The Classical:NEXT Podcast

Classical:NEXT
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Performing Arts

The Classical:NEXT Podcast explores the ideas and the people redefining classical and art music worldwide. Host David Taylor talks to leading voices from across the global community about the biggest challenges facing our sector, how they navigate an ever-changing landscape, and the emerging practices shaping the future of the art form.

  1. 3d ago

    Amandine Richardot, CEO of Newzik, on the future of digital sheet music for orchestras and musicians

    In this episode, David talks with Amandine Richardot, CEO of the digital sheet music app Newzik. Newzik is not just a pdf reader for digital sheet music. It is an interactive and collaborative app for musicians, ensembles and orchestras. As well as providing a home for all of a musician’s scores in the cloud, it allows for annotations to be shared in real time across orchestras, and includes built in systems for the hiring of music directly from publishers and other tools for librarians. Over the last decade, Newzik has grown to being used by over 150 organizations and 500,000 musicians. It also holds a special place in my heart, as I used Newzik with the orchestra I founded, Yorkshire Young Sinfonia, way back in 2017 and was a key part in making that orchestra successful. In this conversation we dive into how digital sheet music is transforming the way modern orchestras rehearse and perform worldwide. We look at the practical mechanics of real-time score collaboration, how Newzik's publisher platform respects digital copyright, and the groundbreaking features—from automatic page-turning to optical music recognition—that streamline workflows for ensembles and individual musicians alike. We also explore the cultural shifts around technology adoption in major arts organizations and what the future holds for digital sheet music technology." Join us in Katowice, Poland for Classical:NEXT 2027 from the 11th to the 14th of May: www.classicalnext.com Follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn The Classical:NEXT Podcast: Hosted by David Taylor Produced by Aliena Haig Learn more: classicalnext.com/update/introducing-the-classicalnext-podcast www.classicalnext.com

  2. Oct 14

    Anthony Roth Costanzo on why classical music must embrace the risk of failure

    In this episode, David talks with Grammy-winning countertenor and General Director & President of Opera Philadelphia Anthony Roth Costanzo. Described as “One of the world’s most important singers” by the Los Angeles Times, Anthony is a trailblazer on the international stage whose performances cross experimental opera, broadway, and film. But he is now also known for the innovation he does off the stage as well as on it. When he took over Opera Philadelphia, shortly before the 2024-25 season, it was on a path to bankruptcy, with 12 weeks to raise $4 million. But through he calls "creative fundraising” he ended his first year with a $1.5 million surplus, and has helped build Opera Philadelphia into an innovative powerhouse that draws in new audiences while significantly growing their donor base. In this conversation, we dive into how Opera Philadelphia is breaking industry conventions to create a culture of discovery and accessibility. We look at the 'pick-your-price' ticketing strategy, the psychology behind donor engagement and audience behavior, and why organizations must embrace risk to drive true innovation. We also explore the power of external cross-sector partnerships, the role of modern musician entrepreneurship, and how changing the structures around opera can connect the art form with new audiences. Join us in Katowice, Poland for Classical:NEXT 2027 from the 11th to the 14th of May: www.classicalnext.com Follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn The Classical:NEXT Podcast: Hosted by David Taylor Produced by Aliena Haig Learn more: classicalnext.com/update/introducing-the-classicalnext-podcast www.classicalnext.com

  3. Oct 7

    David Önaç on using classical music to memorialize the transatlantic slave trade

    In this episode, David talks with award-winning contemporary composer, pianist, musical director and educator David Önaç. This conversation is ahead of the world premier of his Atlantic Requiem with the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Singers, and Hollywood conductor Anthony Parnther, which memoralizes the lost lives of the transatlantic slave trade. David both composed the music and wrote the libretto for the piece, which is based on the archive of Lloyd’s of London Insurance company who supported the work, bringing to life human stories from the 18th century. In this conversation, we dive into the creation of Atlantic Requiem and how music can memorialize the human toll of the transatlantic slave trade. We look at how historical archive documents and court testimonies were transformed into a dramatic libretto, as well as the unique 10-note pitch system used to mirror cultural conflict and resolution. We also explore the rich intersection of contemporary classical music, jazz, and Caribbean heritage, and why artistic expression is essential for fostering empathy, hope, and social reconciliation. Join us in Katowice, Poland for Classical:NEXT 2027 from the 11th to the 14th of May: www.classicalnext.com Follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn The Classical:NEXT Podcast: Hosted by David Taylor Produced by Aliena Haig Learn more: classicalnext.com/update/introducing-the-classicalnext-podcast www.classicalnext.com

  4. Sep 30

    Zubin Kanga on using artificial intelligence in music performance

    In this episode, David talks with pianist, composer, and technologist Zubin Kanga. Zubin is at the forefront of music technology. Since 2021, he has been the Director and Research Lead of Cyborg Soloists, a 7-year music-technology research project supported by a UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowship and based at Royal Holloway, University of London, where he is Associate Professor in Musical Performance and Digital Arts. Coming up on October 17th, he is performing a double bill at the Southbank Centre in London, featuring a host of premiers and works from composers that embrace technology, including Nwando Ebizie, Alex Paxton, George Lewis, Ben Nobuto, and Alex Groves. Later in October, he’ll also be performing Robert Laidlaw’s Techno-Utopia with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, bringing in AI as part of the performance. In this conversation, we dive into how AI and machine-assisted composition can serve as creative tools rather than threats to classical music. We look at what it means to perform alongside AI co-performers, the difference between machine intelligence and genuine human musical empathy, and how technology can expand what is possible on stage. We also explore the rich, multi-decade history of computer-assisted music, practical ways artists can navigate emerging tech, and how new performance formats are connecting canonical repertoire with contemporary club culture. Join us in Katowice, Poland for Classical:NEXT 2027 from the 11th to the 14th of May: www.classicalnext.com Follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn The Classical:NEXT Podcast: Hosted by David Taylor Produced by Aliena Haig Learn more: classicalnext.com/update/introducing-the-classicalnext-podcast www.classicalnext.com

  5. Sep 23

    Martin Cullingford on the power of the album in the digital age

    In this episode, David talks with Martin Cullingford, Editor and Publisher of Gramophone Magazine. Martin holds a unique place in the industry. In his role, he listens to countless recordings each year, giving him a special perspective on the recording landscape of the classical music industry and its trends. But as someone who runs what was a print only publication, he has been one of the first to be impacted by the digital world and had to adapt to it long before many artists and arts organisations. This means that Gramophone magazine has already had to tackle many of the issues we face today. In this conversation, we dive into the role of the long-form album in an era dominated by streaming and single tracks. We look at how Gramophone has adapted to the digital age, from digitizing a century-old archive to launching weekly podcasts, while continuing to uphold authority and expertise in criticism. We also explore what makes a compelling album story, the resurgence of physical media, and why porous genre borders give us hope for the future of classical music. Join us in Katowice, Poland for Classical:NEXT 2027 from the 11th to the 14th of May: www.classicalnext.com Follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn The Classical:NEXT Podcast: Hosted by David Taylor Produced by Aliena Haig Learn more: classicalnext.com/update/introducing-the-classicalnext-podcast www.classicalnext.com

  6. Sep 16

    Leah Broad on why progress for women in classical music is not linear

    In this episode, David talks with Leah Broad, a multi-award-winning writer, historian, and public speaker whose work focuses on twentieth-century cultural history, especially women in the arts. Leah is at the forefront of highlighting forgotten composers and discussing the barriers around programming their works. But it is her solution-focused approach to doing so that really stands out. In this conversation, we dive into the systemic barriers facing women composers and how a solution-focused approach can help revive forgotten repertoire. We look at the collaborative efforts needed across publishing, recording, and research to normalise music by women, and why reliance on a narrow canon limits audience growth. We also explore the non-linear history of women in 20th-century music, the role of storytelling in programming, and what we can learn from the trailblazing women musicians of the Second World War. You can also pre-order her new book Unsung, and there are more details on her website www.leahbroad.com Join us in Katowice, Poland for Classical:NEXT 2027 from the 11th to the 14th of May: www.classicalnext.com Follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn The Classical:NEXT Podcast: Hosted by David Taylor Produced by Aliena Haig Learn more: classicalnext.com/update/introducing-the-classicalnext-podcast www.classicalnext.com

  7. Jul 29

    Lucas Ingle & Shin Kim on cross-border collaboration and the power of the consortium model

    In this episode, David talks with American Saxophonist Lucas Incle and South Korean composer Shin Kim. Both Lucas and Shin attended Classical Next 2026 in Budapest, Lucas as part of the Classical Next fellowship program, and Shin as a showcase artist. After meeting there, they both began working on a collaboration to create new music, and we thought this would be the perfect thing to explore to see the power of making connections. In this conversation, we dive into how international conferences create spark points for cross-border artistic collaborations. We look at the consortium model and how it offers a sustainable, entrepreneurial pathway for commissioning new works, expanding repertoire, and reaching broader audiences. We also explore the practical mechanics of collaborating remotely across time zones, advice for pitching and showcasing new projects, and why young musicians must embrace vulnerability and connection. Join us in Katowice, Poland for Classical:NEXT 2027 from the 11th to the 14th of May: www.classicalnext.com Follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn The Classical:NEXT Podcast: Hosted by David Taylor Produced by Aliena Haig Learn more: classicalnext.com/update/introducing-the-classicalnext-podcast www.classicalnext.com

  8. Jul 22

    Caroline Whiddon on breaking the mental health stigma in the orchestral world

    In this episode, David talks with Caroline Whiddon, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Me2, a classical music organization created for individuals with mental illnesses and the people who support them. The organization started in Vermont, USA in 2011 and has grown to include orchestras, choruses, and a flute choir located in three New England states. The unique nature of Me2’s work has garnered attention from the NBC Today Show, Al Jazeera, and the BBC, as well as numerous newspapers including the Boston Globe and the New York Times. A feature-length documentary about Me2’s work titled “Orchestrating Change” was broadcast on PBS stations across the U.S. in the fall of 2020, and you can find a link to this in the show notes. In this conversation, we dive into how classical music can serve as a vehicle for social change and a sanctuary for mental health. We look at how removing auditions and fees creates an inclusive, stigma-free environment, and why leading with love can transform orchestra management. We also explore the practical accommodations that help musicians thrive, the power of community music-making as part of mental health treatment, and how civic partnerships offer a new future for arts organizations. Show notes: Me2 - https://me2music.org/ “Orchestrating Change” - https://orchestratingchangethefilm.com/ Join us in Katowice, Poland for Classical:NEXT 2027 from the 11th to the 14th of May: www.classicalnext.com Follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn The Classical:NEXT Podcast: Hosted by David Taylor Produced by Aliena Haig Learn more: classicalnext.com/update/introducing-the-classicalnext-podcast www.classicalnext.com

See All (22)

About

The Classical:NEXT Podcast explores the ideas and the people redefining classical and art music worldwide. Host David Taylor talks to leading voices from across the global community about the biggest challenges facing our sector, how they navigate an ever-changing landscape, and the emerging practices shaping the future of the art form.

Information

  • Creator
    Classical:NEXT
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Classical:NEXT
  • Show Website
    The Classical:NEXT Podcast

You Might Also Like