In our second annual Classical Classroom Summer Music Festival Series, we hit the (sound)waves at the Music Academy of the West in sunny Santa Barbara, California!

Library of Congress “Living Legend” and Grammy Award-winning baritone Thomas Hampson has reached a point in his life and career at which one might use the term “venerable” to describe him. “Wise” is another word that music journalists probably throw down when talking about him. And they would not be wrong. But even Thomas Hampson got his start somewhere. In this interview, he talks about his classical music beginnings at the Music Academy of the West, and about conveying the grand meaning of music as a teacher to young people in master classes there now.

Music in this episode (all performed by Thomas Hampson):

• Three Songs Op. 10: No. 1, Rain Has Fallen by Samuel Barber
• Sechs Lieder aus “Lotosblatter,” Op. 19, 6 Mein Herz ist stumm, mein Herz ist kalt by Richard Strauss
• Vier Lieder, Op. 27: 3. Heimliche Aufforderung by Richard Strauss.

Audio production by Todd “Toddsong” Hulslander with editing by Mark DiClaudio and lipsyncing by Dacia Clay. Thanks to the Music Academy of the West for their help with these interviews, especially to Emma Levine and Kate Oberjat, who’s quite frankly, done a lot.