Lessons for Musicians
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S5E13 – Behind the Stacks of the Sibley Music Library with Rick McRae
Download the transcript: S5E13 Transcript Season 5, Episode 13: Behind the Stacks of the Sibley Music Library with Rick McRae In this episode, Jeff sits down with Rick McRae, Catalog/Reference Librarian at the Sibley Music Library, where he primarily catalogs Eastman-related materials such as dissertations, concerts, and recital recordings.
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S5E12 – Breaking into Broadway with Chad Smith ’98E (MM)
n this episode, Jeff chats with Chad Smith ’98E (MM), saxophonist and woodwind artist. Chad discusses his varied experiences touring, performing on Broadway for shows such as Wicked and Threepenny Opera, among other live performance and recording in both New York and Los Angeles. Additionally, Chad speaks about his teaching and development of a multi-woodwind…
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S5E11 – International Journeys for Musicians with Rosanna Moore ’14E (MM) ’19E (DMA)
In this episode, IML Associate Director Blaire Koerner chats with Eastman alumna, English harpist, educator, and actor Dr. Rosanna Moore. Moore talks about the challenges, opportunities, and suggestions for international musicians who aim to study and work in the United States. She will discuss the steps she took to gain her positions and visa status in America,…
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S5E10 – Decolonizing Classical Music with Sugar Hill Salon
In this episode, Jeff chats with Alexander Davis, founder and Artistic Director of Sugar Hill Salon, and Brianna Garcon, the Director of Development, about their organization and a series of concerts in Jackie Robinson Park funded in part by a Paul R. Judy Center for Innovation and Research Grant. Sugar Hill Salon is one of…
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S5E9 – The Winds of Change with the Zephyr Ensemble and Michael Witt ’23E
In this episode, Jeff chats with Eastman alum and IML Mentorship Grant winner Michael Witt. Witt discusses the Zephyr Ensemble, a group he founded that brings together the aspects of the modern wind ensemble and mold it into a chamber setting. He shares his goals and inspiration for creating this group, the changes in his…
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S5E8 – The Art Behind the Stage with Noah Sesling ’22E and Chris Dingstad ’04E
In this podcast, Eastman alumni Noah Sesling ’22E and Chris Dingstad ’04E discuss their roles as arts and orchestral managers, offering valuable insights and advice for students aspiring to enter this career or hoping to obtain a manager in the future. They also reflect on how their education at Eastman has shaped their professional journeys.…
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S5E7 – The Eastman Leadership Conference
Join a community of leaders this summer at the Eastman Leadership Conference. Recorded live this past summer, hear from participants as they finish one of the many activities over the course of the 3 1/2-day experience. Capped at only 35 participants, this intimate conference is for current and aspiring deans, associate/assistant deans, department chairs, and any…
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S5E6 – The Music of the Earth with Glenn McClure
In this episode, Jeff chats with Glenn McClure, eco-musician and composer, about his path travelling the world and capturing the voice of the Earth. McClure discusses his compositional approach to translating natural mathematical data into music, his time with the European Space Agency, and his travels to Antarctica through the U.S. National Science Foundation. He…
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S5E5 – From Concept to Stage: Crafting Refract with 3D Percussion
In this episode, Jeff chats with the members of 3D Percussion about their performance of Refract in Chicago in the summer of 2024. 3D Percussion’s mission is to connect with audiences by curating creative musical experiences that we believe in, and includes Youngkyoung Lee ’24E (DMA), Sammy DeAngelis ’23E (MM), and Emma Gierszal ’20E (MM) ’24E (DMA). …
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S5E4 – Sharing Insights with Laura Lentz
In this episode, flutist Laura Lentz discusses her blog, her time abroad in Italy, and framing concerts in a meaningful way for audience members. Her blog, the Insightful Creative, is designed to promote shared understanding and empathy in an artistic space. She also speaks to her work as the artistic director of fivebyfive, an “award-winning,…
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S5E3 – The Beat of Impact with One City’s Drum Line and Leah Schuman ’96E (MM) ’01E (DMA)
In this episode, Jeff chats with Leah Schuman ’96E (MM) ’01E (DMA), Associate Professor of Trumpet at the VanderCook College of Music, and the Executive Director of One City, VanderCook College’s community program. One City provides free music lessons, rehearsals and instruments to students from Chicago’s local elementary schools and neighborhoods, and received a Paul R Judy…
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S5E2 – Creating Harmony in Maui with Colin Crake ’19E and the Hana Hou Music Program
In this episode, Jeff chats with Colin Crake ’19E, saxophonist and co-founder of the Hana Hou Music Program. The Hana Hou Music Program has a mission to develop, advocate, and provide music education in Maui, Hawai’i, and to serve as a free musical resource to the community regardless of background, artistic ability, or economic circumstance. Colin won…
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S5E1 – Reflections on Jazz Education, Creative Projects, and Touring with Alexa Tarantino ’14E
In this episode, Jeff chats with Alexa Tarantino ’14E, a jazz saxophone and woodwind artist, composer, and educator based in New York City. Alexa discusses her journey as a touring musician, recording artist, and educator, and talks about her balance of creative projects and endeavors. Alexa offers ideas and reflections to those considering recording and educational…
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S4E18 – Lessons in Leadership with Jamal Rossi
In this episode, Rachel Roberts is joined by Jamal Rossi, the Joan and Martin Messinger Dean of the Eastman School of Music. Dean Rossi reflects on his leadership journey, navigating differences between institutions, and his next steps as he steps down from his role at Eastman.
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S4E17 – Creating Access with Alecia Lawyer and ROCO
In this episode, Rachel Smith chats with Alecia Lawyer, the Founder, Artistic Director, and Principal Oboe of ROCO. Based in Houston, Texas, ROCO is a dynamic and innovative professional chamber orchestra that flexes from 1 to 40 musicians from all over the US and Canada, with guest conductors from around the globe. Alecia discusses her…
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S4E16 – Building an Online Presence with Tiffany Valvo
In this episode, Jeff chats with Tiffany Valvo ’12E (MM) ’16E (DMA), a devoted teacher, digital content strategist, classically trained clarinetist, and a high-energy human. Tiffany shares her story about life during and after her doctorate at Eastman, her time as a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, and her experience with the Digital Clarinet Academy.…
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S4E15 – Balancing a Professional Portfolio with Daniel Pesca
Daniel Pesca joins us to discuss his career as a solo pianist, chamber musician, and composer as he arrives at Eastman as an Assistant Professor of Composition. He speaks about his roles as a founding member of the Grossman Ensemble and co-director Zohn Collective; a useful listen for any musician interested in managing ensembles and…
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S4E14 – The Cycle of New Music with Brad Lubman
Brad Lubman talks about the complex following behind new music – how some people really enjoy it, but others shun it – and how that cycle has repeated throughout history. Discussing Mahler, Stravinsky, Ligeti, Xenakis, and others, Lubman expands on the notion of what “new music” is and how it has been examined throughout history.
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S4E13 – Discovering the Power of Storytelling with Joshua Conyers
In this episode, Jeff chats with Joshua Conyers, a GRAMMY-nominated baritone and Assistant Professor of Voice at the Eastman School of Music. Professor Conyers discusses his journey into the worlds of opera and higher education, and his experiences telling both fictional and factual stories through opera.
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S4E12 – Making Change and Teaching Artistry with Eric Booth
In this week’s episode, IML Director Rachel Roberts has a conversation with Eric Booth, a renowned teaching artist whose work has inspired thousands more across the globe to engage with students of all ages on how art impacts us in so many ways in our lives. Join them as they discuss Eric Booth’s new book,…
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S4E11 – Expand Your Opportunities
In today’s episode, Jeff Dunn and IML Director Rachel Roberts chat with the faculty members for the 2023 and 2024 Eastman Leadership Academy: a week-long, online program for current undergraduate and graduate music students who are interested in becoming leaders in their profession. These faculty members, Monique Van Willingh and Sarah Forestieri, discuss their backgrounds…
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S4E10 – Brass Beyond Binaries with Catie Hickey
In this episode, Jeff chats with educator and trombonist Catie Hickey ’07E about Brass Beyond Binaries, a new organization empowering female and gender expansive musicians. Catie discusses her journey after graduating from Eastman, and the challenges of making impact as a freelance musician.
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S4E9 – Journey in Passion with Stephanie Tateiwa
In this episode, Jeff chats with IML Mentorship Grant winner Stephanie Tateiwa about her album “Journey in Passion”, and finding inspiration with her colleagues here at Eastman. Stephanie discusses some of the cultural influences that are present in her album, discovering her voice through music from a young age, and how that has led to…
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S4E8 – Cultivating Courage with Adam Sadberry
In this episode, Jeff Dunn sits down with Adam Sadberry during his visit back to Eastman to talk about Adam’s recent career shift going from an orchestra musician to a freelancer. Adam discusses his passion for making music on his own terms, as he embarks on a new chapter in his career with a focus…
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S4E7 – Pushing the Bar with Gavin Chuck, Alarm Will Sound
In this episode, Rachel Smith interviews Gavin Chuck, the Executive Director of Alarm Will Sound. This professional ensemble grew out of a student-led ensemble at the Eastman School of Music, OSSIA, and the members now enjoy diverse portfolio careers. Rachel and Gavin discuss educational systems, new music, and the modern musical canon.
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S4E6 – Chamber Music, Access, and Opportunity with Ben Jalensky
In this episode, Jeff chats with Ben Jalensky, a current Eastman student pursuing a Master’s degree in Trombone Performance and Literature. Ben is one of the founders of the Sacred Heart Chamber Music Summit, which launched in the summer of 2023 and was supported in part by an IML Mentorship Grant. Ben is joined by…
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S4E5 – Teaching Tunefully with Megan Goodsell
In this episode, ESM alumna Megan Goodsell ’22E (MM) speaks about her project, Tuneful, as well as her current teaching endeavors and other work at the Eastman School of Music. Tuneful is a set of online resources for teaching all band kinds to be independent musicians, and was supported in part by an IML Mentorship…
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S4E4 – The Anatomy of a Commission
In this episode, ESM alumna Vanessa Rose ’98E, Executive Director of the American Composers Forum, discusses the recently released digital media resource titled “Anatomy of a Commission,” supported in part by a Paul R. Judy Center for Innovation and Research Grant. Joining the conversation is Melissa Ngan ’02E, President and CEO of the American Composers…
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S4E3 – Telling Stories with the Kilbourn Quartet
In this episode, the four members of the Kilbourn Quartet discuss their project “Storytellers: A Student Composition Workshop.” These four undergraduate students were winners of an IML Mentorship Grant, which supported this project to engage young learners in the compositional process.
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S4E2 – Contextualizing Equity and Inclusion in Music
In this episode, IML student-staff Rachel Smith discusses the Context Conference with Eastman Associate Dean of Equity and Inclusion Crystal Sellers Battle. Dr. Battle is leading the Context Conference at the Eastman School of Music November 3-4, 2023, and discusses the need of such an event. More at esm.rochester.edu/context.
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S4E1 – The Institute for Music Leadership
In this first episode of a new season, now under the name “Careers in Crescendo: Lessons for Musicians”, host Jeff Dunn chats with Rachel Smith (B.M. Applied Music) about all of the offerings of the Institute for Music Leadership. Smith, who is on the IML Production Team as student staff and a Fellow in the…
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S3E9 – Creating a More Inclusive School Music Program
In this episode, ESM faculty Lisa Caravan and Alden Snell discuss their project “Expanding the Curriculum: Commissioning Diverse Repertoire for Intermediate Band and Orchestra,” along with the commissioned composer, Brittany Green. This project was funded in part by a Paul R. Judy Center for Innovation and Research Grant, and highlights how a composer can engage…
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S3E8 – Creating New Opera with Guerilla Opera
ESM student Rachel Smith chats with Aliana de la Guardia, Artistic Director of Guerilla Opera (Boston, MA), and composer Emily Koh about HER | alive.un.dead: a concert-length media opera about three generations of Asian women in a single family written by Koh.
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S3E7 – Discussing Leadership with Mark Volpe
In this episode, IML Director Rachel Roberts sits down with former Boston Symphony CEO Mark Volpe (’79E) to discuss leadership, management, and his experience leading major orchestras in the United States. Volpe is an alum of the Eastman School of Music, and the 2023 Commencement Ceremony speaker.
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S3E6 – Choosing a Graduate School with Matthew Ardizzone
How do you evaluate your graduate school offers? What should a musician consider when applying in the first place? In this episode, we hear from Dr. Matthew Ardizzone, the Marie Rolf Dean of Graduate Studies at the Eastman School of Music. Ardizzone discusses the factors that applicants should consider when pursuing graduate school, as well…
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S3E5 – Incantare: Chamber Music, Connections, and “New” Composers
In this podcast, Eastman alumni Liza Malamut and Ben David Aronson discuss forming their chamber group Incantare, a consort of sackbuts and violins that highlights the musical and cultural connections of under-explored musicians from the Renaissance and early Baroque periods. The cofounders talk about navigating the needs of the chamber group, connecting with audiences, and…
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S3E4 – Amplifying Black Composers with The Overlook
NYC cellist Laura Metcalf is one of the founders of The Overlook: an uptown New York City string quartet amplifying the music of Black Composers. This ensemble was a product of the challenges faced in 2020, and acted in response to the murder of George Floyd.
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S3E3 – Russell Rybicki and the San Antonio Philharmonic
ESM alum Russell Rybicki moved back to his home state of Texas not long before the COVID pandemic slammed the breaks on live orchestra concerts. After a tumultuous time with the San Antonio Symphony, Russell shares his experiences with the San Antonio Philharmonic and the way an orchestra is emerging from ashes of its predecessor,…
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S3E2 – Making Changes with Scott Stratton
ESM alum Scott Stratton transitioned away from a career as a full-time trombonist and educator, and now works as a Certified Financial Planner. In this episode, Scott details his journey to make changes to suit his ambitions, while still making music regularly.
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S3E1 – Examining Values: A Conversation with Michael Wayne
Michael Wayne joined the Eastman School of Music faculty in the fall of 2021 as the Associate Professor of Clarinet, having prior performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, and the Kansas City Symphony. In this episode, Zach Goldstein chats with Michael about his career journey and values that led him to his new…
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S2E10 – Go Try; Go Fail: an Interview with Dr. Blaire Koerner
Dr. Blaire Koerner gives her final thoughts for our career miniseries: Educate yourself outside of school!
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S2E1A – Stepping Off the Path – an interview with Molly Sonsteng
PhD candidate Pallas Catanella interviews Molly Sonsteng about how she left academia to co-found Madcap Factory and Caveday – two very different but related ventures.
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S2E9 – Sustainable Work and Mental Health: an Interview with Dr. Blaire Koerner
Our host, Stephen Biegner, interviews Eastman’s career advisor, Dr. Blaire Koerner about sustainable work and mental health.
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S2E8 – Unions: an Interview with Dr. Blaire Koerner
Our host, Stephen Biegner, interviews Eastman’s career advisor, Dr. Blaire Koerner about unions.
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S2E7 – Health Care and Benefits: an Interview with Dr. Blaire Koerner
Our host, Stephen Biegner, interviews Eastman’s career advisor, Dr. Blaire Koerner about finding health care and benefits as a professional musician.
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S2E6 – Artist Management: an Interview with Dr. Blaire Koerner
Our host, Stephen Biegner, interviews Eastman’s career advisor, Dr. Blaire Koerner about the ins and outs of artist management.
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S2E5 – Freelancing
Our host, Stephen Biegner, interviews Eastman’s career advisor, Dr. Blaire Koerner about freelancing.
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S2E4 – Becoming a Faculty Member
Our host, Stephen Biegner, interviews Eastman’s career advisor, Dr. Blaire Koerner about becoming a full-time, tenured faculty member.
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S2E3 – Applying to Grad School
Our host, Stephen Biegner, interviews Eastman’s career advisor, Dr. Blaire Koerner about graduate school.
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S2E2 – Building Your Network
Our host, Stephen Biegner, interviews Eastman’s career advisor, Dr. Blaire Koerner about building your professional network.
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S2E1 – Gaining Experience: an Interview with Dr. Blaire Koerner
Our host, Stephen Biegner, interviews Eastman’s career advisor, Dr. Blaire Koerner about gaining experience during school and in the beginning of one’s career.
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S1E12 Marrying Music and the Law: an Interview with Ari Solotoff, Esq.
ALPer and tuba performance student Tessa Nojaim interviews Ari Solotoff about how he made the pivot from orchestra manager to entertainment lawyer.
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S1E11 – Growing Pains: Garrett McQueen on Equity in the World of So-Called “Classical Music”
Listen to Dalanie Harris interview Garrett McQueen about recent DEI initiatives at various conservatories and organizations.
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S1E10 – A Fly on the Wall: Exploring the Classically Black Podcast
Listen to our conversation with Dalanie Harris and Katie Brown – hosts of Classically Black.
