Download the transcript: Coming Soon!

Season 6, Episode 17: Creating Artist-Driven Impact with Members of the Zohn Collective

In this episode, Jeff chats with members of the Zohn Collective: an artist-driven ensemble dedicated to the performance of contemporary art music.  Flutist Molly Barth and cellist Colin Stokes ’10E discuss their unique journeys touring and creating community opportunities, and pianist and composer Dr. Daniel Pesca returns to the podcast to discuss the formation of the Zohn Collective and the ensemble’s approach.  The group shares thoughts on creating mission-centered ensembles, planning opportunities in advance, and changes in career journeys.  

Host: Jeff Dunn

Guest: Daniel Pesca, Molly Barth, Colin Stokes

Mixing, Mastering: Ash Mach

Artwork: Luke Juntunen

Music: Will Jae

Learn More about the Zohn Collective

Learn More about Daniel Pesca

Learn More about Molly Barth

Learn More about Colin Stokes

Contact Jeff with questions, comments, or ideas for new episodes.

Download the transcript: Coming Soon!

Season 6, Episode 16: Coming Together for Community with the Walker West Music Academy

In this episode, Jeff chats with Earl Ross, a teaching artist at the Walker West Music Academy. The Walker West Music Academy creates a music learning community rooted in the African American cultural experience, where people of all ages and backgrounds gather to explore, perform, and grow through music. Earl is the founder and artistic director of the Kamionge Strings, whose project “Stringocracy!” was the recipient of a Paul R. Judy Center for Innovation and Research grant. Earl is joined by Mukuhi, a student in the program, and together they discuss the history of the Academy, the impact in the community, and how dialogue and collaboration affect both the musical and extramusical experience.

Host: Jeff Dunn

Guest: Earl Ross, Mukuhi

Mixing, Mastering: Ash Mach

Artwork: Luke Juntunen

Music: Will Jae

Learn More about the Walker West Music Academy

Contact Jeff with questions, comments, or ideas for new episodes.

Download the transcript: Coming Soon!

Season 6, Episode 15: Collaboration, Creation, and Contemporary Percussion with Pax Duo

In this episode, Jeff chats with Tristan Swihart ’21E and Micah Detweiler about pax duo: a dynamic new percussion project that aims to break preconceptions of contemporary percussion through collaboration and new creation of genre bending works. Tristan and Micah discuss their personal journeys and the inspiration for this ensemble, along with their other professional ventures and projects. The guests offer their insights and recommendations for those interested in professional chamber music, building a network in a new location, and starting ventures post-graduation.

Host: Jeff Dunn

Guest: Tristan Swihart ’21E and Micah Detweiler

Mixing, Mastering: Jeff Dunn

Artwork: Luke Juntunen

Music: Will Jae

Learn more about Tristan Swihart

Learn more about Micah Detweiler

Contact Jeff with questions, comments, or ideas for new episodes.

Download the transcript: Coming Soon!

Season 6, Episode 14: Founding a Festival with Scott Lykins ’09E, ’11E (MM) and John Taylor Ward ’10E

In this episode, Jeff chats with Scott Lykins and John Taylor Ward about their journey in creating the Lakes Area Music Festival. Scott and Taylor are co-founders of the festival, which began as small performances between semesters at Eastman, and has now grown into a summer of performances in central Minnesota featuring over 250 artists. Scott and John discuss the evolution of the festival, the ways it’s impact their journey, and share advice for those with similar interests and goals.

Host: Jeff Dunn

Guest: Scott Lykins ’09E, ’11E (MM) and John Taylor Ward ’10E

Mixing, Mastering: Jeff Dunn

Artwork: Luke Juntunen

Music: Will Jae

Learn more about Scott Lykins

Learn more about John Taylor Ward

Contact Jeff with questions, comments, or ideas for new episodes.

Download the transcript: Coming Soon!

Season 6, Episode 13: A Flutist’s Journey to Wall Street with Justin Berrie ’02E

In this episode, Jeff chats with Justin Berrie about his journey as both a flutist and investment professional. Justin describes his pursuit of an orchestral career, his experiences with Symphonica Arturo Toscanini and the St. Louis Symphony among other orchestras as a substitute, and the realizations that encouraged him to alter his path. Justin details how he entered the investment business and the lessons he learned about leveraging the skills he developed at Eastman.

Host: Jeff Dunn

Guest: Justin Berrie

Mixing, Mastering: Jeff Dunn

Artwork: Luke Juntunen

Music: Will Jae

Learn more about Justin Berrie

Contact Jeff with questions, comments, or ideas for new episodes.

Download the transcript: Coming Soon!

Season 6, Episode 12: Creating Opportunity for Cultural Ambassadorship with Rena Kraut

In this episode, Rachel Roberts chats with Rena Kraut, the Executive Director of CAYO. Through a successful career as a freelance clarinetist and educator, Rena had a pivotal experience in Cuba that encouraged her to create this cultural partnership between musicians in the US and Cuba. Rena shares this experience, more about the weeklong visits to Cuba, and the lessons learned through these opportunities for musicians to connect.

Host: Rachel Roberts

Guest: Rena Kraut

Mixing, Mastering: Jeff Dunn

Artwork: Luke Juntunen

Music: Will Jae

Learn more about Rena Kraut

Contact Jeff with questions, comments, or ideas for new episodes.

Download the transcript: Coming Soon!

Season 6, Episode 11: Developing Programs and Audiences with Angela Rubin

In this episode, Jeff chats with Angela Rubin, a violist, scholar, and educator who was the first recipient of the AMP Up grant. Angela discusses her recital program, musical goals, and approach to programming repertoire by female composers not originally for the viola. Angela shares her marketing approach that won the grant funding, and the lessons learned through executing her project.

Host: Jeff Dunn

Guest: Angela Rubin

Mixing, Mastering: Jeff Dunn

Artwork: Luke Juntunen

Music: Will Jae

Learn more about Angela Rubin

Contact Jeff with questions, comments, or ideas for new episodes.

Download the transcript: Coming Soon!

Season 6, Episode 10: Exploring Musical Crossroads with Haik Demirchian ’24E

In this episode, Jeff chats with Haik Demirchian ’24E, an award-winning Trombonist and Educator from St. Louis, Missouri. Haik won an IML Mentorship Grant to fund his album, Crossroads, which incorporates Haik’s research of folk music in Armenia and the U.S., blending these influences with his jazz and classical training. Haik shares stories of Armenian history, culture, and performance in contrast to the US. Haik also reflects on his experiences touring with Broadway’s “Hadestown” and shares his perspective on how musicians can take the necessary steps to reach their goals.

Host: Jeff Dunn

Guests: Haik Demirchian

Mixing, Mastering: Jeff Dunn

Artwork: Luke Juntunen

Music: Will Jae

Transcript: TBD

Learn more about Haik Demirchian and listen to Crossroads now.

Contact Jeff with questions, comments, or ideas for new episodes.

Download the transcript: Coming Soon!

Season 6, Episode 9: How We Hear Music with Charles Limb, Elise Piazza, and Gaelen McCormick ’92E

In this episode, Jeff chats with Dr. Charles Limb, the Francis A Sooy Professor and Chief of Otology and Neurotology and Skull base Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Elise Piazza, Assistant Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, and Gaelen McCormick ’92E, the Director of the Eastman Performing Arts Medicine Center. The panel discusses an intersection of music and medicine in researching how people hear music, cochlear implants, and the career journeys of those researching music.

Host: Jeff Dunn

Guests: Charles Limb, Elise Piazza, Gaelen McCormick

Mixing, Mastering: Jeff Dunn

Artwork: Luke Juntunen

Music: Will Jae

Transcript: TBD

Learn more about the Eastman Performing Arts Medicine Center, Dr. Charles Limb, and the SoNIC Lab

Contact Jeff with questions, comments, or ideas for new episodes.

Download the transcript: Coming Soon!

Season 6, Episode 8: Composing a Living with Brandon Elliott and Dale Trumbore

In this episode, Jeff chats with Brandon Elliott and Dale Trumbore, co-authors of “Composing a Living: A Music Creator’s Guide to Money, Relationships, and Business.” Elliott and Trumbore interviewed 28 composers to compile advice and information that supports a composer’s journey, including negotiating contracts, understanding copyright, diversifying income, and more. Both discuss their personal journey as musicians, and their work supporting young composers to enable creators to build a sustainable career.

Host: Jeff Dunn

Guests: Brandon Elliott and Dale Trumbore

Mixing, Mastering: Jeff Dunn

Artwork: Luke Juntunen

Music: Will Jae

Transcript: Coming Soon!

Learn more about Brandon Elliott, Dale Trumbore, and Composing A Living.

Contact Jeff with questions, comments, or ideas for new episodes.