This week’s music maker is DSO’s Composer-in-Residence Sophia Jani, who spoke with us over Zoom from her homebase in Munich ahead of the world premiere of her new Violin Concerto. If you’re listening on February 12, tonight is the world premiere, and we’re bringing you a behind-the-scenes look at how it all came together.

So, what is a composer-in-residence? Sophia describes her role as championing new music in the community. She shares how working closely with the DSO has shaped her composition process over the last few years, culminating in the premiere of her Violin Concerto, her largest work yet.

Sophia shares with us how she found her voice as a composer and staying true to her vision no matter the context. Her hope for her Violin Concerto and all new music: the world premiere is just the beginning.

We hope you enjoy getting to know Sophia in this episode!

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This week’s music maker is DSO Principal Horn Daniel Hawkins!

Originally from Chandler, Texas, about an hour-and-a-half southeast of Dallas, Daniel is no stranger to the Texas heat or our famous barbeque. And like many Texans, his early musical foundation was shaped through public-school band.

That path eventually led him back home, where he now performs with the Dallas Symphony, the very same orchestra he grew up listening to.

From his goosebump moment hearing Mahler’s Second Symphony for the first time, to his path to becoming a leader of a large and dynamic horn section as Principal, Daniel shares his musical journey, his approach to music, practicing, leadership and more.

I hope you enjoy getting to know Daniel in this episode!

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In today’s episode, you’ll meet the DSO’s Assistant Conductor, Shira Samuels-Shragg, who, at the time of recording this interview, had just finished her first season with us.

A big part of Shira’s job is acting as a cover conductor, a kind of understudy who can step in should anything happen to the scheduled conductor.

Shira shares what she’s learned in her first season with the DSO and what she’s looking forward to doing next, as well as her hopes and dreams of becoming Music Director of a big orchestra someday.

You’ll want to listen all way through to hear about when she got “THE call” and stepped in for Maestro Luisi back in November.

We hope you enjoy getting to know Shira!

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Pour yourself some eggnog and cozy up for this episode of Music Makers because we’re introducing you to the maestro who has led the DSO's holiday concerts for nearly two decades, Lawrence Loh.

In this very special, very festive episode, Chelsey and Larry talk all things Christmas, from his favorite traditions and how he came to be the DSO’s holiday pops conductor to the question on everyone’s minds – does he ever get tired of Christmas music?

Stay tuned until the end where we put Larry’s knowledge of holiday song lyrics to the test. (Spoiler alert: we stumped him with “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas!”)

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In today’s episode, you’ll meet the DSO’s Principal Second Violinist, Angela Fuller Heyde (Barbara K. & Seymour R. Thum Chair)-- “Angie,” to her friends and colleagues.

Angie and Chelsey cover a lot of ground, from the youth orchestra rehearsal that sparked her dream of becoming a professional violinist to a recent concert where she witnessed the true power of music and how it can really change lives.

Angie also reflects on arriving in Dallas in 2009 and meeting her now-husband, Associate Principal Horn David Heyde.

You won’t want to miss this one!

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When you know, you know! From the moment she first heard about the harp at just four years old, Emily Levin decided she simply had to play it — and she didn’t stop asking until her parents finally found a teacher nearby.

Flash forward to 2015, when Emily became the youngest principal harpist in any U.S. orchestra after winning her position with the Dallas Symphony.

Now in her tenth season with the DSO, Emily reflects on what a decade in the job has taught her — both on stage and off — in this episode of Music Makers. We talk about the importance of connecting with audiences (including one memorable Pilates-class encounter with a fan!), and the passions that inspire her beyond the harp — from woodworking and crafting cocktails to spending time with her dogs, Charlie and JoJo.

I hope you enjoy getting to know Emily in this episode!

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What if we told you that legendary composer John Cage paid for the birth of one of our musicians? You're intrigued, aren't you? Well, Principal Bassoon Ted Soluri drops this unforgettable fun fact in the very first episode of Music Makers — and that's just the beginning.

Ted and Chelsey talk about his musical journey and how he found his way to the bassoon, one of the orchestra's most norotiously challenging instruments. He shares his experiences navigating auditions (including facing his fear of Mozart's Symphony No. 35 for the DSO audition in 2015) and reflects on how music — and life — have evolved since then.

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