IML Spotlight
Each month we feature a different person who has a connection to the Institute for Music Leadership or embodies the basic tenets of our organization. Click on the links below to read more about the engaging activities in which these individuals or groups are involved.
2012
Jim Doser (01/12) - Eastman alum Jim Doser has established a musical career that embodies versatility. Doser received a BM in Music Education, the Performer's Certificate, and a MM in Jazz and Contemporary Media from Eastman and currently teaches two ALP courses, Career Skills and Entrepreneurial Thinking.
2011
Catie Hickey (10/11) - After completing her degrees at Eastman, Catie’s travels and adventures have included earning a Master’s degree in performance from Rice University in Houston, traveling to Africa for chamber music outreach, performing with a Mexican Orchestra and Canadian brass quintet, and now teaching at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
Rey David Cortés (8/11) - After completing a Masters in Music in Euphonium Performance and receiving an Arts Leadership Certificate from the ALP, Rey worked for the Institute for Music Leadership for two years on the Polyphonic.org project.
Maria Kanakis (5/11) earned a BM in Violin Performance in 2009, and has been working since graduation for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra as a Development Assistant and was recently promoted to Friends Program Manager.
The Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Certificate Program (4/11) is designed to prepare musicians for the challenges and opportunities of the music business awaiting them after graduation. To gain real world experience, ALP students participate in a year-long internship with one of several local arts organizations.
The Po' Boys Brass Band (2/11) are: Evan Dobbins, trombone; Nick Finzer,
trombone; Mike Frederick, guitar; Erik Jacobs, trombone; TJ Ricer,
sousaphone; Chris Teal, drums; and Chris Van Hof, trombone.
Marguerite Williams (1/11)
A 2001 graduate of Eastman School of Music (Bachelor of Music and Performer's
Certificate), and alumna of the Arts Leadership Program, Marguerite Williams is an
active harpist, chamber and orchestral musician, arranger, and educator in Chicago, IL.
2010
Polyphonic On Campus (11/10)
Polyphonic On Campus is "for young musicians, by young musicians." Users will be able to upload content, share their stories with other musicians across the country, learn from one another, follow the team of young musical video bloggers, and more. We hope that it gives insight into the diverse opportunities that young musicians throughout the country are pursuing with their training.' - Stephen Danyew, Polyphonic On Campus editor.
New Venture Challenge (10/10)
The New Venture Challenge is a contest to encourage new thinking and innovative ideas in music. It gives students the opportunity to develop a project proposal that could result in the launch of a new entrepreneurial initiative. Read more about this initiative and hear what one of its past winners has to say about the contest.
Doug O'Connor (8/10)
Current DMA student and Arts Leadership Program fellow Doug O’Connor already has an established career, having performed in concert halls in Europe, Asia, and the U.S., including appearances at the Kimmel Center, the Kennedy Center, and Carnegie Hall. Doug is also the soprano saxophonist with the Red Line Sax Quartet, which has won gold medals at five major national and international chamber music competitions in the past year alone and recently released their debut album, "Back Burner." Hear what Doug has to say about his experiences with Red Line as well as being an Astral Artist, his commitment to community engagement, and what skills he has drawn upon from the Arts Leadership Program.
Arabesque Winds (5/10)
As a young ensemble, the Arabesque Winds have received numerous accolades – including the 2009 Coleman-Saunderson Prize for Woodwinds and Brass, the Harvard Musical Association’s 2009 Arthur W. Foote Prize, and the Grand Prize at the 2008 International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition – and have performed at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. Formed at the Eastman School of Music in 2005, the quintet includes flutist Deidre Huckabay, oboist Liz Spector, clarinetist Isabel Kim, hornist Sophia Goluses, and bassoonist Eryn Bauer. In the interview that follows, Eryn and Sophia, both Arts Leadership Program participants, discuss the process of launching a career, their commitment to community engagement, and the learning they garnered in ALP.
Sam Krall (4/10)
Eastman Senior Sam Krall, a dual performance major in Voice and Classical Guitar and an Arts Leadership Program participant, won the Kauffman Foundation’s New Venture Challenge as a freshman with a savvy business plan to provide discounted concert attire to incoming conservatory students. In the interview that follows, Sam discusses the evolution of the business through his four years at Eastman, and the importance of entrepreneurship as he sets off to create a career in the contemporary music world.
Rick Williams (3/10)
A 2008 graduate of Eastman School of Music, and alumnus of the Arts Leadership Program, Rick Williams is an active freelance percussionist in New York City and a Radio Analyst for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), while also pursuing a Post-Baccalaureate Business Certificate at Columbia University. In the following interview, Rick discusses his process of transitioning from student to working professional, how his experiences at Eastman shaped this process, and the learning he has garnered along the way.
Eastman Gig Service (2/10)
The Gig Board initiative is a conduit between the Rochester community-at large and Eastman students for musical opportunities or “gigs." Matriculated Eastman students have the opportunity to create an account and sign up for the gig service to become an active member of our database.
Ike Sturm (1/10)
An alumnus of Eastman School of Music and the Arts Leadership Program, Ike Sturm is a critically acclaimed bass player and composer, and serves as music director for jazz at St. Peter’s Church in Manhattan. His recent Jazz Mass for choir, strings, and jazz septet was voted in the top 10 albums of 2009 on mlive.com, and described as “a masterpiece of imaginative and inventive understatement” (George Carroll, Ejazz News).
2009
Peter and Kristin Jutras (12/09)
Eastman alums, Peter and Kristin Jutras maintain active music careers in Athens, Georgia as chamber musicians, teachers and leaders in the field. The following interview showcases their successful and diverse professional work while communicating the importance of leadership skills for today’s artists.
Katherine Ciesinski (11/09)
An accomplished mezzo-soprano and teacher, Eastman faculty member, Katherine Ciesinski has achieved much in her career in the realm of performance, leadership, education and entrepreneurship.The following interview reflects and emphasizes the spirit of exploration, the importance of collaboration and the development of skills that will help launch the artist's career.
JACK Quartet (10/09)
The JACK Quartet leads an exciting career in performance, education and composition with the added responsibility of managing and sustaining an ensemble. All alumni of the Eastman School of Music, the interview focuses on the Eastman years and how the Quartet utilizes and combines experience and skills to make their performance career thrive!
Eric J. Goldman (9/09)
Eric J. Goldman earned a bachelors degree in bassoon performance, as well as a Certificate in Arts Leadership from the Eastman School of Music. Eric was one of the first students awarded an externship grant from the ALP, which he used to fund a development internship with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, London. This paved the way for his very successful career in fundraising.
Chris Van Hof (7/09)
Chris Van Hof received a Master’s Degree in Trombone performance and a Certificate in Arts Leadership from the Eastman School of Music in 2008. He held a Graduate Assistantship in the Institute for Music Leadership, and as an Arts Leadership Program Student, served as an Intern with WXXI Radio. Chris now serves on the faculty of Nazareth College, hosts a show on WXXI, and performs as a freelance trombonist.
Rohan Krishnamurthy (6/09)
Rohan Krishnamurthy is a current M.A./PH.D student in musicology/ethnomusicology at the Eastman School of Music. Recently, his project “A New Design of the Ancient Mridangam” was awarded 1st prize of $2000 in the 2008-2009 Eastman New Venture Challenge.
Casey Molino Dunn (5/09)
Baritone Casey Molino Dunn has not only been lauded for his rich voice but for creating “very real, detailed characters” (Front Row Center) in repertoire that ranges from baroque and classical masterpieces on through today’s art music and crossover works.
Beth Meyers (4/09)
Beth Meyers is a founding member of the flute/viola/harp trio, "janus", and is committed to broadening the trio repertoire through working with composers and artists alike. janus is set to release its debut collaborative album in early 2010.
Leila Kelleher (3/09)
Australian violist Leila Kelleher is building an international reputation for her energy and versatility as a performer. She has appeared as a soloist with the Norwood Symphony, Elder Conservatorium Chamber Orchestra, and the Melbourne String Ensemble in both their Melbourne series and on their 2005 tour of Germany. Leila completed her Masters degree and Orchestral Studies diploma at the Eastman School of Music.
Shizuo "Z" Kuwahara (1/09)
Promising young conductor Shizuo "Z" Kuwahara won first prize in the prestigious Georg Solti International Conductors’ Competition in 2008 in Germany. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree, Performer’s Certificate and Arts Leadership Program Certificate from the Eastman School of Music.
2008
TJ Ricer (12/08)
T. J. Ricer (low brass) is currently in pursuit of a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in tuba performance and literature at the Eastman School of Music. TJ is also in the process of completing his Arts Leadership Program certificate.
Rachel Roberts
(11/08)
Ms. Rachel Roberts is beginning her third season serving as the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s (ASO) Director of Strategic Planning Engagement. Rachel earned her bachelor's degree in flute performance from the Eastman School of Music where she was also awarded a Certificate in the Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Program (ALP).
Courtney Hershey Bress (9/08)
Courtney Hershey Bress earned a Bachelor of Music degree, Performer’s Certificate and Arts Leadership Program Certificate from the Eastman School of Music. She joined the Colorado Symphony Orchestra as Principal Harp in September 2001. Ms. Bress is also the Principal Harp for the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music (Santa Cruz, CA).
Tenly Williams (8/08)
Tenly Williams is an active contributor to the Colorado music community, performing with several orchestras and chamber music groups across the Front Range. Her career has included positions with the Binghamton Philharmonic and Fort Collins Symphony, as well as performances with the Austin Symphony, Boulder Philharmonic, Cheyenne Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Greeley Philharmonic and San Antonio Symphony Orchestras.
Anna Reguero (7/08)
Anna Reguero is the music and dance reporter for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. She plays the clarinet and completed her undergraduate degrees at the Eastman School of Music and University of Rochester, and her graduate degree in Arts Journalism at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
Shirantha Beddage (6/08)
Shirantha Beddage is an Eastman Alum and current Director of Jazz Studies at Columbus State University. He is an emerging talent who is swiftly making his mark as an accomplished multi-reed instrumentalist, pianist and composer.
Matilda Hofman (5/08)
Matilda Hofman’s conducting work ranges widely from opera and the symphonic repertoire to contemporary music, of which she is a keen advocate. She received an ALP Special Opportunity Grant to attend a five-day symposium with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
Matt Pivec (4/08)
Jazz saxophonist and current Instructor of Saxophone and Coordinator of Jazz Studies at California State University – Stanislaus, Eastman Alum and Arts Leadership Program certificate recipient Matt Pivec talks about how he became interested in ALP and how it changed his career options.
Jerseyband (3/08)
Started at Eastman and made up of all Eastman alums, Jerseyband saxophonist Alex Hamlin talks to us entrepreneurship and lungcore.
Melissa Ngan Snoza/ Fifth House Ensemble (2/08)
Eastman Alum and Arts Leadership Program certificate recipient Melissa Ngan Snoza is featured this month in the Eastman Showcase. She talks about how the Arts Leadership Program has much to do with her work with Fifth House Ensemble.
Julianne Kirk (1/08)
Julianne Kirk is Assistant Professor of Clarinet at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music and also serves as Director of the Crane Youth Music Summer Camp. An Eastman Alum and Arts Leadership Program certificate recipient, Julianne talks about why she decided to earn an ALP certificate and how it has helped her career.
