Thomas Cabaniss: Visionary Teaching Artist and Composer
Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman
03/30/24
•88m
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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
Previous Episode
Avi Kisha Sarod player: Community and Innovation
March 23, 2024
•79m
Avi Kishna is a Dutch sarod player based in Amsterdam, of Indo-Surinamese heritage. You’ll get to know the sarod as an instrument and hear Avi’s perspectives on Dutch society and his interesting collaborations. Among his mentors is his inspiring father, Ramdew Kishna, a multi-talented musician, director, and painter, who played a pivotal role in shaping Avi's musical journey along with his guru, Koustuv Ray. As a young man, Avi embarked on a successful career as in sales and marketing, but during this time he pushed music aside, and I found it deeply touching to hear how he was able to come back to music with the wisdom of having left such an important part of himself behind. You’ll hear about Avi’s project working with schools in Amsterdam to help provide music programs in underserved communities and this episode features some of his sarod music. Like all my episodes, you can also watch this on my YouTube channel, and I’ve also linked the transcript here to my website: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/avi-kishna
Can you buy this podcaster a coffee to support this series? https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman Thanks!
Here you'll find the links to Avi's projects like Raga Reflections, where to stream and buy his music, upcoming performances, including a video with dancer Shailesh Bahoran (which we talk about): https://www.sarodbyavi.com/
Link to Muziek Educatie Centrum Amsterdam: https://www.muziekeducatiecentrum.nl/jeugd-fonds-sport-cultuur-amsterdam
Follow me on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/leahroseman
Episode with sitar player Mohamed Assani: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/mohamed-assani
Episode with bansuri player Milind Date:
https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/milind-date-bansuri-player
Complete Catalog of Episodes: https://www.leahroseman.com/about
Newsletter sign-up: https://mailchi.mp/ebed4a237788/podcast-newsletter
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro
(03:42) the sarod
(11:57) Indo-Surinamese heritage and history
(16:16) South Asian music in the Netherlands
(19:38) dancer Shailesh Bahoran
(25:00) excerpt from While She Sleeps
(28:06) bringing different music together, Soundscape Sessions
(38:01) please support this podcast!
(38:39) Ramdew Kishna, Avi’s father
(43:27) racism and inclusion
(50:53) sarod guru Gungun Kaustuv Ray
(56:14) learning from others
(57:56) Raga Reflections
(01:04:19) Darbari
(01:08:00) sales and marketing career, return to music
(01:13:05) giving back through music education
Next Episode
Leslie DeShazor: Archive highlight!
April 6, 2024
•102m
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
Newsletter sign-up: https://mailchi.mp/ebed4a237788/podcast-newsletter
Follow me on social media: https://linktr.ee/leahroseman
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)
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