ArtsBound Coaching ArtsBound Coaching

Christian Lopez is a music teacher in a parochial school in New Jersey, as well as a percussionist and vocal director for music theatre companies in his community. When you talk with Christian about teaching, his commitment to nurturing the relationships he has with his students is evident. In this conversation, Christian touches upon his desire to continue growing as a performer while teaching, shares the role his parents played in encouraging his passion, and discusses the impact his identity as a Columbian-American has had on his relationship with his social environment.

Young musicians, dancers, and theatre artists grapple with any number of internal and external obstacles as they navigate the decision to pursue a career in their artform. But their parents have their own set of challenges and concerns, especially when they don’t have a personal connection with someone who has established a successful arts career.

When their son, Jasper (featured on Episode 3 of the podcast), decided to become a film composer, Esther and Tom van Dijk had lots of questions. In our conversation, they discuss how they each supported Jasper in his artistic pursuits and the unique ways in which each of them processed their own feelings about the hurdles, struggles, and prospects that lay before their son.

One of the main take-aways is Esther’s encouragement to other parents: Support your children so that they may have no regrets; encourage them to give their passions a chance, even if it means changing course later.

A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s Master of Arts Management program, André Solomon supports the programs of two arts advocacy organizations. In our talk, André discusses how his desire to advocate for Black musicians shows up in his professional life, what his work as an ‘entry-level’ arts management professional looks like, and how he works to maintain his practice as a performer.

Dancer-choreographer Dr. Ayisha Morgan-Lee is the Founder, CEO, and Artistic Director of Hill Dance Academy Theatre (HDAT). When Ayisha was growing up, she was often the only Black student in her dance classes. After earning her BFA in Dance at Howard University, at the age of 22 she started HDAT as a place where Black youth could develop a belief in their ability to enter the dance world, learning Black dance traditions from Black instructors. In this interview, Ayisha discusses the joys and challenges of being a Founder and CEO and offers encouragement to those with big dreams.

From running lights in a small college auditorium to producing concerts for artists of international acclaim, David Whitnack has over 25 years of experience in event production and artist management. The development of his career is a serendipitous tale studded with crucial decisions - a testament to the value of recognizing an opportunity and having the courage to pursue it. Dave discusses the nature of his work and the importance of how you treat the other people in your professional sphere.

Jason Cook is a trusted luthier and the owner of Backstage Guitars in Pittsburgh. When he was in high school, he taught himself to play guitar, playing with a punk rock band that achieved regional success. As he navigated his post-college years, he dedicated himself to building an innovative, customer-centered guitar store while learning the art and science of guitar repair. He’s now the go-to guy for repairs among many local players (check out his Instagram to see some of his work!).

Jason discusses the challenges and payoffs of owning your own business, as well as the important role artists play in society - a mandate to do what brings you alive!