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 Center for Innovation and Research Grant to support their new drum line.  Leah discusses her journey as a trumpet player and educator engaging in the community, and making impact through One City.  

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 projects and reflects on her experiences as a student at Eastman.

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.

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 journey to found ROCO, the philosophies that have guided and shaped the ensemble, and ROCO’s initiatives to create access to their music and performances.

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. Tiffany describes her current work as a Digital Content Specialist, and shares her best tips for those seeking to build their online presence.

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 premiering new composers’ works. He also mentions the importance of keeping an eye on the future while juggling practicing, performance, and composition, and that it’s okay to not do everything all at once – “things have to ebb and flow”.

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, “Making Change”, his expansive career, and what’s coming up next for him!

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 as professionals in the music sector, and what they each enjoy about the Academy’s ability to connect, challenge, and inspire its participants each year.

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 in educating fellow flutists on technique, musician wellness, and reflects on his time as an Eastman student.

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.

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 Grant.

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 Orchestra, a partner on the project, and a faculty member of Eastman’s Master of Arts in Music Leadership degree.

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.

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.

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 Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Certificate Program, tells her story about how the IML has supporter her career development.

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 with young musicians to create a relevant and impactful learning experience.

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.

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 as some of the considerations when accepting an offer of admission and assistantships.

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 balancing their portfolio careers.

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.

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, and the lessons musicians have learned along the way.

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.