A Composer's Corner

andrew.celentano
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Andrew Celentano interviews composers from all walks of life, including classical, jazz, rock, country, political, folk, math rock, and more. He explores what role music played in their childhood, how music became an integral part of their life, how they approach the composition process, and what influences affected them along the way.

  1. 26 JAN

    Oliva Perez Collillmer merges Jazz, Flamenco and Classical Music

    The first album 'Olivia' (Adhyâropa Records) was released recently. A collection of songs representative of the eclecticism and musical fusion that Pérez-Collellmir professes, exploring jazz, flamenco, classical music and Spanish folk traditions to create a universal sound without borders. 'Olivia' captures the native sounds of Barcelona, her hometown. Original songs composed by the Catalan artist and arrangements of pieces by Maurice Ravel and Frederic Mompou with 'Barcelona' as the centerpiece of the project. She also takes some exotic approaches to India and the Middle East. “This first album is fulfilling a dream after 10 years since my trip to the United States to study at Berklee. A journey of great dedication, sacrifice and renunciation dedicated completely to playing, acting, studying, researching, composing and educating. The realization of a path of personal search and the result of the creative path of a lifetime. 'Olivia' is the story of this journey. My identity, my voice and my language as an artist are here”. “I can't imagine life without music. Art in general and music in particular are the most direct and connected form of expression of the human soul. Music is my natural language. I need it to breathe, to live and to be happy. I started studying music when I was just 4 years old. It's been a part of me since I can practically remember. The passion started from the first moment,” she added about her philosophy. Read more about her here - https://www.oliviaperezcollellmir.com/

    1 hr

  2. 19 JAN

    American Jazz Pianist, Composer and Educator Mark Kross

    Mark Kross is an American jazz pianist, composer, and highly experienced educator known for his contributions to the New York City jazz scene and jazz education. He performs regularly in venues around New York City with various groups, including the Sonny Simmons Quintet and the Michael Marcus Quartet. Kross holds a BA in Music from Rutgers, a Masters Degree in Music Education from Lehman College, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Stony Brook University, providing a strong academic foundation to his practical experience. His musical style is associated with hard bop, and his active performance years span the 1980s and 1990s and continue into the present. Beyond performing, Kross has a significant career as an educator and founder of jazz initiatives. Before leaving Massachusetts, he was the Head of the Music Department and Director of the Jazz Program at the Middlesex School for twenty years. In New York City, he and his wife, singer Louise Rogers, founded and direct Jazz WaHi, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides jazz performance and education resources in Washington Heights through festivals, concerts, workshops, and a weekly jam session. Kross has extensive experience participating in jam sessions at renowned clubs worldwide, including Keystone Corner in San Francisco, Smoke in NYC, and Ronnie Scott's in London. He is also a charter member of the Jazz Education Network. Mark Kross has focused his composing efforts on the marriage of jazz and theatre and contributing to the body of jazz works through education and performance. He is a valued member of the board and faculty for the Jazz Power Initiative, an organization dedicated to spreading jazz across generations.

    59 min

  3. 12 JAN

    Meet Jazz Professor, Composer, Performer, Author Joe Mulholland

    Joe Mulholland is a professor in the Harmony department at Berklee College of Music. He teaches all the core Harmony classes, as well as the electives Harmony of Brazilian Song, Advanced Harmonic Concepts, Advanced Modal Harmony, and Reharmonization Techniques. He created and teaches the Jazz Composition course and the Music Foundations course for Berklee Online, and gives private Skype lessons in jazz songwriting to students around the world. In his capacity as chair of the Harmony department (2005-2015) at Berklee, Joe extensively revised the Harmony 2 and 3 workbooks and wrote the Music Application and Theory workbook for first-year students, as well as editing and contributing substantially to the Study Supplement for that course. With his colleague Tom Hojnacki, Joe wrote The Berklee Book of Jazz Harmony (Berklee Press), the new Harmony 2 workbook, and the Harmony 2 Study Supplement. An accomplished pianist, recording artist, composer, and teacher, Joe has released five albums of original music and has composed electronic scores for Boston-area dance companies, including a Tango Suite commissioned by the Northeast Youth Ballet that received performances in Boston and New Jersey. Joe also performs as a vocal accompanist.

    59 min

  4. 5 JAN

    Meet Modern Jazz Composer/Performer Ken Field

    Ken Field is a composer, saxophonist, and flautist. He has received international public and critical acclaim for his solo work, his work with the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble (which he leads), Birdsongs of the Mesozoic, Willie Loco Alexander's Persistence of Memory Orchestra, and the Armenian/ American jazz project Musaner, as well as his commissioned compositions and performances with Bridgman/Packer Dance & Joanie Block's Selmadanse. Field has composed a number of pieces for the children's television program Sesame Street. He was named a Finalist in Music Composition by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of JazzBoston and as Chair of the Truro Concert Committee. He is Past President of the Board of Directors of Tutoring Plus of Cambridge and a past member of the Organizing Committee of the HONK! Festival. Field hosts The New Edge, a weekly radio program of creative instrumental music currently airing on WMBR and WOMR, and he co-hosts the bi-weekly show "Trash or Treasure" on WOMR. Ken Field's Revolutionary Snake Ensemble's 5th album "Serpentine" has been released on Cuneiform Records! Release concerts were at Regattabar, Cambridge, MA and at WellFleet Preservation Hall on Cape Cod. "Something quite original in the world of jazz and beyond." ----- Kory Cook, KUT Radio, Austin, TX You can find out more at https://kenfield.org/

    1h 15m

  5. 29/12/2025

    Meet Jazz Bassist, Composer Bob Nieske

    Bob Nieske holds a bachelor's and master's of music degree with honors from New England Conservatory. He was a member of legendary saxophonist and clarinetist Jimmy Guiffre’s bands for twelve years and contributed compositions to his critically acclaimed Soul Note recordings. Bob has recorded or performed with guitarists Charlie Byrd, Duke Robillard, Atilla Zoller, and Larry Coryell, jazz vocalist Dakota Staton, Jackie and Roy, The Either/Orchestra, George Russell’s Living Time Orchestra, David Grisman, and legendary jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli. As a composer and arranger, Bob’s own projects include a suite for jazz trio and the Lydian String Quartet, documented on his critically acclaimed album, “Simplicity.” Bob is Professor of Practice at Brandeis University and on the Faculty at the New England Conservatory. You can find out more about Bob Nieske on his website:http://bobnieske.com/

    57 min

  6. 22/12/2025

    Singer /Songwriter/Composer/Entertainer Bonnie MacLeod

    Join interviewer Andrew Celentano for an engaging discussion with guest Bonnie MacLeod. She is a highly versatile and accomplished pianist, entertainer, singer, and composer. Bonnie combines a fascinating and eclectic array of artistic influences in her performances. Her gifts have brought her around the world including Europe, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and North Africa. She performed regularly at night clubs in New York City, Boston and on cruise ships, as well. You can hear her music on Amazon, Spotify, TikTok, Apple Music, Pandora, Dream Farm Radio and more. Bonnie has played at assisted living facilities in and around Boston, including Cornerstone Living in Canton and Maplewood in Weston. She features saucy selections like “Peel Me a Grape”, “Mambo Italiano”, “Ten Cents a Dance”, “I’m Tired”, while in tandem her repertoire can be reflective and musically insightful." You can find out more about her on her website: https://www.bonniemacleodmusic.com/

    1h 3m

  7. 15/12/2025

    Swedish Composer Peter Malmsjo living in Italy

    Join me to hear the soft, gentle, beautiful music of Peter Malmsjö. Peter was born on March 1, 1962 in Saltsjö-Boo, Stockholms län, Sweden. He had acting roles early on in his life and is known for Ture Sventon - Privatdetektiv (1972), Grisjakten (1970) and Niklas och figuren (1971). His father, Jan Malmsjö is a great singer and musical star in Sweden, and his mother, Lena Malmsjö, was a production manager and actress, known for Loving Couples (1964), Badarna (1968) and Night Games (1966). Peter, has also performed in the theater and dance productions, and moved to Italy, performing in the ballet. He traveled extensively and was in a band at one point as well. Meanwhile, Peter has been composing ever since he was a boy, and his music is widely heard on the internet. His compositions are soft, gentle, and restful and have an organic feel to them that is hard to resist. His piano is tuned to 432 (instead of the more typical 440). Peter is now an Osteopath in Italy and uses his music to soothe his patients. You can find him on Facebook and view his recordings here: https://www.halidonmusic.com/en/peter-j-malmsjo-a-8081.html

    1h 10m

  8. 09/12/2025

    Our interview with Composer Michael Laster

    Michael Laster is an eclectic composer who weaves seamlessly through many genres and musical styles. He is a composer of traditional orchestral works (the Yakima Symphony Chamber Orchestra) and film (Denture Adventure, Interreflections), as well as chamber works (Quatro Puntos, and the Seasons String Quartet), and large-scale piano works for Robert Frankenberry and Craig Ketter. In addition to music written for classical ensembles, Michael has composed and performed on numerous alternative rock singles including Snerg Dergus, Vulture Street, Stories, and Physical Dream. For lyrics, performers, song details, and more, explore his Soundcloud page Michael maintains a busy private teaching studio, scores films, gigs in clubs, and arranges for colleagues including social activist Peter Joseph. A recipient of the Presser Scholarship at the City College of New York where he studied with David Del Tredici, Manhattan-based composer / guitarist Michael Laster has been a fellowship composer at the Seasons Music Festival in Washington, where he worked with Daron Hagen, Larry Alan Smith, Chris Brubeck, and at the Wintergreen Summer Music Festival in Virginia, where he worked with Gilda Lyons. You can find more information at https://www.michaellaster.com/

    1 hr
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About

Andrew Celentano interviews composers from all walks of life, including classical, jazz, rock, country, political, folk, math rock, and more. He explores what role music played in their childhood, how music became an integral part of their life, how they approach the composition process, and what influences affected them along the way.

Information

  • Creator
    andrew.celentano
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © andrew.celentano
  • Show Website
    A Composer's Corner