In this episode, Jeff chats with Scott Lykins and John Taylor Ward about their journey in creating the Lakes Area Music Festival. Scott and Taylor are co-founders of the festival, which began as small performances between semesters at Eastman, and has now grown into a summer of performances in central Minnesota featuring over 250 artists. Scott and John discuss the evolution of the festival, the ways it's impact their journey, and share advice for those with similar interests and goals.

In this episode, Jeff chats with Justin Berrie about his journey as both a flutist and investment professional. Justin describes his pursuit of an orchestral career, his experiences with Symphonica Arturo Toscanini and the St. Louis Symphony among other orchestras as a substitute, and the realizations that encouraged him to alter his path. Justin details how he entered the investment business and the lessons he learned about leveraging the skills he developed at Eastman.

In this episode, Rachel Roberts chats with Rena Kraut, the Executive Director of CAYO. Through a successful career as a freelance clarinetist and educator, Rena had a pivotal experience in Cuba that encouraged her to create this cultural partnership between musicians in the US and Cuba. Rena shares this experience, more about the weeklong visits to Cuba, and the lessons learned through these opportunities for musicians to connect.

In this episode, Jeff chats with Angela Rubin, a violist, scholar, and educator who was the first recipient of the AMP Up grant. Angela discusses her recital program, musical goals, and approach to programming repertoire by female composers not originally for the viola. Angela shares her marketing approach that won the grant funding, and the lessons learned through executing her project.

In this episode, Jeff chats with Haik Demirchian '24E, an award-winning Trombonist and Educator from St. Louis, Missouri. Haik won an IML Mentorship Grant to fund his album, Crossroads, which incorporates Haik's research of folk music in Armenia and the U.S., blending these influences with his jazz and classical training. Haik shares stories of Armenian history, culture, and performance in contrast to the US. Haik also reflects on his experiences touring with Broadway's "Hadestown" and shares his perspective on how musicians can take the necessary steps to reach their goals.

In this episode, Jeff chats with Dr. Charles Limb, the Francis A Sooy Professor and Chief of Otology and Neurotology and Skull base Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Elise Piazza, Assistant Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, and Gaelen McCormick '92E, the Director of the Eastman Performing Arts Medicine Center. The panel discusses an intersection of music and medicine in researching how people hear music, cochlear implants, and the career journeys of those researching music.

In this episode, Jeff chats with Brandon Elliott and Dale Trumbore, co-authors of "Composing a Living: A Music Creator's Guide to Money, Relationships, and Business." Elliott and Trumbore interviewed 28 composers to compile advice and information that supports a composer's journey, including negotiating contracts, understanding copyright, diversifying income, and more. Both discuss their personal journey as musicians, and their work supporting young composers to enable creators to build a sustainable career.

In this episode, Jeff chats with Cori Trenczer' 24E about Smorgasbord for Your Fingerboard: an e-book in level-order of pieces for solo cello by a diverse roster of composers. Cori won an IML Mentorship grant to support their research and development of this book, and discusses the insights gained through those conversations and what learners can find in this upcoming pedagogical material.

In this episode, Jeff chats with Victoria Paterson '93. Victoria's career has spanned over twenty years of touring productions and performing on Broadway, creating and leading the Mostly Modern Projects and Festival, and contracting musicians in New York to perform in hospitals. Victoria provides advice to musicians on finding and creating opportunities, and illustrates the way in which musicians approach creative work and making impact in our communities.

In this episode, Jeff chats with Norman Menzales, flautist and Eastman alum who is a first-generation Filipino-American and active advocate for the rich culture and musical traditions of the Philippines. Menzales received a Paul R Judy Center for Innovation and Research Grant to support the Sampaguita Flute Project and the recording of Panoramas: Flute Music of the Philippines. Menzales shares his professional journey and provides advice to the next generation of musicians starting their careers.