Doublers Podcast Erin Paul

Ever wondered how to get into tech without going to a bootcamp? In this episode, Aleks shares his journey into the tech world after fifteen years as a freelancer in NYC - and how a cycling accident shifted his mindset toward being open to a double career.

Aleks Ozolins is a freelance French horn player in New York City and software support specialist at Knack. 
As a freelance musician, he’s performed with a wide variety of ensembles - from Broadway shows including Les Miserables, Wicked, and Phantom of the Opera, to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Chamber Orchestra of New York, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Pops. Recording credits include releases on Sony Classical, NAXOS, and the original Broadway cast recording of Dr. Zhivago.
Aleks’ passion for technology developed in parallel with his artistic pursuits. His lifelong relationship with computers led him into his own business providing tech support for colleagues in the music industry. After Covid cleared his calendar, he decided to move full-time into the tech space. 
Aleks now works as the Weekend Success Lead at Knack, a no-code database development platform. On a Thursday-Monday schedule, Aleks works through customer issues during his weekday hours, and monitors company infrastructure and provides emergency support to enterprise customers on weekends.
A New Jersey native, Aleks holds a Bachelor’s in Music Education from The College of New Jersey along with a Master of Music in Orchestral Performance and an Artist Diploma from the Manhattan School of Music. 
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Two questions for you this week - have you ever heard of a yoga class with a live harpist? And what the heck is a doula?

Vanessa Young-Miller is a professional harpist, yoga instructor and birth doula in the D.C./Maryland/Virginia (DMV) area. 
While her husband (JG Miller, horn) embarked on Army basic training she began a yoga training in Los Angeles, CA finding a niche in playing harp for live yoga classes. Soon after moving to Maryland, she found herself intrigued by prenatal yoga and preparing to start a family. After the birth of their first child, her passion for all things birth, postpartum and parenthood began eventually leading to learning to be a birth support person (doula) after the birth of their second child. Now three young kids deep she practices the harmony of juggling her multiple hats as well as being an avid social justice activist and abolitionist. 


Born and raised in Wisconsin, Vanessa received her Bachelor of Music at Eastman School of Music and her Masters of Music from Carnegie Mellon University. She has performed with a variety of ensembles and artists including Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Ithaca Ballet Company, Debut Orchestra, Ben Folds, and John Williams. She currently teaches harp at elite private all girls school Holton Arms, teaches yoga at Whole Yoga Studio and has a solo doula practice. 


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Did you know that a military musician does more than play their instrument? 

As JG Miller shares in this week's episode, life in a military band is all about saying yes to new challenges and staying flexible! In addition to his responsibilities as horn player, JG also works as a CompTIA Sec+ certified assistant information management officer, Unit Training NCO, and arranges for his quintet, the Federal Brass. 
From Mozart to military history, cyber security to climate change advocacy, intellectual property law, healthy living, movie music, The Who, technology, vehicle maintenance and everything else in between, J.G. Miller has had a wide swath of careers and follows the guiding star of chasing happiness above all.

For more information on the US Army Field Band, check out their website here: https://www.armyfieldband.com/
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How does spending on $8500 you don't have as a grad student jump start your career? In this episode, John Hong shares how one swipe of a credit card started the journey into his current pursuits.

A clarinetist turned writer and artistic marketing consultant, John Hong nurtures an obsession with clear, simple, and human communication.

Consulting since 2018, his clientele includes GRAMMY® winners, non-profit executives, orchestra CEOs, and instrumentalists, ensembles, conductors, and composers from every major continent. He is an occasional freelance writer on the people and issues surrounding classical music, praised by New Yorker contributor Steve Smith for “having his thumb square on the pulse of what moves the public to open up a story.”

Find him on Twitter: @John_Hong.

(On a personal note, I can attest to his skills as a writer - John wrote the bio on my website!)


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Atse Theodros is a freelance trumpet player and brass repair tech at J. Landress Brass in New York City. 


After apprenticing at the shop during his last year of study at Manhattan School of Music, Atse has spent the last 5 years carving out his niche as a member of the small but mighty team. J. Landress Brass, Manhattan's only brass shop, is in high demand for cleaning, repairs, and instrument sales for NYC's busy freelancers. As a brass tech, Atse is involved in cleaning, repairs, polishing, and general triage when a player walks through the door with a non-functioning horn and says "I've got a show at 8!".


Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, Atse holds a Bachelor’s in Music Education degree from the University of Florida, earning certification to teach K-12 in the state of Florida. 


Atse earned a Master of Music degree as well as a Professional Studies Certificate at Manhattan School of Music in the Orchestral Performance Program, studying under Mark Gould and Ethan Bensdorf. Other primary teachers include Vincent Penzarella, Thomas Smith, and Dr. Joyce Davis. 


He is an active musician in the greater New York and Florida regions. Orchestral experience includes a position as Associate Principal/3rd Trumpet with the Ocala Symphony Orchestra in Ocala, Florida. Atse has performed under the baton of such conductors as Leonard Slatkin, Kurt Masur and participated in master classes with James Thompson, Thomas Hooten, and Michael Sachs. 


Atse maintains an active lifestyle, enjoying various sports such as football and basketball in time outside of music as well.


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Sara and I chat about her experiences as an entrepreneur and operatic soloist, the challenges of building businesses, and why classical musicians should be more like Rhianna (for real).

In this conversation with Sara, I mention an blog post called Million Dollar Voice, linked here.  In this article, tenor Zach Finkelstein provides an incredibly detailed breakdown of why a professional singing career is a million dollar investment, and I highly recommend checking it out.

Sara Duchovnay is a professional opera singer who has turned a decade-long obsession with antique diamonds and estate fine jewelry into a successful dual career as fine jewelry curator and owner of songbirdsaraantiquejewelry.com. The two sides of her professional life work together in perfect harmony; while performing lead roles with opera companies around the country and traveling alongside her husband, tenor Clay Hilley, Sara has been able to source inventory from all over the world and offer her clients some of the most exquisite and distinctive pieces available anywhere. Though travel and performances have been limited in these pandemic times, she has been able to call upon her contacts and continues to grow her business...no one forgets an opera singing jewelry dealer! 
Sara holds a Bachelor of Music from the Hartt School of Music and a Master of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She is a GIA Applied Jewelry Professional and is in the process of studying to become a GIA Graduate Gemologist.  
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