A Stick With A Point

A Life at the Helm!

Paul Meecham, one of the industry's most distinguished leaders reflects on a lifetime managing orchestras in both the USA and UK.

Jeremy Rothman and Philadelphia’s new ’Golden Age’.

Jeremy Rothman, Chief Programming Officer for The Philadelphia Orchestra and The Kimmel Center, guides us through his role in the orchestra's new "Golden Age'.

Conductor Spotlight - James Judd

Let’s hear it from conductors! 

In an occasional departure from the usual A Stick with a Point format I’ve been interviewing a few of my conductor friends and getting their thoughts on the state of the business and what the future might hold, as well as a few more practical matters; “What is the role of an orchestra in a community? How do orchestras in different parts of the world survive and get their funding? Will there be an audience for symphonic music in the future and how do we nurture it? Is the notion of ‘relevance’ a transitory red herring?

My first guest is the wonderful James Judd whose views are not only well considered but inspiring and, well full of that much-overlooked attribute, “common sense”. 

I thoroughly enjoyed it and I hope you do too!

Strads, Guarneris and the world of great violins!

All you ever wanted to know about how the greatest violins move around the music world and why. Bruno Price from Rare Violins of New York gives us the lowdown on this mysterious area of the classical music business.

Jeffrey Sharkey - Principal of The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

An inspiring interview with a musician who is truly leading the way into the future for young artists and re-imagining the landscape for performers.

Kathy Schuman and the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts!

Kathy Schuman, Vice President & Artistic Director of the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in New York shares some of the delights, challenges and stresses that go hand in hand with running one of the US's most respected and admired performing Arts Centers.

Violins of Hope co-founder Avshi Weinstein

Avshi Weinstein, co-founder of the amazing Violins of Hope project - rescued and restored string instruments from the Holocaust - tours the world with his story telling collection. Grim as the reality of that period was, the humbling humility with which these tales are recounted is truly uplifting.

Simon Eadon - the man behind the controls for fifty years!

Simon Eadon is one of the most respected and successful recording engineers of today and has been at the controls of countless great recordings of classical music. Despite all this he still claims one of the most important attributes necessary is the ability to brew a good cup of tea!

Lowering the Tone and Raising the Roof - the story of Raymond Gubbay.

Raymond Gubbay, the only man I know who ever made money out of classical music and, introduced tens of thousands of people to this glorious art shares candid stories about the journey that took him there!

Beethoven and Jonathan DelMar - quite a team!

Leading Beethoven scholar Jonathan DelMar gives us the lowdown on his celebrated excavations into the mistakes, misprints and misreadings of some of the greatest orchestral masterpieces and, how to deal with them!