The Best Podcast for
Classical Music Lovers
Professional musicians Sami Merdinian and Ian Loew are the co-hosts of Down the Pit; a podcast series that delves into the world of classical music by bringing in leading conductors, composers, and performers to the show. Our goal is to demystify, promote increased accessibility for the genre and analyze its future; we talk about classical stuff you should know!
Each episode has an incredible guest; through casual and fun conversations, we dive into their fascinating lives.
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Latest Episodes
Composing for TV & Movies:
The Jeff Cardoni Method
Film score composer Jeff Cardoni has written over 45 feature film scores and several network series to his credit; CSI: Miami, MTV’s Pimp my Ride, The Kominsky Method, as well as the final season of HBO’s hit Silicon Valley and Starz Series Heels, just name a few. During our have a fun and laid back chat, we talk about his childhood, his struggles in LA during his first few years, going all-in, his lucky break, staying true to himself, writing for TV vs Film. He also gives advice for people trying to get into the studio world, and provides great insight into the Film Score Industry. This is our final interview of 2021, but we will be back. Please stay tuned for the launching of Season 3!
Recent Episodes
with Audrey Vardanega & Christos Vayenas
Part I & Part II
Meet Your Hosts
Ian Loew has been a professional musician and music teacher in South Florida for over 14 years. A graduate of Boston University (Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Performance) and Yale University (Masters of Music), Ian helped to spearhead the Yale Class of 1957 Lincoln Bassett project in the inner city of New Haven Public School. He was an active member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, the Florida Music Educators Association and Broward County Band Directors Association.
He was named “Director by Distinction” by Fiesta-Val and has led the Falcon Cove Wind Ensemble to perform in Orchestra Hall in Chicago, and the Strathmore Hall in Washington D.C. at the World Strides Gold Music Festivals. Currently Ian is creating a few TV show scripts along with writing the music for them, and is passionate about being Co-Host of Down The Pit podcast. He is cooking up viral videos on social media as we speak 🙂
Hailed by La Nacion for his “beautiful sound and exquisite musicality”, Argentinian violinist Sami Merdinian has received worldwide recognition for his outstanding performances as a soloist and chamber musician.
Sami has recently appeared with the Montevideo Philharmonic, the Argentinian National Symphony, The Charlemagne Orchestre, The Gagneung Philharmonic in South Korea, Philharmonia of the Nations, Buenos Aires Philharmonic, South Carolina Philharmonic, the Lancaster Festival Orchestra, and the Midland and Duluth Symphonies.
As a chamber musician, Sami received the First Prize and Gold Medal at the New England International Chamber Music Competition in Boston, and the First Prize at the Victor Elmaleh Concert Artist Guild Competition in New York. Sami is one of the violinists of the string quintet Sybarite5, with whom he has performed recently at Carnegie Hall, the Library of Congress, Lincoln Center, and toured throughout United States, Canada, Asia and South America. Sami has given recitals in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, the Lebanon, Australia and Asia.
Highly sought-after as tango violinist, Mr. Merdinian has performed and recorded with some of the most prominent artists of the genre and has received a Grammy Nomination for “Masters of the Bandoneon” for Best Tango Album. Mr. Merdinian’s discography includes recordings for Universal Records, Canary Classics, CAG Records, Bright Shiny Things and Green Parrot Records.
Mr. Merdinian has been a prize winner in several international competitions including a Gold Medal in the XII International Young Solo Instrumentalists Competition in Argentina, and the New Talent Competition in Slovakia. He has also received the Rising Star Award by Tiffany & Co., was named Outstanding Artist of the Year by the Argentinian Press, and has been featured on WQXR in New York, “Spiegenzall” live from the Concertgebouw, Argentinian Classical National Station, America’s NPR, South Korean’s KBS and the BBC.
Mr. Merdinian is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the New Docta Festival in Argentina. He has led masterclasses around the USA, South America and Asia and given lectures about music and entrepreneurship in universities such as Penn State, Curtis Institute, New England Conservatory and The New School.