
Show Notes
A member of the New York Philharmonic’s first violin section since 2001, Yulia Ziskel, who holds The Friends and Patrons Chair, has established herself as a highly acclaimed solo, chamber, and orchestral musician. She has been praised by The Strad Magazine for “the sweetness of her sound.” This week, she joins Alex to discuss her upbringing in Russia, the evolution of her career, and the intersection of classical, rock, and metal. The two discuss classical pieces that have been translated into modern music, and Ziskel shares some musical influences that may surprise you. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Yulia Ziskel began her musical training on the violin and piano at the age of four. She made her solo debut at age seven at the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Hall and at age twelve was a soloist with St. Petersburg Chamber Orchestra. As a teenager she toured extensively, appearing in solo recitals throughout Russia, Germany, Finland, Poland, and the United States. In 1994 Ms. Ziskel’s family immigrated to the United States, where she completed her bachelor of music degree at Indiana University and later received her master’s degree from The Juilliard School. Listen to music from the episode here. Moods & Modes is presented by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe and Brad Stratton. Editing and mixing by Justin Thomas (Revoice Media). Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. If you like what you hear, please share, rate, review & subscribe! Visit SunsetLakeCBD.com and use the promo code MODES for 20% off premium CBD products. Visit www.musicmasterscollective.org/modes to learn more about unique music summer camps and events. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from Moods & Modes
In this episode, Alex welcomes pianist, composer, and educator Kenny Werner, author of the landmark book Effortless Mastery. Kenny’s teachings have revolutionized the way musicians think about practice, performance, and creativity. Though widely respected for his playing, Werner's profound influence as a teacher has often eclipsed his musical output—something this episode sets out to correct.
Alex welcomes Moon Zappa to discuss her book, Earth To Moon, which explores the complexities of growing up in families characterized by narcissism and fame. Alex and Moon reflect on the legacies of their fathers, the impact of parental influence on artistic expression, and the notion that genius does not always translate into practical life skills. Moon shares her experience of finding refuge in artistic expression during her upbringing, recounts her journey of self-discovery, and tells Alex about her latest creative projects. Moon Unit Zappa is the daughter of legendary musician Frank Zappa and his second wife, Gail. At the age of fourteen, Moon appeared in Frank Zappa’s career defining music video, “Valley Girl,” which later helped jump-start her own career. Since then, Moon has worked as an actress, writer, comedian, artist, businesswoman, and podcaster. Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick and the Alex Skolnick Trio. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Studio Kairos. Follow Moon @iammoonunitzappa Follow Alex @alexskolnick @moodsandmodes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Borrowed Music, Volume 3! Join Alex as he dives into another fascinating mix of music "inspired by" others, uncovering hidden connections across genres from classical and country to iconic film scores, TV themes, and radio hits we all know and love. Alex illustrates the threads binding songs and styles—hear how Nazareth and Heart share an unexpected arrangement, how Van Halen took a cover song to new heights, and how a classic TV theme inspired a reggae legend. As always, there are plenty of surprises! Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick and the Alex Skolnick Trio (and in this episode, PAKT). Episode cover photo by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Studio Kairos. Cover photo by Alex Skolnick. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode, Alex visits the iconic Carmine Street Guitars in New York City with his bandmates Percy Jones and Tim Motzer from PAKT. The shop, established by Rick Kelly, crafts distinctive guitars from reclaimed wood salvaged from the city's historic buildings. These guitars, known for their unique sound, have caught the attention of celebrated musicians such as Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Jim Jarmisch, Jamie Hince, and Daniel Kessler, to name a few. During their visit, Rick Kelly and his apprentice, Cindy Hulej—who has since launched her own brand, Cindy Guitars—delve into the shop's history, their meticulous guitar-making process, and anecdotes about their custom instruments and notable clients. This episode offers a rare glimpse into a one-of-a-kind shop where each piece tells a story of New York’s past, marrying craftsmanship with music history.
Al Di Meola is a pioneer of blending world music, rock and jazz. His ongoing fascination for complex rhythmic syncopation, combined with provocative lyrical melodies and sophisticated harmony, has been the heart of his music throughout a celebrated career that has spanned over four decades. In this incredible episode, Al joins Alex to talk about his musical journey, the evolution of his guitar vocabulary, and the importance of work ethic. Alex and Al discuss the impact of technology on creativity, and Al reflects on the evolution of music and the enduring legacy of iconic musicians. Al Di Meola is a Grammy award winning musician who has achieved worldwide fame for both, being a solo artist and for his collaborations with Frank Zappa, Jimmy Page, Stevie Wonder, Chick Corea, Paco De Lucia, John McLaughlin, Jean-Luc Ponty, Stanley Clarke, Luciano Pavarotti, Paul Simon, Phil Collins, Santana, Steve Winwood, Herbie Hancock, and many more. Al Di Meola holds the highest amount of Guitar awards in different categories from Guitar Player magazine (US). Follow Al Di Meola Follow Alex @alexskolnick @moodsandmodes @alexskolnicktrio @testamentofficial Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick and the Alex Skolnick Trio. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Studio Kairos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices