Leslie DeShazor: Archive highlight!

Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

04/06/24

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102m

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This week I’m highlighting an episode from the archive, with the engaging and talented Leslie DeShazor who is a multi-style violist, violinist and composer based in Detroit. She teaches students both through the Sphinx Organization and the Detroit Symphony as well as privately. She was named one of thirty Professional Movers and Shakers in the Performing Arts by Musical America in 2019 and in 2022 she released her jazz and R&B album “Journey With Me” which features herself as soloist, bandleader, and composer, and "Simply Complicated" from that album is part of this podcast episode.

This conversation was full of stories and insights from Leslie’s life. She shared valuable perspectives that educators, parents and anyone who mentors children and young adults will find inspiring and thought-provoking. We talked a lot about why kids quit playing music, why so many young adults today have trouble figuring out the direction of their life, and how the educational system can take away people’s innate creativity and confidence.

Link to video and transcript on my website: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/leslie-deshazor

Link to Leslie DeShazor's website: https://lesliedeshazor.com/

Can you buy this independent podcaster a cup of coffee through Paypal? https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman Thanks!

Catalog of Episodes: https://www.leahroseman.com/about

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Timestamps: (00:00) Cold open quote plus Intro (02:00) album Journey With Me, accepting help (06:16) differences playing acoustic and electric instruments (07:30) intro to tune “Simply Complicated” (13:25) Leslie’s childhood musical pranks, growing up in Inkster and Canton (16:10) the importance of Detroit in many different musical genres (18:36) the influence and importantce of church music (22:47) Interlochen, perspectives on exposing kids to a competitive atmosphere (32:43) Leslie’s approach to coaching student ensembles (36:14) Leslie’s history going to Orchestra Hall, continuity and history of Detroit (40:52) parenting, guiding children in music (42:37) University of Michigan and Wayne State college experiences, James Dapogny, how to guide students, the importance of helping music students with options (51:00) dealing with injury (53:06) different cultures through dance, learning Spanish, teaching with Sphinx (56:14) Sphinx organization (01:03:10) Musique Noire, Eunoia Society, JoVia Armstrong (01:04:45)

Previous Episode

Thomas Cabaniss: Visionary Teaching Artist and Composer

March 30, 2024

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88m

Thomas Cabaniss is a wonderful American composer of works for opera, theater, dance, film and the concert stage. He’s been a member of the faculty of the Julliard School since 1998, and leads the Lullaby Project at Carnegie Hall, serving young parents in shelters, hospitals and prisons with collaboratively created songs for their children. We talk about all this and much more, inluding his work creating Carnegie Hall’s Link Up. I was curious about these many facets to Thomas’ life as both a composer and educator, and you’ll find this episode has gorgeous, inspiring music of his, as well as great stories from his diverse career as a Teaching Artist, working with music educators, students of all ages, and meaningful outreach in the community. You’ll hear performances from pianists Michael Shinn and Jessica Chow Shinn, singer Joyce DiDonato, and towards the beginning of the episode you’ll hear some of Thomas’ great music for string quartet, performed by the Charleston symphony String quartet.

Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on all the platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/thomas-cabaniss

Thomas Cabaniss website: http://thomascabaniss.com/about.html

Support link to buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman Thanks!

My social media links: https://linktr.ee/leahroseman

My Complete Catalog of Episodes: https://www.leahroseman.com/about

Newsletter sign-up: https://mailchi.mp/ebed4a237788/podcast-newsletter

Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(02:24) Thomas Cabaniss string quartets

(07:57) excerpt from Water from Four Elements with the Charleston Symphony String Quartet

(09:28) Charleston Symphony

(12:10) Fire, Four Elements string quartet

(16:07) Link Up program and Cabaniss’ work with music education and orchestras

(23:39) the Lullaby Project

(30:53) Peace sung by Joyce DiDonato written by Tamilles Fernandez with Dierdre Struck

(34:19) Tiny Bits of Outrageous Love, Michael Shinn and Jessica Chow Shinn

(39:53) Lovesong no. 3 Tiny Bits of Outrageous Love, Michael Shinn and Jessica Chow Shinn

(41:58) Thomas’ wife, and musical themes in families

(43:54) Two no. 7 Tiny Bits of Outrageous Love, Michael Shinn and Jessica Chow Shinn

(47:09) different musical styles and influences, writing for theatre at Yale

(51:27) Thomas’ youth and musical education

(55:50) Thomas’ approach to teaching music theory, teaching music appreciation to dancers

(58:50) please support this series!

(59:27) the work of Teaching Artists, working with students and educators

(01:07:16) operas for toddlers

(01:13:38) how to bring new audiences into orchestra concerts

(01:17:57) how and when to talk to audiences

(01:23:15) Thomas’ creative process

Next Episode

Pat Irwin: Bands, Cartoons and Friendships

April 13, 2024

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105m

This week’s episode is a Catch-Up episode with the renowned film and televison composer and multi-instrumentalist Pat Irwin, and we are featuring lots of Pat’s music for you today in different styles from many of his projects.

In my previous episode with him from 2023, Season 3 of this podcast, we talked about his days with the B52s and composing the score for Dexter: New Blood, and we also talked about his band SUSS and his work mentoring graduate students, and so much more . I encourage you to click on the link to that earlier episode if you missed it: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/pat-irwin

Today’s conversation also jumps around Pat’s varied and fascinating creative life. You’ll hear more stories and music from some of his acclaimed cartoon music from Rocko’s Modern Life and songs from Pepper Ann. We talk about, and you’ll hear music from some of his projects, including rocking out with the PI Power Trio with Sasha Dobson and Daria Grace, and new albums coming out with Cynthia Sley, with SUSS and with Julia Heyward. I’m blown away by Pat’s detailed memory and this episode is rich with interesting stories, and also his down-to-earth advice.

Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/pat-irwin-2024-catch-up

Pat Irwin website: https://patirwinmusic.com/

Can you buy this podcaster a coffee to support this series? ⁠https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman⁠ Thanks!

Complete Catalog of Episodes: ⁠https://www.leahroseman.com/about⁠

Newsletter sign-up: ⁠https://mailchi.mp/ebed4a237788/podcast-newsletter⁠

Follow me on Social Media: ⁠https://linktr.ee/leahroseman⁠

(00:00) Intro

(03:25) writing music for Disney’s cartoon Pepper Ann, touring with B52s

(10:06) music: Enough, song from Pepper Ann musical episode

(12:10) process of writing and recording for Pepper Ann

(14:21) music: Photosynthesis, song from Pepper Ann musical episode

(15:45) collecting instruments, Ray Beats archives

(19:32) Rocko’s Modern Life, getting the band back together