Music Makers

Karen Schnackenberg (DSO Principal Librarian)

Each performance at the Dallas Symphony begins long before the musicians play a single note on stage. There’s an entire world of preparation that happens behind the scenes, and today, we’re pulling back the curtain on one of the most essential – and least visible – parts of the orchestra: the music library. Today’s Music Maker is longtime Principal Librarian Karen Schnackenberg, who has dedicated her career to making sure the path from printed page to performance feels completely seamless for musicians and audiences alike. Every piece of music we have performed since 1990 has crossed her desk in some way; from ordering the proper editions and correcting any printing errors, to marking bowings and rehearsal systems and then carefully placing the music on each stand before a rehearsal or concert. Or... as Karen puts it, “ensuring that the right music is in the right hands at the right time.”  So how does one become an orchestra librarian? Karen shares how the path to the library has changed over the years and why she has personally dedicated her time to mentoring so many aspiring librarians over the years, including me! I started my career in our music library back in 2013 and learned so much from my time with Karen and our other librarians before eventually moving into marketing and communications. As Karen prepares for retirement, she reflects on the legacy she leaves behind and some highlights from her extraordinary tenure, like being hired by Eduardo Mata and building the music library in the then-brand-new Meyerson Symphony Center, to working alongside current Music Director Fabio Luisi. Her decades of tireless work have had an immeasurable impact, both here at the DSO, and across the classical music industry. I hope you enjoy getting to know Karen in this episode. Find us on social media @dallassymphony, and be sure to follow Music Makers wherever you’re listening so you never miss an episode.

Anthony Blake Clark (DSO Chorus Director)

Today’s Music Maker is Anthony Blake Clark, director and conductor of the Dallas Symphony Chorus, the all-volunteer official vocal ensemble of the DSO, just in time for our performances of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8. If you’ve ever experienced a performance of this monumental work — also known as the “Symphony of a Thousand” — you know it’s less like a concert and more like a force of nature. Nearly 400 players, including singers from three choruses, come together for a sound like nothing you’ve ever heard. Blake, and the Dallas Symphony Chorus are an integral part of this undertaking, which you can see at the DSO this week, for the first time in more than 25 years. In this episode, Blake takes us behind the scenes of the 190-member Dallas Symphony Chorus, from the massive coordination required for productions like Mahler 8 to the unique culture of choir life itself. He shares why singing is one of the most vulnerable forms of music-making, how growing up in Amarillo shaped his love of storytelling through music, and why he believes music really can change the world by changing people. We also talk about his path from singer and composer to chorus conductor, and we put him through an important test: rating stereotypical singer pre-concert rituals, from lip trills to avoiding dairy to never, ever saying “break a leg.” I hope you enjoy getting to know Blake in this episode. Find us on social media @dallassymphony, and be sure to follow Music Makers wherever you’re listening so you never miss an episode.

Meredith Kufchak (DSO Principal Viola)

This week’s music maker is DSO Principal Viola Meredith Kufchak.  Have you ever wondered why the viola gets so much hate? As Meredith explains, there’s actually good reason — and it goes all the way back to the instrument’s earliest days.  Meredith is the youngest of six siblings, all of them musicians. She chose the viola at just four years old, inspired by her older sister, and grew up in a home she fondly describes as “basically a conservatory,” with six kids all competing for practice time.  We also talk about her journey to the DSO, including a year-long audition process, and how her life has changed since moving to Dallas in 2019. Spoiler alert: it includes another DSO love story.  If you’re listening on release day, April 16, the world premiere of Jonathan Leshnoff’s Four Scenes from Childhood is happening tonight, with Meredith as soloist. It’s not often the viola takes center stage, and this piece holds special meaning for both the composer and Meredith.  Stay tuned to learn more about this unique new piece, and I hope you enjoy getting to know Meredith in this episode.  Find us on social media @dallassymphony, and be sure to follow Music Makers wherever you’re listening so you never miss an episode.

Jenna Barghouti (DSO Violin)

Meet DSO violinist Jenna Barghouti! Jenna grew up in Ramallah, in Palestine’s West Bank, where she began music lessons at just six years old. At the time, she was one of only six students at her conservatory, and for much of her childhood, music felt like just a hobby. But with encouragement from her family and teachers, her talent quickly blossomed. She went on to join the Palestine Youth Orchestra and eventually made her way to the U.S. to study at Indiana University.  Offstage, Jenna enjoys spending time with her family and exploring the city—and she shares some great recommendations for Arabic food in DFW, so be sure to listen through to the end.  I hope you enjoy getting to know Jenna and feel inspired by her story—a reminder, to in her father’s words, “not give up until the world shuts every door in your face.”  Find us on social media @dallassymphony, and be sure to follow Music Makers wherever you’re listening so you never miss an episode.

Daphne Volle (DSO Violin)

Today’s Music Maker is DSO violinist Daphne Volle. Daphne has been part of the orchestra since 1996 and has witnessed decades of change—from a new generation of musicians joining the ensemble to the DSO's expanded presence in the community. Originally from Lyon, France, she began playing the violin at just four years old and went on to study at the Paris Conservatory before making her way to Dallas.  In this episode, Daphne and I talk about how the city’s arts scene has evolved, memorable moments from her time in the DSO, and the things that make orchestra life special.  She also shares her love of cooking, some of her favorite experiences traveling the world, and why great music—especially Beethoven—never gets old.  But you’ll definitely want to stay until the end to hear about the incredible bond she shares with her rescue dog, Athos and their volunteer work with Alliance of Therapy Dogs, where they bring comfort to those who need it most in our community. I hope you enjoy getting to know Daphne in this episode.  Find us on social media @dallassymphony, and be sure to follow Music Makers wherever you’re listening so you never miss an episode.