SLSO horn player Julie Thayer joins Assistant Conductor Samuel Hollister to explore a program that balances playfulness, innovation, and emotional depth. Thayer reflects on the energy of Lotta Wennäkoski’s Flounce, the excitement of collaborating with unusual instruments like the sheng in Jukka Tiensuu’s Teoton, and the technical demands of the horn—especially in the brass-driven moments of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony.

Saint Louis Dance Theatre Artistic Director and choreographer Kirven Douthit-Boyd joins Assistant Conductor Sam Hollister to explore the intersection of music and movement in a program inspired by dialogue, character, and storytelling. Hear Douthit-Boyd discuss shaping relationships through choreography, reimagining Stravinsky’s Pulcinella for today’s stage, and what makes collaborating with a live orchestra a singular artistic experience. The conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how dance and music come together to bring this program to life.

Former St. Louis Symphony Chorus director Amy Kaiser joins Assistant Conductor Sam Hollister to reflect on the enduring power of Messiah and its deep roots in the SLSO’s holiday tradition. She shares memories from her over 30 performances of the work, insights into Handel’s expressive yet demanding choral writing, and thoughts on keeping a beloved masterpiece fresh year after year. Kaiser also offers a window into the chorus’s preparation process and the sense of community and celebration that Messiah inspires for audiences across St. Louis.