Advertise on podcast: Artist Insights

Nils Landgren has demonstrated how versatile a brass instrument the trombone can be since the 1980s, playing with legends as diverse as ABBA, Wyclef Jean, Joe Sample & the Crusaders and Herbie Hancock. Trying out his father’s trombone at 13, Nils was inspired by The Beatles to pursue diverse musical ventures. Initially classically trained, Nils toured with pop legend Bjorn Skifs (“Hooked on a Feeling”) and rediscovered jazz through Miles Davis. Nils describes bluffing his way into a solo album, experimenting with hip hop, and later singing and acting. He talks about his unique red trombone, the pleasures of versatility, and working with Doctors Without Borders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the world’s most sought-after brass players, Sergio Carolino has expanded the repertoire and popularity of the tuba, across a range of musical genres. Although wind bands were popular in his native Portugal, Sergio admits arrived at music as a secondary passion, behind his love of tennis and caricature. Largely an autodidact, Sergio began playing Dixieland jazz and progressed to fusion and funk. He found inspiration in records he analysed with his friends and discusses music as an escape from the divisiveness in society. Sergio talks about musical curiosity, teaching masterclasses, and the value of being true to your own musical vision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scottish flutist Stephen Clark has come a long way from his Glasgow beginnings, having toured in locations as far-flung as Jordan, Latvia, and Mexico and fulfilled a personal bucket list that included skydiving and swimming with sharks! From early beginnings playing the recorder, to failing at the violin, Stephen arrived at the flute as a last resort. He reveals how inspiring his first teacher proved, as well as loving the recordings of flute legend Sir James Galway. Stephen talks about calming performance nerves, the cruelty of competitions, the unique challenges of his instrument, and preparing for his 2018 Carnegie Hall recital. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Young French percussionist Adélaïde Ferrière has won several international prizes and performed in festivals and concert halls worldwide. Adélaïde remembers being inspired as a child watching her timpanist father. Now, she’s inspiring a new generation of percussionists with her solo marimba and ensemble performances. Adélaïde specialises in transposing classical repertoire for solo marimba and making gorgeous video performances, including Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, which she performed on a rooftop in New York. She talks about joining the Paris Conservatoire at just 15 years old, explores her use of media, and discusses the unique challenges of tuned percussion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London-born tubist Theon Cross has been celebrated for “reinventing the tuba” and his music has garnered high praise from publications including The Guardian, The New York Times and NPR. He has toured extensively throughout Europe and the Americas, as well as scoring a number 1 jazz release with his debut album “Fyah.” Beginning his musical journey on the little-known tenor horn, Theon admits being envious of his trombonist brother until an inspiring teacher gave him a euphonium. Having begun with classical training, he then played with a Brazilian-styled carnival group and discovered how funky brass could be. A rich mix of sounds including Caribbean soca, soul and roots reggae music infused Theon’s childhood. He discovered jazz through his brother and talks about how inspiring his Guildhall days were, as well as the joys of playing with Jon Batiste and being feted by Iggy Pop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The saxophone might not be the first instrument you associate with dance music. However, international sax Player Ellie Sax has rocked gigs and parties from New Year’s Eve in the Maldives to European super-clubs like The Ministry of Sound. Like many artists these days, she uses video to share her music with a wider audience, including her single, one-take livestream from an Ibizan clifftop, together with her DJ husband Harry. Ellie likens the DJ/soloist combination to a chamber music collaboration. She talks about finding her instrument, music as celebration, and discovering how popular and joyous house music with saxophone can be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our debut Artists Insight podcast is about the remarkable and life-enhancing journeys that music can take us on, and not just the exceptional and talented musicians featured here. Their stories will resonate with anyone who’s ever picked up an instrument and, we hope, inspire you to continue your musical journey and tell your own stories. This first season we've caught up with brass, woodwind and strings artists.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s no place for a long face in music. Acclaimed Belgian trumpet player Jeroen Berwaerts recalls the memorable concerts from an extraordinary career, provides unique insights into his practice routines and explains why you’ve always got to keep smiling. Why the last two bars are always so scary. Describing the trumpet as an extension of his voice, acclaimed Belgian trumpet player Jereoen Berwaerts recalls the memorable concerts from an extraordinary career, provides unique insights into his practice routines and confesses that he always gets nervous at the very end. Believing there’s no place for a long face in music, Jereoen discusses the importance of self-belief, doing everything in a musical way and how he always tries to channel all the great mentors he’s had in his own teaching. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first-ever winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year, Clarinet virtuoso Michael Collins looks back on his multifaceted career as a soloist, conductor and professor, and forward to a time when the classical music business might become more equal. Clarinet virtuoso Michael Collins looks back on his multifaceted career as a soloist, conductor and professor, and forward to a time when the classical music business might become more equal. With a love of classical music ignited by a Ladybird Book of Mozart, it’s a rollercoaster ride that takes in winning the first ever BBC Young Musician of the Year award, stepping on stage at Carnegie Hall aged 22, telling the Queen that she couldn’t try his clarinet, playing a Messiaen clarinet Concerto with the great man in the front row. Why German audiences wait before applauding and how playing chamber music is like a good game of tennis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Widely acknowledged as the leading baritone horn player of her generation, Katrina Marzella talks about her musical influences, growing up in an Italian-Hebridean household and being a woman in the male-dominated world of brass bands. And why playing at Sydney Opera House is no different to playing in Falkirk Town Hall. What it is that makes lawyers such great musicians. Widely acknowledged as the leading baritone horn player of her generation, Katrina Marzella talks about her musical influences growing up in an Italian-Hebridean household, being a woman in the male-dominated word of brass bands and why playing at Sydney Opera House is really no different to playing in Falkirk Town Hall. With so few recordings available for inspiration when she started out, Katrina explains her commitment to expanding Baritone Horn repertoire, why she thinks young players should take the opportunity to travel and study abroad, and why family support means everything. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Holder of the world records for playing the highest and coldest concerts, Norwegian saxophonist and extreme athlete Håkon Erlandsen discusses his life in music. And what it’s like to hike 6 hours in the snow to a gig carrying your instrument, PA and a generator. What it’s like to hike 6 hours in the snow to a gig carrying your instrument, PA and a generator and what happens when you put a saxophone in a deep freezer for 24 hours. Norwegian jazz saxophonist and extreme endurance athlete Håkon Erlandsen describes how combining the great passions in his life have led him on a unique voyage of musical and personal discovery. The holder of records for the world’s highest and coldest concerts and now attempting the 7 summits while composing music along the way, Håkon draws inspiration from nature and the people he meets, believing physical and musical training to be perfect partners, and music to be the one and only true international language. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He’s played with Michael Bublé, Robbie Williams and Seal, and his big band has 15M views on YouTube. Pioneering young trumpet player and producer Louis Dowdeswell discusses his journey in music. The challenge of achieving consistency, the importance of getting the trumpet section on your side and how sometimes you can learn the most when you’re eating a taco. Pioneering young trumpet player and producer Louis Dowdeswell discusses a musical journey that has taken him from watching his mother’s band in Bristol to more than 15M YouTube views for his own big band. Louis picks out his most memorable performances from an extraordinary list of gigs that includes some of the world’s leading artists and orchestras. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.