Rephonic
Artwork for The Cello Sherpa Podcast

The Cello Sherpa Podcast

Joel Dallow
Chamber Music
Auditions
Music Education
Cello
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Classical Music
Education
Summer Music Programs
Manhattan School Of Music
Juilliard School
Cello Performance
Musical Literacy
Musicianship
Tchaikovsky Competition
Avery Fisher Career Grant
Juilliard
Social Media
Music Librarianship
Emily Wright
Audition Process

Do you dream of someday getting to perform at Carnegie Hall, or wonder what it takes to be a professional musician? The Cello Sherpa Podcast is for anyone who enjoys the tales and scales in the life of a classical musician, or for the young classical musician who dreams big! We explore all aspects of the climb to the summit from student to the professional stage! Joel Dallow, the Cello Sherpa, int... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes148Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Performing ArtsArtsBusinessCareers

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Cello Sherpa Podcast

Latest Episodes

Bach’s cello suites are some of the most recorded, most studied music ever written, which raises a risky question: can you add anything to them without breaking what makes them timeless? We explore that question with Brick House Duo, cellist Jennifer... more

He had the conservatory training, the orchestral chops, and the “proper” classical path laid out ahead of him, but Sebastian Plano couldn’t ignore the stronger call: make his own music. We sit down with the Grammy-nominated cellist and composer to tr... more

Your bow is the only part of your rig you touch every second you play, yet most of us shop for one like we’re guessing in the dark. We sit in a room, try ten options, get overwhelmed by “better” and “worse,” and somehow leave with more confusion than... more

The audition screen can make great players feel powerless, but it also reveals something encouraging: the results often go to the musician with the most repeatable process. We’re joined by cellist Charles Zandieh, fresh off a one-year position with t... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Jennifer Kloetzel
Cellist, member of The Brick House Duo
The Brick House Duo
Episode: “Something Borrowed, Something Bach” - An Interview with Cellist Jennifer Kloetzel, and Violinist Peter Wilson, The BrickHouse Duo
Peter Wilson
Violinist, member of The Brick House Duo
The Brick House Duo
Episode: “Something Borrowed, Something Bach” - An Interview with Cellist Jennifer Kloetzel, and Violinist Peter Wilson, The BrickHouse Duo
Sebastian Plano
Cellist, composer, and Grammy-nominated artist
Self-directed music career, Solo project
Episode: "Defining Your Own Voice" - An Interview with Cellist and Composer, Sebastian Plano
Natasha Brofsky
Cellist, Chair of Juilliard Cello Department
The Juilliard School
Episode: "Shut Up and Play" - An Interview with Cellist Natasha Brofsky, Chair of The Juilliard School Cello Department
Carter Brey
Principal Cellist, New York Philharmonic (retiring after this season)
New York Philharmonic
Episode: "Last BOW" - An Interview with Carter Brey, Principal Cellist of the New York Philharmonic
Nicholas Hersh
Conductor, music director of the Modesto Symphony and principal conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Academy
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Episode: "Called Up to the Majors: Orchestra Fantasy Camp" - An Interview with Conductor Nicholas Hersh, Principal Conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Academy
Seth Parker Woods
Cellist, international soloist, faculty at USC Thornton School of Music
USC Thornton School of Music
Episode: “From Vision to Commission” - An Interview with Cellist Seth Parker Woods, International Soloist, Faculty, USC Thornton School of Music
Matt Haimovitz
Cellist, Assistant Professor of Cello at University of Minnesota Twin Cities School of Music
University of Minnesota Twin Cities School of Music
Episode: "Seven Feet Long and Nearly Silent" - An Interview with Cellist Matt Haimovitz, University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Pianist Christopher O'Riley, Former Host of NPR's From the Top
Christopher O'Riley
Pianist, former host of NPR's From the Top
NPR/From the Top
Episode: "Seven Feet Long and Nearly Silent" - An Interview with Cellist Matt Haimovitz, University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Pianist Christopher O'Riley, Former Host of NPR's From the Top

Host

Joel Dallow
Host of The Cello Sherpa Podcast; explores career paths, practice, and leadership in the classical music world.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 106 ratings
  • Trusted Guide and Source of Motivation

    The Cello Sherpa Podcast is an inspiring and practical resource for musicians at every stage. The show blends Joel’s own hard-won experience with insights from a wide range of musicians, experts, and special guests. Each episode tackles real issues while keeping an encouraging, down-to-earth tone that makes listeners feel supported on their musical journey. By weaving together high-level artistry with candid advice and personal stories, Joel is a thoughtful interviewer and has created a podcast ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stanford Leon
    United Statesa year ago
  • It’s like a great piece of music itself

    If you are a musician of any description and especially if you are a cellist, this podcast is a must in your musical journey. The caliber of information is 2nd to none (Just look through the guest list!) Where else can you hear from the greats in our profession and with such professionalism. Joel is amazing! His contribution to our cello ecosystem is amazing. I have listened to every episode at least twice. This podcast is like a great piece of music itself. Every time you come back to it, you l... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Clay McKinney
    United Statesa year ago
  • I love the interviews with cellists. Really appreciate that there are interviews with orchestral cellists, haven't seen much of that elsewhere. I listen to it every week as soon as it comes out.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    shfkcog
    3 years ago
  • Great for parents of music kids!

    This is a great podcast, but what I appreciate most is how Joel always asks the guests how they got their start, if they are from a musical family, what practice looked like for them as a kid and how they felt about their parents help in their journey. As a parent who is very involved with practice, it’s nice to hear that so many of these amazing players mention how helpful parents were. It’s encouraging to hear that this may be a good path because generally I feel like we need to let kids figur... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JenTejada
    United States3 years ago
  • Awesome!

    I love this podcast! I think it is done very well.

    The only couple of things I would change is this: make it more exciting, and play some of the music that that guest plays as an example of what kind of player they are.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    genevieve mercer
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are described as world-class and generous with mentorship and stories.
The show is seen as a credible, motivational resource for musicians aiming high in classical music.
Listeners praise the host's grounded, insightful questions and practical takeaways for real-world careers.
Commenters note high production quality and thoughtful exploration of both performance and pedagogy.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

“Something Borrowed, Something Bach” - An Interview with Cellist Jennifer Kloetzel, and Violinist Peter Wilson, The BrickHouse Duo
Q: Well, let me ask you then, Jennifer, what was it like to receive these pieces of music that were written specifically for you, built around the repertoire you've lived with for your entire career?
Jennifer describes the pieces as a meaningful, wedding-gift-like collaboration that expands how Bach can be heard, noting the flexibility of the descants and the possibility of sharing them with other performers while maintaining fidelity to Bach's language.
"Defining Your Own Voice" - An Interview with Cellist and Composer, Sebastian Plano
Q: What sparked the shift away from traditional classical paths toward creating your own music?
The realization came during the last year of my master's, when I felt a disconnection from the concert world and a strong pull toward shaping my own voice and experimenting beyond conventional roles.
"Defining Your Own Voice" - An Interview with Cellist and Composer, Sebastian Plano
Q: Would you call yourself a cellist who composes or a composer who uses the cello to express his music?
I am definitely a composer who uses the cello to express my music, not just a cellist interpreting others' works; the cello serves as the primary instrument to define me as a creator.
"Defining Your Own Voice" - An Interview with Cellist and Composer, Sebastian Plano
Q: Who was your teacher at Boston and how did that choice influence your path?
I studied with Rhonda Ryder at Boston, which opened access to broader musical worlds and eventually connected me to Peter and other collaborators; it reinforced the idea that learning through different styles and community is essential to growth.
"The Dynamics of Equity" - An Interview with Stanford Thompson, Executive Director of Equity Arc
Q: What piece of advice would you offer to someone trying to build something meaningful within an environment not designed for them?
Collaborate with others, design for the long game, protect your humanity, and remember that the system is incomplete, not broken; create for broader impact rather than individual gain.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Cello Sherpa Podcast

What is The Cello Sherpa Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A deep-dish portrait of a life in classical music, focusing on careers from student to professional stage. Episodes spotlight orchestral leadership, pedagogy, collaboration, and the evolving landscape for contemporary and traditional repertoire, with guests ranging from principal cellists and conductors to educators and composers. Listeners get practical career guidance, mentorship stories, and behind-the-scenes insights into audition culture, practice routines, and the dynamics of working with top ensembles. The show stands out for its emphasis on cello-focused perspectives, cross-genre collaborations, and discussions about equity, education, and sustaining a long, sustainable musical life.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Cello Sherpa Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Cello Sherpa Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Cello Sherpa Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Cello Sherpa Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Cello Sherpa Podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Cello Sherpa Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Cello Sherpa Podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Cello Sherpa Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Cello Sherpa Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Cello Sherpa Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Cello Sherpa Podcast:

1. The Lonely Cello Podcast
2. Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast
3. Classical Music Happy Hour
4. Classical Breakdown
5. The Bulletproof Musician

How many episodes of The Cello Sherpa Podcast are there?

The Cello Sherpa Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 148 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Cello Sherpa Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Cello Sherpa Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Cello Sherpa Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Cello Sherpa Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Cello Sherpa Podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Cello Sherpa Podcast?

Recent guests on The Cello Sherpa Podcast include:

1. Jennifer Kloetzel
2. Peter Wilson
3. Sebastian Plano
4. Natasha Brofsky
5. Carter Brey
6. Nicholas Hersh
7. Seth Parker Woods
8. Matt Haimovitz

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days