Principal Percussionist Chris Sies joined the Calgary Philharmonic this season. We discuss freelancing, the Sound Atlas New Music Festival, and what goes in to making dreams become reality.

The music in this episode was from ‘Split Selves, Like Crystalline Waves’ for drum kit and electronics written and performed by Chris Sies, and ‘The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows’ by Annika Socolofsky, also performed by Chris Sies.

Find out more at https://www.calgaryphilmusicians.ca/podcast/s1e20-chris-sies

Jocelyn Colquhoun has played Assistant Principal Clarinet in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra since 1988, and is retiring at the end of the ‘24-’25 season. We discuss the many hats an assistant principal player has to wear, retirement plans, and the magic of the tango.

The music in this episode was the Burlesque by Elizabeth Raum, performed by Janice Waite, Olga Kotova, and Jocelyn Colquhoun.

Find out more at http://www.calgaryphilmusicians.ca/podcast/s1e18-jocelyn-colquhoun

Alexander Cohen is the Principal Timpanist of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. We discuss the joys of making music together, Chamberfest West, the Summer Percussion Institute (SPIN), and what it’s like playing one of the most striking instruments in the orchestra.

The music in this episode is from the Bartok Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, performed by pianists Matan Porat and Orion Weiss and percussionists Alexander Cohen and Mark Damoulakis; Thunder by Peter Eötvös, performed by Alex Cohen; and Nagoya Marimbas by Steve Reich, performed by Scott Christian and Alex Cohen. You can watch all of these full performances on Chamberfest Cleveland’s youtube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@ChamberFestCleveland

Find details for Chamberfest West’s 2025 festival at http://www.chamberfestwestyyc.com

Find out more at http://www.calgaryphilmusicians.ca/podcast/s1e18-alexander-cohen