Gene Pokorny episode artwork

EPISODE · May 27, 2026 · 1H 11M

Gene Pokorny

from beyond ArtLess

Send us Fan MailIn 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 OrchestraPokorny Low Brass SeminarCredits:Skirmish and Dance · Jeffrey Reynolds  Big Boy Album ℗ 2005 Summit Records Released on: 2001-02-01.  https://youtu.be/1uSzYq-08Iw?si=XvAfQfuoWTkfCHiFCarl 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=iMpXuImhgPO9BPD1Mahler: 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=FMqBfKdVTXYfKDTzGershwin: 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_IzvYySaint-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, Conductor Cameron Carpenter, Organ Live at Orchestra Hall, December 2022 https://youtu.be/5xrHCJbyG2M?si=CL03JHIsb0KhXRqQPartita in A minor for Flute Alone BMV 1013 Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises Partita in A minor for Flute Alone BMV 1013 · Gene Pokorny Tuba Tracks ℗ 2005 Summit Records Released on: 1995-04-01 https://youtu.be/kQcdD33NXfw?si=cLjI8jGxwXeYxrz7REGISTER NOW:2027 BEYOND THE NOTE FESTIVALS  https://www.btnmusicfestival.com/festivals/ensembles/kalahari-1COMMISSION POSSIBLE 2027 W/ ADRIAN SIMS https://www.btnmusicfestival.com/education/commissionCOMMISSION POSSIBLE 2028 W/ OMAR THOMAS https://forms.gle/ZswvHWEZK3HBozXZ7FREE MUSIC: Wisconsin Arts Celebration Project (Marie Douglas “Yellow Birds”) https://dpi.wi.gov/fine-arts/wisconsin-arts-celebration-project-0Max Joy - Erika Svanoe https://www.erikasvanoe.com/btn.htmlSupport the show

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Send us Fan Mail 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 Chi...

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Gene Pokorny

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