Greenroom Conversations

Composer, arranger, orchestrator and pianist, Miho Hazama joined us in the studio to talk about her path to finding her mix between classical and jazz music. Currently, she is a New York City based jazz composer traveling the world performing her music. Starting as a pianist, her early studies in electronic organ later helped her with orchestration. From the age of 7 she started to study composition and later her interest in jazz started from listening to all types of music and in college hearing a big-band in rehearsal. She shared how she learned to improvise and find a balance between classical and jazz. Her life as a performer-conductor, arranger and composer is a balance that keeps her active and always busy. Recently released, she describes her second album with her jazz chamber orchestra, which includes new instrumentation for jazz music.

• Miho's Website
• Miho at Sunnyside Records

This week we chat with Adam Kantor who is currently in previews of Fiddler On The Roof, playing the role of Motel. Adam talks about the challenges of finding his way in creating a role for an original Broadway revival. He also discusses traveling to Eastern Europe as both a personal journey as well as preparation for bringing more honesty to his portrayal of Motel. We also discuss reminding yourself that “You are enough,” even at times when you don’t feel that way. Adam offers a great example of this during his disastrous put-in rehearsal for his Broadway debut in Rent, when Michael Greif pulled him aside at intermission with some words of encouragement. Adam also discusses the role of mentors on his life, not being above an open call, and how it is good to be, “Always learning, always growing, always getting outside of yourself.”

• Fiddler On The Roof
• Broadway.com

Violist David Creswell, talked to us about his path to being a very active freelancer in New York City, from Broadway to the New Philharmonic. He shares his love of how the viola can be the conduit of so much color in an ensemble and how he followed his career goals to pursue an orchestral career. Personal connections and auditions lead to him establishing a network and the skills needed to be successful in freelancing. The pros and cons of a permanent job and the diversity a freelancing career offers (teaching, chamber music, Broadway, orchestra, recordings, pop). David shares his interest in tuning, teaching, and his teaching of eurhythmics and viola at Juilliard. While he still takes auditions for jobs, he shares his reasoning on why to take an audition and how he prepares. We talked about; skills for filling in as a substitute in orchestras, time management skills needed for a freelance career and the priorities that ensures success.

• Eurthythmics Practice by David Creswell
• David Creswell on the American Viola Society's Website

This week we sat down with the incredibly talented and grounded TONY nominated actress, Montego Glover. Listen in as Montego talks about creating a role vs. stepping into a role such as Les Miserable’s Fantine. She also gives a great deal of advise that has helped her succeed including: being “willing to suck” at first, finding YOUR light in auditions-not theirs, and some wisdom passed on from her father… “ Do not let anyone pull you off your path.” Prioritizing and scheduling far in advance has allowed Montego to stay busy with many projects including voiceover work, being a PopsEd Ambassador, and a member of the Kennedy Center Honors Committee. Montego has been one of out most interesting and self-knowledgable guests to date.

• Montego's Website
• PopsEd Ambassadors
• Kennedy Center Honors

Dean LeBlanc, associate clarinetist at the Metropolitan Opera and freelancer joined us for a lively conversation about so many aspects of clarinet playing. We talked about the various instruments he plays, mouthpieces, C-clarinets, reeds, bells, playing in a section, playing in varying acoustics, barrels, freelancing on Broadway, adjusting to various acoustics and how he started his freelance career.

http://www.metorchestramusicians.org/dean-leblanc/

http://www.selmer.fr/musicfiche.php?id=719

http://www.conn-selmer.com/en-us/artist-information/centerstage/artist-roster/dean-leblanc/

This week we chat with Joshua Gonzales who happens to be a cast mate of our very own Ryan Michael Hartman. They both join us in the studio to discuss their experience touring the country in the Theatreworks USA tour Teacher From The Black Lagoon. Listen in as Joshua discusses the unique challenges of being a replacement with very little time to prepare. We also share some good laughs as they recall the ups and downs of traveling the country in a work van and Prius, to entertain kids in a wide range of spaces from beautiful historic theaters, to school room cafeterias.

• Joshuagonzalesnyc.com
• Ryanmichaelhartman.com
• Theatreworks USA

Michelle Baker, second horn at the Metropolitan Opera for the past 25 years, detailed her job description and her role in the horn section. We talked about the brands of horns the members of the section play, the daily challenges of keeping up the “chops,” her warm up method and daily maintenance plan, how she maintains playing when taking time off and returning to playing, her learning plan for the new seasons repertoire, how to figure out what works best for your own playing, the level of preparation needed for auditions and concerts, what she looks for in choosing students, how to build trust/confidence for concerts or auditions and how she spends her downtime.

http://www.metorchestramusicians.org/michelle-baker/http://www.msmnyc.edu/FacultyProfile/FID/1001039790

Currently in the 1st national tour of Beautiful, friend of the show Dashaun Young sits down with us in the studio to talk about his journey to Broadway. From his first big breaks, to playing Simba in The Lion King on Broadway, Tour, The West End, and Vegas, Dashaun has built quite an impressive resume and at quite a young age. Listen in for some tips that he feels has been crucial to his success. We also discuss what is next for Dashaun and have a little fun laughing at some great stage blunders he has experienced.

• Dashaun on Broadwayworld.com

Collaborative Pianist Warren Jones talked with us about his journey to achieving his career. Crucial to this process was his focus early on in his education to choose electives and courses in college that would help him to achieve these goals. We talked about, the difference between accompanying instrumentalists and singers, how music is made, necessary skills for collaborative pianist, how to learn these skills, importance of language skills and he shared many entertaining stories about his career.

http://www.warrenjones.com

Greenroom Conversations was excited to welcome such a legendary record producer Max Wilcox into the studio. In his first interview Max shares with us how he started out in Michigan studying piano and eventually ending up on the other side of the microphone as producer and engineer. He shares his path from RCA to a freelance recording producer and a few stories from his time as “collaborator” with Arthur Rubinstein for 17 years.