Today I am talking to Noah Reitman who is the assistant principal bass of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. In our chat Noah and I are talking about the influence that Covid-19 has had on our work as performers and teachers, and how the music industry is changing. Noah also talks about how his interaction on social media, his new found skills in accountancy and sound technology continue to prepare him for the future.
Noah Reitman has been assistant principal bass of the Vancouver Symphony since 2015. He is also currently the president of the Vancouver Musicians’ Association.
Having grown up in Los Angeles, Noah discovered music through his father's eclectic music collection. When he was seven, his mother bought him Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles, and from there he was hooked on music for good.
Noah picked up the bass when he was twelve and went on to study at the Colburn School with David H. Young. From there he attended the University of Michigan where he studied with Diana Gannett, followed by Indiana University where he studied with Lawrence Hurst. After that he freelanced in New York while working towards a Professional Certificate from the Manhattan School of Music.
Noah has played with some of the world's finest ensembles. He was a bass fellow at the New World Symphony from 2012-2015. During that time he also played in the Verbier Festival Orchestra in Switzerland in the summers. He has also played in the Mainly Mozart Festival Orchestra in San Diego. In addition to his position in the VSO, Noah has also played with the Pittsburgh, Detroit, Atlanta and Nashville Symphonies.
Noah is passionate about teaching and coaches bass and chamber music at Idyllwild Arts in California in the summers. He is also on the faculty at the VSO School of Music where he teaches bass lessons and coaches chamber music, as well as the Saint James Academy of Music, an el Sistema inspired program.
Noah lives in Vancouver along with his wife Maggie, and young daughter Madeline. During the pandemic of 2020, Noah and Maggie have collaborated in founding Purple Mollusk Music, a label for their varied projects. Follow Noah on YouTube to watch their latest productions!
Twitter: @noahreitman
Youtube: https://youtu.be/CrLLjDXnKVY
Websites: noahreitman.com and purplemollusk.com
Noah mentions the "Music Lovers Care Fund" connected to the VSO. Listeners who are interested in donating can contact Noah directly. A donation can be sent via paypal to the following link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=SBSG3NBZRQ424