73 episodes

The Conductor’s Podcast is a space created for conductors and musicians who are curious and interested in learning more about the profession, crafts, industry, and business. The host Chaowen Ting, founder of Girls Who Conductor, has mentored hundreds of conductors from across the globe. She created the Conductor’s Podcast to share all the behind the scene secrets with you while interviewing conductors, musicians, and business gurus from around the world. Her specialty? Breaking big topics into simple, actionable, step–by–step strategies to help you take action on your big dream, move through the fear that’s holding you back, and have a real impact. 

The Conductor's Podcast Chaowen Ting

    • Music
    • 5.0 • 18 Ratings

The Conductor’s Podcast is a space created for conductors and musicians who are curious and interested in learning more about the profession, crafts, industry, and business. The host Chaowen Ting, founder of Girls Who Conductor, has mentored hundreds of conductors from across the globe. She created the Conductor’s Podcast to share all the behind the scene secrets with you while interviewing conductors, musicians, and business gurus from around the world. Her specialty? Breaking big topics into simple, actionable, step–by–step strategies to help you take action on your big dream, move through the fear that’s holding you back, and have a real impact. 

    Why You Need a Career Coach with Karen Cubides

    Why You Need a Career Coach with Karen Cubides

    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 within.
    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 well-established musicians and young professionals alike in unique and personal ways. Through her intimate understanding of the relationship between personal growth and professional achievement, Karen builds up the individual, the artist, and the professional within each of her clients as they master goal-setting, lifestyle balance, and the nuances of our evolving industry. Her commitment, care, and creativity have connected her with incredible individuals and organizations across the world. 
    Karen founded her agency early in her career out of her empathy for the people she worked with and admired. She firmly believes that musicians do not have to choose between promising careers and fulfilling personal lives. Her compassion has driven her time and again to better herself and her agency to bring out the best in each of her clients, both personally and professionally. By understanding and assessing the whole individual and not the performer exclusively, her clients continue to thrive in their creative passions and In their personal relationships. Karen has had the privilege of working with musicians of all backgrounds, from bird land to Broadway and from the Philharmonic to the Blair School of Music.

    All About Chaowen Ting &
    The Conductor's Podcast (Website)

    • 26 min
    Marketing 101 for Musicians with Karen Cubides

    Marketing 101 for Musicians with Karen Cubides

    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 well-established musicians and young professionals alike in unique and personal ways. Through her intimate understanding of the relationship between personal growth and professional achievement, Karen builds up the individual, the artist, and the professional within each of her clients as they master goal-setting, lifestyle balance, and the nuances of our evolving industry. Her commitment, care, and creativity have connected her with incredible individuals and organizations across the world. 
    Karen founded her agency early in her career out of her empathy for the people she worked with and admired. She firmly believes that musicians do not have to choose between promising careers and fulfilling personal lives. Her compassion has driven her time and again to better herself and her agency to bring out the best in each of her clients, both personally and professionally. By understanding and assessing the whole individual and not the performer exclusively, her clients continue to thrive in their creative passions and In their personal relationships. Karen has had the privilege of working with musicians of all backgrounds, from bird land to broadway and from the Philharmonic to the Blair School of Music.

    All About Chaowen Ting &
    The Conductor's Podcast (Website)

    • 27 min
    How Much Should I Talk at Conducting Auditions?

    How Much Should I Talk at Conducting Auditions?

    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 consisting 4-6 rehearsals, depending on the ensemble's schedule.
    My objective of all conducting auditions is to share my musical ideas with the ensemble while demonstrating a representation of how my typical rehearsal flows.
    Some Tips:
    Only verbally ask for things that you’ve already shown in your conducting (and not getting)Refrain from talking too much about the historical background, stories, etc. unless it’s necessarily and absolutely related to your pointHave a structure of the rehearsal, and share it with the musiciansIf it’s not good, ask again. Don’t leave things when they are still bad
    All About Chaowen Ting &
    The Conductor's Podcast (Website)

    • 19 min
    Navigating the Business with Kevin Fitzgerald

    Navigating the Business with Kevin Fitzgerald

    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 Tanglewood Music Center Conducting Fellow and four-time recipient of Career Assistance Grants from The Solti Foundation U.S., Kevin Fitzgerald is at the forefront of the next generation of conductors. Recently, Kevin was invited as one of the twenty conductors to participate live in the 2023 Mahler Competition with the Bamberg Symphony.
    In addition to his post as Associate Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony, Fitzgerald has recently guest conducted the Rochester Philharmonic, North Carolina Symphony and the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh. In his commitment to uplifting communities through music, Fitzgerald conducted Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in 2017 with musicians from the Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids Symphonies to raise over $10,000 for the International Rescue Committee and Freedom House Detroit. In 2016, he also co-organized and conducted an impromptu performance called “Requiem for Orlando,” which featured over 400 volunteer musicians in a dedicated performance for victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida.
    Since then, he has participated in masterclasses with Michael Tilson Thomas and the New World Symphony, Andris Nelsons and Alan Gilbert at Tanglewood among many others. Kevin is based in Raleigh, NC, with his husband, violist Kurt Tseng, and their two dogs Bennie and Chipper. Kevin also teaches and coaches conductors privately online and in person.

    All About Chaowen Ting &
    The Conductor's Podcast (Website)

    • 22 min
    Application and Audition Prep with Kevin Fitzgerald

    Application and Audition Prep with Kevin Fitzgerald

    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 Tanglewood Music Center Conducting Fellow and four-time recipient of Career Assistance Grants from The Solti Foundation U.S., Kevin Fitzgerald is at the forefront of the next generation of conductors. Recently, Kevin was invited as one of the twenty conductors to participate live in the 2023 Mahler Competition with the Bamberg Symphony.


    In addition to his post as Associate Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony, Fitzgerald has recently guest conducted the Rochester Philharmonic, North Carolina Symphony and the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh. In his commitment to uplifting communities through music, Fitzgerald conducted Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in 2017 with musicians from the Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids Symphonies to raise over $10,000 for the International Rescue Committee and Freedom House Detroit. In 2016, he also co-organized and conducted an impromptu performance called “Requiem for Orlando,” which featured over 400 volunteer musicians in a dedicated performance for victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida.


    Since then, he has participated in masterclasses with Michael Tilson Thomas and the New World Symphony, Andris Nelsons and Alan Gilbert at Tanglewood among many others. Kevin is based in Raleigh, NC, with his husband, violist Kurt Tseng, and their two dogs Bennie and Chipper. Kevin also teaches and coaches conductors privately online and in person.

    All About Chaowen Ting &
    The Conductor's Podcast (Website)

    • 38 min
    Three Things Helping You Figure Out "What's Next"

    Three Things Helping You Figure Out "What's Next"

    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 MUSICIANSHIPYou have to be a good conductor, and that includes your techniques and your knowledge. Your being a good conductor is the most important thing you can deliver.
    So here are the questions I always ask myself: am I a good conductor? Am I continue becoming a better conductor everyday?
    Your musicianship includes your knowledge and your ability to deliver your knowledge - including your conducting techniques. Do I need a good teacher to help me with techniques? Do I need another set of eyes to check in on me? Am I regressing instead of progressing everyday?
    PRACTICE MAKES PROGRESS - HAVING AN ENSEMBLE TO WORK WITHDo I currently have an ensemble to work with regularly? If not, can I form one? If not, can I find opportunities to work with one?
    Is this the time to get to a workshop where I can gain experience working with an ensemble more regularly? Do I need exposure to higher caliber musicians? Have I not worked with a good group for too long that I developed so many bad teaching-mindset habits?
    NETWORKINGVery honestly, you need to know people and people need to know you. It's not only about your own network - who you know, but also who your teachers know, who your teachers bring in to work with you, who your friends know, what kind of friends, musicians, artists they are exposed to that will connect you with.
    Of course we are not connecting with others only because I wanted to conduct your orchestra without seeing you in 10 years. No, not in that way, but building genuine relationships.
     
    So when I am at an intersection of my study and career, I always look at these three parts and wonder, what am I lacking the most at this moment? and what can I do to make a plan to achieve some goals? Hope that you will find this helpful as well!
     
     

    All About Chaowen Ting &
    The Conductor's Podcast (Website)

    • 11 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
18 Ratings

18 Ratings

eplentz1 ,

Incredibly Helpful

I’ve been enjoying so many episodes of The Conductor’s Podcast! The topics are very well thought-out, the guests are knowledgeable of their craft, & the way information is presented is quite helpful for conductors at any level! Thank you so much for sharing this with us!

Kaycee 2001 ,

A Thoughtful and Nutritional Podcast

After interacting with Chowen in the Girls Who Conduct program I have been hooked to The Conductors Podcast. Her interviews are thoughtful and have immense nutritional value to students and professionals alike. I look forward to many more episodes!

TRAtl ,

Good insight

I’m not a conductor… Which makes the podcast even more useful and helpful to “see” through a conductor’s eyes. As an arranger and orchestrator, I find her approach to making music very helpful.

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