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The Cello Sherpa Podcast

The Cello Sherpa Podcast

Hosted by Joel Dallow

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Episodes

145

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Do you dream of someday getting to perform at Carnegie Hall, or wonder what it takes to be a professional musician? The Cello Sherpa Podcast is for anyone who enjoys the tales and scales in the life of a classical musician, or for the young classical musician who dreams big! We explore all aspects of the climb to the summit from student to the professional stage! Joel Dallow, the Cello Sherpa, interviews experts in the field covering a wide range of topics surrounding this challenging career choice, and sharing inside stories and advice on every aspect of this storied profession. A resource for many, or a place to tune in for interesting stories about this fascinating way of making a living. For comments, topic suggestions, or more information about the services we provide, please visit www.theCelloSherpa.com You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Bluesky @theCelloSherpa

Listen to episodes

60 recent
August 7, 2026Episode 1633 min

"Audition Methodology: Cracking the Code" - An Interview with Cellist Charles Zandieh, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

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: @charlezandiehIf you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpaFor more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

July 24, 2026Episode 1531 min

"Shut Up and Play" - An Interview with Cellist Natasha Brofsky, Chair of The Juilliard School Cello Department

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-natashaYou can also find Natasha on FacebookIf you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpaFor more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

July 10, 2026Episode 1438 min

"Etiquette Essentials: The Dos and Don'ts for Orchestral Musicians" - An Interview with Cellist Jennifer Humphreys, St Louis Symphony Orchestra

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: @31jumphreysIf you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpaFor more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

June 26, 2026Episode 1335 min

"Last BOW" - An Interview with Carter Brey, Principal Cellist of the New York Philharmonic

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 FacebookIf you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpaFor more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

June 12, 2026Episode 1228 min

"Called Up to the Majors: Orchestra Fantasy Camp" - An Interview with Conductor Nicholas Hersh, Principal Conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Academy

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: @nicholashershFor 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.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpaFor more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

May 29, 2026Episode 1133 min

“From Vision to Commission” - An Interview with Cellist Seth Parker Woods, International Soloist, Faculty, USC Thornton School of Music

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: @sethparkerwoodsIf you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpaFor more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

May 15, 2026Episode 1035 min

"Seven Feet Long and Nearly Silent" - An Interview with Cellist Matt Haimovitz, University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Pianist Christopher O'Riley, Former Host of NPR's From the Top

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: @MatthaimovitzYoutube: @MatthaimovitzFor more information on Chris: https://christopheroriley.com/You can also find Chris on Facebook and Instagram: @christopher_oriley_Youtube: @ChristopherORiley360To 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.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpaFor more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

May 1, 2026Episode 937 min

"Playing Outside the Bach(s)" - An Interview with Cellist Dorothy Lawson, Artistic Director and Founding Member of ETHEL

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: @ethelcentralYoutube: @ethelcentralIf you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpaFor more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

April 17, 2026Episode 828 min

"Building One Measure at a Time" - An Interview with Cellist Ole Akahoshi, Assistant Professor, Yale School of Music

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-akahoshiIf you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com

April 3, 2026Episode 736 min

"No Drums, No Frets" - An Interview with Cellist Tommy Mesa, International Soloist, Faculty, Manhattan School of Music

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_mesaYoutube: @TommyMesaIf you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.comFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpaFor more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com

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