Reaching The Crescendo with Ben Mussell

Is opera outdated, or just a very misunderstood art form?In this episode, I chat with Yolanda Harding to explore the reality of life as a professional opera singer, what it takes to build a lasting career, and the challenges of performing in such a competitive industry.Yolanda Harding is a British–Finnish soprano based in Helsinki, and a fellow alumni of Corfe Hills School, Dorset. In this episode, we chat about:< Is opera really outdated?< The reality about life as a professional opera singer< Building a career in opera to last a lifetime< The reality of auditions and rejections< Why perfectionism can get in the way of giving an authentic performance< How to deal with comparison in a competitive industry< Why other performers are collaborators, not just competitors< What audiences might not know about the world of opera< The hidden challenges of working across different countries< Why looking after your voice can protect your career< Making a living between performances through multiple income streams< How language influences the way opera is sung and understood< Why the arts need greater support and investment< The Timothée Chalamet effect< How creativity and music help us connect as human beings< Finding your own identity and sense of belonging< Why opera deserves to reach a new generation of audiencesFollow the podcast, Ben and the guest on social media:Reaching The Crescendo Podcast:https://www.instagram.com/reachingthecrescendopod/https://www.tiktok.com/@reachingcrescendopod/https://www.facebook.com/reachingthecrescendopod/Ben Mussell:https://www.instagram.com/ben_mussell/https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmussell/Yolanda Harding:https://www.yolandaharding.com/https://www.instagram.com/yolanda_harding_/MARDHYS:https://mard-hys.bandcamp.com/album/white-flower-black-fruithttps://www.instagram.com/mvrdhys/

Musician and old friend Bradley Cronk joined me for a well over-due catch-up to chat about all things music.We met in 2010 when we were both in the same band. Since we last saw each other, Brad is back performing again after an 8 year break, and is now recording his own songs using his own “janky” (his words not mine) recording setup.We chatted about things like:< Rediscovering passions< Joint band experiences< Life beyond the day job< Turning experiences into songs< Creating without the perfect setup< Rediscovering stage fright< The stories behind the music< Building a career independently, and as part of a duo 'Reveries' < Staying consistent< Chasing the dream- His CrescendoFollow the podcast, Ben and the guest on social media:Reaching The Crescendo Podcast:https://www.instagram.com/reachingthecrescendopod/https://www.tiktok.com/@reachingcrescendopod/https://www.facebook.com/reachingthecrescendopod/Ben Mussell:https://www.instagram.com/ben_mussell/https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmussell/Bradley Cronk:https://www.instagram.com/bradleycronkmusic/https://www.tiktok.com/@bradleycronkmusic/https://soundcloud.com/bradley-cronkhttps://www.facebook.com/bradleycronkmusic/https://www.instagram.com/reveries.duo/

What is it like filming professional wrestling highlights?In this episode, Ben sits down with cinematographer Ash J who went from knowing nothing about cameras to shooting live wrestling events. Ash chats about how he got started, practised and turned a passion for wrestling from a side-hustle to a proper freelance thing. If you’re into filmmaking, content creation, or just love behind-the-scenes insight of the wrestling industry, this has your name written all over it.Follow the podcast, Ben and the guest on social media:Reaching The Crescendo Podcast:https://www.instagram.com/reachingthecrescendopod/https://www.tiktok.com/@reachingcrescendopod/https://www.facebook.com/reachingthecrescendopod/Ben Mussell:https://www.instagram.com/ben_mussell/https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmussell/Grapsonfilm:https://www.instagram.com/grapsonfilm/https://www.tiktok.com/@GRAPSONFILM/Email address: [email protected]

In this episode Ben chats to percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Guy Courtie who opens up about the hidden pressures of building a creative career in a self-promoting economy in a small music scene, why rest can be a creative taboo equal to failure, and how musicians and creatives try to protect their headspace without losing momentum and opportunity.Ben and Guy chat about:< Escaping London & finding clear headspace as a creative< Social media overload & the pressure to always be “on”< Short-form & social media being your business card< Creative accountability in small scenes< Freelancing, burnout & never switching off< Obsession, passion & finding healthy balance< Music as a process, not perfection< The complication relationship between music & AI< Why music matters for accessability & community< Growing up in a musical household< Training, privilege & creative opportunity< Life after study & surviving as a creative< Guy's Crescendo< Anything else that cropped upFollow the podcast, Ben and the guest on social media:Reaching The Crescendo Podcast:https://www.instagram.com/reachingthecrescendopodhttps://www.tiktok.com/@reachingcrescendopodhttps://www.facebook.com/reachingthecrescendopodBen Mussell:https://www.instagram.com/ben_mussellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/benmussellGuy Courtie:https://www.instagram.com/guycourtie

In this episode Ben sits down with West End drummer and percussionist Dan Day to chat about a career that’s taken him from learning drums at age 3 to playing on major theatrical productions like Evita, Mean Girls, Sunset Boulevard, Come From Away just to name a few...Ben and Dan chat about:< Dan starting to learn drums aged 3< Falling into musical theatre by accident< Earning your chair through depping, being good and just being nice< Life as a working drummer in the orchestra pit both in London and on tour< Surviving high pressure auditions when you really want the job< COVID< Getting the gig and behind the scenes of Dear Evan Hansen, Come From Away, Sunset Boulevard and Evita< Working with some of the biggest creative names in musical theatre today e.g. Pasek and Paul, Alex Lacamoire and Alan Williams MD< Working on The Greatest Showman Musical< His CrescendoStrap yourselves in for nearly 2 hours of drum and musical theatre goodness.Follow the podcast, Ben and the guest on social media:Reaching The Crescendo Podcast:https://www.instagram.com/reachingthecrescendopodhttps://www.tiktok.com/@reachingcrescendopodhttps://www.facebook.com/reachingthecrescendopodBen Mussell:https://www.instagram.com/ben_mussellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/benmussellDan Day:https://www.dandaymusic.comhttps://instagram.com/danthedrummer12

Volunteer radio presenter, producer, music lover and all-round self proclaimed 'radio fanatic' Zinnia Bridgman joined me to chat about going from her lockdown student radio beginnings to co-presenting The South Coast Music Show on Voice FM.We chatted about:< Getting started in radio through university and student broadcasting,< The thrill (and terror) of being live on air on Voice FM,< Why volunteer community radio still matters in a de-localised industry,< The concept of celebrities with platforms / high follower counts being able to cut the line for mainstream radio shows over people who have put in the hours,< The goings on behind the desk and in the room where it happens,< Supporting emerging south coast musicians and venues,< Volunteering, passion projects, breaking into media, and other things...Follow the podcast, Ben and the guest on social media:Reaching The Crescendo Podcast:https://www.instagram.com/reachingthecrescendopod/https://www.tiktok.com/@reachingcrescendopod/https://www.facebook.com/reachingthecrescendopod/Ben Mussell:https://www.instagram.com/ben_mussell/https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmussell/Zinnia Bridgman:https://www.instagram.com/zinniaecbridgman/https://linktr.ee/zinniaecbridgmanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/zinnia-bridgman/Voice FM: https://www.voicefmradio.co.uk/https://www.voicefmradio.co.uk/south-coast-music/south-coast-music-show/

‘Kindful’ video editor Richard 'Ricky' Charlton joined me to chat about going from a young kid from Grimsby fiddling with cameras, to being a paid video editor who’s previously worked with cartoons and currently senior editing at the biggest content agency on the south coast of the UK.We chatted about:< How he became interested in videography,< How he ended up in Bournemouth,< The BTS of creating an animated kids TV show,< How he met Joe Hayes, and ended up working for @KindfulCreative,< The future of content agencies,< The current and future impact of AI on content creation, and other things...Follow the podcast, Ben and the guest on social media:Reaching The Crescendo Podcast:https://www.instagram.com/reachingthecrescendopod/https://www.tiktok.com/@reachingcrescendopod/https://www.facebook.com/reachingthecrescendopod/Ben Mussell:https://www.instagram.com/ben_mussell/https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmussell/Ricky Charlton:https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-charlton-21753b255/https://www.instagram.com/richardcharlton_/Kindful Creative:https://www.kindfulcreative.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/kindfulcreative/https://www.tiktok.com/@kindfulcreativehttps://www.linkedin.com/company/kindful-creative/https://www.threads.net/@kindfulcreative

Benjamin Button Tickets (before it closes): https://shorturl.at/vk8LEFiddler On The Roof UK Tour Tickets: https://shorturl.at/qg6HdInto The Woods Tickets: https://shorturl.at/35c9IAward winning musical theatre maestro Mark Aspinall joined me to chat about his 15 year journey from being a music school assistant to becoming one of the best in the biz when putting the music into musical theatre.We chatted about:< Mark’s original career plans before he pivoted towards the theatre world< How he got his foot in the metaphorical stage door of the industry< His experiences of being on the creative team for both 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' and 'Fiddler On The Roof'< Being x2 Olivier nominated in the same category, and winning his first award in the process< Going ‘Into The Woods’ for his next project< Advice for theatre up and comers< The future of musical theatre both on and off stage Follow the podcast, Ben and the guest on social media:Reaching The Crescendo Podcast:https://www.instagram.com/reachingthecrescendopod/https://www.tiktok.com/@reachingcrescendopod/https://www.facebook.com/reachingthecrescendopod/Ben Mussell:https://www.instagram.com/ben_mussell/https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmussell/Mark Aspinall:https://www.globalartists.co.uk/artists/composers/https://www.instagram.com/masps_snaps/

Freelance Copywriter Amy Shepherd joined me to chat about the relatively unknown art of copywriting, so much so her Nan doesn’t really understand what she does for a living. We chat about:< What copywriting is< Brands she’s worked for in the past e.g. @thecalmzonenet and @LUSH  <Life in the freelance world< Her stance on AI< What she's currently working on< Brands she wants to work for and with in the future< Her future Crescendo Follow the podcast, Ben and the guest on social media:Reaching The Crescendo Podcast:https://www.instagram.com/reachingthecrescendopod/https://www.tiktok.com/@reachingcrescendopod/https://www.facebook.com/reachingthecrescendopod/Ben Mussell:https://www.instagram.com/ben_mussell/https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmussell/Amy Shepherd:https://www.amyshepherdfreelance.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-shepherd-172a391a1/https://www.instagram.com/amy_shepherd_freelance/

Joshy Clements is the go-to drone guy on the south coast. He joined me to chat about how he discovered and mastered the drone, how he's using its situational versatility to run a "booming" drone side business 'Horizon Drone Specialists' with multiple clients, the future of drone usage with the addition of AI, and pitched his ideal drone features to DJI in the process.Follow the podcast, Ben and the guest on social media:Reaching The Crescendo Podcast:https://www.instagram.com/reachingthecrescendopod/https://www.tiktok.com/@reachingcrescendopod/https://www.facebook.com/reachingthecrescendopod/Ben Mussell:https://www.instagram.com/ben_mussell/https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmussell/Joshy Clements:https://www.horizonedronespecialists.com/https://www.instagram.com/horizondronespecialists/https://www.instagram.com/joshyclements/