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 la…

Live recording from an AMA (Ask Me Anything) Panel Discussion on May 20, 2024. The session was moderated by my colleague Dr. Janet Kim, and our panelists were: Shelley Axelson, Director of Bands, Radford University Julia Baumanis, Associate Director of Bands, Rutgers University Tina Dimeglio, Associate Director of Bands, University of South Florida…

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…

Five key preparation factors for competitions (and as a good conductor in general!) 1. Know the score inside out 2. Have (form and be very firm) your own opinion about the music 3. Have enough techniques to deliver your ideas 4. Keep a high energy and engage musicians at all times 5. Develop problem solving skills - rehearsal techniques, interrupti…

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 R…

Very happy to welcome Anna Sułkowska-Migoń, the winner of the 2022 La Maestra Competition in Paris, where I was a quarter-finalist. Anna and I talked about her experience after the competition, her growth and challenges, and what she has learned in her journey. This interview was recorded in May 2024 when Anna was expecting her daughter and we wish…

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…

Live recording from an AMA (Ask Me Anything) Panel Discussion on April 28, 2024. The panelists of the sessions were: Marta Gardolinska, Music Director, Opera national de Lorraine Stephanie Rhodes Russell, Founder, Women’s Artistic Leadership Initiative; Guest Conductor, Wolf Trap Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Washington National Opera Michelle Rofrano, …

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 Competi…

I finally had the pleasure to meet and speak with Dr. Andrea Brown, Associate Director of Bands at the University of Maryland. Previously served as director of orchestra and assistant director of bands at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta and assistant director of bands at the University of Michigan, we spoke about her experience as a …

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 & Dive…

My first in person interview for the podcast with conductor Chloé Dufresne, recorded on February 23, 2024 when she visited Atlanta through the Villa Albertine artist residence program with the French Consulate in Atlanta. We talked about her conducting training, experiences with American and European orchestras, and current and upcoming projects. L…

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 con…

Welcome back to season 3 of The Conductor’s Podcast. In this season I will be sharing things I’ve learned this past year, my experiences participating in competitions, interviews with some new and old friends, and live recordings of several Girls Who Conduct webinars! 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…

Today's episode is a must listen for musicians as we learn marketing for ourselves, create opportunities and put ourselves out there for business! Karen Cubides is the passionate and engaging founder and CEO of the Karen Cubides Agency based in Nashville, Tennessee. Her holistic approach to coaching her clients allows her to serve a wide range of w…

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 consis…

Today’s episode is the second half of my conversation with a long-time friend, Kevin Fitzgerald, current Associate Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony. Last week we spoke about preparing for job applications and auditions, and today we will continue the conversation and hear all the behind the scene stories of navigating the business. As 2021 Ta…

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 Tanglew…

Should I enter a graduate program? Look for jobs? Go to masterclasses? Those are some questions that I got asked the most. For us conductors, we have to create our own curriculum, our own path, and to make decisions all the time. In today's episode, I will share with you three main factors to consider when figuring out "what's next:" YOUR MUSICIANS…

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…

I am not a person who is naturally good at social media - when I say I'm an introvert, many people would seem surprised, but I am really awkward starting a conversation with strangers. Flutist turned digital marketer, Nicole Riccardo, the Founder & President of NR Media was introduced to me through a common flutist friend years ago when I was just …

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 …

Zoom Interviews are now more common since Covid - and organizations are often skipping the traditional phone interview and conduct a zoom interview for shortlisted candidates instead. If you've had unsuccessful zoom interviews in the past, you want to do a quick self-check and see if you've got it right, and know the purpose of the interview: to ob…

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 discussions Not knowing your terms Give instructions on bowing or fingering Do thi…

Welcome Back to Season 2 of The Conductor's Podcast! With a carefully designed season, we will be focusing on Conductors How-To and share all the tips on planning efficient rehearsals, preparing for auditions, giving a great job interview, marketing and branding for musicians, and even more! All About Chaowen Ting…

In this wisdom-filled episode, my guest is the world-renowned conductor, Diane Wittry. She is the music director of the Allentown Symphony and the Music Director and Conductor of the Garden State Philharmonic. She is also the author of award-winning books, “Beyond the Baton” and “Baton Basics - Communicating Music through Gestures.” To understand t…

Hi there! Happy end of September and welcome to episode no.9 of the Conductor’s Podcast Wisdom series, a new series full of shared life experiences and, of course, wisdom! This series is aired on the last Thursday of each month, and in each episode, I am going to pose a question to 10 musicians, conductors, or business gurus. So including myself, y…

In this episode of The Conductor’s Podcast, my guest is Gabriel Lena Frank. As she continues to be a remarkable composer, she’s fulfilling her passion of wanting to live by 100 years and seeing that music becomes more accessible to individuals who really want and need it. Tune in this episode and be inspired on how creativity impacts society and ho…

Opera is one of the greatest and the most classic art forms. It combines the ingenuity of a great storyline and the elegance of music in one captivating show. As this classic art form continue to become a favorite among enthusiasts, new operas are giving audiences a fresh perspective to shows that feature newly-composed music and storylines that ha…

In this truly exciting episode, the one and only Dr. Cynthia Johnson Turner discuss the broad meaning behind good conducting and how you can stand up on the podium as a leader. Johnston Turner, a dual citizen of Canada and the United States, earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY and her Ma…

Want to booster your productivity? Listen to today's episode where I share my newly discovred productivity hacks! 1. Always check your why: What's your purpose? 2. Morning Pages Journal: clear your mind before starting your day! 3. App: Todoist Answer these questions daily: Identify the most important tasks (one or two) Is what I am doing today sup…

Hi there! Happy end of August and welcome to episode no.8 of the Conductor’s Podcast Wisdom series, a new series full of shared life experiences and, of course, wisdom! This series is aired on the last Thursday of each month, and in each episode, I am going to pose a question to 10 musicians, conductors, or business gurus. So including myself, you …

While conducting music requires a specific level of technique, one’s success as a conductor cannot be complete without mastering musicianship. In this episode of The Conductor’s Podcast, I am beyond ecstatic to have Dr. Carolyn Watson as my guest as she enlightens young and experienced conductors alike, the essence of musicianship, musical intent a…

Happy August to you! August, for me, is the mark of a new beginning. As we ready ourselves for a new journey, this episode will surely give you a boost of new learnings for the new generation. Today, Aubrey Bergauer graces the show with her expertise in human resources, organizational culture, strategizing guests to be patrons, diversity and inclus…

Score study is such an important topic, and I've touched on this a few times in the podcast. However, I am going to organize things together for you, so it's a central place for you! In today's episode, I will be sharing 1) how I study scores when I don't have enough time, 2) some tools that I mixed and matched, and 3) great tips from the Girls Who…

Welcome to the Conductor’s Podcast Summer Mini Series! Hi there! Welcome to the Conductor’s Podcast Summer mini series. During the month of July, we are taking a break from the usual interview conversations. Instead, I will be sharing some tips on different aspects of a conductor’s job with you every week. In today’s episode, I will be talking abou…

Hi there! Happy end of July and welcome to the seventh edition of the Conductor’s Podcast Wisdom series, a new series full of shared life experiences and, of course, wisdom! This series is aired on the last Monday of each month, and in each episode, I am going to pose a question to 10 musicians, conductors, or business gurus. So including myself, y…

Hi there! Welcome to the Conductor’s Podcast Summer mini series. The summer months of June, July, and August are traditionally “off-season” for performing artists, where many people make summer homes at various festivals. This summer I turned down all the work engagements to refresh and recharge myself, and I thought that it could be fun for us to …

Welcome to the Conductor’s Podcast Summer Mini Series! Hi there! Welcome to the Conductor’s Podcast Summer mini series. During the month of July, we are taking a break from the usual interview conversations. Instead, I will be sharing some tips on different aspects of a conductor’s job with you every week. In today’s episode, I will be talking abou…

Welcome to the Conductor’s Podcast Summer Mini Series! Hi there! Welcome to the Conductor’s Podcast Summer mini series. During the month of July, we are taking a break from the usual interview conversations. Instead, I will be sharing some tips on different aspects of a conductor’s job with you every week. In today’s episode, I will be talking abou…

July is just around the corner! Who could’ve thought that six months of 2022 had gone by so quickly? I remember so many of my New Year’s resolutions and I know I have to catch up with all of these goals. However, such “chasing-the-goal” action should not compromise one’s mental health and happiness. It should not also sacrifice your life’s purpose.…

Hi there! Happy end of June and welcome to the fifth edition of the Conductor’s Podcast Wisdom series, a new series full of shared life experiences and, of course, wisdom! This series is aired on the last Monday of each month, and in each episode, I am going to pose a question to 10 musicians, conductors, or business gurus. So including myself, you…

In today's episode, I interviewed the Executive Director of the August Symphony (GA), Anne Catherine Murray on how she manages an orchestra. She’ll share her wisdom on the management side of a performing arts organization and a theater, discuss the challenges of managing personnel, how she was able to find her purpose, and how she navigated problem…

Sometimes, being a woman means having to handle a lot of things on your plate. For conductor Sarah Ioannides, these responsibilities prove that she can conquer so many mountains while being able to express herself in music and art. In this week's episode of The Conductor’s Podcast, Sarah talks about the art of being ready, the essence of leadership…

Conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya joins me and speaks about her experience preparing for, conducting, and navigating a career thriving between concert halls and opera pits. Russian-American conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya is a fiercely committed advocate for Russian masterpieces, operatic rarities, and contemporary works on the leading edge of classical mu…

An open and honest review of what I learned this past season (2022-23) as staff conductor for three different organizations across two states..... 1. take good of my own mental and physical health! 2. traveling has a much larger impacts on myself and my family than I had expected.... 3. People Skills!! People Skills!! People Skills! 4. how and when…

Hi there! Happy end of May and welcome to the fifth edition of the Conductor’s Podcast Wisdom series, a new series full of shared life experiences and, of course, wisdom! This series is aired on the last Monday of each month, and in each episode, I am going to pose a question to 10 musicians, conductors, or business gurus. So including myself, you …

Conductor Lina Gonzalez Granados joined me and shared her experiences in organizing her time, studying scores, and taking care of her health when she was always on the go conducting around the globe. Some of Lina's Career Highlights: Third Prize and ECHO Special Award at the Inaugural La Maestra Competition Named conducting fellow of the Philadelph…

Conducting is never about swinging your arms - left and right as you command the flow of music to your delight. Conducting is embracing your personal strengths, expressing it through music and letting it create a rippled effect to its viewers and listeners. This is one of the reasons why Anna Edwards is beyond passionate in breaking the barriers of…