Post-tiny tots mixer with young boy and bassist Rick Robinson

Spoiler Alert

I must confess, I am very spoiled. I grew up middle-class, never wanting for access to food, jobs, a warm house, a supportive family, a caring father, and educational opportunities …

Getting Real with Classical Music, Part 3

OK, so I’ve written before about classical music checking in with reality and just giving the general public some of what they want, in order to rebuild trust in our …

What I’m Sayin’

The annual League of American Orchestras conference will be here in Detroit next week, with a thousand arts admins, artist managers, and some musician-members discussing the direction, issues, growth, and …

Working for Change

This blogpost is originally published at New Music USA. In September 2015 I was delighted to serve a short composer residency for New Music USA’s Music Alive: New Partnership program with …

Why We Play the Old Stuff EVERY Year

I was responding on Greg Sandow’s blog to why the classical industry largely continues to play the standard repertoire each year.  We musicians of that industry can no longer take for granted …

Excellence vs. Opportunity

I heard someone mention excellence and opportunity awhile back and I can’t stop thinking about it. I chose a career in “excellent performance” once I began music schools, intent to play bass in a …

guitarist plays while keyboardist and photographer listen

Revolution Is a Work in Progress

Having begun the Knight Project to expand our Classical Revolution Detroit series in January, we’ve again witnessed the usual results: several people thanking us for sharing classical and symphonic music where they …