Careers in Crescendo: Lessons for Musicians

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, such as becoming tenured second ha...

In this episode, Jeff chats with Alexander Davis, founder and Artistic Director of Sugar Hill Salon, and Brianna Garcon '23E, 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 the first chamber music series and artistic collectives that centers...

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 journey that led to his grant project, and his experience navigating perform...

In this podcast, Eastman alumni Noah Sesling '22E and Christopher Dingstad '04E discuss their roles as artist and orchestral managers, offering valuable insights and advice for students aspiring to enter this career or hoping to obtain a manager in the future. Sesling is a Senior Assistant Artist Manager at IMG Artists, while Dingstad spent 15 years as an artist manager for CAMI Music and Harrison...

In this episode, Jeff chats with Glenn McClure, eco-musician and composer, about his path traveling 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 also covers the value of collabora...

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). The trio describes the creation of the group, h...

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 30 participants, this intimate conference is for current and aspiring deans, associate/assistant deans, department chairs, and any faculty or staff members of music...

In this episode, flutist Laura Lentz discusses her blog, her time abroad in Italy, and framing concerts in a meaningful way for audience members. Laura created The Insightful Creative, with interviews, articles, and resources to support creatives in their work, connecting artists together through shared stories and ideas. She also speaks to her work as the artistic director of fivebyfive, an "awar...

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...

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 an IML Mentorship Grant to support this organ...

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...

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...

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 wo...

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...

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.

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.

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...

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.

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 her passion for helping the next generation find theirs.

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...

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, 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 co-founder, Johnum Palado, and they discuss creating this opportunity for young mus...

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.