classical music – Surprised By Joy

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the wind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” – Plato

I’ve seen it on Hallmark cards, Instagram, Facebook, and journal covers. It’s the image of someone doing something gutsy like jumping over a chasm with the words, “Leap and the net will appear.”

I think I’ve found variations of this idea in every spiritual tradition and book of writing advice that I’ve studied. There is something powerful in setting your sights on something and THEN figuring how to make it happen.

Hearing someone else’s story about how they did this is pure inspirational gold. In this episode of the How to Share podcast, author and educator Nancy Shear tells her story of leaping. She was 15 years old when she first heard the Philadelphia Orchestra. She knew she had hear more but she didn’t have the price of the ticket. Through patience and pluck she figured out how to go in by the stage door – and that led to the amazing stories she tells in her book, I Knew a Man Who Knew Brahms.

Nancy and I talk about how sneaking in through the back door of the Philadelphia Orchestra opened so many fascinating doors in her life such landing the job as the assistant librarian to the Philadelphia Orchestra at age 17. We get to ride along with Nancy to meet all the incredible people she got to know including the wonderfully charismatic conductor Leopold Stokowski who starred in Disney’s Fantasia to the incredible cellist Mstislav Rostropovich.

Nancy lets us in on so many fantastic aspects of the workings of an orchestra and I reveal some of the ways her book changed how I listen to a performance. Her nerve, grit, and storytelling will leave you amazed and inspired. I know you’ll love this conversation with the delightful Nancy Shear.

Here are some favorite quotes:

“If you have no choice, then you make a life.”
“Money is not necessary; it led to my going backstage and meeting all these people.”
“Beauty still matters in this battered world.”
“What is to lose? You’re walking into a room of human beings.”
“Writing the book was where the courage really came in.”

And here’s Nancy telling the story of sneaking in to the Philadelphia Orchestra:

Here are some ways you can watch this fascinating and delightful episode:

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Click this link to watch in a browser: How to Share Music with Nancy Shear
Subscribe to How To Share on Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Podcasts
Subscribing to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@howtosharepodcast

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How to Share Music with Nancy Shear – How To Share

In this episode of "How to Share," host Wynne Leon engages in a captivating conversation with author and educator Nancy Shear about her memoir, "I Knew a Man Who Knew Brahms." Nancy shares her remarkable journey, beginning as a teenager who snuck into the Philadelphia Orchestra, which ultimately led to her career as an assistant librarian for the orchestra at just 17 years old. Through her stories, she recounts her encounters with legendary figures like conductor Leopold Stokowski and cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, revealing the behind-the-scenes workings of orchestras and the profound impact of music on her life. The discussion delves into the essence of classical music, its relevance in today's world, and the beauty it brings to our lives. Nancy emphasizes the importance of finding one's own path, especially for young people who may feel limited by financial constraints. Her insights on courage, creativity, and the transformative power of music resonate throughout the episode, leaving listeners inspired to embrace their own stories and opportunities.Takeaways:"If you have no choice, then you make a life.""Money is not necessary; it led to my going backstage and meeting all these people.""Beauty still matters in this battered world.""What is to lose? You’re walking into a room of human beings.""Writing the book was where the courage really came in."Links for this episode:How To Share Music transcriptI Knew a Man Who Knew Brahms by Nancy Shear on Barnes & Noble, Amazon and Simon & SchusterNancy Shear's website: https://nancyshear.com/From the host:Wynne's blog: https://wynneleon.com and book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith

Links for this episode:

How To Share Music transcript

I Knew a Man Who Knew Brahms by Nancy Shear on Barnes & Noble, Amazon and Simon & Schuster

Nancy Shear’s website: https://nancyshear.com/

From the host:

My book about my beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith

(featured photo from Pexels)

(quote from Jennie Fitzkee – Edelweiss)