Speaking Soundly

Three-time GRAMMY Award-winning American mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard describes how she navigates the occasional chaos of backstage as she prepares to sing in the world’s greatest opera houses. She enjoys the challenge of finding emotional inroads to the operatic roles she’s portrayed, even if it's a love-stricken teen

Conductor Joshua Weilerstein catapulted to international attention at a young age when he won first prize of the world-famous Malko Competition for Young Conductors with hardly any formal training. He discusses growing up in a musical family, how performing for thousands of youth who had never heard a live concert prof

The podcast is taking a short break while we work on new episodes. In the meantime, we're airing some of our most memorable episodes from the first season. Metropolitan Opera Orchestra trombonist Denson Paul Pollard had an unconventional path to the stage and credits his grit, determination, and humble roots for taking

American singer and actress Mandy Gonzalez has shaped some of Broadway's most well-known characters including Nina Rosario in Lin-Manuel Miranda's breakout "In the Heights," Angelica Schuyler Church in the Tony Award-winning show Hamilton, and the green witch Elphaba in Wicked. Mandy reflects on her 1,400 performances

Composer, author, lecturer, and performer Bruce Adolphe is a multifaceted artist. He’s known by millions of listeners for his ingenious Piano Puzzlers on public radio's Performance Today and his concert pieces are played worldwide by Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, and Joshua Bell. Bruce shares how he was inspired by Leonard

Grammy award winner, singer, songwriter, and guitarist Madison Cunningham folds together Folk, Americana, and Indie influences in her soulful music. She tells David about how she blends her voice with the guitar, reflects on how she physically held a full-size Taylor guitar at age six, and considers the first time she