The Conductor's Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Live recording from an AMA (Ask Me Anything) Panel Discussion on May 6, 2024. The session was moderated by my colleague Dr. Janet Kim, and our panelists were:

Arianne Abela, Director of the Choral Program, Amherst College

Maria A. Ellis, the Girl Conductor

Amanda Hanzlik, Director of Choirs, E.O. Smith High School; President - Elect, ACDA Eastern Region

Liana Salinas, Artistic Director, Miami Children's Chorus

If you missed my interview with Maria A. Ellis in Season 1 Episode 2 where I interviewed someone for the very first time - she is so inspiring!! Check it out: https://theconductorspodcast.com/podcast/2/

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Very happy to welcome Anna Sułkowska-Migoń, the winner of the 2022 La Maestra Competition in Paris, where I was a quarter-finalist. Anna and I talked about her experience after the competition, her growth and challenges, and what she has learned in her journey. 

This interview was recorded in May 2024 when Anna was expecting her daughter and we wish her and her family a wonderful start of this new chapter.

Learn more about Anna: https://annasulkowskamigon.com/

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Last week I spoke with Karen on Marketing for Musicians, and we discussed boundaries and showing your uniqueness to the world, and understand who you are serving.

In today's conversation, I spoke with Karen about another part of her specialty - career coach, and dig into how people have different definitions of success, and to find the answers from within.

Karen Cubides is the passionate and engaging founder and CEO of the Karen Cubides Agency based in Nashville, Tennessee. Her holistic approach to coaching her clients allows her to serve a wide range of well-established musicians and young professionals alike in unique and personal ways. Through her intimate understanding of the relationship between personal growth and professional achievement, Karen builds up the individual, the artist, and the professional within each of her clients as they master goal-setting, lifestyle balance, and the nuances of our evolving industry. Her commitment, care, and creativity have connected her with incredible individuals and organizations across the world. 

Karen founded her agency early in her career out of her empathy for the people she worked with and admired. She firmly believes that musicians do not have to choose between promising careers and fulfilling personal lives. Her compassion has driven her time and again to better herself and her agency to bring out the best in each of her clients, both personally and professionally. By understanding and assessing the whole individual and not the performer exclusively, her clients continue to thrive in their creative passions and In their personal relationships. Karen has had the privilege of working with musicians of all backgrounds, from bird land to Broadway and from the Philharmonic to the Blair School of Music.

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Today's episode is a must listen for musicians as we learn marketing for ourselves, create opportunities and put ourselves out there for business!

Karen Cubides is the passionate and engaging founder and CEO of the Karen Cubides Agency based in Nashville, Tennessee. Her holistic approach to coaching her clients allows her to serve a wide range of well-established musicians and young professionals alike in unique and personal ways. Through her intimate understanding of the relationship between personal growth and professional achievement, Karen builds up the individual, the artist, and the professional within each of her clients as they master goal-setting, lifestyle balance, and the nuances of our evolving industry. Her commitment, care, and creativity have connected her with incredible individuals and organizations across the world. 

Karen founded her agency early in her career out of her empathy for the people she worked with and admired. She firmly believes that musicians do not have to choose between promising careers and fulfilling personal lives. Her compassion has driven her time and again to better herself and her agency to bring out the best in each of her clients, both personally and professionally. By understanding and assessing the whole individual and not the performer exclusively, her clients continue to thrive in their creative passions and In their personal relationships. Karen has had the privilege of working with musicians of all backgrounds, from bird land to broadway and from the Philharmonic to the Blair School of Music.

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Conducting auditions are something that's hard to navigate as each organization and ensemble does look for different things, but no one would disqualify a good conductor!

Typically, an audition for an assistant conductor would be only 10-15 minutes, while a music director audition might be a full rehearsal (2-3 hour), or even a concert cycle consisting 4-6 rehearsals, depending on the ensemble's schedule.

My objective of all conducting auditions is to share my musical ideas with the ensemble while demonstrating a representation of how my typical rehearsal flows.

Some Tips:

• Only verbally ask for things that you’ve already shown in your conducting (and not getting)
• Refrain from talking too much about the historical background, stories, etc. unless it’s necessarily and absolutely related to your point
• Have a structure of the rehearsal, and share it with the musicians
• If it’s not good, ask again. Don’t leave things when they are still bad

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Today’s episode is the second half of my conversation with a long-time friend, Kevin Fitzgerald, current Associate Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony.

Last week we spoke about preparing for job applications and auditions, and today we will continue the conversation and hear all the behind the scene stories of navigating the business.

As 2021 Tanglewood Music Center Conducting Fellow and four-time recipient of Career Assistance Grants from The Solti Foundation U.S., Kevin Fitzgerald is at the forefront of the next generation of conductors. Recently, Kevin was invited as one of the twenty conductors to participate live in the 2023 Mahler Competition with the Bamberg Symphony.

In addition to his post as Associate Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony, Fitzgerald has recently guest conducted the Rochester Philharmonic, North Carolina Symphony and the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh. In his commitment to uplifting communities through music, Fitzgerald conducted Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in 2017 with musicians from the Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids Symphonies to raise over $10,000 for the International Rescue Committee and Freedom House Detroit. In 2016, he also co-organized and conducted an impromptu performance called “Requiem for Orlando,” which featured over 400 volunteer musicians in a dedicated performance for victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida.

Since then, he has participated in masterclasses with Michael Tilson Thomas and the New World Symphony, Andris Nelsons and Alan Gilbert at Tanglewood among many others. Kevin is based in Raleigh, NC, with his husband, violist Kurt Tseng, and their two dogs Bennie and Chipper. Kevin also teaches and coaches conductors privately online and in person.

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In today's episode, you will hear the first half of my conversation with a long-time friend, Kevin Fitzgerald, current Associate Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony. We went way back to my years at the Eastman School of Music, and it's such a pleasure to speak with him on the topic of preparing for job applications and auditions.

As 2021 Tanglewood Music Center Conducting Fellow and four-time recipient of Career Assistance Grants from The Solti Foundation U.S., Kevin Fitzgerald is at the forefront of the next generation of conductors. Recently, Kevin was invited as one of the twenty conductors to participate live in the 2023 Mahler Competition with the Bamberg Symphony.

In addition to his post as Associate Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony, Fitzgerald has recently guest conducted the Rochester Philharmonic, North Carolina Symphony and the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh. In his commitment to uplifting communities through music, Fitzgerald conducted Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in 2017 with musicians from the Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids Symphonies to raise over $10,000 for the International Rescue Committee and Freedom House Detroit. In 2016, he also co-organized and conducted an impromptu performance called “Requiem for Orlando,” which featured over 400 volunteer musicians in a dedicated performance for victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida.

Since then, he has participated in masterclasses with Michael Tilson Thomas and the New World Symphony, Andris Nelsons and Alan Gilbert at Tanglewood among many others. Kevin is based in Raleigh, NC, with his husband, violist Kurt Tseng, and their two dogs Bennie and Chipper. Kevin also teaches and coaches conductors privately online and in person.

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Should I enter a graduate program? Look for jobs? Go to masterclasses? Those are some questions that I got asked the most.

For us conductors, we have to create our own curriculum, our own path, and to make decisions all the time.

In today's episode, I will share with you three main factors to consider when figuring out "what's next:"

• YOUR MUSICIANSHIP

You have to be a good conductor, and that includes your techniques and your knowledge. Your being a good conductor is the most important thing you can deliver.

So here are the questions I always ask myself: am I a good conductor? Am I continue becoming a better conductor everyday?

Your musicianship includes your knowledge and your ability to deliver your knowledge - including your conducting techniques. Do I need a good teacher to help me with techniques? Do I need another set of eyes to check in on me? Am I regressing instead of progressing everyday?

• PRACTICE MAKES PROGRESS - HAVING AN ENSEMBLE TO WORK WITH

Do I currently have an ensemble to work with regularly? If not, can I form one? If not, can I find opportunities to work with one?

Is this the time to get to a workshop where I can gain experience working with an ensemble more regularly? Do I need exposure to higher caliber musicians? Have I not worked with a good group for too long that I developed so many bad teaching-mindset habits?

• NETWORKING

Very honestly, you need to know people and people need to know you. It's not only about your own network - who you know, but also who your teachers know, who your teachers bring in to work with you, who your friends know, what kind of friends, musicians, artists they are exposed to that will connect you with.

Of course we are not connecting with others only because I wanted to conduct your orchestra without seeing you in 10 years. No, not in that way, but building genuine relationships.

So when I am at an intersection of my study and career, I always look at these three parts and wonder, what am I lacking the most at this moment? and what can I do to make a plan to achieve some goals? Hope that you will find this helpful as well!

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Last week I spoke with social media guru Nicole Riccardo about how musicians can create a meaningful online community through social media. She generously provided a lot of tips and suggestions for my listeners.

When we talk about marketing, curating an image of our own for the world, it's unavoidable to discuss one's brand.

Are you struggling with defining your "brand" or finding your "niche"? What are some possible ways we can market ourselves better through our social media presences and reach our career goals?

In today's episode, you will hear the second half of my conversation with flutist turned digital marketer, Nicole Riccardo, the Founder & President of NR Media. After working with multi-million dollar business and gaining 10 years of experience in the field, Nicole’s mission now is to empower other musicians, creatives, and freelancers with the business + digital marketing know-how they need in order to create a career doing what they love!

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I am not a person who is naturally good at social media - when I say I'm an introvert, many people would seem surprised, but I am really awkward starting a conversation with strangers.

Flutist turned digital marketer, Nicole Riccardo, the Founder & President of NR Media was introduced to me through a common flutist friend years ago when I was just naively debating whether I should learn more about social media and started to cultivate an online profile.

In today's episode, you will hear the first half of our conversation focusing on building a meaningful online community, and she will share her thoughts on beating the algorithm, reaching out to others, and be strategic with your online presence.

After working with multi-million dollar business and gaining 10 years of experience in the field, Nicole’s mission now is to empower other musicians, creatives, and freelancers with the business + digital marketing know-how they need in order to create a career doing what they love!

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