Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

About Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

There’s a fascinating variety to a life in music; this series features wonderful musicians worldwide with in-depth conversations and great music. Many episodes feature guests playing music spontaneously as part of the episode or sharing performances and albums. The inspiration and connection found in a meaningful creative life, the challenges faced, and the stories from such a diversity of people will draw you into this weekly series, with many topics that will resonate with all listeners. Available also as video and transcript: https://www.leahroseman.com/about

Publisher

Leah Roseman

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 Jun 2021

Latest episode

27 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

270 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   27 Oct 2026

   Winston Webber with “Best Seat in the House”

   The focus of this episode is violinist Winston Webber’ss wonderful book “ Best Seat in the House: love letters to a profession” and you’ll be hearing Winston read from the book, and share memories with us of musicians such as Pinchas Zukerman, Karl Ancerl, Ida Haendel and Greta Kraus. He also shared his experiences of violin lessons with Lorand Fenyves and conducting lessons with Sixten Ehrling, many moving experiences on tours, and insights into composers. We also exchanged ideas about programming and concert presentation, and his experience of quitting the Toronto Symphony to go to University of Toronto to study pre-med science while conducting several orchestras, before he borrowed a violin to change directions again to audition for NACO. Winston has been my colleague for decades, and has recently retired from his position as Assistant Principal Second Violin of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra (NACO). Show notes with the book, suggested episodes, newsletter sign-up, podcast merch, podcast version, transcript: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/winston-webber (https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/winston-webber) (00:00) Intro (02:47) “Best Seat in the House” (09:22) Helmuth Rilling (12:32) CBC radio, NACO, Pinchas Zukerman, Trevor Pinnock, Mario Bernardi (16:33) advice for conductors, John Storgårds (21:17) reading from the book Sir Henry Wood, Musicians’ Chapel, Winston’s father (29:16) childhood love of orchestra in Detroit (31:34) decision to leave Toronto Symphony Orchestra to apply to medical school (38:07) reading from the book about Karel Ančerl (46:52) other linked episodes with many NACO musicians (47:56) conducting lessons with Sixten Ehrling, borrowing a violin to audition for NACO (54:26) Steven Staryk, Lorand Fenyves (57:19) prominent musicians Detroit, Jewish refugees (01:04:05) Ida Haendel (01:10:18) concert hall as a safe space, connecting with audiences (01:18:29) Michael Steinberg, the essence of the book (01:26:04) J.S. Bach (01:27:46) Flentrop organs at the NAC from the Dutch community (01:30:32) structure of the book, highlighting final section, Salisbury Cathedral concert (01:34:24) tour to Japan 1985 (01:40:38) Greta Kraus

2. 

   17 Oct 2026

   Stanley Grill Composer: An Unexpected Life

   The composer Stanley Grill joins me for a conversation about his beautiful compositions with a focus on some of his award-winning albums including The Mystic Trumpeter and Two Symphonies. Every composer’s path is unique and I was curious to learn about his personal career and creative choices which have sometimes gone counter to what people expect of a composer, and why his accidental career outside of music helped him in many ways. You’ll hear about some of his formative experiences and influences, including the legacy of Abby Whiteside’s piano pedagogy, the songs of Charles Ives, and some interesting lesser known composers he’s been researching including Gernsheim and Mayakovsky. All the music you’ll hear is Stanley Grill’s and is linked on his web site including scores. ALL THE LINKS! (https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/stanley-grill) Show notes (https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/stanley-grill) take you to Stanley's music, scores, suggested episodes, podcast merch, newsletter sign up, YouTube video version, transcript on my blog, and how you can support this independent podcast. (00:00) Intro (01:30) The Mystic Trumpeter with clips, Walt Whitman (09:04) Schenker and the importance of musical architecture, Abby Whiteside (15:47) Two Symphonies album with clip of 4th mvt Symphony for Peace music for peace project (19:48) writing for brass, Bruckner orchestration, Summer with clip of 3rd mvt (22:43) Stanley’s contrapuntal style, emphasis on getting his music recorded (28:57) chamber music including string trios with clip of Sinfonia 4, tribute to Bach (31:26) childhood love of music (34:50) suggested episodes and ways to follow and support this independent podcast (35:36) Abby Whiteside pedagogy (40:03) Charles Ives, Mahler, studying composition, decision to get a job outside of music (46:17) New York Transit Authority and other work outside music (54:14) Symphony of Sighs with clip (58:15) family background, Gernsheim, Mayaskovski, AI scraping blog post, composing

3. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Andrew Arceci: Early Music & Modern Folk

   Andrew Arceci is an Early Music Specialist who performs on the viol family and is also a founding member of Floyd’s Row ensemble. You’ll be hearing music excerpted from their new album The Carlisle Sessions and also from Andrew’s earlier album with soprano Elizabeth Hungerford Love and Lust of wonderful music from the 16th and 17th centuries. Andrew also speaks about the tragic loss of his father, a prominent paediatric oncologist and how Andrew established the remarkable Winchendon Music Festival in Massachusetts, which features series of free concerts of jazz, early music, classical, and world music with established artists. It was fascinating to learn about Andrew’s path from jazz and classical bass to art history and early music scholarship which he studied at the Peabody Conservatory, The Julliard School and the University of Oxford. Andrew got into some fascinating specifics about the intricacies of reading different forms of notation while playing in different temperaments on many different instruments. On a personal note, he shared the joys of his nomadic life with his wife the violinist Asako Takeuchi, and some of the experiences they have shared living in Italy and Japan with their children. For Andrew's projects, the music featured in this episode, other suggested episodes, YouTube video, transcript, podcast merch, newsletter and more: All the links (https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/andrew-arceci) (00:00) Intro (02:34) Italian heritage (03:23) Floyd’s Row “The Carlisle Sessions” with clips from tracks 1, 5, 2 (12:20) Andrew’s art history background, discovering early music and viol family (18:37) Floyd’s Row “The Carlisle Sessions” with clips from track 3, and 4, balancing family life, George Lernis percussion (23:25) background in jazz, improv elements in early music, lute tablature, continuo (27:25) Winchendon Music Festival, loss of his father (36:20) Love and Lust with Elizabeth Hungerford with clips of Tobacco, Death, Life (44:38) suggested episodes and ways to support this podcast (45:35) Hume, Mark Cudek, Love and Lust project with clip of Amarilli track 5 (48:21) viola da gamba and viol family with clip of She Loves it Well and Chi Passa Per ‘sta Strada (01:00:28) languages, Japan, Italy (01:05:11) composing and arranging, music direction, art, Floyd’s Row (01:14:35) balancing touring, projects and home life

Who has been a guest on Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Olcay Bayir
• Joel Styzens
• Amanda Martinez
• Heather Taves
• Renée Yoxon

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

656,722

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

9 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

9 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 92 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

97

Social presence

94

YouTube

86

Engagement

82

Contact Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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