Episode #23: Corbin Castro and Tanner West

Hello and welcome back to the Dominic Brancazio Podcast where we talk about all things classical music! To start off the show in this new year, we are joined by my two great friends, Corbin Castro and Tanner West. Corbin completed his undergraduate degree at the Manhattan School of Music, his master’s degree at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, did a fellowship with the New World Symphony and is currently the Acting Second Horn with the North Carolina Symphony. Tanner earned is undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, did a performance studies certificate at the Colburn Conservatory of Music and is currently the Acting Fourth Horn with the North Carolina Symphony.

In today’s conversation we continue talking about different practice strategies covering our instrument the horn. In this talk we specifically go over a little bit about how Corbin and Tanner got into playing the horn, specific exercises they do for warming up, balancing practice time while in an orchestra season, we all three talk about approaching specific horn related technical issues, using mental practice for different scenarios, and other actives we all enjoy outside of music as well.

This talk was so much fun to do! Due to the pandemic, most of my interviews have been online, but this one we were able to do in person! We celebrated the fact that we could get together by enjoying some pizza during the chat as well. It is always fun hearing the similarities and differences in the approach to practicing, especially when everyone in the conversation plays the same instrument. There are endless ways to practice so I hope this conversation sparks some new possibilities and ideas for you all listening to try out in your own sessions.

If you want to learn more about what Corbin and Tanner are up to, I attached some links to check out below. I had a blast getting to sit down with these two and getting to hear them play all the time with the North Carolina Symphony and I hope you all enjoy what they have to say. Thank you for listening and please enjoy the show!

Links mentioned in the podcast:

https://www.viamusicacademy.org

https://www.instagram.com/tannnerwest/