Soundtracks Talks

Soundtracks is a series of talks in which community members come together to learn about the music, history, instruments, and composers featured each season. These educational events are hosted by musical luminaries and academics who share their own distinctive expertise free of charge. Soundtracks is presented as a PSO BRAVO! community outreach program in partnership with Princeton Public Library. The series is sponsored in the 2024-25 season by AffinIT. 

The latest installment of Soundtracks is a look back at the history of the PSO through the eyes of Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov, and Melanie Clarke, former Executive Director and PSO violinist.

The first Soundtracks talk of the season was presented at the Princeton Public Library on October 8th, 2024. Syndicated radio host Ross Amico engaged the audience in an overview of the history of music and film, sharing his perspective on some of the best scores to ever grace the silver screen.

In March of 2024, Maestro Rossen Milanov shared his love of his home country of Bulgaria with the audience, detailing the customs of each region. To cap off the show, soprano Mariana Karpatova performed Bulgarian tunes and taught the audience a traditional Bulgarian dance. 

Our January Soundtracks featured composers Gregory Spears and Nina Shekhar speaking with Princeton University Music Department Chair and composition professor Dan Trueman in conversation about composing at Princeton and the state of modern orchestral music. 

PSO Soundtracks: Meet the Composers from Princeton Symphony Orchestra on Vimeo.

Previously, violinist and composer William Harvey alongside tabla player Dibyarka Chatterjee. Watch below as they discuss Harvey's world-premiere piece, Seven Decisions of Gandhi, and the challenges and rewards of combining the Eastern and Western musical traditions.