An interview with clarinetist, writer, speaker, and thought-leader, Alex Laing. Alex is the principal clarinetist of the Phoenix Symphony, an orchestra and board member of the Gateways Music Festival, and on the creative team of the NPR show, From the Top.

Highlights

• Being an enormous positive influence professionally - 6:43
• His background - 9:24
• Engage, attract, and reflect - 11:31
• Is there an opportunity to share new values? - 24:33
• Practicing performances - 33:42
• Having different narratives - 35:25
• The best music played by the best musicians - 38:30
• What values do we need to communicate - 43:20
• Becoming more human-centered - 44:55
• Is an orchestra a learning or planning organization? - 48:16
• Having an artistic and personal ambition - 48:16
• The purpose of the orchestra - 1:03:09
  
  
  
  Episode Resources
• Connect with Robert Hunt Simonds:
• roberthuntsimonds@gmail.com
• http://roberthuntsimonds.com/
• http://craigwagnermusic.blogspot.com/p/bio.html
• Alex's website: https://www.alexlaingmusic.com
• The Gateways Music Festival: https://www.gatewaysmusicfestival.org
• The Phoenix Symphony: https://www.phoenixsymphony.org
• Performances:
• Mozart Clarinet Concerto with the Phoenix Symphony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vXzIU8XH70
• "Po' Pilgrim" - The Downtown Chamber Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD0PJkiGq-M
• "There is a Balm in Gilead" on From the Top: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWE0vqQhpek
• Alex's book recommendations:
• Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership -- Lee G. Bolman, Terrence E. Deal
• Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead: What Every Business Can Learn from the Most Iconic Band in History -- David Scott
• The World Is Made of Stories -- David Loy 

An interview with cellist, singer/songwriter, storyteller, composer, improviser, and activist, Ben Sollee.

Highlights

• Combining music and drama - 6:58
• Find your path and pursue it - 12:04
• Why study classical music - 18:15
• The culture of classical music - 22:24
• The music business - 28:10
• Helping people feel something - 41:18
• Finding a balance point - 47:09
• Consistency is really important - 48:23
• His mission - 50:06
• A crucial shift for growing - 51:22
• It’s important to support artists - 55:10
• Transparency is key - 56:16
• Building trust is what it’s all about - 57:21
• Handling disruption - 58:40
• Why he is still in Kentucky - 59:59
• Making a career in the arts - 1:06:36
  
  
  Episode Resources
• Connect with Robert Hunt Simonds:
• roberthuntsimonds@gmail.com
• http://roberthuntsimonds.com/
• http://craigwagnermusic.blogspot.com
• Connect with Ben Sollee
• https://www.bensollee.com
• Ben Sollee and the Louisville Orchestra:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKP3Wm3ioRY
• Ben Sollee and the Downtown Chamber Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8siR1tmT5zE 

An interview with violinist Holly Mulcahy, Concertmaster/Partner for Audience Engagement at the Wichita Symphony, concertmaster of the Chattanooga Symphony, soloist, recitalist, founder of Arts Capacity, and blogger.

Highlights

• Her background - 6:47
• When joy was missing - 8:26
• Sometimes the energy is lacking - 11:08
• Bringing out the level of the institution - 12:55
• Good attitude vs. bad attitude - 14:26
• Trying to influence attitudes - 16:16
• Egos are so powerful - 20:00
• Not feeling appreciated - 24:59
• Stopped teaching and focused on her own practice - 28:25
• What schools are teaching - 30:55
• Never assume that people are going to like something - 34:55
• We are terrible listeners - 42:26
• Building trust together - 46:50
• Relaxation with music - 54:04
• Having a mobile career in the future - 56:50
• The importance of listening to the audience - 1:00:58

Episode Resources

• Connect with Robert Hunt Simonds:
• roberthuntsimonds@gmail.com
• http://roberthuntsimonds.com/
• http://craigwagnermusic.blogspot.com
• Connect with Holly Mulcahy:
• Holly's Recommendations:
• Yes, And: How Improvisation Reverses "No, But" Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration--Lessons from The Second City: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KAC65NO/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
• Cork Dork: A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste: https://www.amazon.com/Cork-Dork-Wine-Fueled-Sommeliers-Scientists-ebook/dp/B01KGZVT62/ref=sr_1_1?crid=11CN8VCXOTWZ8&dchild=1&keywords=cork+dork&qid=1614016635&s=digital-text&sprefix=cork+dor%2Cdigital-text%2C171&sr=1-1
• On Thinking Institutionally: https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Institutionally-Politics-Hugh-Heclo/dp/0199946000/ref=sr_1_1?crid=6CN4JFNZXIMX&dchild=1&keywords=on+thinking+institutionally&qid=1614016701&s=digital-text&sprefix=on+thinking+i%2Cdigital-text%2C164&sr=1-1
• website: https://www.hollymulcahy.com