Feeding the Starving Artist: Finding Success as an Arts Entrepreneur

Classical trumpeter Mary Elizabeth Bowden joins Rick and Ron in another episode of the Feeding the Starving Artist podcat. Mary Elizabeth is a highly in-demand soloist, praised for her “splendid, brilliant” playing (Gramophone Magazine) and her “pure, refined, and warm” tone (American Record Guide). A Gold Medal Global Music Award Winner, Opus Klassik Nominee, and Yamaha Performing Artist, Bowden works diligently to establish a new repertoire for the trumpet through creative, collaborative commissioning projects and award-winning albums.Highlights of Bowden’s recent seasons include her debut with the Santa Fe Symphony, as well as prominent engagements with major international ensembles. During the 2022/2023 season, she performed as a soloist with the Busan Maru International Music Festival Orchestra in Korea and toured five cities in Argentina, performing Assad’s Bohemian Queen with the Shenandoah Conservatory Orchestra. She served as faculty at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival in summer 2022. Other recent performances include four world premiere concertos. Highlights include her debut with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, where she performs a program including Clarice Assad’s Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra and Shostakovich’s Concerto in C minor for Piano, Trumpet, and String Orchestra with pianist Henry Kramer. In another key debut, Bowden appears as a soloist with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, performing Reena Esmail’s Rosa de Sal and Assad’s Bohemian Queen. With the DuPage Symphony, she premieres a new arrangement of Gala Flagello’s Persist, newly arranged for two trumpets, and performs as soloist on Grace Williams’ Trumpet Concerto. She debuts with Oregon’s Rogue Valley Symphony in Henri Tomasi’s Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra before touring the Fung and Assad concertos to the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, Akron Symphony Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic, and Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra.Bowden holds residencies and masterclasses at Oberlin College, Swarthmore College, the University of Michigan, Rogue Valley Symphony Orchestra, Central Michigan University, Michigan State University, Western Michigan University, Haverford College, Grand Valley State University and the Fine Arts Center of Greenville, SC. International engagements bring Bowden to the Isla Verde Bronces International Brass Festival in Argentina, Festival de Metales del Pacifico in Mexico, and Lieksa Brass Week in Finland. Bowden’s Chrysalis Chamber Players embark on a U.S. tour of trumpet and string quartet repertoire, presented by Live On Stage, and with Seraph Brass, Bowden is recording an album of new compositions for brass quintet for Tower Grove Records.

Clarence Penn joins the Feeding the Starving Artist podcast. Clarence is one of the busiest jazz drummers in the world, a leader of multiple bands, a composer, a prolific producer, and an educator.He's an accomplished jazz drummer, is highly regarded for his impressive skills in music composition, production, and education. Since his arrival in New York City in 1991, Penn has worked with an extensive list of renowned musicians, including Ellis and Wynton Marsalis, Betty Carter, and Michael Brecker, among others. He has also toured extensively and recorded a myriad of studio albums, covering a wide range of jazz expressions.

Rick and Ron host drummer David Agee to the podcast. David holds the drumset chair for the United States Navy Band Sea Chanters. With the Sea Chanters, Agee has performed at the White House, NFL halftime shows, and the Fireworks Spectacular with the Boston Pops. David is also active as a freelancer and music educator around Washington, DC. Known as a musical chameleon, versed in jazz, funk, pop, sydeco, and musical theatre, David is in demand as a first-call percussionist in the DCarea.David has music degrees from Clemson University and Depaul University

Rick and Ron use Kobe Bryant's Mamba Mentality as a basis to help creative artists bring a fearless, relentless pursuit of absolute excellence to their art.

Curtis King is an amazing vocalist, with a versatility that is rare. His repertoire includes pop, R&B and jazz, and has developed a unique and personal style of vocalization, a sound that is African and Asian inspired, often using body percussion - creating a world vibe, or a personal language that speaks to many.Curtis is currently on tour with Bruce Springsteen and has provided background vocals for hundreds of projects and artists such as Luther Vandross, Natalie Cole, Billy Joel, Madonna, and most recently Trey Anastasio (Phish). In addition with his tours with Bruce Springsteen, he has provided supporting vocals for Carly Simon, James Taylor, Steely Dan, Pavarotti and has worked with such notable producers as Phil Ramone, Kevin Shirley, Barry Eastman, Nile Rodgers, Jim Steinman, Russ Titleman and Arif Mardin.Join Rick and Ron as they host Curtis King to the Feeding the Starving Arts podcast!

Rick and Ron welcome Bryan Uhl to the Feeding the Artist Podcast.Bryan is a trumpet player who graduated with music degrees from Iowa State University and the University of North Texas. During his career Bryan has enjoyed a varied and prolific performing career. In his 20-year tenure with the West Point Band (NY), Bryan performed everything from big band jazz, and classical chamber music at major sporting events, and for military and State Department ceremonial functions. Following his service as a West Point musician, Bryan is now a freelance trumpet player living in the New York area. During his career he has provided entertainment in theme parks, such as Busch Gardens (VA) and Walt Disney World (FL). Prior to joining the Back to the Future orchestra, You can find Bryan as a pit musician on Broadway, plays with the Back to the Future orchestra, and holds a trumpet chair in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular orchestra.