Careers in Crescendo: Lessons for Musicians

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...

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...

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 re...

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. Guerilla Opera won a Paul R. Judy Center for Innovation and Research grant from the IML to support the premier of this new opera, taking pl...

In this episode, IML Director Rachel Roberts sits down with former Boston Symphony CEO Mark Volpe ('79E) to discuss leadership, management, and his experience leading major orchestras in the United States. Volpe is an alum of the Eastman School of Music, and the 2023 Commencement Ceremony speaker.

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...

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 portfol...

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. The Overlook received one of IML's Paul R. Judy Center for Innovation in Research grants to support their festival "If the Stars Align." In...

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.

ESM alum Scott Stratton transitioned away from a career as a full-time trombonist and educator, and now works as a Certified Financial Planner. In this episode, Scott details his journey to make changes to suit his ambitions, while still making music regularly.

Michael Wayne joined the Eastman School of Music faculty in the fall of 2021 as the Associate Professor of Clarinet, having prior performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, and the Kansas City Symphony. In this episode, Zach Goldstein chats with Michael about his career journey and values that led him to his new position.

Educating yourself outside of school. You may have heard the common analogy that school is a bubble. The outside world works very differently than school does, and it is important to test the waters while you still have your school support system. "Go out and try because you'll be surprised how many things you learn, how many people you meet and how you can grow trying these things out and testing...

Molly Sonsteng was the director of admissions at the Manhattan School of Music and had just completed a Master's at Columbia Teacher's College with her eye on rising through the ranks in higher ed. Then, one day, with no back-up plan, she just quit. After taking some time, brainstorming, researching, and exploring, she ended up co-founding Madcap Factory, an "amusingly eccentric production house."...

With many musicians jostled out of typical routines due to COVID-19, it is especially important to prioritize sustainable work and mental health in the present as well as in our plans for the future. What are your values? How can you keep your tank full so that you're not running on empty? How can you prevent burnout? What do you do if it's too late?

If you plan to become an orchestral performer, you will need to unionize. Dr. Koerner demystifies the process and what it means not only for orchestral performers, but freelancers, and other professional musicians.

For minisode 7, Dr. Koerner discusses health care and benefits for professional musicians. If you are a freelancer, there are plenty of ways to secure health care, life insurance, and other necessary benefits. Health care and benefit packages are also big considerations when negotiating a job offer in a more traditional setting. With so many young musicians harboring fears around health care and b...

Today, Dr. Koerner discusses artist management. Do you need it? When is the right time to get it? How does it work? Is it even necessary? Most importantly, how do you begin your career without a manager or pursue a solo or chamber performance career without one?

For the fifth iteration of the career miniseries with Dr. Blaire, Koerner, we are discussing Freelancing. Freelancing is tough because it can make up the entirety of a career, a small part, or a big part. Regardless of how much freelancing you find yourself pursuing, there are some essential skills that you must have. Organization is one. Interpersonal skills are another. Listen to the full episod...

In our fourth iteration of the miniseries, Blaire discusses a popular topic: what it takes to become a full-time tenured faculty member. It is not a backup plan, it requires a doctoral degree, and you need to have teaching, performing, and academic service experience. Luckily, Blaire takes us through the nuts and bolts of writing your teaching CV and the process of gaining necessary experience. Ta...

In our third episode of Dr. Blaire' Koerner's miniseries, we give answers to many questions such as: Should you go? How do you choose where to apply? How many schools? What are some do’s and some don’ts? Most importantly, Dr. Koerner asks the most important question: Why? Almost every graduate school question leads back to why you want to pursue a graduate degree. Also, do not forget that the grad...

Networking does not have to mean walking around a conference with business cards and a sales pitch. In fact, this is not a very effective way to network. In the second installment of our minisode series, Dr. Blaire Koerner explains how to build your network organically. Who will your targets, supports, allies, and mentors be?

Our host, Stephen Biegner is back from paternity leave, and we are all back for the Fall 2021 semester. This marks the first episode in our new series of minisodes. Each one is packed with around 15 minutes of essential advice from frequent podcast guest, career advisor, and new Assistant Director of the IML, Dr. Blaire Koerner. In today's episode, Gaining Experience, Blaire reminds us that experi...

Ari Solotoff started off working in orchestras behind the scenes - first as an intern, and then as an orchestra manager. After sitting in on labor negotiations one day, he decided he wanted to go back to school for either an MBA or a law degree. Ultimately, he noticed how almost every decision he and his team were making in the orchestra had legal implications and how interwoven music and the law...