The Cello Sherpa Podcast

Lights, Camera, Cello - An Interview with Cellist Nick Canellakis, Faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music

What if the thing that makes people laugh at your art is the same thing that makes them listen closer? That’s the tension—and the opportunity—at the heart of our conversation with cellist and filmmaker Nick Canellakis, whose viral sketches and serious performances are two sides of one craft. We dig into the roots: a musical family, early piano, and the moment the cello took hold. Then the parallel story: childhood home videos evolving into a full-fledged filmmaking habit, culminating in a Curtis holiday “skit night” that became a real short film. Nick walks us through his modern toolkit—single-camera iPhone shoots, simple mics, thoughtful coverage, and Adobe Premiere—to show how cinematic instincts can thrive without massive crews. The secret isn’t chasing trends; it’s writing what you know: the anxious, funny, fiercely devoted inner life of musicians. That creative momentum has reshaped his concertizing. Nick shares how a five-minute live sketch can prime an audience for Tchaikovsky or Dvorak without diluting the music’s weight. We talk about the Orlando Philharmonic collaboration, the balance between entertainment and excellence, and why he refuses to become “a comedian who plays cello.” The music leads, the comedy widens the door, and both raise the stakes for connection. We also explore his role on the Curtis Institute faculty and a fresh teaching model where students study with multiple mentors, including visits from artists like Gary Hoffman. It’s a system built for synthesis: different bowings, fingerings, and philosophies that invite players to own their choices and find their sound. Finally, Nick offers grounded advice for young musicians—swing bigger, don’t sell yourself short, and choose paths for love, not fear. If you’ve wondered how to blend passions without losing rigor, this one maps the territory. If this conversation moved you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more musicians and creators can find it.  For more information on Nick Canellakis: https://www.nicholascanellakis.com/biography [https://www.nicholascanellakis.com/biography] You can also find Nick Canellakis on Instagram and Facebook: @nick.canellakis_cellist If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com  [http://www.clearesources.com/]

"Sacred Strings and Sweetgrass Things" - An Interview with Cellist Wilhelmina Smith, Soloist and Chamber Musician, and Composer Dawn Avery, Professor at Montgomery College

A sacred plant, a living coastline, and a cello that sings in two voices—Sweetgrass brings them together with uncommon clarity.  The Cello Sherpa Podcast Host, Joel Dallow, sits down with composer Dawn Avery and cellist Wilhelmina Smith to share how a pandemic idea turned into an immersive album where Mohawk language, indigenous song forms, and contemporary classical textures breathe the same air. Dawn traces her journey from conservatory training to a compositional practice grounded in Mohawk heritage, storytelling, and soundscapes that fold in blues, meditative space, and rock energy. Wilhelmina reflects on early breakthroughs at Curtis, a life-shaping stint in George Crumb’s experimental lab, and the chamber instincts that make her a natural collaborator. Together they unpack the title track’s symbolism—sweetgrass as strength and tenderness—and the craft behind multitracking cello lines that anticipate each other’s rubato, merging voice and instrument into a single, human pulse. We go inside key works, including We Enter Together and Decolonization, a gripping solo journey that threads a healing song, a women’s stomp dance, blues gestures, and a Hendrix-tinted national anthem to reframe what “American music” can hold. The conversation widens into a practical guide for making records today: funding with grants and community programs, choosing the right hall and producer, navigating label partnerships, owning your masters, and prioritizing digital releases when physical CDs gather dust. At heart, this is about why artists still record: to plant repertoire for younger players, to carry culture forward with respect, and to keep curiosity at the center of the craft. If you care about new music, indigenous voices, recording workflows, or the evolving music industry, this story offers both inspiration and a roadmap. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves the cello, and leave a review with the track that stayed with you. For more information on Wilhelmina Smith: https://www.wilhelminasmith.com/bio.html [https://www.wilhelminasmith.com/bio.html] For more information on Dawn Avery: https://www.dawnavery.com/ [https://www.dawnavery.com/] You can also find Wilhelmina and Dawn on Instagram and Facebook: @dawnaveryartist @wscello If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com  [http://www.clearesources.com/]

"Tracks, Treasures, & Treble Clefs" - An Interview with Cellist and Franchomme Scholar, Louise Dubin

The Cello Sherpa Podcast Host, Joel Dallow, interviews Cellist and Franchomme Scholar, Louise Dubin. She shares about her incredibly varied career as a freelancer, and her love of research, particularly on French compositions. Louise gives details about her experience recording her widely acclaimed album "The Franchomme Project" and her latest album "Passages." These albums reflect the culmination of her research in to discovering compositions that have never been recorded, and her drive to be the first one. She also shares about her experience working at Prussia Cove with Steven Isserlis, Ralph Kirshbaum, and William Pleeth.  For more information on Louise: https://www.louise-dubin.com/ [https://www.louise-dubin.com/] You can also find Louise on Instagram and Facebook: @weezeedee  Check out Louise Dubin's upcoming concert on 10/25 at 7pm, where she will be performing selections from her latest album, "Passages" and from "The Franchomme Project" https://bachtrack.com/venue/st-johns-in-the-village-church [https://bachtrack.com/venue/st-johns-in-the-village-church] If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com  [http://www.clearesources.com/]

"Pablo 2.0: A Cello Legacy" - An Interview with Cellist Pablo Ferrández, International Soloist

The Cello Sherpa Podcast Host, Joel Dallow, interviews Cellist, Pablo Ferrández. Pablo has been working all over the world as an international soloist. He shares about the experience of being born into a musical family and named after his father's idol, Pablo Casals. He also talks about what its been like to build an international career over the past decade, become a Sony recording artist, and he shares details about recording his latest album, "Moonlight Variations." For more information on Pablo: https://www.pabloferrandez.com/ [https://www.pabloferrandez.com/] You can also find Pablo on Instagram: @pabloferrandez.cellist      and Youtube: @pabloferrandez If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com  [http://www.clearesources.com/]

"Embracing Your Passion" - An Interview with Clay McKinney, Cellist & Orchestra Director at Parkway Schools

The Cello Sherpa Podcast Host, Joel Dallow, interviews Clay McKinney, Orchestra Director and Cellist at Parkway Schools located in Chesterfield, Missouri. Clay shares how he developed an incredible passion for teaching, particularly as an Orchestra Director of a middle school. He also offers tips for building a following on social media, and talks about how he built an impressive following of over 10K on his Youtube channel.   For more information on Clay: https://www.thecello.online/ [https://www.thecello.online/] You can also find Clay on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube: @thecelloonline If you are looking for in person/virtual cello lessons, or orchestral repertoire audition coachings, check out www.theCelloSherpa.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads & YouTube: @theCelloSherpa For more information on our sponsor: www.CLEAResources.com  [http://www.clearesources.com/]