Backstage: Classical Career Conversations
Katrina Stroud
Publishing Details
About This Podcast
Join host Katrina Stroud as she sits down with professional classical musicians to uncover the personal journeys behind public performances. In each episode, you'll hear conversations that reveal the passion, struggles, and turning points that have shaped the lives of classical musicians.
Hear some of the greatest classical artists in the world share their stories of resilience, artistry, and inspiration and give their advice to aspiring professional musicians. Whether you're a seasoned musician, working student, or someone who loves the transformative power of classical music, this podcast invites you to listen deeply -- to the music, and to the stories behind it.
Love the show? Support Backstage CCC with a donation at paypal.me/backstageccc — every bit helps us share more inspirational stories!
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Recent Episodes
S1E19 Danielle Belen Part 1: Center Stage Strings
Danielle Belen, Professor of Violin at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance, shares her journey though the music world and finding her passion for teaching the violin. Listen…
S1E18 Jacob Warren: Multi-style Bassist
Multi-style double bassist Jacob Warren shares his journey of being a classically trained bassist and learning different genres of music. Listen as he speaks about musical mentors, co-creating the…
S1E17 Nathan Cole: Boston Symphony
Concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Nathan Cole shares his journey from a young violinist influenced by his musical family to becoming a prominent figure in the orchestral world. He discusses his…
S1E16 Paul Watkins: Yale School of Music
Paul Watkins is an esteemed cellist on faculty at the Yale School of Music and a member of the Emerson String Quartet starting in 2013. He discusses the influence of his musical education, the…
S1E15 Robert McDuffie: Center for Strings
Violinist Robert McDuffie talks about obtaining his Guaneri del Gesu violin in a limited partnership, starting the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings, and creating the Rome Chamber Music Festival. To…
S1E14 Robert McDuffie: American Violinist
Robert McDuffie is a distinguished American violinist. Listen as he talks with host Katrina about his musical mentors including Dorothy DeLay and Yehudi Menhuin and lessons he learned while touring…
S1E13 Fabiola Kim: University of Michigan
Violinist Fabiola Kim is a renowned solo violinist and teaches at the University of Michigan and Colburn School. Listen as she talks about her musical mentors, finding her passion for teaching,…
S1E12 Sarah Ying Ma: Poiesis Quartet
Sarah Ying Ma is a violinist in the Poiesis Quartet that just won the Banff Competition Grand Prize. Ma shares her musical background, the importance of new music, and how to keep "classical" music…
S1E11 Jeffrey Turner: Indiana University
Double bassist Jeffrey Turner is a renowned principal orchestral musician, conductor, and pedagogue and teaches at the Indiana University Jacob's School of Music. Listen as he walks through each of…
S1E10 Nancy Zhou: Concert Violinist
Violinist Nancy Zhou shares her journey as a musician raised in an immigrant family, influenced by traditional music and her father's teachings. She discusses her education at prestigious…
S1E9 Annie Fullard Part II: Art of Collaboration
Annie Fullard, first violinist of the Cavani String Quartet and head of chamber music at the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings and Peabody Institute, talks about developing her chamber music…
S1E8 Annie Fullard Part I: Cavani String Quartet
Violinist Annie Fullard is a founding member of the Cavani String Quartet and head of chamber music at the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings and Peabody Institute. Listen as she talks about her…
S1E7 Estelle Choi: Calidore String Quartet
Cellist Estelle Choi is a founding member of the award-winning Calidore String Quartet. Listen as she talks about her musical background and education, life in a professional string quartet, the…
S1E6 Victoria Chiang: Peabody Institute
Renowned viola pedagogue Victoria Chiang is on faculty at the Peabody Institute, Robert McDuffie Center for Strings, and the Aspen Music Festival. Listen as she talks about her time studying with…
S1E5 Eugene Watanabe: Gifted Music School
Eugene Watanabe founded the Gifted Music School with his wife Dr. Vera and was the first person to graduate Curtis with a double degree in violin and piano. Listen as he talks about his violin and…
S1E4 Simon James: San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Violinist Simon James is a renowned pedagogue at the San Fransisco Conservatory of Music, veteran of the Seattle Symphony for 30 years, and recorder of hundreds of soundtracks. Listen as James talks…
S1E3 Lawrence Dutton: Emerson String Quartet
Violist of the Emerson String Quartet that won 9 GRAMMYS, Lawrence Dutton talks about his life before the quartet, collaborations and stories from the Emerson Quartet, and gives his advice for…
S1E2 David Kim: Philadelphia Orchestra
Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra for the past 26 years, violinist David Kim joins host Katrina to share his stories of studying with Dorothy DeLay, challenges he faced in his career, his…
S1E1 Amy Schwartz Moretti: Robert McDuffie Center for Strings
Artistic Director of the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings and violinist of the Ehnes Quartet, Amy Schwartz Moretti is a violinist who has established herself as a soloist, chamber musician, and…
S1 Pilot
In this debut episode, host Katrina Stroud introduces the inspiration behind the show — stories and advice from classical music professionals.Katrina shares what led her to create the podcast, her…
Frequently Asked Questions
Backstage: Classical Career Conversations has published 20 episodes since May 2025, covering topics in Arts, Music.
Backstage: Classical Career Conversations is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 36m.
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