“It’s so disappointing when you see a bunch of instrumentalists walk on stage and you already know how a piece is going to sound…” Jack Sheen, composer & conductor (interview in VAN magazine) We live in a visual world, never

John Cage’s 4’33” is one of the most famous works in the classical music repertoire. Written in 1952, it consists of three movements. Together, the movements’ running time adds up to four minutes and thirty-three seconds. Per the composer’s instructions,

Where do we start with embarrassing gigs? There are so many of them. One of my stories is the following: the Minnesota Orchestra plays outdoor concerts for a couple of weeks around the Fourth of July Holiday. We were set

What would it take for you to dedicate your entire adult life to one orchestra? Many orchestral musicians enjoy careers that span decades, but a select few remain on stage for 60, 65, or sometimes even 70 years! The longevity

George Onslow (1784–1853) was a master of chamber music, and some of his best works are his string quintets, of which he wrote 34. Despite his English name, Onslow was born in France, and at his height of fame, he

Ludwig van Beethoven’s impact on classical music is impossible to overstate. Born in 1770, Beethoven redefined what music could be. He managed that redefinition by rewriting formal boundaries, finding new ways to express emotion, and making a living in a

As much as one can try to preserve art from being tainted with political ideologies, promotions and intentions, history has shown that it has often been objectified to serve political purposes. Particularly when it comes to music. Whether from the

Jehan Alain is one of classical music’s great “what-ifs.” A brilliant French composer and organist, he grew up in a Paris household filled with music. Over the course of just a few short years, he produced more than 120 works