Careers in Crescendo: Lessons for Musicians

In this episode, Jeff chats with Reggie Bowens, a musician, arranger, and educator who is an Assistant Professor of Music in Vocal Jazz Studies at Howard University. Reggie discusses his journey through training and projects that led him to a career in higher education: early musical experiences, formative experiences on NBC's "The Sing-Off", and teaching at community colleges prior to his doctora...

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 ensemb...

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 "Stringocrac...

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 gu...

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 w...

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...

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 oppor...

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.

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 contras...

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 pane...

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...

In this episode, Jeff chats with Cori Trenczer' 24E about Smorgasbord for Your Fingerboard: an e-book in level-order of pieces for solo cello by a diverse roster of composers. Cori won an IML Mentorship grant to support their research and development of this book, and discusses the insights gained through those conversations and what learners can find in this upcoming pedagogical material.

In this episode, Jeff chats with Victoria Paterson '93. Victoria's career has spanned over twenty years of touring productions and performing on Broadway, creating and leading the Mostly Modern Projects and Festival, and contracting musicians in New York to perform in hospitals. Victoria provides advice to musicians on finding and creating opportunities, and illustrates the way in which musicians...

In this episode, Jeff chats with Norman Menzales, flautist and Eastman alum who is a first-generation Filipino-American and active advocate for the rich culture and musical traditions of the Philippines. Menzales received a Paul R Judy Center for Innovation and Research Grant to support the Sampaguita Flute Project and the recording of Panoramas: Flute Music of the Philippines. Menzales shares his...

In this episode, Eastman grad student Syara Robert hosts a conversation about the ways musicians can optimize their performance. Two Eastman faculty share their perspectives: Katie Fittipaldi discusses her journey with Alexander Technique and uses, and Lindsay Baker shares her thoughts on consent and her role as an intimacy director.

In this episode, Jeff chats with the Kuo Duo, Cass Lo and Daniel Davis, about their recording project funded in part by an IML Mentorship Grant. Joined by the composer and Eastman professor Matt Curlee, the discussion centers on the percussion duo's mission, the ups and downs of the recording, and concepts to bear in mind when engaging in new music and recording projects.

In this week's episode, join Jeff Dunn as he speaks with alum Ashley Schlusselberg '25E, discussing Ashley's experiences as a student at Eastman, exploring her Jewish identity through music, and how she built connections with the local Jewish community of Rochester. As one of the first recipients of Eastman's AMP Up Grant, Ashley was able to utilize funding and resources to engage with the communi...

In this episode, Jeff chats with guitarist, educator, and author Adrian DiMatteo '12E about his unique journey. Adrian is the founder of the Sonic Institute, which offers experiential workshops, training programs, music lessons, healing sessions and events designed to help people connect with sound and music as a tool for meditation and healing. Adrian also discusses his experiences performing acr...

In this episode, Jacob Rose '24 chats with Dr. Mark Powell '19E (DMA), Director of Orchestral Activities and Senior Lecturer at the Arthur Satz Department of Music on the University of Rochester's River Campus. Dr. Powell speaks about his musical journey - from his early inspirations and experiences as a conductor to his time at the Eastman School of Music, his teaching philosophy, and future plan...

In this episode, graduate students Uday Singh and Julian Stuart-Burns chat with team members of Eighth Blackbird about the ensemble's history, growth, and initiatives. Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the GRAMMY award-winning ensemble, Matthew Duvall shares the evolution of the group and how the organization's mission has evolved. Garrett Obrycki '13E expands by adding his journey and perspecti...

In this episode, Jeff chats with members of Blacktop Percussion, Brandon Berlanga, Michael-Lee Smith, and John Dawson, about their project "Scintillations," which was funded in part by an IML Mentorship Grant. The percussionists discuss creating their group, their first project, and the challenges in creating a new commission. Scintillations composer Sebastian Zhang joins the conversation to share...

In this episode, Jeff chats with members of District5, a DC-based wind quintet unafraid to program the seemingly impossible, and winners of a Paul R. Judy Center for Innovation and Research Grant. District5's grant funded "The QUEEN-tet Project: A Symphonic Drag Story Hour," a collaboration including Tara Hoot, an award-winning DC-based drag queen, and composer Christen Taylor Homes. Tara Hoot and...

This episode features Vincent Huang '22E (MM), recipient of an IML Mentorship Grant for his project, the China International Low Brass Elite Seminar. Hear about Vincent's decision to study abroad in the US and his creation of the Seminar, offering masterclasses, lectures, and concerts for all levels of students in Nanjing, China. Joined by Professors Mark Kellogg, Professor of Trombone and chair o...

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. Rick shares his journey to becoming a music librarian, as well as insights on the value of staying open to new career opportunities while keeping a creative outlet alive. He also disc...

In 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 degree, and offers advice for those e...