Our final episode welcomes kamancheh player Niloufar Shiri, pipa player Wu Man, and multi-instrumetalist Francesco Turrisi to the podcast, where they discuss the history of their instruments, how they are played in contemporary music today, and what we can look forward to in this year’s festival programming. Niloufar Shiri Performs at Ojai Meadows PreserveNiloufar ShiriPop Up Pipa with Wu Man Francesco Turrisi: Playlist & Ojai Talk Francesco TurrisiRhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi Met Museum ConcertEmily Praetorius, host and producerLouis Ng, recording engineer OJAICast theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks Music Excerpts in this Episode:Niloufar Shiri ImprovisationRhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi Met Museum Concert

Our second episode takes a look at the idea of composing across boundaries with festival composers Niloufar Nourbakhsh and Carlos Simon. Shawn OkpebholoOjai Virtual Talks: Lei Liang and Steve SchickNiloufar Noubakhsh and IFCACarlos Simon, Requiem for the EnslavedBill Traylor  Emily Praetorius, host and producerLouis Ng, recording engineer OJAICast theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks Music Excerpts in this Episode:mi sueño: afro-flamenco - Shawn Okpebholo, performed by Clare Longendyke The Willows are New - Chou Wen-Chung, performed by Gloria Cheng Veiled - Niloufar Nourbakhsh, performed by Amanda Gookin Between Worlds - Carlos Simon, performed by Julia Mirzoev

Our first episode gives an in-depth look into the 77th Ojai Music Festival (June 8th - 11th, 2023), curated by Music Director Rhiannon Giddens. Special guest Executive Director Ara Guzelimian will give us some insights into the creation of this year's festival programming and background on some of pieces being played. Ojai Virtual Talks, Rhiannon GiddensUncovering the History of the Banjo with Rhiannon Giddens Emily Praetorius, host and producerLouis Ng, recording engineer OJAICast theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks Music Excerpts in this Episode:I’m on My Way - Rhiannon Giddens, performed by Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi Liquid Borders - Gabriela Ortiz, performed by red fish blue fish Clock Catcher - Flying Lotus, performed by Attacca Quartet Ghost Opera - Tan Dun, performed by Kronos Quartet

More music, meditation, and dance plus community events end the four-day Festival starting with Meditation with the music of Julius Eastman, followed by Hans Otte’s The Book of Sounds, and two world premieres Dance in the Park and Rome is Falling. To end this jam-packed Fesrival, the Sunday Finale will display the virtuosity of all 17 AMOC members as a collective. Guests: Ara Guzelimian, Julia Eichten, and Doug Balliett. Emily Praetorius, producer and hostLouis Ng, sound engineer (lensonproductions.com) OJAICast theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks Music Excerpts in Episode 4:The Book of Sounds, mvts. 1, 10, by Hans Otte     Performed by Ralph van Raat

Let Festival weekend begin! In this episode we look at the Saturday program which is quintessential Ojai Music Festival -- music of Bach and Bach re-imagined and three premieres of some of today’s most exciting composers Matthew Aucoin, Carolyn Chen, and Andrew McIntosh. Guests: AMOC co-founder/composer Matthew Aucoin and AMOC member and violinist Miranda Cuckson. Emily Praetorius, producer and hostLouis Ng, sound engineer (lensonproductions.com) OJAICast theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks Music Excerpts in Episode 3:cross/collapse, by Catherine Lamb About Bach, by Cassandra Miller     Performed by Quatuor Bozzini Tanz Tanz, by Reiko Füting     Performed by Olivia de Prato Prelude in G Minor, by Bach     Performed by Emi Ferguson and Ruckus Little Jimmy, by Andrew McIntosh     Performed by Yarn/Wire

From early morning sunrise to evening sunset, AMOC dives into the music of icons George Lewis and Roscoe Mitchell, the life and music of Julius Eastman alongside world premieres of works by Anthony Cheung and new staging of Messian’s Harawi. Guests: AMOC member and flutist Emi Ferguson and composer Anthony Cheung. Emily Praetorius, producer and hostLouis Ng, sound engineer (lensonproductions.com) OJAICast theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks Music Excerpts in Episode 2:Gay Guerilla, by Julius Eastman     Performed by Julius Eastman Stay on It, by Julius Eastman     Performed by Julius Eastman, Doug Gaston, Amrom Chodos, Dennis Kahle, Benjamin Hudson, Joseph Ford, George Mitkoff, Jan Williams, Peter Kotik Harawi, mvts. 2, 6, 10, by Olivier Messiaen     Performed by Hetna Regitze Bruun and Kristoffer Hyldig

Our first episode introduces us to our 2022 Music Director AMOC, the multidisciplinary collective which incorporates music, dance, poetry, theatre in all their work and their ambitious programming that begins on Thu June 9. Guests: Ara Guzelimian, Zack Winokur, and Keir Gogwilt Emily Praetorius, producer and hostLouis Ng, sound engineer (lensonproductions.com) OJAICast theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks Music Excerpts in Episode 1:Craigie Hill, by Keir GoGwilt and Celeste Oram     Performed by Keir GoGwilt Prelude to the Holy Presence of Joan d’Arc, by Julius Eastman     Performed by Julius Eastman Rebonds B, by Iannis Xenakis     Performed by Steven Schick Gretchen am spinnrade, by Eric Wubbels     Performed by Eric Wubbels and Mariel Roberts

The Ojai Music Festival has been around since 1947, but rather than sticking to status quo, it continues to evolve and surprise with unusual intersections of musical styles and genres. Invited to talk about their Ojai experiences will be alum - Matthew Duvall of Eighth Blackbird, Music Director of 2009, and Steven Schick, percussionist, conductor and Music Director of 2015.SHOW NOTES / CREDITS:  Thomas Kotcheff, host Thomas Kotcheff, producer Louis Ng, recording engineer OJAICast theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks  Music used in this episode: Missy Mazzoli - Still Life with Avalanche performed by Eighth BlackbirdXenakis - Rebonds B performed by Steven Schick

Classical music can be intimidating to newcomers and frequent concertgoers alike, even more so, new contemporary music. Host Thomas Kotcheff discusses this topic with the help from his guests, Musicologist Lance Brunner and composer Veronika Krausas, on finding meaning and confidence in the process of listening to classical music.SHOW NOTES / CREDITS:  Thomas Kotcheff, host Thomas Kotcheff, producer Louis Ng, recording engineer   OJAICast theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks   Music used in this episode: Rachmaninoff - Isle of the Dead performed by Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis Glass - Glassworks, Opening (Reworked By Christian Badzura) Performed by Víkingur Ólafsson Knut Nystedt/Johann Sebastian Bach - Immortal Bach performed by Maulbronner Kammerchor, Benjamin Hartmann

American composer and conductor John Adams, who leads the 75th Ojai Music Festival, has been an influence for many artists and composers, including several of our 2021 collaborators.  The second episode invites pianists Vicki Ray and Joanne Pearce Martin, composer Dylan Mattingly, and chairman emeritus and longtime president of Nonesuch Records Robert Hurwitz to discuss their personal connections with John Adams.   SHOW NOTES / CREDITS:  Thomas Kotcheff, host Thomas Kotcheff, producer Louis Ng, recording engineer   OJAICast theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks   Music used in this episode: John Adams - Hallelujah Junction performed by Nicolas Hodges and Rolf Hind  John Adams - Road Movies: III. 40% Swing performed by Leila Josefowicz and John Novacek  Dylan Mattingly - Magnolia performed by ZOFO duet (Eva-Maria Zimmermann and Keisuke Nakagoshi)   John Adams - The Dharma at Big Sur, Pt. II: Sri Moonshine performed by Tracy Silverman, John Adams, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra  John Adams - I Still Play performed by Timo Andres