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In the Season 4 finale of Beyond ArtLess, we are joined by legendary Chicago Symphony Orchestra tubist Gene Pokorny for a conversation that moves seamlessly from orchestral artistry to teamwork, teaching, and steam locomotives.

With Peter away caring for family, special guest co-host Paul Kile joins Chris and Phil for a finale episode that is somehow thoughtful, hilarious, and significantly more organized than usual.

In This Episode:

•  Gene reflects on life inside the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and why he still “pinches himself” walking onto the stage 
•  Stories about working with conductors including Riccardo Muti and Klaus Mäkelä
•  The arrival of new principal trombonist Tim Higgins and how personnel changes reshape an orchestra 
•  Gene’s philosophy on expressive playing, rubato, and storytelling in music 
•  Why so many young brass players focus on technique before expression 
•  Lessons learned from legendary teachers including Roger Bobo, Tommy Johnson, and Arnold Jacobs
•  The origins of the Pokorny Seminar and the importance of teamwork in music education 
•  Steam locomotives, railroad leadership, and what musicians can learn from the Union Pacific “Big Boy” 
•  Why Mahler ultimately beats Shostakovich… at least today 

Favorite Moments:

•  “You’ve got 52 weeks. I’ve got four measures.” 
•  “There’s nothing extraordinarily special about what we’re doing. We just happen to be lucky enough to put together something greater than the sum of the parts.” 
•  “We still have to worry about long tones. Jesus.” 

Also in This Episode:

•  Chris shares his recent trip to hear the Chicago Symphony Orchestra perform Saint-Saëns’ “Organ Symphony” 
•  Festival prep chaos: 4,188 students, endless pizza, and waterpark logistics 
•  Jury duty panic during concert season 
•  The return of the classic “make fun of Peter” segment 
• Details about the new (currently FREE) composition by Erika Svanoe called "Max Joy" and the story behind the premiere and dedication.

Thank you, commuters, for riding along with us through another season of Beyond ArtLess. See you in Season 5.

Learn More:

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Pokorny Low Brass Seminar

Credits:

Skirmish and Dance · Jeffrey Reynolds  Big Boy Album ℗ 2005 Summit Records Released on: 2001-02-01.  https://youtu.be/1uSzYq-08Iw?si=XvAfQfuoWTkfCHiF

Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot OFFICIAL. As seen in 2014's COSMOS: A SpaceTime Odyssey Written by Ann Druyan and Steven Soter  Cosmos Studios, Inc., Copyright © 2013 Passage written by Carl Sagan for the book Pale Blue Dot published by Random House,  Copyright ©1994 Democritus Properties, LLChttps://youtu.be/GO5FwsblpT8?si=iMpXuImhgPO9BPD1

Mahler: Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection": V. Finale. Im Tempo des Scherzos Mahler: Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection": V. Finale. Im Tempo des Scherzos · Carol Neblett · Marilyn Horne · Claudio Abbado · Chicago Symphony Orchestra · Chicago Symphony Chorus Claudio Abbado & Chicago Symphony Orchestra ℗ 1977 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin Released on: 2017-04-21 https://youtu.be/rJWxpR8liF0?si=FMqBfKdVTXYfKDTz

Gershwin: An American in Paris (Revised F. Campbell-Watson) · James Levine · Chicago Symphony Orchestra The World's Greatest Orchestras - Chicago Symphony Orchestra ℗ 1993 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin Released on: 2021-01-09 https://youtu.be/nIw2WJEfZxo?si=qkuxYAcqJq_IzvYy

Saint-Saëns - Symphony No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 78 "Organ" (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) Camille Saint-Saëns - Symphony No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 78 "Organ"Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider,