On today’s episode, I’m joined by the wonderful multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer Cathryn Bell. We talk about her journey as a composer and how she found her way into writing for the screen, as well as her favourite film scores and her creative process. We also dive into the lack of women in film composition and explore what can be done to better support and champion the next generation of women composers.

Cathryn Bell:

Website: https://www.cathrynbell.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathrynbellofficial?igsh=MXE0Y2tqdnloc3Nwcw==

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@composer_storyteller?_r=1&_t=ZN-949sMoN8sBa

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ebo7AaKAjsW21wTpzYb8h?si=vpwe5NfwRsSYAFddNSguiQ

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/cathryn-bell/1645537539

The Lemon Cake Society: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wb95lvlTyM

00:00 - Introduction

00:57 - Start of a Musical Journey

1:49 - Childhood Films that Inspired Her

3:18 - The Music She Listened to Growing Up

4:56 - Learning the Viola

5:36 - First Memories Writing Music

6:34 - A snippet of Cathryns first composition

7:55 - The Inspiration behind the piece

8:56 - Always putting story with music

9:09 - Compositional Journey

9:28 - Lack of Composer Role Models that were Women

10:32 - Training as An Actor

12:02 What being an actor taught her about writing music

13:00 - Where do the compositions start?

14:05 - What does the first few moments of writing a piece look like?

16:00 - How to decide what instrument a piece needs

16:39 - Life as a Film Composer

17:06 - How she got started writing for the screen

21:56 - A snippet from The Lemon Cake Society Score

23:30 - Making the Score for the Lemon Cake Society

26:24 - Collaboration

31:35 - From the Vault Film Scores?

32:12 - What you wish more directors knew about writing film music

34:36 - Where are all the women in film music?

34:59 - Have you been the only women in the room?

37:47 - What can we do to help women in film music?

41:21 - Advice for the next generation of women in music

43:17 - Favourite piece written by a woman

45:14 - Links to Social Media and Where to Find Her Work

✨New Episodes Every Monday✨

Let’s Get Social 📱

For more Classical Queens, follow us on:

Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueens

TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠

Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens

On today’s episode, I’m joined by conductor, producer, and performer Shea Lolin and flautist Fiona Sweeney to discuss their recent recording of the Flute Concertino by French composer Cécile Chaminade, featured on their new album Frisson. We explore the experience of recording the work, the importance of championing music by women composers, and share advice for emerging composers on the value of collaboration with musicians and conductors in bringing new pieces to life.

Shea Lolin:

https://www.shealolin.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shealolin/?hl=en

Fiona Sweeney:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fionasweeney/

Cécile Chaminade Concertino, Op.107 – Czech Philharmonic Wind Ensemble, Shea Lolin & Fiona Sweeney:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-98hwenshU

✨New Episodes Every Monday✨

Let’s Get Social 📱

For more Classical Queens, follow us on:

Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueens

TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠

Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens

In this episode, we explore the remarkable life and music of Marianna Martines, the 18th-century Viennese composer who lived alongside Haydn and Mozart and performed for Europe’s elite, but whose brilliance was nearly erased by history. From her virtuosic keyboard works to her stunning choral compositions, we unpack how Martines carved out a career in a world that rarely allowed women to be composers, and why her music deserves a central place in the classical canon today.

Marianna Who? Martines, Vienna and Music - Alexandra Amati

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WcqqbiZc2M

✨New Episodes Every Monday✨

Let’s Get Social 📱

For more Classical Queens, follow us on:

Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueens

TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠

Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens