Frost Sessions

Music Industry Program Director, Professor Serona Elton talks with Joel Andrew, President of CD Baby, one of the world’s largest distributors of music from independent recording artists. Together they explore the way that access to the marketplace has changed for artists over the past 20 years, what the key turning points have been along the way, and what the options are today. Thank you so much for joining us and remember to stay tuned to Frost Sessions!

Our guests explore the importance of empathy, why improvisation is essential, and what core values are necessary to succeed in the arts administration field. Meet a stellar Frost Built alumnus, Taylor Rambo! He is the incoming executive director of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra (GSO). We can proudly say he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Business and Entertainment Industries and a Master of Arts degree in Arts Presenting and Live Entertainment Management from the Frost School of Music. Rambo previously served as the major gifts and campaign manager with Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater in Washington, D.C. and has also held fundraising and staff positions with the American Pops Orchestra, the Washington Ballet and the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP). This episode’s host, Professor Gary Wood, was Taylor’s teacher. He has been the director of the Frost School’s Arts Presenting and Live Entertainment program and Professor of Practice in the Music Media and Industry since 2014. Prior to Frost, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts|Riverfront, one of the country’s most prominent arts conservatories.

Meet Dr. Christina Larson, an Andrew W. Mellon Academic Engagement Fellow. She works closely with her colleagues at the Lowe Art Museum and University of Miami Libraries to promote the cultural resources of artwork, artifacts, and archives for teaching, learning, and research purposes. Dr. Larson oversees the Andrew W. Mellon CREATE Grants Program and makes creative connections with a wide scope of disciplines at the University of Miami. Dr. Hindman is the 2015 Iron Composer winner and composition professor at the Frost School of Music. Critics have called her music “bright with energy and a lilting lyricism” (New York Classical Review), “dramatic, highly strung” (Fanfare), “varied, utterly rich … with purpose and heart” (Huffington Post), and “powerful and skillfully conceived” (The Miami Herald). She has performed over 400 times in 30 states, 16 countries, and in major venues, including Carnegie Hall. Together, Dr. Hindman and Dr. Larson discuss how art and music composition can create beauty, what object-based learning is all about, how to embrace project uncertainty, and what through-lines for creativity are.

In the music world, authenticity is more important than perfection. It must touch your heart. Join Frost Vocal Performance Program Director Dr. Frank Ragsdale as he interviews the Frost School’s newest professor of vocal performance Kim Josephson. Internationally hailed as one of opera’s most versatile baritones, Kim Josephson has given well over 250 performances since his 1991 debut. He has appeared in such notable roles as the title character in "Rigoletto," Germont in "La Traviata," Enrico in "Lucia di Lammermoor," and Belcore in "L'Elisir d'Amore" for the Metropolitan Opera. He is the recipient of many honors, including Baltimore Opera Vocal Competition, Enrico Caruso International Vocal Competition, Singer's Development Foundation Award, and that is just the tip of the iceberg. Dr. Ragsdale boasts a long and varied performing career in opera, oratorio, musicals, plays, and recitals throughout the world. He has performed in notable venues as Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Cairo Opera House, Mechanics Hall, Notre Dame, San Marco di Venizia, and St. Martin-in-the-fields. Together, we discover the most valuable word in the music business, how to unlock the potential of others, and why it’s important to be vulnerable.

Overcoming challenges is what makes us who we are. Join the Frost Opera Theater’s music director, conductor, pianist, vocal coach, and new opera advocate Alan Johnson as he interviews composer, producer, mezzo-soprano, and inaugural Frost Chamber Music Artist-in-Residence Alicia Hall Moran. Moran's mesmerizing yet passionate vocal performances travel fluidly from jazz clubs to symphony orchestras to the opera stage. Together, find out why you should embrace your teachers’ stories, why it’s important to learn about opera legends, and why you shouldn’t hesitate in your technique. After all, confidence is extremely important!

Playing outside the box just might help you achieve your dreams. Join recording artist, composer/arranger, published author, and Frost School French horn Professor Richard Todd as he talks to his friend (who also plays the French horn) of 28 years, John Dickson. John Dickson is a multi-ASCAP TV and Film Music award-winning arranger/orchestrator and Frost School alumnus. He composed the main title and underscore for USA’s smash hit Burn Notice. Dickson also scored Miss Nobody, The Fall of Sam Axe, The Good Guys, A Galaxy Far Far Away, Mark Lester’s Pterodactyl, and many others. He provided additional music and orchestrations for film and TV projects such as National Security, The Wonder Years, Stephen King's The Stand, and the list goes on. Together, they reveal their ingenious thought process of how to think like a horn player, the importance of being your own teacher, and why you should always remain humble. In the music world, you should never stay inside the box—there is a whole world to explore!

Culture is at the heart of Miami’s ecosystem. During the coronavirus pandemic, the incredible need for the performing arts—whether virtual or live—has only increased. Join five-time GRAMMY®-nominated Dean Shelly Berg as he interviews Johann Zietsman, the president and CEO of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County. Originally from South Africa, Zietsman has overseen more than 400 Arsht Center shows since 2018. Together, they discuss the six keywords to develop the perfect performing arts vision, the advantages of having virtual and live performances, the importance of developing a meaningful arts education, and why local arts reviewers are the lifeblood of the community. These valuable insights will help you understand why community and partnerships are important even in times of crises.

The music world and the sports world share more common ground than you think. Join award-winning Frost School of Music tubist Dr. Aaron Tindall as he interviews U.S. Olympian Swim Manager (2012, 2016) and head coach of the University of Miami’s swimming program, Coach Andy Kershaw. Together, they dive into the psyche of success and offer invaluable advice. Discover the best way to chill out, the number one characteristic that you should look for in a world-class coach and mentor, and the importance of having parental support. A great reminder to never lose sight to becoming a professional!

Friendship is the fabric of humanity that creates an everlasting bond. Jon Secada, George Noriega, and Tim Mitchell are not only lifelong friends but also Frost School of Music alumni and GRAMMY-award winners in their own right. Jon Secada is an international crossover sensation who has sold over 20 million albums, written songs for Gloria Estefan, and starred in Broadway. George Noriega is an Emmy-nominated songwriter, and a record producer who famously helped Ricky Martin, Shakira, and Jennifer Lopez succeed in the English-speaking music market. Tim Mitchell is a music record producer, songwriter, and guitarist who was the Musical Director and bandleader of HBO’s A Tiny Audience. Together, they share their trials and tribulations throughout their extensive music careers. Find out how their education at the Frost School of Music has changed their lives and why it’s important to establish strong connections with everyone you meet. This episode will remind you that you cannot make it alone in this world—success is attributed to friendships of all kinds.

Get ready to be inspired by legendary Broadway musical theater director Richard Jay-Alexander. Among his many credentials, he has directed and collaborated with mega superstars such as Barbra Streisand, Kristin Chenoweth, Bette Midler, and countless others, and served as Executive Producer of iconic theatrical productions such as Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, and The Phantom of the Opera. He joins our own Frost School superstar and educator Dr. Laura Sherman who is Barbra Streisand’s touring harpist, former Broadway principal harpist for Wicked, founder of Gotham Harp Publishing, and recording artist. Listen to Richard’s inspirational story about never giving up on your dreams, finding your tribe, and pursuing your passions without reservation. You will feel reenergized to follow your dreams!