Have you ever wondered where a composer finds inspiration? Should words influence the music or should music lead the way? How are words set to music, and what happens when words and music are being written simultaneously? Join Alexander Shelley and three talented and prolific composers as they investigate the challenges and rewards of marrying music and lyrics. U.S. composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate (Chickasaw Nation), JUNO Award-winning Canadian composer Vivian Fung, and Ian Cusson (Canadian Métis and the NAC’s inaugural Carrefour Composer), explore how they create the magic that a perfect union of lyrics and music delivers.Join Naomi Woo and Alexander Shelley as they chat on how they prepare for a week of rehearsals and performance with a professional orchestra. The hours of planning a conductor undertakes to prepare for a performance require every bit as much hard work, skill, acuity, and musical dexterity as that of the most seasoned instrumentalist. Listen in to this edition of Musically Speaking as Alexander Shelley and Canadian conductor Naomi Woo delve into how they plan and prepare a score for rehearsals with a professional orchestra. Noted as a socially engaged artist and educator, Naomi Woo is an established star on the Canadian conducting scene. She is RBC Assistant Conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.