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.

SLSO Principal Percussionist Will James joins Assistant Conductor Sam Hollister to unpack a program that spans the intimate lyricism of Clara Schumann and Joseph Haydn to the sharper edge of Dmitri Shostakovich. James offers a behind-the-scenes look at the intricate planning required for major percussion setups, reflects on the orchestra’s history with Shostakovich’s music, and shares how choices as specific as mallets can shape musical storytelling.

SLSO bassist and St. Louis native Sarah Hogan Kaiser joins Assistant Conductor Samuel Hollister to explore a program energized by Bartók, Rachmaninoff, and Beethoven. She reflects on the rhythmic drive at the heart of these works, the unique challenges and joys of anchoring the orchestra from the bass section, and the continual process of rediscovering familiar masterpieces. Kaiser also shares early memories of Rachmaninoff and offers a performer’s perspective on navigating the distinct musical worlds of three iconic composers.

SLSO Principal Horn Roger Kaza joins Assistant Conductor Sam Hollister for an inside look at a vibrant program featuring Connesson, Khachaturian, and Stravinsky. Kaza reflects on approaching new music for the first time, revisits the magic and intensity of The Firebird, and shares what it feels like to anchor some of the score’s most iconic moments from the horn section. He also discusses the sense of transformation woven through all three works and offers insight into how his dual life as both performer and conductor shapes his artistic perspective.

St. Louis Symphony Chorus Director Erin Freeman joins Assistant Conductor Sam Hollister to reflect on the immense emotional and musical scope of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem. She shares insights into preparing the chorus for this monumental work, which interweaves the Latin Requiem Mass with the haunting war poetry of Wilfred Owen. Hear Freeman discuss the challenges of performing such deeply human music, the balance between beauty and tragedy, and the enduring message of peace at the heart of Britten’s masterpiece.

SLSO Principal Clarinetist Scott Andrews reflects on the emotional depth and enduring beauty of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff’s music. Hear Andrews share personal insights into performing Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony—home to one of the most intimate clarinet solos in the repertoire—and explore how both composers transformed personal struggle into music of lasting resonance and renewal.