The Conductor's Podcast

Do you also use recordings to help your score study process? Today I am going to share a few things that I do with recordings! 1. See the many interpretational possibilities regarding tempi, balance, or conducting patterns. 2. Check what I might have missed in your score study (dynamics, chord change, important lines, or bringing out a different layer) 3. Memory check when memorizing the score 4. Know what might need rehearsals 5. Help visualize the score 6. The choreography of conducting ge...

Catching up with returning guest Kevin Fitzgerald :) Make sure you check out or revisit my interview with Kevin in Season 2 when we talked about audition preparation and navigating the business: https://theconductorspodcast.com/podcast/s2e7/ AND https://theconductorspodcast.com/podcast/s2e8/ All About Chaowen Ting

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 inte...

Live recording from an AMA (Ask Me Anything) Panel Discussion on May 3, 2024. The panelists of the sessions were: Juhi Bensal, composer, conductor, and educator Joanna Drimatis, Music Director and Chief Conductor, Beecroft Orchestra Katie LaBrie, composer, conductor, and educator All About Chaowen Ting

I've always thought that I wasn't a good competition type of conductor, until I realized that I actually convinced myself that I wasn't good in a certain area so I didn't need to continue improving myself. From 2022, I entered La Maestra Competition in Paris, won the 3rd Prize at Kussewitzky Competition 2023 and 2nd Prize at the Mendelssohn Competition 2024. In this season's episodes, I will be sharing more what I've learned in my journey. But before that, my thoughts on conducting competit...

Live recording from an AMA (Ask Me Anything) Panel Discussion on April 3, 2024. The panelists of the sessions were: 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗹, 2024 Sphinx Medal of Excellence & former Assistant Conductor, Memphis Symphony 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗶 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗼, Dudamel Fellow, LA Philharmonic; Associate Conductor, North Carolina Symphony 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮, Assistant Conductor & Diversity Fellow, Buffalo Philharmonic 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗫𝗶𝗮, Associate Conductor, Seattle Symphony If you missed my interview with Kalena Bovell in Seas...

Based on my experiences teaching conducting workshops and participating in competitions, the three biggest mistakes are: 1. Worrying so much about the ensemble problems when you are the one causing the problems. 2. Only concerned about your conducting, your vision of the music and fail to connect with musicians. 3. Thinking that it’s only about conducting - how about your leadership styles, interpersonal skills, and the way you present yourself? All About Chaowen Ting

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 appro...

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 ...

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...

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 r...

Diversity Statement has become a more and more frequently asked application material. No matter you are applying for a music directorship or an educational role, the organization very often is interested in knowing your vision on diversity, inclusion, and equity. Feeling stuck as a straight white man (or anything else)? No worries, let me show you how to kill your diversity vision, and how to revive it. Best Ways to Kill Your Diversity Statement: Claiming that "I have a friend /...

As the largest body of an orchestra, it's always great to have a string sectional to unify style, articulation, and even phrasing. If you are not a string player yourself, what are the mistakes to avoid when leading a string sectional? Instead of: Get stuck in bowing discussionsNot knowing your termsGive instructions on bowing or fingering Do this: Always have a set of bowings marked in the part before distributing them Describe the sounds you wantLet the principals / concertmast...