin Vollrath, Musicologist David Gramit, Fiddler Daniel Gervais, and Edmonton Traditional Métis Dancer Lyle Donald! Podcast survey available here! Fill out our survey and you could win prizes. Your feedback is important to us. Show Notes Links Mentioned Amber Paquette | Website | Instagram | Facebook John Arcand | Website Edmonton Traditional Métis Dancers | Facebook, Website Calvin Vollrath | Website Daniel Gervais | Website David Gramit | Bio The Canadian Encyclopedia | Fiddling, Music of the Métis, James Brady The National Film Board of Canada | The Fiddlers of James Bay, How the Fiddle Flows PEI Guardian | National Fiddle Day Senate footage Edmonton City as Museum Project | Garneau: A Neighbourhood of Nations Edmonton City Archives | Laurent Garneau Photos Ramona Sinclair | Manitoba Historical Society, Manitoba Archives Frances Beardy | Bio, Manitoba Historical Society