2023 – Institute for Music Leadership https://iml.esm.rochester.edu Leadership with Music at the Core Thu, 23 Jul 2026 17:02:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.4 https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/cropped-web-app-manifest-512x512-1-32x32.png 2023 – Institute for Music Leadership https://iml.esm.rochester.edu 32 32 Rebecca Bryant Novak: ad hoc https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/pastwinner/rebecca-bryant-novak-ad-hoc/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 20:24:09 +0000 https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/?post_type=pastwinner&p=23308 Rebecca Bryant Novak, a DMA candidate in Orchestral Conducting, received an IML Mentorship Grant for her project, ad hoc, a flexible chamber ensemble. The group will be performing concerts at Christ Church Rochester and the Harley School in January 2024.

]]> Rebecca Bryant Novak, a DMA candidate in Orchestral Conducting, received an IML Mentorship Grant for her project, ad hoc, a flexible chamber ensemble. The group will be performing concerts at Christ Church Rochester and the Harley School in January 2024.

]]> Vincent Huang: Golden Tiger International Music Festival – Trombone Seminar https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/pastwinner/vincent-huang-golden-tiger-international-music-festival-trombone-seminar/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 20:22:45 +0000 https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/?post_type=pastwinner&p=23306 Doctoral candidate Vincent Huang ’22E (MM) received an IML Mentorship Grant for his project Golden Tiger International Music Festival – Trombone Seminar. He will be launching a weeklong trombone festival located in Nanjing, China in the summer of 2024.

]]> Doctoral candidate Vincent Huang ’22E (MM) received an IML Mentorship Grant for his project Golden Tiger International Music Festival – Trombone Seminar. He will be launching a weeklong trombone festival located in Nanjing, China in the summer of 2024.

]]> Elinor Freer: Henry Kelder Residency https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/pastwinner/elinor-freer-henry-kelder-residency/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 20:20:26 +0000 https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/?post_type=pastwinner&p=23304 Elinor Freer received a Department Matching Grant in support of Henry Kelder’s guest residency at the Eastman School of Music. As part of these events, Kelder gave a workshop entitled “Becoming a Musical Entrepreneur,” detailing his work with MatchingArts. Kelder is an active pianist and composer, and a Professor of Piano at Utrecht University of the Arts.

]]> Elinor Freer received a Department Matching Grant in support of Henry Kelder’s guest residency at the Eastman School of Music. As part of these events, Kelder gave a workshop entitled “Becoming a Musical Entrepreneur,” detailing his work with MatchingArts. Kelder is an active pianist and composer, and a Professor of Piano at Utrecht University of the Arts.

]]> One City Jazz: One City Drumline https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/pastwinner/one-city-jazz-one-city-drumline/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 20:15:09 +0000 https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/?post_type=pastwinner&p=23302 One City Jazz from the VanderCook College of Music won a $5,000 grant to support their new drumline. One City addresses systemic inequity in music education by providing high quality instruments and expert instruction at no cost to children from underserved BIPOC neighborhoods where instrumental music is not provided in the public schools. Those who stick with the program until

]]> One City Jazz from the VanderCook College of Music won a $5,000 grant to support their new drumline. One City addresses systemic inequity in music education by providing high quality instruments and expert instruction at no cost to children from underserved BIPOC neighborhoods where instrumental music is not provided in the public schools. Those who stick with the program until the end of 8th grade get to keep the instrument to use in high school and beyond. Over 120 children attend every Saturday and play in 1 of 3 jazz ensembles, our Suzuki violin program, or the new drum line. Our world-class, majority BIPOC artistic leadership team composes original repertoire for the program that draws on the rich musical heritage of our neighborhood Bronzeville. Currently, the drumline students are using drum pads to develop basic drumming technique, rhythm reading skills, and build a warm, welcoming ensemble rapport where high standards and expectations are supported and nurtured. Congratulations to Eastman alumna Leah Schuman ’96E (MM) ’01E (DMA) on her leadership of this program (pictured)!

]]> Walker | West Music Academy: Stringocracy! https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/pastwinner/walker-west-music-academy-stringocracy/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 20:13:13 +0000 https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/?post_type=pastwinner&p=23300 Walker West Music Academy won a $5,000 grant to support Stringocracy! Call and Response as Social Activism from Vivaldi to Hip Hop – Stringocracy! In conjunction with the national election and the energy from young people to engage in social justice efforts to foster social impact, this project culminates in a 90-minute concert that explores social activism through a “call

]]> Walker West Music Academy won a $5,000 grant to support Stringocracy! Call and Response as Social Activism from Vivaldi to Hip Hop – Stringocracy! In conjunction with the national election and the energy from young people to engage in social justice efforts to foster social impact, this project culminates in a 90-minute concert that explores social activism through a “call & response” approach from a cross-section of music genres rooted in the African/African American cultural experience. The ensemble of high school string students will explore improvisation, a highly democratic dialectic form, as expressions of identity through their music performance.

]]> Mark Watters: Kendall Nesbitt Residency https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/pastwinner/mark-watters-kendall-nesbitt-residency/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 19:45:00 +0000 https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/?post_type=pastwinner&p=26175 Grammy-nominated musician, singer, songwriter, and producer, Kendall Nesbitt is one of America’s most sought-after musicians. To date, Kendall has assisted in completing 50+ gold and multi-platinum albums for some of the world’s greatest artists R. Kelly, Jay Z, Britney Spears, and Jennifer Lopez. Kendall spent a multi-day residency at Eastman in collaboration with the George Walker Center, where he

]]> Grammy-nominated musician, singer, songwriter, and producer, Kendall Nesbitt is one of America’s most sought-after musicians. To date, Kendall has assisted in completing 50+ gold and multi-platinum albums for some of the world’s greatest artists R. Kelly, Jay Z, Britney Spears, and Jennifer Lopez. Kendall spent a multi-day residency at Eastman in collaboration with the George Walker Center, where he worked with students in the Beal Institute, and presented an open Q&A about his experience with “cancel culture.”

]]> Madelin Morales: Lincoln Center Internship https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/pastwinner/madelin-morales-lincoln-center-internship/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 19:38:50 +0000 https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/?post_type=pastwinner&p=29858  

Madelin Morales, a Voice major alumnus at the Eastman School of Music and Business minor at the University of Rochester, interned in the President’s Office at Lincoln Center. There, she gained firsthand experience with nonprofit arts administration, including board governance and executive operations. Thanks to grant funding, Madelin applied her Arts Leadership Certificate of Achievement training in real time,

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Madelin Morales, a Voice major alumnus at the Eastman School of Music and Business minor at the University of Rochester, interned in the President’s Office at Lincoln Center. There, she gained firsthand experience with nonprofit arts administration, including board governance and executive operations. Thanks to grant funding, Madelin applied her Arts Leadership Certificate of Achievement training in real time, supporting board meetings, attending donor galas, and engaging with high-level strategy. Madelin noted: “This opportunity allowed me to engage directly with the executive-level operations of a major arts nonprofit. From supporting Board of Directors meetings to attending donor galas, I was able to apply my Certificate training in real time, in a setting that brought everything I’ve learned into sharper focus.”

]]> Reggie Bowens – 15th Annual Jazz Education Network Conference https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/pastwinner/reggie-bowens-15th-annual-jazz-education-network-conference/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 18:21:09 +0000 https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/?post_type=pastwinner&p=26123 Reggie Bowens had a spectacular time at the 2024 Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference, as part of his Spring 2024 ALP Grant opportunity. An educational and performance nonprofit founded in 2008, JEN is a program dedicated to building the jazz arts community by advancing education, promoting performance and developing new audiences. Bowens’ intention of shaping their personal brand and preparing

]]> Reggie Bowens had a spectacular time at the 2024 Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference, as part of his Spring 2024 ALP Grant opportunity. An educational and performance nonprofit founded in 2008, JEN is a program dedicated to building the jazz arts community by advancing education, promoting performance and developing new audiences. Bowens’ intention of shaping their personal brand and preparing for a life and career in arts leadership and the music industry, was wonderfully complimented and supported at the JEN Conference. In conversation with industry professionals, Bowens reflected that through networking at such a prestigious conference, their perspective of being an entrepreneur has reshaped their approach to the performance community tremendously. A business owner, freelance composer, arranger,  performer, and educator, Bowens was excited to attend the educational sessions at JEN on vocal health, inclusion, technology, research, and pedagogy so that his return as teacher in the classroom after his Eastman studies will be far more well informed about current practises and insights into the music industry. 

“Attending the 2024 Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference was one of the highlights of my Winter Recess. In addition to enjoying the flavorful cuisine of the region, I made many meaningful connections with amazing professionals, including Alison Crockett and Bailey Havnes. I was also reintroduced to John Clayton and Tia Fuller, ran into Darmon Meader of the New York Voices. and attended the African American Jazz Caucus (AAJC) events, for which I am also becoming a member. The networking was incredible and I am forever grateful to have experienced JEN, and attended many workshops to further my career and professional development.”

]]> Floris Van der Veken – XIX World Saxophone Congress 2023 https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/pastwinner/floris-van-der-veken-xix-world-saxophone-congress-2023/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 18:14:16 +0000 https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/?post_type=pastwinner&p=26119 Floris Van der Veken, a DMA student and Arts Leadership Certificate of Achievement candidate, was awarded Special Opportunity Grant to attend the Impuls Festival, the 14th International Ensemble and Composers Academy for Contemporary Music. At the festival, Floris engaged in meaningful collaborations, built an international network of peers, and participated in in-depth discussions on contemporary music and the evolving landscape

]]> Floris Van der Veken, a DMA student and Arts Leadership Certificate of Achievement candidate, was awarded Special Opportunity Grant to attend the Impuls Festival, the 14th International Ensemble and Composers Academy for Contemporary Music. At the festival, Floris engaged in meaningful collaborations, built an international network of peers, and participated in in-depth discussions on contemporary music and the evolving landscape of the music industry.

Reflecting on the experience, Floris highlighted the opportunity to explore career development with renowned saxophonist Marcus Weiss, delving into both the practicalities of running a contemporary music ensemble and the potential of interdisciplinary artistic collectives. The Impuls Festival offered a unique and intimate window into today’s new music scene, enabling Floris to connect with leading voices in the field, an experience made possible through the support of the Special Opportunity Grant.

]]> Uday Singh – Trip to Zurich to Interview Industry Professionals  https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/pastwinner/uday-singh-trip-to-zurich-to-interview-industry-professionals/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 14:56:44 +0000 https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/?post_type=pastwinner&p=25861 Uday Singh traveled to Zurich, Switzerland in the Fall of 2023 to enhance his understanding of the music industry and its responsibilities as explored through conversation and interview with industry professionals. Situated near Zurich University of the Arts for the duration of his experience, Singh immersed himself within the Swiss arts community, a core of richness which spans the disciplines

]]> Uday Singh traveled to Zurich, Switzerland in the Fall of 2023 to enhance his understanding of the music industry and its responsibilities as explored through conversation and interview with industry professionals. Situated near Zurich University of the Arts for the duration of his experience, Singh immersed himself within the Swiss arts community, a core of richness which spans the disciplines of Arts Education, Design, Film, Fine Arts, Music, and Theatre. Interested in the diverse and unique pathways that are constructed and approached within the music industry, Singh sought to define and determine the carefully curated careers which so often navigate a grey area between teaching, administration, and performance. In discussion with musicians, educators and arts specialists – Lars Mlekusch, Lucas Niggli, Joan Jordi Oliver, and Harry White – Singh collected a cohort of industry knowledge which will act as an impetus from which he can confidently move towards his goal of being an active voice in the new music world, both on and off the stage. He is excited to capitalize on what he has learned from his time in Zurich, Switzerland, and share his findings with interested colleagues, those similar to himself.

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