Despite not being a writer, classical musician Leah Roseman has become one of my favourite local storytellers.
Like a great novelist who can spin captivating tales, Roseman’s podcast Conversations with Musicians is a wonderful journey through the world of music, where listeners can discover fascinating characters, interesting history, and thought-provoking anecdotes.
It’s a journey that started with COVID shutdowns.
“I love podcasts, but it was never a plan to start my own,” recounts in an email interview the Ottawa-born Roseman, who has been a member of the National Arts Centre Orchestra since 1997. “I started this during a pandemic lockdown, and, without any planning, I decided to invite musicians to share their stories and perspectives. Since I already had a YouTube channel, I figured I would just put these interviews up there, but it quickly morphed into a much more elaborate project.”
Conversations with Musicians has since evolved into a wonderful series in which Roseman talks about numerous topics with fellow professional players.
NAC Orchestra in Southam Hall, September 2023. Photo: Curtis Perry.
“Since I already had a YouTube channel, I figured I would just put these interviews up there, but it quickly morphed into a much more elaborate project.”
For those who enjoy different genres, the podcast covers many subjects, like the sitar, Broadway, and Mongolian throat singers.
Then there are the fascinating anecdotes, as if we were privy to a thoughtful, private discussion in a dressing room. For instance, you can hear about incorporating Morse code into compositions; using language, music, and visual arts to express oneself as an artist; and writing songs for Sesame Street.
I also enjoy how the show combines musical playing with “normie” life, as the recent interview with the jazz piano duo of Peter Hum and Steve Boudreau shows. In their other lives, both Hum and Boudreau are, respectively, a music/food journalist and an educator.
Leah Roseman, host of the podcast Conversations with Musicians. Photo by Curtis Perry.
As a listener, being able to hear so many thoughtful discussions is a true joy.
“This podcast is of interest to listeners interested in personal development, society, culture, education, and dealing with anxiety, as well as those curious to learn about unusual instruments, the details of composing music in different genres, [and] the day-to-day life of performers across different genres,” says Roseman. She is also an active violin teacher who loves playing chamber and orchestra music.
“Almost all the episodes feature music from the guests, so these aren’t only conversations but a chance to discover new music and new artists for listeners. I speak with guests in many different countries, and this gives me and my listeners a chance to do some ‘armchair traveling’ as well!”
“I think a lot of us get addicted to that amazing feeling of flow that can arise in practice, performance, composing, and improvising.”
This ability to use the podcast as a way to speak with a wide range of musicians allows Roseman to learn about new techniques and approaches to music.
“Every single conversation is a wonderful learning opportunity for me, and since I spend a lot of time researching each guest, that’s part of it as well,” says Roseman, who recently formed an improvisational ensemble called Collected Strands with pianist James McGowan, cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne, and drummer Mike Essoudry.
“I make a point of talking to people who have very different careers, and even when I speak to fellow orchestral violinists, we all have very different backgrounds and approaches to dealing with the stresses and joys … I have spoken to guests who gave up careers in law and medicine to pursue music full-time and others that earn their living doing some other things but are world-class musicians—we all have in common a certain persistence. There are very few days off for any musician! I think a lot of us get addicted to that amazing feeling of flow that can arise in practice, performance, composing, and improvising.”
This human aspect of the podcast is something I really like. From hearing stories about being driven as a child to be a classical musician to dealing with the grind of being a professional player, this raw look at the reality of being a professional player is eye-opening.
Photographers: JC Batista; Adrian Cho; Phantom Productions; Sharron Timmins; Jonathan Lorange; Angela Holmyard.
“I find it interesting to speak to some guests who discovered their passion for music later in life, sometimes a different instrument or style of music that they hadn’t been exposed to as children … or who didn’t have the opportunity to pursue that passion as children due to circumstances beyond their control,” says Roseman, who graduated with a Bachelor of Music from McGill University and Master of Music in Violin Performance from Indiana University.
“[T]hen musicians whose careers evolved very differently than they could have anticipated … These are but examples, but speaking to such a diversity of people shines a light on the persistence required to attain mastery in any field. I do think beyond the daily ‘grind’ is a deep satisfaction for every single one of my guests in achieving a deep level of communication with an audience, finding creative expression, and the curiosity they all feel about what’s next.”
For listeners, the deep satisfaction comes from being able to hear so many fascinating stories by a wide range of musicians. Thanks to Roseman, local residents can open a door into a world filled with fascinating stories.
Season 4 of Conversations with Musicians will be released in January 2024. Among upcoming episodes, expect interviews with an author of an excellent new book, award-winning composers in video game music, and jazz musicians from the U.K.
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