As a saxophonist in Boston’s Klezmer Conservatory Band in 1985, Merryl Goldberg traveled to the Soviet Union to meet up with another group of musicians, The Phantom Orchestra.

The Phantom Orchestra would be sharing more than good tunes with Merryl.  They’d also pass along information, including the names of people who wanted to escape the Soviet Union, which Merryl and her friends would then smuggle back to the United States.

To do this, Merryl made up a secret code, hidden in sheet music.

Now Merryl’s spy days are long behind her. But she is still passionate about how music and other arts can enrich other fields, including cybersecurity.

Guests:

Read more from EdSource: Merryl Goldberg, a music professor on a mission to spread arts education

Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.