The Arts Salon

On this episode of "The Arts Salon," we explore the current challenges facing cultural organizations like classical music presenters, museums, and non-profits. With programs shrinking, ticket sales declining, and costs rising, many institutions are looking for new leadership to navigate these troubled times. The prevailing thought is that entrepreneurial leaders—akin to founders—are the answer, promising to reshape organizations with visionary zeal. But is this approach the right fit for long-established institutions with rich histories?

We dive into the allure of charismatic leaders who draw comparisons to figures like Steve Jobs, and discuss why hiring individuals who prioritize their own visions over institutional continuity can be risky. We'll examine the importance of balancing innovation with tradition and why the hard work behind true innovation often gets overlooked. Using Edmund Burke’s social contract as a lens, we discuss how thoughtful, gradual change can preserve an organization’s ethos for future generations, as opposed to radical, disruptive shifts that risk undermining an institution’s very foundation.

Join us as we unpack the complexities of leadership in the arts and consider what it means to be a true custodian of cultural heritage in today’s challenging landscape.

Find a comfy chair or get ready for that drive...this is a long one! Today we have Geoff Baker and Catalina Lobo-Gerrero to discuss the complex subject of Venezuela and it's "El Sistema." If you remember my episode demystifying Cuban propaganda, you will know I have a deep suspicion of programs that emerge from undemocratic regimes.

Catalina, a prominent journalist and author of Los Restos de la Revolución, will be our guide to understanding the context of Venezuela's political disaster and why it is a failed state generating more refugees than Syria. This one-hour political primer will set the stage for my conversation about "El Sistema" with Geoff Baker.

Geoff is a phenomenal musicologist and the author of El Sistema: Orchestrating Venezuela's Youth, which documents the problematic political and philosophical nature of El Sistema as an engine of social change.

Hope you enjoy this long episode, the juice IS worth the squeeze!

In this episode, I discuss my visit to the International Trumpet Guild (ITG) conference. I was there for two events: a panel honoring the late Tom Stevens and a recital by Håkan Hardenberger and Roland Pöntinen.

This episode is a reflection on Stevens' efforts to elevate the trumpet beyond flashy technical pieces, and his plight to create a catalog of new music for trumpet players.

I also discuss Hardenberger’s performance highlighting Stevens' influence and contributions, reinforcing his enduring impact on the trumpet world.

Today's guest is Alex Mansour! Alex is a composer, cellist, and jazz pianist, and one of the true multi-hyphenates of Los Angeles. In this talk we discuss many issues related to the film music scene, the challenges facing the symphony (again lol), and many more issues.

We will announce exciting things during our 60th episode so stay tuned!

Lucy Humphris and I sat down to talk about a great many things including the state of the arts, the attention economy (with comments on the great article by Ted Gioia), Chosen Vale, the decay of artistic education, and many more subjects.

We will close out the month with a conversation with LA composer/cellist/jazz pianist Alex Mansour.

The news of the closure of the American Youth Symphony has sent shockwaves through the music community, especially in Los Angeles. AYS was not just another youth music program; it was a vital stepping stone for many musicians, offering a gateway into the competitive Los Angeles freelance scene. Alumni of AYS have gone on to become prominent figures in the classical music world, shaping the landscape of the industry.

The closure of AYS raises questions about the state of the classical music sector as a whole. Small non-profits like AYS often serve as the canaries in the coal mine, sensing industry challenges before larger institutions. Issues such as audience decline, shrinking patronage, and changing philanthropic priorities have plagued AYS and larger organizations alike.

While the loss of AYS is deeply felt, it also serves as a wake-up call for the classical music community. Moving forward, the industry needs to adapt and innovate, embracing new strategies to ensure its survival and relevance in the 21st century.

Today's guest is Maggie Kilgour, she is Molson Professor of English Language and Literature at McGill University—my Alma Mater. She sat down to talk with me and Andres Caro about John Milton and his epic poem Paradise Lost.

Although this conversation is technically part of our "off-topic" series with Andres as co-host, the conversation is very much about the arts.

Paradise Lost is a central accomplishment of Western culture, and as such it is a book everyone should read at least once. I hope if you have never picked it up, this inspires you to do so!

Otto Sauter is well-known as one of the world‘s leading trumpet soloists. As a specialist on the piccolo trumpet, the German musician has already appeared in all major concert halls.

Otto Sauter⁠ and I sat down to talk about his illustrious career as a trumpet soloist specializing in baroque music. We discuss many issues including the changing listening habits of current students, his World Brass Association, the genius of J.S. Bach, Thomas Stevens, and many more subjects.

This month we will release a talk about John Milton featuring Professor Maggie Kilgour (McGill University), an essay on a topic to be announced, and more. Don't forget to leave us a 5-star review!

This conversation is a real treat. I talk with Conductor ⁠⁠Ryan Bancroft⁠⁠, and trumpeters ⁠⁠Edward Carroll⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Dave Bilger⁠⁠, Dovas Lietuvninkas, and Bailey Paugh about the Chosen Vale International Trumpet Seminar. We discuss the powerful environment, the unrivaled faculty, and many subjects about art making and directing a career in music in 2024.

We will close off January with our monthly conversation with ⁠⁠Andres Caro⁠⁠ where he will ask me questions about how to listen to classical music!

In this solo episode we dive into the challenges that are facing the Los Angeles movie music industry as the decade evolves. I lay down the following as the main challenges facing the industry:

For a transcript of this episode, check out my website. Hope you enjoy this!

In a week I will release a conversation with Conductor ⁠Ryan Bancroft⁠, and trumpeters ⁠Edward Carroll⁠, ⁠Dave Bilger⁠, Dovas Lietuvninkas, and Bailey Paugh about the Chosen Vale International Trumpet Seminar. We close off the month with our monthly conversation with ⁠Andres Caro⁠ where he will ask me questions about how to listen to classical music!