Episode 34: Merwin Siu on Transforming Local Pride into National Impact through New Music

Please join me as I talk with Merwin Siu, Artistic Administrator of Live Arts Toledo and Principal Second Violin of the Toledo Symphony, about how thoughtful programming, local partnerships, and long-term trust shape successful orchestral seasons. Merwin describes programming as a kind of “menu,” balancing the familiar and unfamiliar to create coherent musical experiences that resonate with specific communities. Drawing on projects inspired by Toledo’s astronomy program and regional conservation efforts, he shows how new music can feel both deeply local and broadly universal. The conversation also explores interdisciplinary collaboration and why new music is most effective when it’s integrated into a larger artistic narrative rather than treated as an isolated add-on.

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