Chords and Queens

On this week’s podcast, I’m joined by cellist Tara Franks and violinist Preetha Narayanan, the musical duo behind Balladeste. We explore their earliest experiences with music and the story of how they came together to form the duo.With their new album, Imprints, set for release on 5 November 2026, Tara and Preetha share the inspirations behind the record, from the rich traditions of Indian classical music to the music of medieval composer Hildegard of Bingen.This episode is a celebration of musical collaboration, creative curiosity, and the importance of discovering your own ‘why’ and how, sometimes, finding that purpose can lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.Imprints: https://balladeste.bandcamp.com/album/imprintsBalladeste: https://www.balladeste.co.ukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/balladeste/✨New Episodes Every Other Monday✨Website 💻https://www.chordsandqueens.comLet’s Get Social 📱For more Classical Queens, follow us on: Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueensTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens

On today’s episode, I’m delighted to be joined by the incredible composer Helen Leach, whose music can only be described as dreamlike and beautifully cinematic. Helen shares her journey into the world of composition, reflecting on her career, the challenges she’s faced, and the experiences that have shaped her as a musician.Her story is deeply inspiring and, in many ways, universal. So many classical musicians navigate injuries, chronic pain and disabilities in silence, and Helen’s openness shines a light on an experience that deserves far more understanding and recognition within the industry.We also talk about her upcoming album, Window to the Stars (6th November 2026) , and how the breathtaking landscapes and sense of place surrounding her home in Scotland have inspired this extraordinary music.Helen Leach: Website: https://helenleach.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/helen.leachmusic/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7w0guZxxL1vWF79xUyQqvH?si=8s8UbTowR4ipoaTfK4tmTAApple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/diary-of-the-bee-chamber-works-by-helen-leach/1754390459Window to the Stars (Album): https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9969734--window-to-the-stars?srsltid=AU7gw4WbDb1t8O7WPyrAUv3ZAR9wlx71Gk5U672vqbwt-2xisOgzGyZA✨New Episodes Every Monday✨Website 💻https://www.chordsandqueens.comLet’s Get Social 📱For more Classical Queens, follow us on: Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueensTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens0:00 -Introduction 1:02 - How Helen got her start in Music3:15 - Learning the Clarinet 4:30 - Growing up in Hawick 6:29 - Discovering Composition and Her Personal Journey 13:44 How Helen found her Compositional Voice 14:49 - Writing Process 18:37 - How different paths shaped Helen’s career as a composer 19:50 - Window to the Stars 20:06 - Where the title comes from 21:39 - Being Inspired by the Scottish Landscape 22:57 - Creating a dynamic musical landscape 24:10 - Collaborating with Musicians 27:35 - Behind the making of the Album 28:34 - Advice for composers and musicians 30:43 - What piece does Helen recommend you listen to

In this episode we dive into the world of classical music education and how initiatives like the Benedetti Foundation are leading the charge in creating fulfilling, inspiring and elite music education in a variety of different locations. We talk about discouraging A-Level and GCSE statistics and the disparities between different countries within the UK and how having a certain postcode can put you at an advantage when it comes to affordable, or even free music education. The Benedetti Foundation: Website: https://www.benedettifoundation.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/benedetti_foundation/?hl=enCardiff Benedetti Sessions: https://www.benedettifoundation.org/cardiff-benedetti-sessions✨New Episodes Every Monday✨Website 💻https://www.chordsandqueens.comLet’s Get Social 📱For more Classical Queens, follow us on: Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueensTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens

In this episode, I chat to multi-disciplinary artist Nwando Ebizie about her new opera Ecstasy of the Virtues presented by Mahogany Opera. Which is her bold new take on the 900 year old Ordo Virtutum by medieval composer Hildegard of Bingen. We also talk about how she got her start in the creative industries as well as where she gets her inspiration from, and how she creates projects that not only entertain audiences, but invite them to look inward and question what they know. Ecstasy of the Virtues: https://mahoganyopera.co.uk/new-works/hildegard-visionsNwando Ebizie: Website: https://www.nwandoebizie.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nwando_ebizie/?hl=enMahogany Opera:Website: https://mahoganyopera.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mahoganyopera/✨New Episodes Every Monday✨Website 💻https://www.chordsandqueens.comLet’s Get Social 📱For more Classical Queens, follow us on: Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueensTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens

Joining me on the podcast today is the wonderful cellist, singer, pianist and composer Ayanna Witter-Johnson. We chat about her love of music at an early age, her new album New Roots and we look ahead to her upcoming performance at LSO St Luke's in London on 16th September as part of her new residency there, where the album comes to life through an evening of music, poetry and dance.New Roots First Light Tickets Here: https://www.lso.co.uk/whats-on/ayanna-witter-johnson-new-roots-first-light/Ayanna Witter-Johnson: Website: https://www.ayannamusic.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayannawj/?hl=en✨New Episodes Every Monday✨Website 💻https://www.chordsandqueens.comLet’s Get Social 📱For more Classical Queens, follow us on: Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueensTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens

In this episode, I get to talk to composer Rockey Sun Keting about her creative process, her role as Co-Director of the artist collective Tangram, and Tangram's newly announced position as one of three Artistic Partners for LSO St Luke's 2026/27 season. We also dig into her latest project, Chronicle 时•录 which is a new choral theatre work created with Tangram and SANSARA, celebrating six incredible women poets across a thousand years of Chinese history, premiering at LSO St Luke's on the 30th and 31st of August 2026. Get tickets here: https://www.lso.co.uk/chronicle-时录/Rockey Sun Keting: Website: https://www.ketingsun.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockeysunketing/✨New Episodes Every Monday✨Website 💻https://www.chordsandqueens.comLet’s Get Social 📱For more Classical Queens, follow us on: Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueensTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens

On today’s episode I’m joined by American composer Jocelyn Hagen. We talk about how she grew up with a musical family and how she discovered her love for composition through writing songs. We discuss how she founded the collective and podcast Compose Like a Girl, her upcoming album Here I Am, which features her stunning recording of The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, alongside the title track which is a piece born from conductor Eric Holtan's suggestion that Jocelyn write something celebrating the women's suffrage movement and the centennial of the 19th Amendment. Jocelyn Hagen: Website: https://jocelynhagen.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelynhagenmus/Compose Like a Girl Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Lw4XKm99bCMw5vAMPGccF?si=0ddbebf3d0ac4dddApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/compose-like-a-girl/id1698863746✨New Episodes Every Monday✨Website 💻https://www.chordsandqueens.comLet’s Get Social 📱For more Classical Queens, follow us on: Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueensTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueensTimestamps: 0:00 - Intro 1:11 - Jocelyn's Early Start in Music2:00 - Choosing a Career in Music 5:06 - How songwriting helped Jocelyn’s compositional career 5:52 - How Much of Composing is Inspiration vs Discipline 7:26 - Combining Debussy and Ed Sheeran 9:47 - The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci 12:05 - Working Across Genres 12:58 - Here I Am Album 15:47 - What made Jocelyn Start Compose like a Girl 21:22 - Interviewing other Women Composers 23:27 - What advice would you give to aspiring composers? 24:00 - Jocelyn’s Music Recommendation 25:32 - Outro

On today's episode, I sit down with pianist and composer Beatrice Nicholas to talk about her journey learning piano and composing her own music, plus her advocacy for the next generation of classical pianists and the opportunities she's creating for young musicians. We also chat about her upcoming headline show at London's Ronnie Scott's, where she'll be spotlighting the work of African American women composersBeatrice Nicholas: Website: https://www.beatricenicholas.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/beatrice_nicholas_pianist/✨New Episodes Every Monday✨Website 💻https://www.chordsandqueens.comLet’s Get Social 📱For more Classical Queens, follow us on: Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueensTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueensTimestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:02 - Early Years in Music 2:14 - The Power of Music Teachers 4:42 - Making Classical Music Accessible 7:55 - The Moment Beatrice Knew She Wanted to be a Pianist 9:21 - Rewiring Classical Music 10:52 - Becoming a Composer14:34 - Beatrice the Amazing Astronaut 16:05 - Balancing being a performer and composer 16:51 - Black and Classical EP 19:53 - The Lack of Diversity in Composition 22:08 - Creating more opportunities for composers 25:19 - Upcoming Performance at Ronnie Scott's 28:30 - What the audience can expect at Ronnie Scott’s 30:30 - Does Beatrice have any Pre-Show Rituals? 31:00 - Advice for aspiring musicians and composers 33:25 - What piece written by a woman does Beatrice recommend? 33:49 - Outro

On today's episode, I sit down with two of the composers featured at the 2026 Three Choirs Festival: Cheryl Frances-Hoad and Kerensa Briggs.We talk about how they each got started in music and found their way into composition, before diving into the pieces they're bringing to this year's festival, walking through their compositional processes, the ideas and inspirations behind the works, and what audiences can expect to hear.Cheryl Frances-Hoad: Website:https://www.cherylfranceshoad.co.ukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherylhoad/Kerensa Briggs: Gloucester Service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLVhzSrk9Q4Website: https://www.kerensabriggs.co.ukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerensabriggs/Three Choirs Festival: Website: https://3choirs.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/threechoirs/?hl=en✨New Episodes (usually) Every Monday✨Let’s Get Social 📱For more Classical Queens, follow us on: Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueensTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueensTimestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:07 - Cheryl Frances-Hoad 1:18 - Compositional Background 2:25 - Inspiration for Stones of the Sky 3:19 - Writing a composition for a specific musician to play 4:19 - Turning Gemstones into Music 5:57 - Stones of the Sky Writing Process 7:43 - Anything surprising about the finished piece? 8:40 - Being apart of Three Choirs Festival 9:29 - Kerensa Briggs 9:41 - Kerensa’s start in Composition 10:21 - What made you want to write Choral Music? 11:05 - Having your music played in the Cathedral she once performed in 12:34 - Gloucester Service Writing Process 13:24 - Did being a young chorister help with composing? 13:45 - Anything surprising about the finished piece? 14:08 - Her family history with the Three Choirs Festival 14:51 - Three Choirs Festival 2027 and Outro

On today's episode, I'm joined by percussionist, conductor, scholar, and educator Dr. Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey. We talk about her early music education in Alaska, growing up surrounded by extraordinary role models, and how that upbringing shaped her drive to put her musical training in service of real-world issues. We also dig into the persistent underrepresentation of women composers on concert programmes, and why in this day and age programming Beethoven is anything but a neutral choice. We also explore her remarkable 2019 project with the Women's Orchestra of Afghanistan, as well as her latest endeavour: recording the complete keyboard works of composer Marianna Martines.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cayennaconductor/Marianna Martines Life and Music: https://youtu.be/rKE_N21fz_0?si=SP3myJnoOxBqXBi40:00 - Introduction 1:37 - Growing up Playing Music 3:24 - Learning to Play Percussion 5:08 - Why Music Genres Don’t Matter 8:02 - How did Cayenna get into Conducting? 11:56 - How can we get more women into conducting? 14:27 - Adding Value to Orchestral Performance 17:52 - How Can Orchestral Music Help Push for Change 19:40 - Championing the Work of Women Composers 22:18 - Working with the Women’s Orchestra of Afghanistan 31:17 - How Impactful Orchestras Can be 33:24 - Recording the Complete Keyboard Works of Marianna Martines 36:30 - What did you learn about Marianna Martines? 46:38 - Reacting to male conductors calling Martines a “second rate composer”51:10 - Should all Orchestras try to Programme More Women? 53:52 - What advice would you give to the next generation? 55:17 - Who’s Cayenna adding to the playlist? ✨New Episodes Every Monday✨Let’s Get Social 📱For more Classical Queens, follow us on: Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueensTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens