To be a good conductor, you must first play a musical instrument. We professionals who’ve played in professional orchestras appreciate the conductors who have emerged from the ranks. They learn from the inside what we need from them, to name

On 9 August 1975, the world lost one of the 20th century’s most enigmatic and profound musical voices, Dmitry Dmitriyevich Shostakovich. Fifty years later, as we commemorate the anniversary of his death, his legacy endures as a testament to the

It’s August 8, and your living room is a furry warzone of pure feline energy. Your tabby is perched on the couch like a smug emperor, the internet is on fire with cat content, and your X is flooded with

In 1841 in Paris, Richard Wagner awkwardly introduced himself to Franz Liszt. The two men were close in age: Wagner was twenty-eight and Liszt was thirty. However, their career trajectories could not have been more different. Liszt had been a

Frédéric Chopin is one of the most beloved composers in classical music, and for good reason. But he wasn’t just a great composer: he was also a lively and witty letter-writer. Today, we’re looking at ten fun facts about Chopin

Worth Many Thousands, The Virginia Parker Award for Outstanding Talent, Musicianship, and Artistic Excellence Competitions! They are often a regrettable and necessary evil—sometimes the bane of a performer’s existence. As two of our recent articles featuring competitions point out (read

Classical music explores themes like love, loss, transcendence, and life’s pleasures. Composers often drew inspiration from food and drink, turning flavours into soundscapes and meals into metaphors. J.S. Bach’s Coffee Cantata humorously depicts a father trying to break his daughter’s caffeine

Born in 1851, Eugenie Schumann was the seventh of composer Robert Schumann and pianist Clara Schumann’s eight children. She was also the only child to write a memoir about her life. That memoir offers invaluable insight not only into her