The Cello Sherpa Podcast

He had the conservatory training, the orchestral chops, and the “proper” classical path laid out ahead of him, but Sebastian Plano couldn’t ignore the stronger call: make his own music. We sit down with the Grammy-nominated cellist and composer to trace the real turning points, from leaving Lisbon on a one-way ticket to Boston, to realizing that interpretation alone was not enough, to building a creative life where the cello becomes both voice and laboratory. We dig into the craft behind his signature approach: studying scores, sneaking into composition spaces, then recording his early work by layering parts until he could “make the orchestra” himself. Sebastian also tells the unvarnished post-school story, including what happens when you order 1,000 CDs and suddenly need an audience. His answer was simple and brave: play. He busks in the San Francisco subway, takes gigs anywhere, and learns how direct connection, repetition, and community can become both income and momentum for an independent artist. Then we shift to Solo, his newest solo cello album with no electronics, no multitracking, and nowhere to hide. He explains why stepping out of his safe zone felt necessary, how travel and transformation shaped the music, and why he wants other players to take these pieces and make them their own. If you care about contemporary cello, modern composition, independent music production, or choosing a nontraditional musician career, this conversation offers practical insight and a lot of honesty. Subscribe for more interviews like this, share the episode with a musician who needs a nudge, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. For more information on Sebastian: https://www.sebastianplano.com/ You can also find Sebastian on Facebook and Instagram: @sebastianplano YouTube: @sebastianplanoofficial If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

Your bow is the only part of your rig you touch every second you play, yet most of us shop for one like we’re guessing in the dark. We sit in a room, try ten options, get overwhelmed by “better” and “worse,” and somehow leave with more confusion than we started with. That’s why we brought on Evan Orman, a working cellist who became a full-time bowmaker and now spends his days repairing, restoring, and building bows for real players. We talk through Evan’s path from serious conservatory training to realizing performance wasn’t the only lane that could keep him close to music. He explains what drew him into bow making, why the craft is so hard to learn without a formal school, and how the Oberlin bow workshop became a turning point. Then we get concrete: pernambuco selection, cambering, and why the frog and adjuster can be the majority of the work. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re paying for when you buy a bow, this clears it up fast. From there we zoom out to the buying decision. Evan breaks down modern bows versus antique bows, the placebo and prestige “wow effect,” and the most reliable tests for feel and performance, especially that smooth engagement from end to end. Joel shares a personal story of finally finding a bow that delivers both sound and athletic control and realizing the limitation wasn’t always the player. If bow shopping has you stuck, this conversation will help you move forward with better questions and calmer ears. Subscribe, share with a string player who’s hunting for a bow, and leave a review so more musicians can find the show. For more information on Evan: https://www.ormanbows.com/ You can also find Evan on Facebook and Instagram: @ormanev If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

The audition screen can make great players feel powerless, but it also reveals something encouraging: the results often go to the musician with the most repeatable process. We’re joined by cellist Charles Zandieh, fresh off a one-year position with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and heading into a tenure-track role with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, to talk about what actually moves the needle in professional orchestral auditions. Charles walks us through his real audition path. From the moment he chose stability as a goal after COVID, to what he learned from both wins and first-round cuts. We dig into his standout London Symphony Orchestra experience, from a video submission through the website "Musical Chairs" to a three-week trial playing full concert cycles, and how to handle the hardest part of the trial process: getting no feedback and still moving forward with confidence. Then we get intensely practical about cello audition preparation: daily metronome routines for standard excerpts, metronome displacement to lock time, drone practice for intonation, and a grounded approach to tuning that works in a mixed-instrument audition committee setting. We also talk about performance anxiety, how to walk behind the screen without rushing, how to “invite” nerves instead of fighting them, and how to plan your weeks when the excerpt list is brand new, like an opera audition. If you’re chasing cleaner rounds, stronger finals, and a calmer mindset onstage, this one is built for you. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend prepping auditions, and leave us a review so more musicians can find the show. For more information on Charles: https://www.charliezandieh.com/ You can also find Charles on Facebook and Instagram: @charlezandieh If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

The fastest way to get better is not a secret scale system or a new bow hold. It’s learning how to think like a musician who can last. We sit down with cellist Natasha Brofsky, chair of the Juilliard School cello department, to trace the real arc of a life in music: early obsession, world-class training, hard choices about career paths, and the daily mindset that keeps artistry alive under pressure. We talk about growing up in New York City, studying with influential teachers, and why she chose Eastman instead of following a pre-set route. Natasha shares why chamber music became her center of gravity, including what makes ensemble rehearsal work when strong personalities and big ideas collide. Her North Star is respect: for your colleagues’ musicianship, for the process of trying ideas honestly, and for building interpretations that evolve over time. On the teaching side, we get practical about conservatory life, Juilliard’s intensity, and the psychology of nurturing talent. Natasha lays out a music-first approach to cello technique, explains how intonation and rhythm create resonance and meaning, and argues that “musical” playing cannot exist without fundamentals. We also unpack resilience, handling rejection, and a timely hot topic: how iPads and reading off full scores can sometimes reduce listening in chamber music. If you care about chamber music, cello practice strategies, conservatory auditions, and building a sustainable professional musician mindset, this conversation will challenge you in the best way. Subscribe, share this with a musician friend, and leave a review so more players can find the show. For more information on Natasha: https://www.juilliard.edu/music/faculty/brofsky-natasha You can also find Natasha on Facebook If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

Your audition might win you the seat, but your day-to-day behavior decides whether people actually want to sit next to you for the next 20 years. The Cello Sherpa Podcast Host, Joel Dallow, is joined by cellist Jennifer Humphreys, currently with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, to talk about the orchestra etiquette music school rarely teaches: the quiet, practical choices that signal professionalism the moment you walk on stage. From the “fake five” being in your seat early to simple introductions that build instant trust, we dig into what colleagues notice right away. We also get specific about section life. Jennifer explains what it really means to follow bowings (not just directions, but bow placement and length), what to do when you disagree with a principal, and why some “small” habits like phones on stage, gum, or practicing excerpts during service can erode focus and respect. We talk marking parts without creating crutches, how to stay flexible when seating changes, and how tidy pencil work can literally make rehearsal smoother for everyone sharing the stand. Then we zoom out to what makes a section player genuinely valuable: knowing the full piece, listening across the orchestra, understanding when to play out or pull back, and using the right communication chain so questions get answered without derailing rehearsal. Underneath it all is the real challenge of professional ensemble playing: setting ego aside to create a unified sound that no solo player can make alone. If you’re preparing for your first orchestra job or want to level up as a section string player, subscribe, share this with a stand partner, and leave a review so more musicians can find it. What’s one unwritten orchestra rule you wish someone had told you earlier? For more information on Jennifer: https://slso.org/person/jennifer-humphreys/ You can also find Jennifer on Facebook and Instagram: @31jumphreys If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

Thirty years in the principal chair can look effortless from the audience, but it rarely feels that way from the stage. We’re joined by cellist Carter Brey as he steps back and takes stock of a remarkable run leading the New York Philharmonic cello section and why he’s choosing to retire at the end of the season while his playing still feels strong. We get into what most people never see: how long it can take to truly feel “at home” in a top orchestra job, how you learn to handle pressure and politics without losing your musical center, and how the weekly reset of new programs forces you to stay sharp. Carter also shares how he keeps perspective when repertoire repeats, and why the best nights can be the quietest ones when the orchestra’s precision and trust are on full display. Carter walks us through the very different worlds of Kurt Masur, Lorin Maazel, Alan Gilbert, Jaap van Zweden, and Gustavo Dudamel, and what adapting to each music director teaches you about musicianship, preparation, and leadership. We also talk about defining experiences, including the unforgettable 2008 Pyongyang concert, what he’ll miss most about his “second family,” his retirement plans for travel and sailing, and even the decision to sell his 1754 Guadagnini cello while viewing instruments and positions as things we steward for the next person. If you care about orchestra life, principal string leadership, professional musician longevity, and the psychology of performing at a high level, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more, share this with a musician friend, and leave a review so more players can find the show. For more information on Carter: https://www.nyphil.org/about-us/artists/carter-brey/ You can also find Carter on Facebook If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

You’ve heard of side-by-side concerts, but what happens when adult amateur musicians don’t just drop in for a night, they move into the orchestra for an entire week? We sit down with conductor Nicholas Hersh to unpack the Baltimore Symphony Academy, a rare program where participants rehearse and perform shoulder to shoulder with Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians in a true “fantasy camp” for orchestra lovers. We talk through what the week actually feels like: immediate sectionals, deep coaching from BSO players, chamber music options, multiple rehearsals that build real ensemble habits, and a final showcase concert that brings it all together on a major stage. Nicholas explains the tricky planning behind the scenes, from managing oversized wind and brass sections to pairing participants with professionals on the stand, and he shares how the mentoring culture changes the energy for everyone in the room. Then we go bigger. Why does this kind of lifelong music making matter right now? Nicholas makes the case that playing music together may be one of the most human things we can do, and that orchestras can serve their communities by creating serious, joyful spaces for people who play for love. We also close with practical advice for young musicians: build a wide tool belt, stay open to new genres, and give your career more than one path forward. If you enjoy stories about orchestral life, conducting, adult music education, and the real purpose of classical music, subscribe, share this with a musician friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. For more information on Nick: https://www.nicholashersh.com/ You can also find Nick on Instagram: @nicholashersh For more information on the Academy: https://www.bsomusic.org/education/academy/ If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

A cello career can begin in the most unlikely place and still end up on the world’s biggest stages. We sit down with acclaimed cellist Seth Parker Woods, a fearless advocate for contemporary classical music and a leading voice for commissioning new works, to trace the real steps behind a life in music: the early spark, the teachers who mattered, and the moment the path starts to click. We talk about what draws him to living composers, why electronics and electroacoustic experimentation can expand the cello’s voice, and how you build “performance practice” when a piece is brand new. Seth also gets candid about the parts musicians rarely say out loud, including what to do when you are committed to a piece that does not fully resonate, and why professionalism still means putting your best foot forward for first hearings and recordings. From there, we dig into his albums and the storytelling choices inside them. Seth shares the meaning behind From Ordinary Things, inspired by Toni Morrison’s poem “Shelter,” and how works by André Previn, George Walker, and Tania León connect to lyricism, identity, and community. We also explore Difficult Grace, his genre-bending, autobiographical project that puts him on stage as cellist, narrator, and movement artist, and what that kind of production teaches you about freedom, pressure, and pivoting fast. We close with an honest conversation about representation, being a Black cellist in classical music, and why access to instruments, teachers, and school programs shapes the entire pipeline. If you care about the future of music education, new music, and sustainable musician careers, this one will stay with you. Subscribe, share this episode with a musician friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. For more information on Seth: https://sethparkerwoods.com/ You can also find Seth on Instagram: @sethparkerwoods If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

Cello and piano can be a brutal matchup when nobody makes room, but when the balance is right it becomes one of the most revealing duo formats in music. We sit down with cellist Matt Haimovitz and pianist Christopher O’Riley to trace how their partnership started, why it clicked so fast, and what they’ve learned from years of turning rehearsal into a kind of shared research lab. We talk about building programs that cross borders without losing rigor, from Shuffle Play Listen to projects that pull ideas from Beethoven, contemporary music, and arranged songs by artists like Radiohead. Chris shares the pianist’s responsibility for momentum and for protecting the “lyric impulse,” and Matt explains how true collaboration feels less like compromise and more like testing ideas until the music tells you what it needs. Then we go deep on Bach Dialogues: Bach sonatas reimagined with a five-string Baroque cello piccolo and the clavichord, an instrument Bach loved for its dynamic control and string-like touch. They unpack the realities of gut strings, pitch standards like A=415, why the clavichord is both expressive and famously quiet, and how modern recording and modeling technology can help bring an “impossible” instrument pairing to life onstage and in the studio. If you care about chamber music, historically informed performance, Bach interpretation, or simply how great musicians listen to each other, this conversation is full of practical insight. Subscribe, share this with a musician friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. For more information on Matt: https://www.matthaimovitz.com/ You can also find Matt on Facebook and Instagram: @Matthaimovitz Youtube: @Matthaimovitz For more information on Chris: https://christopheroriley.com/ You can also find Chris on Facebook and Instagram: @christopher_oriley_ Youtube: @ChristopherORiley360 To download "The Bach Dialogues" https://www.pentatonemusic.com/product/the-bach-dialogues-digital-only-album/ If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

One missed signup and a burst of kid-level courage can set an entire life in motion. Cellist and composer Dorothy Lawson grew up in Toronto surrounded by classical music and strong school music programs, but she didn’t “choose” cello in some grand, cinematic way. She simply chose to participate a day late, and the next opening happened to be cello. From there, the path becomes a masterclass in how musicians are formed: early access, social learning, and the kind of training that turns curiosity into craft. We also get into the part of music that’s harder to explain but easier to feel. Dorothy shares research from a university residency where heart-rate monitors track performers and audiences in real time, showing surprisingly synchronized rises and falls. It’s a powerful lens on why live performance matters, why vibrations and attention change a room, and why the concert hall can still be a place of real human connection even in a distracted age. From Vienna to Juilliard to New York City, Dorothy breaks down how NYC can sharpen an artist, and how that environment helped shape Ethel, the genre-bending string quartet she co-founded. We talk contemporary classical music, crossover language that welcomes new listeners, collaborations that center Native American composers, and the blunt economics that made classical programming feel predictable until presenters and artists started taking risks again. If you care about chamber music, music education, Juilliard, New York artistry, and the future of the string quartet, you’ll leave with both ideas and practical perspective. Subscribe to The Cello Sherpa Podcast, share this conversation with a musician friend, and leave a rating or review so more listeners can find the show. For more information on Dorothy: https://ethelcentral.org/dorothy-lawson/ You can also find Dorothy on Facebook and Instagram: @ethelcentral Youtube: @ethelcentral If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

A kid gets asked to “play a scale” by one of the greatest cellists who ever lived and has no idea what a scale is. That moment could have ended in embarrassment and retreat, but for Ole Akahoshi it became the beginning of a lifelong education in craft, taste, and what it really means to make the cello sing. The Cello Sherpa Podcast Host, Joel Dallow, sits down with Ole Akahoshi, cellist and faculty at the Yale School of Music and Manhattan School of Music Prep Division, to trace his path from a music-filled childhood in Germany to studying with Pierre Fournier in Geneva. Ole shares what Fournier was like in lessons, what got written into his parts, and why those markings still matter. We also talk about the voice behind tone production, how phrasing and “good taste” shape interpretation, and why some technical ideas only click years later. From there, we shift into Ole’s teaching world at Yale, including how the undergraduate studio fits into Yale’s unique setup, and what he listens for when a student is chasing speed and flash. Ole lays out practical fundamentals like breathing, balance, and tension and release, plus a teaching philosophy built around curiosity and better questions. We also get his honest take on competitions, judging, confidence, and a pair of career-defining prompts he asks every freshman: who are you, and what do you want? If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe, share it with a cellist or teacher, and leave a review so more musicians can find the show. What’s one foundation you want to rebuild in your playing? For more information on Ole: https://music.yale.edu/people/ole-akahoshi If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com

He picked orchestra because he thought there would be drums and that mix-up changed his life. Cellist Tommy Mesa joins us to trace the real arc from an accidental start in Miami to major career milestones, including joining the Manhattan School of Music faculty, winning the Sphinx Competition, and earning top honors like the Avery Fisher Career Grant. Along the way, we talk about what makes a classical music career sustainable when you don’t begin at age four and how the right environment can accelerate growth. We also get a front-row look at high-pressure professional life: Tommy shares what it’s like to prepare massive repertoire on tight timelines, and he walks through the practice planning habits that keep him steady. We dig into competition preparation, performance anxiety, and why he believes you play your best when you focus on communicating ideas rather than chasing prizes. His advice is specific and usable, from writing a minute-by-minute practice plan to pairing technique work with the key demands of your current repertoire. Community is another big theme. We talk about the Sphinx Organization as more than a competition, the importance of mentorship and peer networks, and how identity and Cuban American family history shape the way Tommy approaches opportunity. We close with what’s next for him, including commissioning new music like a Michael Abels cello concerto and an immigrant composer project designed for both concert programming and recording. Subscribe for more conversations for advancing cellists and serious classical musicians, share this with a friend who needs a practice reset, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What part of Tommy’s story hit closest to home for you? For more information on Tommy: https://tommymesa.com/ You can also find Tommy on Facebook and Instagram: @Tommy_j_mesa Youtube: @TommyMesa If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

Classical music can change a life, but it can also quietly decide whose life gets changed. The Cello Sherpa Podcast Host, Joel Dallow, sits down with Stanford Thompson, founder of Play On Philly and executive director of Equity Arc, to talk about the moment he realized music isn’t neutral and why “work hard” is only part of the story when access to training, instruments, time, and insider mentorship is so uneven. Stanford takes us from a childhood shaped by disciplined music educators, to high-level preparation through a talent development program, to the intense excellence and isolation of the Curtis Institute of Music. Along the way, we unpack the invisible advantages that shape auditions and careers: knowing what a panel listens for, learning the unwritten rules, getting the right coaching early, and building social capital that opens doors. We also talk frankly about gatekeeping versus stewardship and what it means to invite someone to the table when they’re not already in your circle. From there, we get practical about solutions. Stanford breaks down the Play On Philly model inspired by El Sistema and why long-term, high-intensity, tuition-free ensemble training can be transformative. He explains Equity Arc’s focus on rigorous musical preparation paired with identity-affirming mentorship, including how musicians learn to interpret feedback, persist through bias, handle rejection, and prepare for the real decision points that determine who reaches orchestra finals and who falls off the pipeline. If you care about music education equity, diversity in classical music, orchestra auditions, and building fellowship programs that produce measurable outcomes, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this episode with a musician or educator, and leave a review. What part of the classical music pipeline most needs to change next? For more information on Stanford: https://www.stanfordthompson.com/ You can also find Stanford on Facebook and Instagram: @sltstanford If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

A tiny sixteenth-size cello, a stubborn toddler, and a violin shop tantrum, that’s how this story begins. From there, Inbal Megido grew into an international soloist and chamber musician, studied with the legendary Aldo Parisot at Yale, and ultimately built a rich artistic life in Wellington, New Zealand. We explore how a childhood steeped in music became a fluent language, how cross-continental moves shaped identity, and why a liberal arts education can sharpen a performer’s ear and mind as much as hours in the practice room. The heart of our conversation centers on voice and freedom. Inbal pulls back the curtain on recording the Bach Cello Suites, pushing past the fear of “another” recording to claim an honest, improvisatory approach. With sources that are copies rather than Bach’s autograph, bowings and phrasing become choices rather than commandments. She records movements as living arcs, keeps tempo flexible, and treats character as compass. When pandemic logistics forced a total re-record, stamina and tension-free technique became essential tools—proof that process is as musical as product. We also get practical. Inbal explains how partnering with Larsen Strings helped her balance brightness and warmth across registers, mixing Arioso, Magnacore, and Il Cannone Direct-Focus to solve a persistent D–A mismatch. She shares how Wellington’s scene, small but mighty, offers students real gigs, close mentorship, and a culture eager for new music. And her advice to young musicians cuts through noise: learn how to practice, cultivate interests beyond the practice room, protect your reputation, question assumptions, and build a career that fits your authentic voice rather than a borrowed template. If you enjoy deep dives into craft, pedagogy, and the choices that shape a musician’s sound and life, you’ll feel at home here. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves Bach or the cello, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway—what part of your musical life are you ready to rethink? For more information on Inbal: https://www.inbalmegiddo.com/ You can also find Inbal on Facebook and Instagram: @inbalmegiddo If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

A seven-year-old chooses the cello because “you get to sit,” and decades later becomes a sought-after pedagogue who reshapes how students think about practice, expression, and careers. That’s the arc that The Cello Sherpa Podcast host, Joel Dallow, explores with cellist and educator Melissa Kraut, equal parts heart, humor, and hard-won clarity. We dive into the early thrill of playing by ear and the long road to loving theory, including candid stories about faking through parts and finally discovering how analysis deepens expression. Melissa explains why Suzuki training transformed her teaching, giving her a surgeon’s eye for root causes: when an advanced player stalls, she can trace the issue to its origin and rebuild from first principles. Along the way, mentors like Alan Harris and Hans Jorgen Jensen model how systematic thinking liberates phrasing, color, and timing rather than boxing them in. The conversation widens to what it means to teach now. Melissa shares how raising a daughter on the spectrum reframed her communication: if the student can’t demonstrate understanding, the language must change. She “takes the temperature” at every lesson, pairs high standards with genuine kindness, and treats misses as information instead of verdicts. We talk about the pressures of social media, the myth of perfection, and practical strategies for separating identity from outcome so players can do deep, focused work without self-punishment. Shifting from the Cleveland Institute of Music to the DePaul University School of Music, Melissa unpacks the differences between a pure conservatory and a conservatory mindset within a university. Chicago’s rich ecosystem, symphonic partnerships, chamber culture, and a wider campus life, offers students fresh ways to grow. And for anyone wrestling with career decisions, Melissa’s advice is grounding: start with a small “why,” let it evolve, and build your path step by step. Talent gets you moving; clarity, systems, and connection keep you climbing. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review to help others find us. What’s your why right now? For more information on Melissa: https://www.melissakraut.com/ You can also find Melissa on Facebook If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

What does it really take to move from a childhood in a Soviet special music school to the principal chair of a top American orchestra? The Cello Sherpa Podcast Host, Joel Dallow, sits down with Ilya Finkelshteyn to trace that journey, through refugee camps, early months in Minnesota with two suitcases and $300, a total technical rebuild at Juilliard with Harvey Shapiro, and a relentless audition circuit that demanded both resilience and precision. Ilya opens the curtain on how committees actually listen. The first-round filter isn’t mystery or style, it’s consistent intonation, reliable rhythm, and clear dynamic contrast. He shares the training habits that hold up under pressure: drones and tuners to expose tendencies, perfect intervals that must truly lock, open-string checks, and practicing in resonant spaces to hear pitch “hang” in the air. He even offers a pragmatic safety net for intervals when adrenaline spikes, an approach that protects musical integrity without freezing expression. We also dig into leadership from the first stand. Ilya’s philosophy is simple and demanding: orchestra is chamber music writ large. He asks for active playing across the section, minimal talking from him to the section, sharp listening, and smart energy management. It took more than seven years to feel fully at home in the chair, long enough to cycle the core repertoire and learn when to blend and when to step out. Along the way, he makes a case for sustainable careers: secure an institutional “address” for stability, then build a rich mix of orchestra work, chamber music, solo spots, and teaching. If you care about orchestra auditions, cello technique, or the realities of principal leadership, this conversation delivers practical steps, hard-won insight, and a clear path you can apply today. If it resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—what’s the one practice change you’ll make this week? For more information on Ilya: https://www.ilya-finkelshteyn.com/ You can also find Ilya on Facebook and Instagram: @ilfink1217 If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

A single question—“Can I have it?”—nearly sent a child’s cello out the door. Instead, that moment lit a fuse that carried Hee-Young Lim from piano lessons and packed Korean school days to principal chair in Rotterdam and a teaching home at Beijing’s Central Conservatory of Music. The Cello Sherpa Podcast host, Joel Dallow, interviews Hee-Young, and they take a deep dive into the chain of choices that shaped her artistry: the advantages of piano-first training for cello technique, how small hands and big extensions can coexist, and what it means to study across traditions with mentors from the French, German, Russian, and American schools. Hee-Young takes us inside the orchestra, sharing what she learned from working closely with Yannick Nézet-Séguin, decoding massive symphonic scores, and adapting to different halls on tour. Then she opens up about a turning point at thirty, why prestige wasn’t enough, how proximity to home and a lifelong dream to teach redefined success, and what makes Beijing’s conservatory culture distinct, from studio sizes to the freedom to teach across ages. We also explore the heart behind her album Encores. Built one piece at a time in a colleague’s studio, the project gathers short works she first loved on piano and now sings through the cello. She explains how bow and breath reshape phrasing once sustained by pedal, why encore repertoire can carry the deepest personal stories, and how a DIY recording approach can yield a more intimate, honest sound. Throughout, her advice to young musicians is frank and generous: stay curious, stay open, and build resilience for a field that asks for both excellence and grit. If you enjoy candid artist stories, real talk about career pivots, and behind-the-scenes insight into orchestral life, conservatory teaching, and recording strategy, this one’s for you. Listen, share with a friend who needs a nudge of courage, and leave a rating so more musicians and music lovers can find us. For more information on Hee-Young: https://www.crossovermedia.net/artists/hee-young-lim/projects/the-encores-album/bio/ You can also find Hee-Young on Instagram and Facebook: @heeyounglim_official or Youtube: @hee-younglim2202 If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

A cello can feel like an escape, a calling, and eventually a limb. That’s how Johannes Moser describes the moment the instrument clicked for him and why, decades later, he still loves the daily work most players dread. Our conversation traces his path from messy youth concerts and amateur orchestras to major stages, revealing how real leadership grows when the horn enters early, the violas miss a cue, and the soloist still carries the story. We dig into what actually sustains a modern career: commissions that energize seasons, manuscripts that change how you read the classics, and the habit of talking with audiences as openly as you play. Johannes explains how performers like Casals and Rostropovich expanded the cello’s possibilities and how today’s social media era risks trading depth for dazzle. His antidote is simple and demanding—feed your inner life with books and theater, cultivate personal relationships that lead to invitations, and practice with curiosity so conviction can bloom on stage. Along the way, Johannes shares why new music keeps Dvorak and Schumann fresh, how shared ownership of premieres strengthens the repertoire, and what “productive doubt” looks like in the practice room. He also offers grounded advice for young players navigating a noisy landscape: value the people in the room over the algorithm, and let your voice—not just your velocity—set you apart. If you’re hungry for a clear, human blueprint to grow artistry, connect with listeners, and build a resilient life in music, this conversation will meet you where you are and push you forward. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more musicians can find it. For more information on Johannes Moser: https://www.johannes-moser.com/ You can also find Johannes on Instagram and Facebook: @cellistjohannesmoser If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

Perfectionism can sharpen your playing or steal your joy. The Cello Sherpa Podcast Host, Joel Dallow, sits down with clinical psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen to unpack where that line lives for working musicians and how to keep your standards high without letting self-worth rise and fall with every take. Ellen breaks down seven core patterns behind perfectionism—over-evaluation, self-criticism, rigid rules, mistake avoidance, procrastination, social comparison, and perfectionistic self-presentation—and shows how they quietly fuel audition anxiety, practice paralysis, and post-concert spirals. Together, we reframe procrastination as an emotion management habit rather than a calendar problem, then trade approval-seeking for intention-setting you can control. Ellen offers practical ways to normalize a non-zero failure rate in auditions, interpret criticism without outsourcing your identity, and use both acceptance tools and cognitive restructuring to soften the inner critic. You’ll learn how to treat harsh thoughts like background noise, play with them to drain their power, and coach yourself with firm, kind language that actually leads to better performances. We also explore the “perfectionistic climate” many musicians train in, the difference between healthy and maladaptive perfectionism, and small daily choices that reduce shoulds and increase motivation. If you’ve ever walked offstage to applause while frowning inside, this conversation gives you a path back to meaning, agency, and sustainable growth. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs it, and leave a quick review—what intention will you set for your next performance? For more information on Ellen Hendriksen: https://www.ellenhendriksen.com/about If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

What does it really take to lead a world-class cello section while raising two young kids and navigating an orchestra’s evolving culture? The Cello Sherpa Podcast Host, Joel Dallow, sits down with San Francisco Symphony principal cellist Rainer Eudeikis for a candid, witty, and deeply practical conversation about moving from Utah to Atlanta to the Bay Area, why some orchestras feel close-knit while others run purely professional, and how life stage changes your sense of community as much as geography does. Rainer opens the front-stand playbook: direct conversations with the conductor, shaping section sound in real time, and the hidden grind of bowings that can make or break a rehearsal. He explains why he once resisted pops and movie concerts, how he came to value their physical and mental reset between heavy rep, and how smart rotation preserves endurance across a demanding subscription season. His practice advice is refreshingly doable—an under-30-minute daily routine that maintains intonation, articulation, and vibrato, plus “simmering” solos weeks in advance so they peak on cue. He also shares how to turn stage time into training, using lighter programs to refine shifts, bow control, and contact. On auditions, Rainer pulls back the curtain on San Francisco’s process: resume screening, when and why tapes help, the pros and cons of recorded prelims, and the committee discipline needed to keep standards high without wasting candidates’ time or money. He describes hiring multiple young players—some initially asked to submit tapes—and what separates winners: musical identity, adaptability, and the ability to move a room in the first 30 seconds. For students and early-career musicians, his guidance is sharp and actionable: define your niche early, seek mentors who do the job you want, and build the psychology to perform under pressure without losing musical voice. If you care about orchestral life, cello leadership, audition strategy, or simply practicing smarter, this conversation is rich with takeaways you can use today. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s prepping auditions, and leave a review to tell us your biggest question about principal leadership. For more information on Rainer Eudeikis: https://www.rainereudeikis.com/ You can also find Rainer on YouTube: @Eudeikis If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com