In this week’s episode, we chat with Chris Prosser, Lecturer in Theory at the Butler School of Music, about the upcoming 2025 Here Be Monsters music festival. Chris walks us through this year’s exciting and eclectic lineup, which spans two nights of cutting-edge performances.

On Saturday, May 24, the festival kicks off at 6:45 PM and features acts like Maru Haru, Jessy Eubanks + Band, Density 512, LOLA (Local Opera Local Artists), Amorsima Trio, VAMP, Anuj Bhutani, Tetractys New Music + Zed, and the Kraken Quartet.

Sunday, May 25 starts with student composers from Studio A, followed by performances from Austin Unconducted, One Ounce Opera, Golden Hornet, Line Upon Line with Aida Shirazi, Man Woman Friend Computer, Invoke, Tatsulok Trio, Goliath Was Bigfoot, and Panoramic Voices.

For more information or to buy tickets visit https://www.tetractysnewmusic.com/hbm25

In this episode, we talk to Rachel Spencer, a D.M.A. student in jazz trumpet performance, about the upcoming tour of Japan. Rachel not only discusses the tour, but also shares insights into what jazz music education looks like in the United States, particularly in K–12 schools. She reflects on her experience teaching jazz at the middle school, high school, and now university level, and explains why jazz education is fundamental to developing lifelong musicians.

In this episode, Professor Diego Rivera discusses the Butler Jazz Orchestra's upcoming Japanese tour. He talks about the Japanese jazz scene, the logistics of the tour, and what he is most looking forward to accomplishing in Japan.

In this episode, we talk to violinist Yusong Zhao about winning the concerto competition and his upcoming performance of Dmitri Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 77.

In this week's episode we sit down with Director Garnett Bruce as he discusses the Butler Opera Center's newest production of The Marriage of Figaro.

In this week's episode, we sit down with pianist Maria Parrini to talk about her winning the Butler Piano Concerto competition and her upcoming performance of Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto with the University of Texas Symphony Orchestra.

In this episode, we sit down with saxophonist Jacob Feldman to discuss winning Butler's Concerto Competition and being part of the saxophone quartet ZED.

In this week's episode, we talk to Jennifer Wilks about her new book, Carmen in Diaspora: Adaptation, Race, and Opera’s Most Famous Character. She discusses the many adaptations of the opera Carmen, from the Harlem Renaissance to modern-day Beyoncé.

Jennifer will be giving an in-person talk about the book on the 150th anniversary of Carmen on Monday, March 3, 2025, in the Gordon-White Building (GWB 2.206) at 2:30 PM.

Dr. Wilks is an Associate Professor of English, African & African Diaspora Studies, and Comparative Literature.  She is also the director of the John L. Warfield Center for African and African American Studies.

UT students and staff can access the book for free here:
https://academic.oup.com/book/58660

The book can be purchased here:
https://global.oup.com/academic/produ...

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Sam Lipman to discuss the world premiere of his Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra, set to be performed next week by the Austin Symphony. Sam shares insights into his collaboration with legendary trumpet player Ephraim Owens, whose unique musical voice seamlessly blends blues, bebop, and classical traditions in a way that transcends categorization. The concerto serves as both a celebration of Ephraim’s extraordinary artistry and a heartfelt homage to Austin’s vibrant and diverse musical culture.

In this episode, we talk to opera singer Sophio Dzidziguri, who won the Butler School of Music concerto competition and will perform with Butler's Symphony Orchestra on April 26, 2025, at 7:30 PM in Bates Hall.