Zanaida Robles - Part 1

For Good Measure

For Good Measure, by Ensemble for These Times (E4TT)
Episode 149: Zanaida Robles - Part 1
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In this week’s episode, we talk to Zanaida Robles about her path to becoming a composer, how her musical background influences her compositional style, and how she has balanced motherhood with her professional career. If you enjoyed today’s conversation and want to know more about Zanaida Robles, check her out here: https://zanaidarobles.com/. This episode was originally recorded in January 2024.
This podcast is made possible in part by a grant from the California Arts Council and generous donors, like you. Want to support For Good Measure and E4TT? Make a tax-deductible donation or sign up for our newsletter, and subscribe to the podcast!
Intro music: “Trifolium” by Gabriela Ortiz, performed by E4TT (Ilana Blumberg, violin; Abigail Monroe, cello; Margaret Halbig, piano), as part of “Below the Surface: Music by Women Composers,” January 29, 2022
Outro music: “Lake Turkana” by Marcus Norris, performed by E4TT (Margaret Halbig, piano), as part of “Alchemy,” October 15, 2021
Transcription courtesy of Otter.ai.
Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1903729/episodes/15732653
Producer, Host, and E4TT co-founder: Nanette McGuinness
Co-producer and Audio Engineer: Stephanie M. Neumann
Podcast Cover Art: Brennan Stokes
Interns: Renata Volchinskaya, Sam Mason, Addy Geenen, Yoyo Hung-Yu Lin

Don't miss Ensemble for These Times' upcoming concert 'Mujeres Ahora' on May 9 at the Community Music Center, presented as part of the San Francisco International Arts Festival. For more information, go to www.E4TT.org.

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Chapters

1. Zanaida Robles - Part 1 (00:00:00)

2. In this week's episode, we're joined by Dr. Zanaida Robles, who we spoke to in January 2024. (00:00:38)

3. You're a vocalist, a composer, a conductor, and educator, as well as a native Californian, rare as that is. Can you tell us more about your musical journey? Did you always know you wanted to be a musician and composer? (00:00:51)

4. Do you come from a musical family or...? (00:02:17)

5. Well, so you have one daughter...? (Two daughters!) (00:03:58)

6. You said you took lessons in other instruments? What other instruments do you play, or have you played? (00:04:43)

7. I didn't know you were a mom. You want to talk a little bit about how that might have affected your career as a musician and as a composer, you know that large can of worms? (00:06:29)

8. In your bio, you describe your music as harmonically colorful, rhythmically driven, heavily modal, occasionally with African elements and touches of progressive rock. This is such an enticing description. Can you talk about your music and the different... (00:10:14)