Alice Brooks - Cinematographer of In The Heights, Tick, Tick…Boom!…- Highlights

Alice Brooks - Cinematographer of In The Heights, Tick, Tick…Boom!…- Highlights

Award-winning Cinematographer
In The Heights, Tick, Tick…Boom!

There’s this children’s book called Miss Rumphius, and I’ve carried it around with me my entire life. It’s about a woman who grandfather tells her three things, and the last one is the most difficult thing of all and that’s to fill the world with beauty. And I give this book to every one of my friends who are having babies, I have a copy with me almost at all times, and I’m reminded of that feeling that Jonathan Larson had in Tick, Tick…Boom! Of how much time do we have to do something great.

ALICE BROOKS - Cinematographer of In The Heights, Tick, Tick…Boom!…

ALICE BROOKS - Cinematographer of In The Heights, Tick, Tick…Boom!…

Award-winning Cinematographer
In The Heights, Tick, Tick…Boom!

There’s this children’s book called Miss Rumphius, and I’ve carried it around with me my entire life. It’s about a woman who grandfather tells her three things, and the last one is the most difficult thing of all and that’s to fill the world with beauty. And I give this book to every one of my friends who are having babies, I have a copy with me almost at all times, and I’m reminded of that feeling that Jonathan Larson had in Tick, Tick…Boom! Of how much time do we have to do something great.

Grammy Award-winning Composer MICHAEL DAUGHERTY on Metropolis & Tales of Hemingway - Highlights

Grammy Award-winning Composer MICHAEL DAUGHERTY on Metropolis & Tales of Hemingway - Highlights

Multiple GRAMMY Award-winning composer
One of the ten most performed composers in America

“Architecture is frozen music,” as Goethe said…There is something about when you’re exploring not knowing exactly where it’s going to go or how it’s going to turn out which creates an element of surprise and an element of intrigue.

MICHAEL DAUGHTERTY - Multi GRAMMY Award-winning Composer - One of Most Performed US Composers

MICHAEL DAUGHTERTY - Multi GRAMMY Award-winning Composer - One of Most Performed US Composers

Multiple GRAMMY Award-winning composer
One of the ten most performed composers in America

“Architecture is frozen music,” as Goethe said…There is something about when you’re exploring not knowing exactly where it’s going to go or how it’s going to turn out which creates an element of surprise and an element of intrigue.

Bridging Cultures Through Music & Composition with BRIGHT SHENG - Highlights

Bridging Cultures Through Music & Composition with BRIGHT SHENG - Highlights

MacArthur & ASCAP Award-Winning Composer, Conductor & Pianist

I try to preserve the Chinese music flavor. So, you imagine in Chinese band, the country music that people usually reserve for weddings or for big moments or for funerals. That kind of a feeling. Drums and music playing. I try to preserve it from my memory because what we have now is just a tune. You can probably recognize the tune, but the execution of translating that for a Western orchestra and make it sound like it’s a Chinese band playing Chinese instruments.

BRIGHT SHENG - MacArthur & ASCAP Award-Winning Composer, Conductor & Pianist

BRIGHT SHENG - MacArthur & ASCAP Award-Winning Composer, Conductor & Pianist

MacArthur & ASCAP Award-Winning Composer, Conductor & Pianist

I try to preserve the Chinese music flavor. So, you imagine in Chinese band, the country music that people usually reserve for weddings or for big moments or for funerals. That kind of a feeling. Drums and music playing. I try to preserve it from my memory because what we have now is just a tune. You can probably recognize the tune, but the execution of translating that for a Western orchestra and make it sound like it’s a Chinese band playing Chinese instruments.

Exploring Music, Writing & the Cultural Life of Athens with KIRIAKOS SPIROU - Highlights

Exploring Music, Writing & the Cultural Life of Athens with KIRIAKOS SPIROU - Highlights

Editor, Writer, Curator, Content Creator, Pianist & Composer

This particular exhibition definitely had to do with my close relationship to dance. I have collaborated a lot with choreographers for contemporary dance theater, and I was often advising collaborators, so we would create the tasks and the content of the choreography together. We would exchange the tasks. We would create the score and narrative together. Also, because I’m a pianist, which is a very physically demanding instrument, you have this geography of the piano. I think this exhibitions links to my own experience as a performer and composer for dance and the relationship that music has with the body.

KIRIAKOS SPIROU - Editor, Writer, Curator, Content Creator, Pianist & Composer

KIRIAKOS SPIROU - Editor, Writer, Curator, Content Creator, Pianist & Composer

Editor, Writer, Curator, Content Creator, Pianist & Composer

This particular exhibition definitely had to do with my close relationship to dance. I have collaborated a lot with choreographers for contemporary dance theater, and I was often advising collaborators, so we would create the tasks and the content of the choreography together. We would exchange the tasks. We would create the score and narrative together. Also, because I’m a pianist, which is a very physically demanding instrument, you have this geography of the piano. I think this exhibitions links to my own experience as a performer and composer for dance and the relationship that music has with the body.

FRANÇOIS CLEMMONS - 1st African American Actor on Children’s TV - Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood - Highlights

FRANÇOIS CLEMMONS - 1st African American Actor on Children’s TV - Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood - Highlights

Singer · Author
1st African American Actor on Children’s TV · Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

I always find it an ironic thing to think about the fact that Fred Rogers was colour-blind. He could barely tell a blue from a grey. I was young and to him I was a child and I certainly played the role of a child and he played the role of parent… He was profoundly patient.

Grammy Award Winner FRANÇOIS CLEMMONS on Pioneering African American Representation on Children's TV

Grammy Award Winner FRANÇOIS CLEMMONS on Pioneering African American Representation on Children's TV

Singer · Author
1st African American Actor on Children’s TV · Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

I always find it an ironic thing to think about the fact that Fred Rogers was colour-blind. He could barely tell a blue from a grey. I was young and to him I was a child and I certainly played the role of a child and he played the role of parent… He was profoundly patient.

Colombian Jazz Harpist Virtuoso EDMAR CASTANEDA on Family, Faith & the Creative Process - Highlights

Colombian Jazz Harpist Virtuoso EDMAR CASTANEDA on Family, Faith & the Creative Process - Highlights

Jazz Harpist

The harp or the instrument that I play is a traditional instrument from Columbia (I’m from Bogota, Columbia). We have traditional music there called Janetta music. It’s the music from the plains of Colombia and Venezuala. It’s like the cowboy music… I met the harp when I was seven years old. That’s the first time I saw this instrument. I was like–Wow! I knew I was born to play the harp that day!

EDMAR CASTANEDA - Jazz Harpist Virtuoso

EDMAR CASTANEDA - Jazz Harpist Virtuoso

Jazz Harpist

The harp or the instrument that I play is a traditional instrument from Columbia (I’m from Bogota, Columbia). We have traditional music there called Janetta music. It’s the music from the plains of Colombia and Venezuala. It’s like the cowboy music… I met the harp when I was seven years old. That’s the first time I saw this instrument. I was like–Wow! I knew I was born to play the harp that day!

“Songwriters create the meaning in people’s lives" - RICK CARNES, President, Songwriters Guild of America - Highlights

“Songwriters create the meaning in people’s lives" - RICK CARNES, President, Songwriters Guild of America - Highlights

Songwriter & President of the Songwriters Guild of America

Songwriters create the meaning in people’s lives. When you’re married, you have a song. When you fall in love, you have a song. At a funeral, they play a song. When people go off to war, they’re singing a war ballad. Songs create the meaningful moments in people’s lives. People bookmark the moment they met and kissed for the first time with a song. Songs are the bookmarks of your life. Your life is not going to have those meaningful moments cemented into your heart and soul without those songs. That’s a critically important job. That’s worth paying for.

RICK CARNES - 
Songwriter & President of the Songwriters Guild of America

RICK CARNES - 
Songwriter & President of the Songwriters Guild of America

Songwriter & President of the Songwriters Guild of America

Songwriters create the meaning in people’s lives. When you’re married, you have a song. When you fall in love, you have a song. At a funeral, they play a song. When people go off to war, they’re singing a war ballad. Songs create the meaningful moments in people’s lives. People bookmark the moment they met and kissed for the first time with a song. Songs are the bookmarks of your life. Your life is not going to have those meaningful moments cemented into your heart and soul without those songs. That’s a critically important job. That’s worth paying for.

KOVACS - Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter on Life, Love & Turning Personal Struggles into Music - Highlights

KOVACS - Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter on Life, Love & Turning Personal Struggles into Music - Highlights

Sharon Kovacs is a soul-inspired singer from Eindhoven, Netherlands. Her unique passion for musical poetry and unorthodox vocal style made her stand out while attending Eindhoven’s Rock City Institute. After graduating in 2013, she found international success when her debut single, “My Love” became a number one hit in Europe. Kovacs is very honest about the struggles and inner-demons that she continues to face and how they inspire her art. Such is apparent in her song “Shades of Black” which reached the top of the charts in the Netherlands and garnered over 60 million views on YouTube. Kovacs has a clutch of awards to her name and has performed high-profile sets at major festivals such as Glastonbury, Sziget, Pinkpop, and Rock Werchter. 

Songwriting Journal Courtesy of Kovacs

This interview was conducted by Mia Funk with the participation of collaborating universities and students. Associate Interviews Producer on this podcast was Konner Kienzle. Digital Media Coordinator is Hannah Story Brown. 

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Mia Funk is an artist, interviewer and founder of The Creative Process.

Songwriting & Self‐exploration with KOVACS, Award-winning Singer-Songwriter

Songwriting & Self‐exploration with KOVACS, Award-winning Singer-Songwriter

Sharon Kovacs is a soul-inspired singer from Eindhoven, Netherlands. Her unique passion for musical poetry and unorthodox vocal style made her stand out while attending Eindhoven’s Rock City Institute. After graduating in 2013, she found international success when her debut single, “My Love” became a number one hit in Europe. Kovacs is very honest about the struggles and inner-demons that she continues to face and how they inspire her art. Such is apparent in her song “Shades of Black” which reached the top of the charts in the Netherlands and garnered over 60 million views on YouTube. Kovacs has a clutch of awards to her name and has performed high-profile sets at major festivals such as Glastonbury, Sziget, Pinkpop, and Rock Werchter. 

Songwriting Journal Courtesy of Kovacs

This interview was conducted by Mia Funk with the participation of collaborating universities and students. Associate Interviews Producer on this podcast was Konner Kienzle. Digital Media Coordinator is Hannah Story Brown. 

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Mia Funk is an artist, interviewer and founder of The Creative Process.

“As a child, music felt very natural for me" - LORENDA RAMOU - Pianist, Musicologist, Concert Curator at Onassis Cultural Ctr - Highlights

“As a child, music felt very natural for me" - LORENDA RAMOU - Pianist, Musicologist, Concert Curator at Onassis Cultural Ctr - Highlights

Pianist, Musicologist & Concert Curator for Contemporary Music · Onassis Cultural Centre, Athens

As a child, music felt very natural for me. I didn’t feel I needed to put any effort into learning the piano. I wanted to find all the musical information that was there. What was the purpose of studying the piano? Suddenly the whole thing became so creative. I felt that the sound is something malleable and you can have an infinite number of possibilities and ways of phrasing and expressing, so that opened a whole new area of possibilities and I found this just fascinating.

What Secrets Does Greek Piano Repertoire Hold? LORENDA RAMOU - Pianist, Concert Curator at Onassis Cultural Center

What Secrets Does Greek Piano Repertoire Hold? LORENDA RAMOU - Pianist, Concert Curator at Onassis Cultural Center

Pianist, Musicologist & Concert Curator for Contemporary Music · Onassis Cultural Centre, Athens

As a child, music felt very natural for me. I didn’t feel I needed to put any effort into learning the piano. I wanted to find all the musical information that was there. What was the purpose of studying the piano? Suddenly the whole thing became so creative. I felt that the sound is something malleable and you can have an infinite number of possibilities and ways of phrasing and expressing, so that opened a whole new area of possibilities and I found this just fascinating.

Breaking Boundaries in Classical and Jazz - ROBERT DICK - Flutist, Composer - Highlights

Breaking Boundaries in Classical and Jazz - ROBERT DICK - Flutist, Composer - Highlights

Award-winning Flutist, Composer, Teacher & Author

I decided that I wanted to explore the flute. I mean really explore the flute. People had known a few multi-phonics where you could play two notes. But they had been basically “special effects”, sort of sprinkled into a traditional line to spice it up. And I thought, why not just go the whole way? So my concept that first of all music is made by people. All art is made by people. Music is not made by instruments. The sound of the flute is silence. The sound of the piano is silence. The mark of a brush is a white canvas until the person makes the mark. So music comes from people. We use instruments.