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Welcome back to the Tomkins Orchestra podcast! Today, we are sitting down with a musician who—according to his own college essay strategy—is the "best violin player in the entire universe".

While he might be joking about the universe, Arjun is a legitimate four-year All-Stater, the concertmaster for the Houston Youth Symphony, and a state-level chamber music champion. But don't let the resume fool you; this is a journey that began with Arjun "kind of hating" the violin after his mom signed him up for lessons.

In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the glamorous life of a top-tier musician, covering everything from:

• The psychological horror of recording for All-State versus playing for a live judge.
• The tragic "inside second violin" experience where you're forced to pluck while everyone else gets the melody.
• How to survive the "shaky bow" syndrome that hits even the best players.
• And actual, practical wisdom on why you should probably stop mindlessly playing through your pieces and finally turn on that metronome.

Whether you're looking for tips to level up your own playing or you just want to hear Arjun get playfully grilled by hosts Vicky and Rithik, you’ll want to stick around for the full story of how this "inspirational" musician made it to the top.

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What happens when our two podcasts hosts are "unconducted" and off script for the whole show? Well, if you check this episode out you will find out!

We hope you enjoy these random musings during your spring break time off from the regular routines of life!

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Welcome back to the Tuning into Tomkins Orchestra podcast. In this special episode, Rithik sits down for an exclusive interview on the San Antonio Riverwalk with Dr. Kilburn, a guest conductor for the All-State Sinfonietta Orchestra at the All-State convention.

Dr. Kilburn, who teaches at Michigan State University, discusses the unique challenges of conducting an ensemble where students from diverse backgrounds must "gel" and build an ensemble culture in a very condensed period of time.

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Step inside the creative world of the Tomkins Theater Company in this latest episode of the Tomkins Orchestra podcast. Host Vicky sits down with the cast and crew of the unique production, The Old Man and The Old Moon, to discuss the magic—and the chaos—behind the scenes.

Listeners will get an inside look at the latest TTC production, where the story of a moon-obsessed man and his adventurous wife comes to life through original music and shadow puppetry. The guests share fascinating details about their process, including:

• The "Foley" Table: Discover how the team creates every sound effect live, from splashing water to a dying rooster, without a single pre-recorded track.
• Character Secrets: Hear how the actors used "animal exercises" to develop their roles, resulting in a cast that moves like lions, chimps, and even owls.
• The "Oatmeal" Incident: Get the hilarious and "disgusting" story behind the stage food that evolved from plain oatmeal to include chicken fingers, M&Ms, and even expired spicy chips to elicit genuine reactions from the actors.

Whether you are interested in the unified collaboration between theater and orchestra kids or want to hear about the high-stakes pressure of a first lead role, this episode offers a "magical" glimpse into the dedication it takes to put on a show. Tune in to hear why the cast believes "there are no small parts" and why everyone should experience the "iceberg" of theater at least once.

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In this "holiday" episode of the Tompkins Orchestra podcast Vicky and Rithik interview David Michael Hyde, the composer of "Christmastide," a piece being commissioned by the Tompkins orchestra and choir.

Hyde shares that his love for the holiday inspired the piece, and the central message is a timely reminder "not to forget what it's truly all about" amid the busy holiday season. The lyrics are largely based on a public domain poem by Lahi Brown Allen, supplemented by a refrain and a bridge Hyde contributed.

Hyde discusses his creative process, which is influenced by his background in film scoring. He encourages aspiring student composers to "just start writing what you hear in your head" and to lean on music as a "friend". His ultimate goal is to inspire young people through his music

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It's Pie Day! Hosts Vicki and Rithik are joined by orchestra presidents and violin-playing seniors, Aimee and Jooni (Jooni, a.k.a. J-Dog), to dissect the most chaotic social of the year!

The seniors reveal the full Pie Day itinerary, which includes serving many awesome pies—like the highly anticipated matcha pie for all the "performative males" who bring their wired headphones, tote bags, and feminist literature.

Get ready for intense competition! Winners of four separate games will earn the prestigious honor of pie-ing either Ms, Marts, Mr. Porter, Jooni, or Aimee in the face. Learn about the games, plus, hear the essential advice for the balloon popping competition: wear your big shoes and "eat a lot of pie so you can increase of gravity" (F=ma)!

Beyond pie and shaving cream, the presidents drop some serious, spontaneous, and slightly questionable revelations. Hear Jooni discuss her "aura farming" jacket, Aimee share her thanks for her best friend Jooni, and listen to an impromptu rap attempt. Finally, the senior presidents discuss their dormant rock band, "The Cogs", and debate life's biggest questions—like when it's okay to make poop jokes and whether your GPA actually matters.

Don't miss the fun, the food, and the exposed secrets in this last Pie Day episode for the seniors!

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Join hosts Vicky and Rithik on the Tompkins Orchestra podcast as they welcome Stanford, a freshman piano player at Tomkins. This episode explores the unique experience of what it’s like to be a piano player in orchestra.

Stanford, who transitioned from playing violin in middle school, discusses the rewarding aspects of his new role, noting that while the piano supports the orchestra, its scarcity (usually only one or two pianists per orchestra) brings attention. Learn how orchestra pianists often serve as "filler," supporting the ensemble by playing instruments like the celesta, bells, organ, and triangle.

Stanford also provides insight into the high school region piano audition process, highlighting the difference between the competitive atmosphere of region violin and the smaller, more harmonious community of pianists. He emphasizes that the orchestra piano experience is unique, requires a strong focus on rhythm, and offers astronomically more opportunities than middle school piano

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Support the show

Follow us on Insta

@tompkinsorchestras