General Introduction:

Louise Pollock is currently the Professor of Trombone at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin. Before that, she served as the principal trombone of the Göteborg Opera while also teaching at the University of Göteborg Academy of Music and Drama. Alongside her orchestral work, Louise has earned several prestigious awards, including the First Prize and Audience Prize at the International Aeolus Competition for Wind Instruments in 2016.

But what really makes this conversation special isn’t just her impressive resume—it's the journey she’s taken to get to where she is today. For anyone who has dreams and is willing to put in the work to achieve them, this episode will be especially inspiring.

I first met Louise when I was teaching at the Musik Hochschule in Freiburg, and she came in as a first-year student. She was quiet, a little shy, but what really stood out was her work ethic. She practiced more than anyone else at the school. Even back then, I could tell she had something special and was destined for a great career because she was willing to outwork everyone around her, but always in a smart, thoughtful way.

And to give you a little spoiler, when I asked Louise what advice she would give to young students, her answer was powerful: "If I can do it, you can do it too."

Part 1:

In the first part of our conversation, we dive deep into the topic of auditions and the preparation that goes into them. Louise shares her experiences, both as a student auditioning for music schools and later, as a professional auditioning for orchestras and competitions. From there, we shift to discuss teaching—Louise reflects on her journey from a new teacher in Göteborg to her current role as a professor in Berlin. We also talk about her experiences playing in an orchestra, and Louise opens up about the incredible sense of community she feels within the brass world.

Part 2: [Subscriber Content]

In this segment, we focus almost entirely on Louise’s time studying with Branimir Slokar. She shares what she learned from him and why she holds him in such high regard as a teacher. We also touch on her unparalleled work ethic, particularly during her time at the Freiburg Musik Hochschule, a period I can personally vouch for as being one of intense dedication and hard work.

Would you like more inspirational stories, suggestions, insights, and a place to continue the conversations with other listeners? Visit anthonyplog-on-music.supercast.com to learn more!

As a Contributing Listener of "Anthony Plog on Music," you'll have access to extra premium content and benefits including:

• Extra Audio Content: Only available to Contributing Listeners.
• Podcast Reflections: Tony's written recaps and thoughts on past interviews, including valuable tips and suggestions for students.
• Ask Me Anything: Both as written messages and occasional member-only Zoom sessions.
• The Show's Discord Server: Where conversations about interviews, show suggestions, and questions happen. It's a great place to meet other listeners and chat about all things music!
• Can I just donate instead of subscribing? Absolutely!
• Cancel at anytime and easily resubscribe when you want all that extra content again.

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I was delighted to have the opportunity to sit down with Anne Midgette and Greg Sandow together. Both are influential thinkers and leaders in the world of music, each boasting remarkable careers. Anne served as the music critic for The Washington Post for 12 years, following her tenure at The New York Times. She has co-authored two captivating but distinctly different books: My Nine Lives: A Memoir of Many Careers in Music with Leon Fleisher, and The King and I: The Uncensored Tale of Luciano Pavarotti with Herbert Breslin. Currently, she is working on an exciting new project—a book about Nanette Streicher, the innovative woman who built pianos for Beethoven.

Greg Sandow has an equally impressive background, having taught at Juilliard for 25 years and currently teaching at the Peabody Conservatory. His courses at Juilliard included "How to Talk About Music" and "Classical Music in an Age of Pop." Greg has written for a range of prestigious publications, such as The Village Voice, The New York Times Book Review, Opera News, and The Wall Street Journal. Notably, he was the first music critic for Entertainment Weekly and spent three years as the chief pop critic for The Los Angeles Herald Examiner. And here’s an interesting detail—Anne Midgette and Greg Sandow are married!

In Part 1, we begin by exploring how Anne and Greg first met. From there, the conversation shifts to pop music with Greg offering his unique perspective, including why he believes Taylor Swift holds such significant cultural importance. This leads us into a thoughtful discussion on the relationship between art and commerce. A substantial segment of this part of the interview is devoted to their insights on how orchestras, opera companies, and musicians have evolved over the years and what orchestras can do to build and engage their audiences effectively.

[Subscriber Content] In Part 2, we delve into the demanding schedules of successful conductors and musicians, touching on how the greatest artists need space and time to mature their interpretations. Following that, Anne and Greg share their individual writing habits, providing a glimpse into their creative processes. We conclude our conversation by examining revealing differences in how classical music is critiqued compared to pop and rock music.

Would you like more inspirational stories, suggestions, insights, and a place to continue the conversations with other listeners? Visit anthonyplog-on-music.supercast.com to learn more!

As a Contributing Listener of "Anthony Plog on Music," you'll have access to extra premium content and benefits including:

• Extra Audio Content: Only available to Contributing Listeners.
• Podcast Reflections: Tony's written recaps and thoughts on past interviews, including valuable tips and suggestions for students.
• Ask Me Anything: Both as written messages and occasional member-only Zoom sessions.
• The Show's Discord Server: Where conversations about interviews, show suggestions, and questions happen. It's a great place to meet other listeners and chat about all things music!
• Can I just donate instead of subscribing? Absolutely!
• Cancel at anytime and easily resubscribe when you want all that extra content again.

Learn more about becoming a Contributing Listener @ anthonyplog-on-music.supercast.com!

Imogen Whitehead is a true trailblazer in the world of trumpet performance. Currently the principal trumpet of the Britten Sinfonia, Imogen has performed as principal trumpet with some of the world's most prestigious orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra and the Aurora Orchestra. Alongside her orchestral work, she has also carved out a dynamic solo career, commissioning and premiering new trumpet and flugelhorn music, and championing contemporary compositions.

In this interview, we explore the wide-ranging facets of Imogen's career and the personal and professional steps she's taken to build her impressive path. We begin in Part 1 by talking about her recent experience touring with the London Symphony Orchestra, where she reflects on both her audition and the challenges and rewards of playing with such a renowned ensemble.

We then move on to discuss her time with the Aurora Orchestra, an ensemble that performs much of its repertoire entirely from memory—a fascinating approach that Imogen describes in detail. She also shares insights into her experience premiering Anibal Vidal’s Trumpet Concerto with the Britten Sinfonia, and how this commissioning project came to life.

Throughout our conversation, we explore the career strategies Imogen has employed, including the importance of building personal connections and the role that social media has played in expanding her reach. Imogen also takes us back to her time as a student at the Royal Academy of Music, where she recalls a transformative lesson with the legendary Jim Watson.

In the second part of our conversation [Subscriber Content], Imogen discusses further studies with Norwegian soloist Tine Thing Helseth in Oslo, shedding light on how brief but impactful experiences can shape a musician’s growth. She also provides an inside look at the commissioning process for To Stay Open, a piece by Charlotte Harding inspired by the work of psychologist Pippa Grange.

We end on a fun note, as Imogen shares the unique experience of playing in the recording and filming of Mahler's 2nd Symphony for the 2023 Film "Maestro", an American biographical romantic drama about Leonard Bernstein..

Whether you’re a young player, a seasoned professional, or simply a fan of music, this episode with Imogen Whitehead is sure to inspire you to take chances, put in the work, and grow both as a musician and a person.

Would you like more inspirational stories, suggestions, insights, and a place to continue the conversations with other listeners? Visit anthonyplog-on-music.supercast.com to learn more!

As a Contributing Listener of "Anthony Plog on Music," you'll have access to extra premium content and benefits including:

• Extra Audio Content: Only available to Contributing Listeners.
• Podcast Reflections: Tony's written recaps and thoughts on past interviews, including valuable tips and suggestions for students.
• Ask Me Anything: Both as written messages and occasional member-only Zoom sessions.
• The Show's Discord Server: Where conversations about interviews, show suggestions, and questions happen. It's a great place to meet other listeners and chat about all things music!
• Can I just donate instead of subscribing? Absolutely!
• Cancel at anytime and easily resubscribe when you want all that extra content again.

Learn more about becoming a Contributing Listener @ anthonyplog-on-music.supercast.com!