Artist Propulsion Lab

WQXR

5.0 (6)
MUSIC COMMENTARY
UPDATED WEEKLY

The Artist Propulsion Lab is WQXR’s program to support emerging and mid-career artists – join them as they explore the environment, health, identity, and music on the Artist Propulsion Lab podcast. Episodes drop biweekly starting Thursday, July 7

12/21/2023

The Elves and the Cello Maker: A Christmas Audio Drama

For the final episode from the Artist Propulsion Lab class of 2023, cellist Zlatomir Fung wrote a new Christmas audio drama, The Elves and the Cello Maker, based on the Brothers' Grimm fairytale, "The Elves and the Shoemaker," for which he also composed the music. He updated the original fairytale to focus on a young cellist in New York, her cello maker father, and two of Santa's elves, as she prepares for a solo in her school concert. Cast (in order of appearance): Q - Thorgy Thor Spy Boss - Brooke Gladstone June - Briana Hunter Henry - Jeff Spurgeon Dorothy - Lulu Miller Fi - Nicholas Canellakis Sev - Miyan Levenson North Pole Network Announcer #1 - Kerry Nolan North Pole Network Announcer #2 - Arun Venugopal Cello Teacher - Clayelle Dalferes Music Boss - Elizabeth Nonemaker North Pole Network Announcer #3 - Paul Cavalconte Carter Brey appears as himself Uber Driver - Zlatomir Fung NYPD Officer - LaFontaine Oliver Nimet Habachy appears as herself Music composed by Zlatomir Fung, and performed by cellists Zlatomir Fung and Nicholas Canellakis. Additional cello performances by Carter Brey and Robbie Craigmyle. Accordion performed by Max Fine.

58 min
12/07/2023

Inside "At Ease" with Briana Hunter, Jasmine Barnes, and Rio Cortez

For her time with the Artist Propulsion Lab, mezzo Briana Hunter wanted to focus on highlighting Black women. As part of that, she commissioned a new song cycle At Ease, by composer Jasmine Barnes. At Ease sets three poems by poet Rio Cortez from her collection Golden Ax, "Black Annie Hall," "Black Mary Wilkie," and "Black Lead in a Nancy Meyers Film," focusing on Black women at leisure. In this podcast, Briana, Jasmine, and Rio take us inside At Ease, and then we will hear the complete song cycle. Program: At Ease by Jasmine Barnes, poems by Rio Cortez -Briana Hunter, mezzo; Eric Sedgwick, piano Golden Ax by Rio Cortez is published by Penguin Books. Copyright © 2022 by Rio Cortez

52 min
11/16/2023

Meditations on Samuel Barber and John Cage by Alexi Kenney

In this audio essay, violinist Alexi Kenney reflects on the music of two composers who had vastly different musical careers, but were also almost exact contemporaries and both lived in New York City: Samuel Barber and John Cage. Special thanks to the New York Public Radio archives for audio of interviews with Samuel Barber and John Cage, and to the Bellingham Festival Orchestra. Music: John Cage: Six Melodies for Violin and Keyboard -Alexi Kenney, violin; Janice Carissa, piano Samuel Barber: Violin Concerto -Alexi Kenney, violin; Bellingham Festival Orchestra, cond. Tito Muñoz Samuel Barber: Canzone for Violin and Piano -Alexi Kenney, violin; Janice Carissa, piano John Cage: Eight Whiskus -Alexi Kenney, violin

24 min
11/02/2023

Shelley Washington's Eternal Present

For her Artist Propulsion Lab residency, composer Shelley Washington wanted to pull back the curtain on composers’ lives and work. As part of that, she composed a new work for the ~Nois saxophone quartet and recorded voice memos documenting her process. The piece, Eternal Present, is about Shelley’s experiences of time-blindness, and premiered on New Sounds in September. In this podcast, Shelley takes us inside her process of composing Eternal Present.

32 min
10/19/2023

A Conversation Across Generations

While mezzo Briana Hunter has had many meaningful conversations behind closed doors about important issues in opera today, like power dynamics and the use of Blackface, she has also been frustrated with how these conversations frequently play out online. Often these differences are generational. As part of her residency with the Artist Propulsion Lab, she convenes singers from four different generations to bring these conversations out into the open. She is joined by soprano Martina Arroyo, mezzo Denyce Graves, and soprano Hannah Jones.

55 min
10/05/2023

A Life Cycle of Grief

The Artist Propulsion Lab podcast is back with the class of 2023. Violinist and composer Curtis Stewart begins with an audio essay reflecting on the life cycle of grief. In June 2023, Curtis released his latest album Of Love, which he dedicated to the memory of his mother, violinist, composer, and teacher Elektra Kurtis, who passed away in 2021. In this episode, he reflects on his experiences of grief and of creating Of Love. As part of his exploration of grief, Curtis also composed The Grief Monologues, based on listener-submitted voice memos, which you can hear on the episode webpage at wqxr.org.

27 min
11/10/2022

Inside "Begin Again" with Steven Banks and Matthew Hepburn

At the start of his time with the Artist Propulsion Lab, composer and saxophonist Steven Banks set out to compose a piece of music that explores meditation and mindfulness, and in which the music and meditation were supportive partners. The result is Begin Again, created in collaboration with Ten Percent Happier meditation teacher Matthew Hepburn. Begin Again uses guided meditative exploration and musical composition to lend insight into the ways that we relate to struggles within ourselves and in the world. On the final episode of this year's Artist Propulsion Lab, Steven and Matthew take us inside Begin Again, followed by a performance of the entire piece. Program: Steven Banks and Matthew Hepburn: Begin Again Steven Banks, saxophone; Matthew Hepburn, meditation; Andrew Yee, cello; Xak Bjerken, piano

1h 11m
10/27/2022

Halfie: A Memoir, by Andrew Yee

Cellist and composer Andrew Yee (she/they) presents an audio memoir of identity and belonging through music. For several years, they have been exploring their identity through a recital series called Halfie. This memoir draws on their Halfie recital in the Greene Space, as well as conversations with Andrew, their dad Harry Yee, and their friend, composer and cellist Paul Wiancko. All works performed by Andrew Yee, except where otherwise noted: Leilehua Lanzilotti: kʻou inoa Caroline Shaw: In Manus Tuas Andrew Yee: The Light After Andrew Norman: For Ashley, by arrangement with Concord Music Andrew Yee: The Sea As It Is Paul Wiancko: American Haiku (with Ayane Kozasa, viola) Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II: "Oh What a Beautiful Mornin'" from Oklahoma! by arrangement with Concord Music

52 min

TRAILER

Trailer

The Artists Propulsion Lab is WQXR's program to support early- and mid-career artists - and now, they are starting a podcast. Episodes are released every other week, starting July 7.

06/14/2022

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1 min

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6 Ratings

The Artist Propulsion Lab is WQXR’s program to support emerging and mid-career artists – join them as they explore the environment, health, identity, and music on the Artist Propulsion Lab podcast. Episodes drop biweekly starting Thursday, July 7

Creator

WQXR
Years Active

2022 - 2023
Episodes

16
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© WQXR
Show Website

Artist Propulsion Lab