Chamber Music America's Podcasts

In the past decade, streaming has erupted as a preferred method of music listening for hundreds of millions of people. Under this model, music has never been cheaper or easier to access, but many argue independent musicians have been left out of the equation.

This episode discusses the work of two organizations that aim to coalesce musicians towards collective action, engage in legislative pushes, and seek a more equitable music industry. CMA conducted interviews with United Musicians and Allied Workers’ Zack Nestel-Patt and Music Workers Alliance’s Aaron Edgcomb about streaming, current initiatives and more. Also featured is Thistle Jemison, who shares thoughts about the state of the industry, streaming, and what it has meant for her career as a musician.

Music Workers Alliance: musicworkersalliance.org

United Musicians and Allied Workers: weareumaw.org

Thistle Jemison: musicofthistle.com

This episode of CMA Talks is supported by the Wallace Foundation:

wallacefoundation.org

Produced for Chamber Music America by Orchid McRae

Hosted by Larry Blumenfeld

Guests: Aaron Edgcomb, Zack Nestel-Patt, Thistle Jemison

Music by Orchid McRae

Cover Art by Ben Schonhorn

What are the tools and best practices for creating thoughtful and lasting work? How can we use our talents and platforms to build arts equity that lasts? This episode of CMA Talks, "Confronting Marginalization through the Power of the Creative Life," features a discussion between artists and arts administrators about what's missing in the equity conversation. We also listen to a selection from Amina Figarova’s "If Barrels Could Talk"—the score of which appears in the spring issue of Chamber Music magazine.

The conversation, which has been edited for clarity, was held originally recorded at CMA's 2023 Chicago Chamberfest, held on June 2 at Pianoforte Chicago.

Featured panelists:

- Alejandra Valarino Boyer, Director of Steans Music Institute, Ravinia Festival

- Caitlin Edwards, Violinist and Educator, D-Composed and Ensemble Dal Niente

- Blake-Anthony Johnson, President & CEO, Chicago Sinfonietta

- Jennie Oh Brown, Flutist and Board Member, Chamber Music America (Moderator)

This podcast, and the panel held on June 2, 2023, are presented in partnership with The Wallace Foundation.

Produced for Chamber Music America by Nichole L. Knight and Orchid McRae. Theme music by Orchid McRae.

“If Barrels Could Talk” was created with support from CMA’s New Jazz Works program with generous funding from the Doris Duke Foundation. The recording was provided courtesy of the artist.

In this episode, we speak with Melody Buyukozer Dawkins from Slover Linett Audience Research (https://sloverlinett.com/) on the new qualitative report, “A Place to Be Heard, A Space to Be Held: Black Perspectives on Creativity, Trustworthiness, Welcome, and Well-Being” (https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/pages/a-place-to-be-heard-a-space-to-feel-held-black-perspectives.aspx) The wide-ranging discussion includes background information on the creation and execution of the study as well as key takeaways for ensemble music professionals to use in their own work.

We also listen to a selection from "Pillar III" from Andy Akiho’s Seven Pillars performed by Sandbox Percussion.

Program Notes:

The article “Close Listening,” is featured in the Spring 2022 issue of Chamber Music Magazine. Read the article online: https://www.chambermusicamerica.org/close-listening

The score from the featured Pillar III selection is featured in the Summer 2022 issue of Chamber Music Magazine.

Produced for Chamber Music America by Nichole L. Knight and Orchid McRae. Theme music by Orchid McRae.

Melody Buyukozer Dawkins appears courtesy of the Wallace Foundation.

Seven Pillars was created with support from CMA’s Classical Commissioning Program with generous funding from the Mellon Foundation.

In this episode, we hear from pianist, music educator, and researcher, Rod Vester, whose recent article in the Summer 2021 issue of Chamber Music Magazine urges ensembles and organizations not to abandon the racial equity commitments they made during 2020’s public reckoning. He talks about his personal connection to this work, highlights the importance of culture and belonging in D.E.I. initiatives, and gives tangible tips on how we can all know better, do better, and be better.

Program Notes:

Read “The Dangers of Returning to a Monochromatic Arts World” online: https://www.chamber-music.org/mag/2021/summer/index.html?page=28

The term BIPOC is used throughout this episode. It stands for Black, Indigenous, (and) People of Color and it is used to center those who have been most severely impacted by systemic racial injustices.

Produced for Chamber Music America by Nichole L. Knight and Orchid McRae

Additional production assistance provided by Anna Nordmoe

Theme music by Orchid McRae

Music featured in this episode:

"It is Well Within My Soul" performed by Rod Vester, hymn by Horatio Spafford, and composed by Philip Bliss. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGoDPZUPJGE

Follow Rod

Instagram | YouTube: @RodVester

Website: www.rodvester.com

This episode features a conversation between Chamber Music America CEO, Margaret M. Lioi, and composer, pianist, and educator Joan Tower. Listen in as they discuss Tower's life and work that has made her one of the most important American composers living today.

Joan Tower will receive the Richard J. Bogomolny National Service Award Visionary Award as part of CMA’s 2020 Conference, Music, Equity, and Our Future. For more information, visit http://conference.chamber-music.org.

Music featured in this podcast:

Joan Tower "Night Fields" performed by participants in the Britt Institute's String Quartet Academy.

This episode features a conversation between Chamber Music America CEO, Margaret M. Lioi, and pianist, composer, and vocalist Samora Pinderhughes. Listen in as they cover a wide range of topics including Samora’s musical history, mentors, and social justice activism.

Samora will receive CMA’s Visionary Award as part of CMA’s 2020 Conference, Music, Equity, and Our Future. For more information, visit http://conference.chamber-music.org.

Music featured in this podcast:

"Transformation" from The Transformations Suite by Samora Pinderhughes https://samorapinderhughes.bandcamp.com/album/the-transformations-suite

"Inertia" featuring Jack DeBoe by Samora Pinderhughes

https://samorapinderhughes.bandcamp.com/track/inertia-ft-jack-deboe

In this episode, we’ll hear from Angela Myles Beeching, a music career coach who teaches musicians how to get more of their best work out into the world. She is the former director of career and entrepreneurship programs at Manhattan School of Music, Indiana University, and New England Conservatory. She writes the “Angela Answers” column in CMA’s Chamber Music magazine. The third edition of her book, "Beyond Talent: Creating a Successful Career in Music," will be released later this year. Listen in as she explains the value of mindfulness for musicians and explains how to use mindset tools to help artists do their best work.

To learn more, visit: https://angelabeeching.com/

Have a question about how to move forward in your professional or creative life? Email [email protected].

Learn more by visiting our Audience Engagement Resource page: www.chamber-music.org/audience-engagement

Check out our podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/05IUVxbpj117EcQnZAJZ4Q?si=7M3WoEDvSdm8_QZMP1pleA

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chamber-music-americas-podcasts/id1373815844

In this episode, we listen to part of Zara Lawler’s March 2018 First Tuesday session, Strategies for Educational Outreach and Youth Centered Programming. Flutist Zara Lawler, specializes in interdisciplinary collaborations and engaging performances for young audiences. A grantee of CMA’s Residency Partnership Program, Lawler discusses how to develop interactive youth-centered performances as well as strategies for meaningful, mutually-beneficial relationships with education partners.

Session handout: https://www.chamber-music.org/pdf/youth-centered-programming.pdf

In part one of our two part podcast featuring Bob Harlow, we’ll listen to selections from his 2019 CMA Conference session, Audience Building on a Budget. Market Researcher Bob Harlow has spent the last two decades helping arts organizations, foundations, and corporations understand how different audiences think and make decisions. He currently leads his own market research organization based in New York City. Listen-in as he discusses the use of focus groups by the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston with conference attendees.

CMA’s National Conference receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Additional support for this podcast was provided by the Wallace Foundation’s "Building Audiences for the Arts" initiative.

https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/building-audiences-for-the-arts/pages/default.aspx

Learn more by visiting our Audience Engagement Resource page: www.chamber-music.org/audience-engagement

In part two of our podcast with Bob Harlow we’ll listen to selections from his 2019 CMA Conference session, Audience Building on a Budget. Market Researcher Bob Harlow has spent the last two decades helping arts organizations, foundations, and corporations understand how different audiences think and make decisions. He currently leads his own market research organization based in New York City. Listen-in as he addresses conference attendees and discusses the unique uses of focus groups by Orchestra X and the Minnesota Opera.

To learn more about Bob Harlow visit www.bobharlow.com

CMA’s National Conference receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Additional support for this podcast was provided by the Wallace Foundation’s "Building Audiences for the Arts" initiative.

www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-ce…default.aspx.

Learn more by visiting our Audience Engagement Resource page: www.chamber-music.org/audience-engagement