OJAICAST

Ojai Music Festival
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Music

Welcome to OJAICAST where we pull back the curtain to explore all-things music to satisfy musical appetites, whether you are a newcomer or longtime music fan. Special guests help shine the light on topics, ranging from concert repertoire, music of today, to their own Ojai experiences.

  1. Jun 8

    4. Hanzhi Wang Brings her Accordion and Mountain Song to Ojai

    Hanzhi Wang demonstrates the incredible range of her accordion, talks about working with dancers and discusses her own connection to mountains for the Saturday morning meditation performance at the Ojai Meadows Preserve. Will Thomas, Producer Christopher Noxon, Host Hanzhi Wang, guest OJAICAST theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks Music featured - 1. Sequenza XIII composed by Luciano Berio and performed by Teodoro Anzellotti on the album Berio: Sequenzas 2. Circles composed by Bryce Dessner, currently unreleased 3. Mountain Song composed and performed by Hanzhi Wang, currently unreleased 4. Menuetto composed by Martin Lohse and performed by Hanzhi Wang on the album On the Path to H.C. Andersen 5. Wind Constellation 1/2/3 composed by Will Thomas and performed by Will Thomas on the album AV

    23 min

  2. Jun 3

    3. Deep into the Piano with Vicki Ray

    Pianist Vicki Ray dives into the Saturday evening program discussing works by Magnus Lindberg, Anna Thorvaldsdóttir, Gabriela Smith, and John Adams. Will Thomas, Producer Christopher Noxon, Host Vicki Ray, guest OJAICAST theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks Music featured - 1. Related Rocks composed by Magnus Lindberg and performed by Emil Holmström, Joonas Ahonen, Jani Niinimäki and Jerry Piipponen on the album Lindberg: Aura, Marea & Related Rocks 2. Ro composed by Anna Thorvaldsdóttir and performed by Caput Ensemble on the album Aerial 3. Anthozoa composed by Gabriela Smith and performed by Curtis Institute of Sound, currently unreleased 4. Chamber Symphony composed by John Adams and performed by Boston Modern Orchestra on the album John Adams: Chamber Symphony 5. Rundfunk composed by Enno Poppe and performed by Ensemble Mosaik on the album Enno Poppe: Rundfunk für neun Synthesizer

    18 min

  3. May 27

    2. Percussionist Jonathan Hepfer talks Bones, Farmers and Cowboys

    Join us for fascinating stories and a deep exploration into pieces Jonathan Hepfer will be performing by Globokar, Xenakis and Ferneyhough at this year’s Festival. Will Thomas, Producer Christopher Noxon, Host Jonathan Hepfer, guest OJAICAST theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks Music featured - 1. Komboi composed by Iannis Xenakis and performed by Red Fish Blue Fish and Steven Schick on the album Xenakis Edition, Vol. 7: Percussion Works 2. Toucher composed by Vinko Globokar and performed by Matthias Kaul on the album Globokar: Toucher 3. Bone Alphabet composed by Brian Ferneyhough and performed by Steven Schick on Bone Alphabet EP 4. Human Sadness performed by Julian Casablancas and the Voidz on the album Tyranny

    27 min

  4. May 21

    1. Celebrating Eight Decades of Music

    Artistic Director, Ara Guzelimian talks about Esa-Pekka Salonen's return to the festival, Messiaen's birdsong obsession and celebrating 80 years of the Ojai Music Festival. Will Thomas, Producer Christopher Noxon, Host Ara Guzelimian, guest OJAICAST theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks Music featured - 1. Lachen Verlernt composed by Esa-Pekka Salonen and performed by Tim Fain on the album Unraveling 2. FOG composed by Esa-Pekka Salonen and performed by Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, currently unreleased 3. Quartet for the End of Time composed by Olivier Messiaen and performed by Martin Fröst 4. Sequenza XIII for Accordion composed by Luciano Berio and performed by Teodoro Anzellotti on the album Berio: Sequenzas

    25 min

  5. 05/30/2025

    4. Music in Nature, Islands, and Forests with Leilehua Lanzilotti & Liza Lim

    In our fourth and final episode of this series leading up to the 2025 Ojai Music Festival, Leilehua Lanzilotti discusses giant reverbs and how Hawaiian culture influences her music. Composer Liza Lim then talks about writing for solo flute and explains How Forests Think. Will Thomas, Writer & Producer Christopher Noxon, Host Leilehua Lanzilotti and Liza Lim, Guests OJAICAST theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks Music featured 1. ko’u inoa composed by Leilehua Lanzilotti and performed by Jordan Bak 2. ahupua’a: iii. mohala i ka wai ka maka o ka pua composed by Leilehua Lanzilotti and performed by Leilehua Lanzilotti 3. Sola: II. – composed by Anna Thorvaldsdottir and performed by Leilehua Lanzilotti 4. Hawai’i Aloha Traditional, performed by IZ 5. Ke Aloha O Ka Haku (Queen’s Prayer) performed by Kamehameha School Children’s Choir 6. Sola: I. Prologue - I. – composed by Anna Thorvaldsdottir and performed by Leilehua Lanzilotti 7.  How Forests Think: IV. The Trees composed by Liza Lim and performed by Elision Ensemble 8. How Forests Think: III. Pollen composed by Liza Lim and performed by Elision Ensemble 9. Sex Magic: III. Oracles II "Womb Bell" composed by Liza Lim and performed by Claire Chase 10. Sex Magic: IV. Oracles III "Vermillion - On Rage" composed by Liza Lim and performed by Claire Chase 11. I find you in all things composed by Jane Sheldon and performed by Jane Sheldon

    49 min

  6. 05/23/2025

    3. Claire Chase talks Big Prize, Big Premieres, and Big Bertha

    This week we look behind the scenes of how the Ojai Music Festival is curated with this year’s Music Director, Claire Chase and the Festival’s Artistic and Executive Director, Ara Guzelimian. Claire tells the story of this year’s Pulitzer Prize winning piece, Sky Islands by Susie Ibarra. She also demonstrates some of her exotic flute sounds and techniques. Will Thomas, Writer & Producer Christopher Noxon, Host Claire Chase and Ara Guzelimian, Guests OJAICAST theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks Music featured - 1. Pan - Death of Pan composed by Marcos Balter and performed by Claire Chase 2. Pan - Pan’s Flute composed by Marcos Balter and performed by Claire Chase 3. Pan - Harmony of the Spheres composed by Marcos Balter and performed by Claire Chase 4. Holy Liftoff composed by Terry Riley and performed by Claire Chase, unreleased 5. Sex Magic: II. Oracles I “Salutations to the Cowrie Shells composed by Liza Lim, performed by Claire Chase & Senem Pirler 6. Sky Islands composed by Susie Ibarra and performed by Claire Chase, unreleased 7. Sunbird composed by Susie Ibarra and performed by Claire Chase, unreleased 8. On the Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17, Book 1: I. Our Evenings composed by Leos Janacek and performed by Rudolf Firkusny 9. Yenna performed by Ali Farka Touré 10. Horse Sings From Cloud composed and performed by Pauline Oliveros

    51 min

  7. 05/16/2025

    2. Wind and Wonder with Jay Campbell and Annea Lockwood

    In this episode, cellist Jay Campbell discusses the adventurous programming of the Ojai Music Festival (June 5-8) and his recurring role on the Libbey Bowl stage with the JACK Quartet. Composer Annea Lockwood then takes us on an aural journey down rivers and bayous as she shares about her decades-long trials of recording the wind. Will Thomas, Writer & Producer Christopher Noxon, Host Jay Campbell & Annea Lockwood, Guests  OJAICAST theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks Music featured - 1. Chambers composed by Marcos Balter and performed by the JACK Quartet, unreleased recording 2. The Holy Presence of Joan D’Arc composed by Julius Eastman and performed by Seth Parker Woods/Wild Up 3. Sky Islands composed by Susie Ibarra, unreleased recording 4. Eastre composed by Autechre 5. Bayou-Borne composed by Annea Lockwood and performed by Ensemble Maze 6. Housatonic River Recording by composer Annea Lockwood, unreleased 7. Wind by composer Cathy Lane 8. Arctic Winds by composer Maggi Payne

    38 min

  8. 05/07/2025

    1. Exploring many flutes with Marcos Balter

    We launch season five of OJAICAST as your host Christopher Noxon dives into the lineup of the 2025 Ojai Music Festival (June 5-8).   He joins composer-in-residence Marcos Balter and talks about writing music at a young age, audience participation, and collaborating with this year’s Music Director Claire Chase.   Will Thomas, Writer & Producer Christopher Noxon, Host Marcos Balter, Guest  OJAICAST theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks Music featured -  1. Processional performed by Claire Chase (composer Marcos Balter)  2. Pan’s Flute performed by Claire Chase (composer Marcos Balter) 3. Harmony of the Spheres performed by Claire Chase (composer Marcos Balter) 4. Alone performed by Claire Chase (composer Marcos Balter), unreleased 5. Chambers performed by Spektral Quartet (composer Marcos Balter) 6. Sugarcane Fields Forever by Caetano Veloso 7. Processional performed by Claire Chase (composer Marcos Balter)

    37 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Welcome to OJAICAST where we pull back the curtain to explore all-things music to satisfy musical appetites, whether you are a newcomer or longtime music fan. Special guests help shine the light on topics, ranging from concert repertoire, music of today, to their own Ojai experiences.

Information

  • Creator
    Ojai Music Festival
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    OJAICAST

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