2026 – Institute for Music Leadership

Joyce Tseng: A first-of-its-kind Pedagogical Resource for Advanced Violists and Emerging Educators

arubin7 — Fri, 01 May 2026 19:09:11 +0000

While violin technique literature is extensive, comparable resources for the viola are limited. As a result, advanced violists and educators often rely on violin-based materials, even though the viola presents distinct physical demands related to size, string tension, response, and ergonomics. Most existing viola methods present technique through a single approach and are written as linear method books, making it difficult for players and early-career teachers to quickly identify and address specific technical issues. This project proposes the creation of a first-of-its-kind diagnostic guide for advanced viola technique. Instead of promoting a single technical system, the book will be organized around 77 common technical symptoms experienced by violists. Each entry will describe the problem, identify underlying causes, and present multiple solutions drawn from eight established schools of string pedagogy (including Auer, Flesch, Galamian, Rolland, Delay, Fischer, Primrose, Tuttle).

Nathanael Kumar: American Brass Press, LLC

arubin7 — Fri, 01 May 2026 19:05:42 +0000

American Brass Press, LLC is a digital-first publishing company dedicated to low-brass repertoire, owned by Nathanael Kumar. Created in response to limitations within the traditional publishing industry, the company emphasizes efficient communication, high-quality engraving, and equitable compensation for composers. Focused specifically on trombone, tuba, and euphonium music, American Brass Press prioritizes works by composers and arrangers from underrepresented backgrounds. In addition to publishing, the company reinvests a portion of its revenue into commissioning new works and organizing annual consortia, supporting the creation of diverse and innovative repertoire. Through these efforts, American Brass Press aims to expand access, improve industry practices, and contribute to a more inclusive and representative future for low-brass music.

Brandon Berlanga: Blacktop Percussion at the 2026 Oh My Ears Festival

arubin7 — Fri, 01 May 2026 18:50:42 +0000

Percussionist Brandon Berlanga (‘25E) won a Special Opportunity Grant to take his trio, Blacktop Percussion, to the Oh My Ears Festival in Phoenix, AZ for a performance. The experience was the trio’s first performance outside of Eastman, allowed Berlanga to premiere a new work, and proved to be a valuable learning experience for their development as musicians and arts administrators. “After performing, I’ve gained a new sense of confidence and insight that I believe is critical to my career as a percussionist, chamber musician, and composer. I’m grateful for the support of the Institute for Music Leadership for making this all happen!”

Rachel Smith: Time of Music: “Environmental Dialogue” – with Claire Chase and Annea Lockwood

Lindsay Haukom — Fri, 01 May 2026 17:28:27 +0000

“Time of Music” is a new music festival in Viitasaari, Finland. I will be participating in a course lead by flutist Claire Chase and composer Annea Lockwood called “Environmental Dialogue.” The course will focus on open-form ensemble works by a few composers on my new music “wish list;” namely George Lewis, Pauline Oliveros, and Terry Riley, plus a work by Ms. Lockwood herself, whose composition I’d be getting to know for the first time. I will also be participating in festival lectures, forums, and open discussions about how contemporary music and art relates to topics in politics, culture, and the future of music. Additionally, because the course is part of a larger festival, I will have the opportunity to attend concerts and immerse myself in an international network of professionals in the new music scene.

Abbey Benzinger: Brevard Music Center Internship

Lindsay Haukom — Fri, 01 May 2026 17:27:40 +0000

This summer, I will serve as a Resident Assistant at the Brevard Music Center in Brevard, North Carolina, from June 13th to August 4th. As an RA, I will support students in a pre-professional music festival, working closely with high school musicians. I will design and lead weekly community-building activities such as group hikes, lake outings, and other wellness-focused activities to foster connection and support between students and their well-being. In addition, I will assist with student supervision, including facilitating conflict resolution, conducting curfew checks, and ensuring students follow Brevard’s community standards. I will perform regular cleanliness checks to ensure clean and safe living spaces. Through morning checks and concert attendance, I will help ensure and support student engagement.

Joy Hsieh: Professional Shadowing – Arts Administration at Mostly Modern Festival

Lindsay Haukom — Fri, 01 May 2026 17:27:07 +0000

I will professionally shadow with Victoria Paterson, Festival Director of the Mostly Modern Festival. This experience will involve observing the planning and execution of a contemporary music festival, with a focus on arts administration and leadership. I will attend and observe administrative and production meetings, gaining insight into programming decisions, artist coordination, scheduling, and organizational strategy.

Ben Small: Mizzou International Composers Festival

Lindsay Haukom — Fri, 01 May 2026 17:26:26 +0000

The Mizzou International Composers Festival—taking place each July in Columbia, Missouri—features public concerts, presentations, workshops, and more. Featuring ensemble-in-residence Alarm Will Sound as well as two distinguished guest composers, the festival selects eight resident composers each year through an application process to compose new works that will be premiered by Alarm Will Sound at the festival. During the week, resident composers will rehearse closely with the ensemble, give public presentations on their work, and receive private lessons with the guest composers.

Ash Mach: The 4th International Conference on Timbre

Lindsay Haukom — Fri, 01 May 2026 17:25:30 +0000

I will be presenting a poster titled “The Contours of Timbre in Rebecca Saunders’s Fury II” at the 2026 International Conference on Timbre. The conference will take place from July 2nd-4th at the University of Montreal, and will feature spoken presentations, posters, and performances. The two keynote presenters, Solvi Ystad and Zachary Wallmark, approach timbre from contrasting angles. Ystad will present on auditory modeling and frameworks to develop multimodal perception, whereas Wallmark will present on ideological orientations towards timbre and how that impacts meaning and value in popular music. I hope to connect with professor Caroline Traube from the University of Montreal, who specializes in music information retrieval for timbre analysis. My presentation for this conference extracts data like spectral centroid and spectral crest to explain brightness and noisiness in the music, so I hope to gain further insight into how to use this type of information more effectively.

Lindsay Haukom: One Harp World Conference

Lindsay Haukom — Fri, 01 May 2026 17:23:51 +0000

Attending the One Harp World Conference would be a great networking and learning opportunity for my career as a harpist. This week-long conference in Toronto is a combined event between the American Harp Society and the World Harp Congress, which means that more harpists will attend, and a wider range of presentations/recitals will be offered compared to the traditional annual AHS conferences. This conference expands my networking opportunity from the national level to the international level, which is exciting to me as an emerging professional and a recent Eastman graduate. There are specific performers and presenters with whom I would like to connect. I will have the opportunity to attend recitals, workshops, and panels that directly address professional development goals of mine, such as maintaining a successful harp and organ duo, increasing my involvement with the international harp community, and improving my practical skills as a performer and mentor.

Catherine Zhou: Vivace International Music Festival

Lindsay Haukom — Fri, 01 May 2026 17:09:12 +0000

The Vivace International Music Festival is a two-week summer festival for college-aged string and piano students in Wilmington, North Carolina. Now in its 7th year, it provides masterclass and lesson opportunities for approximately 100 students and auditors, and presents a public faculty recital series. I have received a return offer following my previous summer as an intern. Across the 11-day program, plus preparation and closing, I will work approximately 120 hours as a Festival Operations Associate. My responsibilities include coordinating lesson and masterclass schedules across multiple studios and venues, supporting concert production and box office operations, managing participant check-in and logistics, and assisting with artist and guest hospitality. The festival is led by John Holloway and Ludovica Punzi, both pianists and music executives in Seattle. In addition to operational work, I will pursue informational conversations with them to better understand the founding, fundraising, and growth of the festival.