Send us a text

Support the show

Follow us on Insta

@tompkinsorchestras

Send us a text

Get ready for an insightful and hilarious dive into the high-stakes world of competitive high school orchestra! Hosts Vicki and Rithik of the Tomkins Orchestra podcast welcome two special guests: Arjun, a successful senior violinist, and Dhruv, a freshman violist.

In this must-listen episode, we break down the recent region orchestra auditions and look ahead to the upcoming area auditions.

You'll also get some freshman perspective: Hear Dhruv’s "very novel perspective" on his first high school audition experience, including the shock of seeing all the region's top players gathered in the same room.

The group also discusses the excitement of the high school orchestra's structure and freedom, and previews their ambitious upcoming performance: scoring the 1920 silent film classic, Nosferatu, live.

Don't be a bum—tune in now for tips, laughs, and generational thoughts!

Support the show

Follow us on Insta

@tompkinsorchestras

Send us a text

What happens when the world of music and the world of yoga collide?

Join hosts Vicki and Rithik as they welcome 10th-grade violinist Aaptika and 11th-grade violist Ojaswee to discuss their upcoming yoga relaxation session, a key event designed to help students prepare for the "very, very stressful" high school region orchestra auditions.

Aaptika and Ojaswee, who have practiced yoga since they were four and seven years old respectively, delve into the benefits of yoga, explaining how it is good for the cardiovascular system by relaxing the heart rate, activating neurons to help process more information, and significantly boosting personal confidence. Hear why even those who are "awful at yoga" or suffer from social anxiety should attend, as the instructors assure listeners that "everybody starts off bad" and the important part is to simply try, or, in the great words of Nike, "just do it".

Support the show

Follow us on Insta

@tompkinsorchestras

Send us a text

In this archival episode of the Tuning into Tomkins Orchestra's podcast (from 2024), we welcome Tompkins' graduated senior Mr. Jake Jiang, a four-time region orchestra member and three-time all-state musician.

Jake joins the host and co-host Vicki to tackle one of music's toughest challenges: performance anxiety and choking moments during high-stakes auditions. Jake admits that nervousness is a natural feeling when you care about something, but he shares how focusing on the shared feeling of nervousness among competitors can alleviate stress.

Learn Jake's philosophy for turning nervous energy into "excellent" music. He advises musicians to concentrate on the musical aspect, focusing on sound quality ("tone") and expression, rather than getting caught up in technical details like shifting. The ultimate goal is making music and sharing the joy of it. When performing, Jake focuses on getting that "juicy vibrato," stressing the importance of looking at the "big picture".

We also explore handling inevitable setbacks. Jake explains that when a mistake occurs during a performance, a musician must compress the "five stages of grief" into a single second and "move on," a concept he relates to the "fleeting nature of life".

Tune in to hear Jake’s wisdom; a blend of musical and life philosophy that applies not just to orchestra auditions, but to job interviews and other fearful occasions.

Support the show

Send us a text

Join co-hosts Vicki and Rithik for this quick catch-up episode, Generational Thoughts, as they reflect on how they’re doing and share their “big plans.” It’s officially October, the schedule is getting intense, but there’s still the rewarding feeling of being “proud of what you’ve done afterwards.”

In this episode, they unpack the whirlwind orchestra calendar, featuring:

• The quest for TMEA, Region, and All-State auditions
• Preparing for the Masquerade Serenade concert at the end of the month
• Rithik’s “a little stressful” senior-year college deadlines

They also recap the recent International Food Fest, debate the likelihood of a scary movie social, and even question the scientific validity of a 24-hour playing challenge (spoiler: breaks are essential).

Plus, stay tuned for the latest fine arts hall happenings, including news on the theater production Nevermore—a show about Edgar Allan Poe that just happens to need a viola player. And, of course, there are callbacks to past episode favorites like “matcha men” and “comparative men.”

Don’t miss Vicki and Rithik’s one-of-a-kind, delightfully off-track generational thoughts!

Support the show

Send us a text

Join hosts Vicky and Rithik as they welcome special guests Fiona and Andrew for a hilariously winding recap of the Tompkins High School Orchestra's social events! This episode dives into the behind-the-scenes antics and memorable moments from the Post Rally, Buddy Social, and Car Wash, with a sneak peek at upcoming events like the International Food Fest, Pie Day, Halloween Social, and White Elephant.

Listen in as they recount the chaos of the Poster Rally with "too many posters" and "really, really long paper" creating a planning nightmare. Discover the incredible artistic talent of the orchestra, from Aimee's detailed Superman poster to The Batman-themed cello poster, and the clever wordplay behind the "Sin Bunny" Sinfonia poster.

The Buddy Social gets a full breakdown, including Andrew's "drill sergeant" loyalty tests during the "Lifeboat" game, and the surprisingly popular fidget spinners given as prizes. Hear their proposals for future calm games, like a never-ending Uno tournament, though not everyone agrees on that vision!
The high-energy Car Wash provides some of the episode's biggest laughs, from Rithik "hogging the hose" and spraying everyone, to Andrew's infamous sunburn incident and the hosts debating if water causes sunburn. Tune in for all that and much more!

This episode promises to be, as the hosts declare, "the most on track episode we've had so far" – full of fun, insights, and perhaps a few new definitions!

Send us a text

Join Vicky and Rithik on the Tompkins Orchestras Podcast as they welcome junior violinist Melinda and sophomore violist Yuna to discuss TV show scores. Inspired by the Emmys, this episode explores the powerful impact of music on our favorite series.

The quartet dives into diverse scores, from the iconic cello work in Wednesday by Danny Elfman to the K-pop hit "Love Maybe" by Melomance from Business Proposal. They explore the "impending" and tone-setting music of shows like Severance and the acclaimed Star Wars series Andor, praising how scores can shape an entire narrative. Sitcoms like Young Sheldon and The Office are discussed for their comedic timing and memorable themes, alongside adrenaline-pumping music in Invincible and the evolving themes of Attack on Titan. The conversation also highlights the narrative power of music in cartoons such as Tom and Jerry and Bluey, and the "insanely good" score of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Lyrical songs like Imagine Dragons' "Enemy" from Arcane and the grand theme of Game of Thrones are also celebrated for carrying their respective series.

Initially lamenting the perceived lack of Emmy recognition for scores, the hosts soon discover their mistake, leading to a humorous realization about the actual music categories and shaping the episode's title: "The One Where the Hosts Got it Wrong". Tune in to hear why music is considered "half of what makes it so good" and how it truly deserves its accolades.

Send us a text

Get ready for a new season of the Tompkins Orchestras Podcast! Hosts Vicky and Rithik dive into the chaos of a fresh school year, spill the secrets behind senior traditions, and share all the wonderfully cringe-worthy moments that make orchestra life hilariously unforgettable.