After graduating with degrees in viola performance Chris Williams moved to New York, paving his own path into artist management.  He talks about his ‘on the job education’ for the skills he needed to be an artist manager and music contractor.  He communicates how to negotiate in securing management and how important it is to develop business skills along to be able to sell your musical skills.  Offering specifics on how to promote you and your product to become noticed by management.   Topics we discuss; branding, innovative programming, demands of touring, photo mistakes, promotional videos, reinventing programing to be invited back and talking during the performance with the audience.   As an artist and entrepreneur himself he shares negotiating his own career as a pop songwriter and violist.  Straddling both genres of music he offers interesting insight into bridging the gap for audiences from both sides. 

Contemporary Pianist, Anthony de Mare shares his journey to his current career.  He talks about his influences that formed his path to studying classical piano, leading him to find an affinity to the repertoire of contemporary composers.  At the University of Buffalo he found his way to new music exploring late Liszt to the present and hosting a radio program about new music.  He examines the skills that a pianist needs to be successful at learning contemporary music and the importance of including contemporary music within standard repertoire curriculum.  We discuss the difficulties that arise from learning and teaching contemporary music, how competitions fit into creating a career, and defining what is included in contemporary piano music.  Reinventing himself every five years or so, he shares his current project “Liaisons”, commissioning 36 of the world’s foremost contemporary composers from across the musical spectrum to “re-imagine” one of Sondheim’s songs as a solo piano piece.

Nellie Beavers unravels the who’s who behind the scene on Broadway, from the assistant stage manager, company managers, conductor, music director to producer.  She talks about auditions and what makes someone stand out, or get the job.   Her answers might surprise you!  She details many different stories from her experience in auditioning to being a stage manager and offers many gems of advice for anyone interested in pursuing a career on the Broadway stage. 

Bassoonist/Master Teacher, Frank Morelli, talks about his mentors/role models and how he came to classical music through the back door.  While in high school playing the saxophone, he first thought he was going to be an engineer, later he went off to college pursuing a major in music education.  His focus and determination on self-improvement lead him to write a letter to the professor of bassoon and transferring to the Manhattan School of Music (MSM).  While at MSM his focus changed and his abilities grew.  Dr. Morelli shares the secret of his success as a student and the tools for all students to be successful.  As a master teacher he discusses his student-centered teaching philosophy and how he continues to focus on improving his teaching skills.  He talks about the audition process for schools, the purpose for taking a lesson before the audition with possible teachers, and what he looks and listens for in a student.  He offers timeless advice to all musicians for finding their own career path and how he measures his own success as a teacher.  

What's in this Episode

Wendy Cavett, Music Director for “Mamma Mia”, shares her secret to keeping each performance fresh.  Her path to Broadway was built on her abilities as a singer, dancer, performer, and pianist.  She talks about the different roles of contractors, music directors and the structure of administration between small vs. large productions. Explaining how a show starts from development to production she shares her role as an arranger and how she keeps her own career moving forward by challenging her own skills and technique with new projects.  

Links

http://www.wendybobbittcavett.com/home.html

What's in this Episode

Chris Reza, substitute Broadway multiple woodwind player, through his deliberate efforts in networking and his ability to play multiple instruments and styles, forged his own path to Broadway in less than a year after arriving in NYC!  He learned very quickly how to be successful in a tough business.  We talk about his process of networking, getting hired, practicing/learning, choosing instruments, time management skills, juggling many shows, and the struggle in learning new instruments.  He shares his various experiences of Broadway playing, the hours, arrangement of the orchestra in a pit or off stage, click tracks, using headphones, being a substitute Broadway musician, getting that one show permanent position and the secrets to his success.  

Links

http://www.chrisrezamusic.com/Home/Chris_Rez_Welcome.html

What's in this Episode

In the second part of the interview with Richard Adams he shares how his retirement lead him full circle with his career returning to his first creative talent, writing.  A sleeping talent of writing resurfaced once he left Manhattan School of Music after a 31 year tenure as an administrator.  He began studying playwriting and had his first premier of his one act play “The Treachery of Honesty”, which received eight performances at The Birdcage Theater in Northern California this year.  With a new focus on creating a career as a playwright he negotiates being student and three skills he uses in forging a new career.  

Links

https://www.facebook.com/richardelder.adams?fref=ts

What's in this Episode

Richard Adams shares his career path that lead him from being a creative writer, a French Horn orchestral player, music management, theater management, to a 31 year tenure at the Manhattan School of Music starting in the career planning office, later as Director of Admission, various Dean positions and finally Vice President.  As the founder of conservatory career training he speaks frankly about the skills that musicians need to cultivate to be successful in selling themselves and creating a music career.  Sharing how he instigated changes to the conservatory curriculum, how he managed the resistance along with these changes, and how this lead the way to innovations in conservatory education.  He talks about what it was like being an administrator, the skills he used, experience in hiring of new faculty, and how to negotiate the politics and culture.  

Links

https://www.facebook.com/richardelder.adams?fref=ts

What's in this Episode

Dr. Yupin Hsu combines her expertise as a musician and occupational therapist to guide musicians to greater awareness of how to use our bodies. She offers practical advice for musicians; being aware of the signals the body sends, when the body is being over used. Conditioning is essential for musicians to maintain a body that supports the demands of practicing. We talk about who to turn to for guidance when muscles start feeling fatigue, how performance anxiety and intense study can contribute to injuries and the consequences of taking drugs such as beta-blockers.

Links

Dr. Hsu's bio on the Manhattan School of Music website

Oboist and Photographer Matt Dine shares his story on how a physical injury launched his career as a New York Times Freelance Photographer. As an oboist for American Ballet Theater and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, most of his time is spent as a photographer and filmmaker.  He shares his stories about his love for the Oboe and the Oboe community, including the movie he made of “Delmar.”  Melting his love of the visual and musical, he has created interesting projects blending the two.  Matt’s choices were clear from the start after graduation as he forged his own way in creating an active career in Manhattan.

Matts website: http://mattdinephotography.blogspot.com/

In this introduction episode, Kevin and Carol discuss why they wanted to start the Greenroom Conversations podcast and what listeners can expect from season one.

For more information, you can go to www.GreenroomConversations.com

Thank you for the download and support.