6. Max Q – Steve Crino

Our guest for this episode is Steve Crino (DMA ’22), a teacher and composer with a deep focus on vocal music. Steve’s creative portfolio includes two award-winning operas, numerous songs, and choral compositions. A passionate interdisciplinary collaborator, he is co-founder of The Circus Opera Company, a new organization exploring connections between opera and circus arts. Steve maintains an active private studio and teaches Music Theory and Music History at Temple University. Our conversation touches on building your own projects, creating financial stability as a composer, and the importance of personal connections and word of mouth.

Website: www.stevencrino.com
Instagram: @stevecrino
Youtube: @stevencrino6967

We’re closing out the episode with a section of “Stay for a While” from Steve’s opera Six Autumns on the Hudson.

Recorded February 15, 2024.

Season 4 music by Soo Hyun Bahn. Audio editing by Greg Hays. Logo by MegDig Design.

5. Max Q – Ashna Pathan

Our guest this month is film, theatre, and games composer Ashna Pathan (BM ’22). Currently working as a full-time assistant to the acclaimed composer Mac Quayle in Los Angeles, Ashna’s recent projects include the award-winning comedy short “Aghast!” and the full-length musical “Senior Year Is Gonna Kill Me! – The Murder-Mystery Musical.” We delve into Ashna’s diverse types of composition, her journey into the LA music production scene, finding opportunity and support in your networks, and her strategies for time management and motivation.

Website: www.ashnapathanmusic.com
Instagram: @ashnapathanmusic
Youtube: @ashnapathanmusic

We’re closing out the episode with a sound clip Ashna wrote for the 2022 short film NURIKABE. 

Recorded January 27, 2024.

Season 4 music by Soo Hyun Bahn. Audio editing by Greg Hays. Logo by MegDig Design.

4. Max Q – Marie Herrington

This time on Max Q we are speaking with Marie Herrington (BM ’20, Vocal Performance). A versatile artist, Marie’s repertoire extends from sound installations, as seen with the Alluvium Ensemble at the New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center, to her role as a featured composer at San Francisco’s SongFest. We discuss how she got into Chruch music, finding support for your creative endeavors, and the importance of enthusiasm. Currently, she is the Music Director at Govans Presbyterian Church in Baltimore. Additionally, she is an active leader and collaborator in regional musical ensembles.

Website: www.marieherringtonmusic.com
Instagram: @jsbachdafachup

Closing out the episode we have a clip of Marie’s “A Dream” for voice and loop station.

Recorded January 9, 2024.

Season 4 music by Soo Hyun Bahn. Audio editing by Greg Hays. Logo by MegDig Design.

3. Max Q – Allen Branch

Max Q this week features drummer, educator, and composer Allen Branch. (BM ’22 Jazz Percussion) A multi-instrumental jazz performer, Allen (also known as Aldo) has played at international venues, including Carnegie Hall and the Berlin Music Hall. More recently, Allen has moved into education and is currently serving as the Dorothy Clayborne Teaching Fellow at the Bryn Mawr School.

Website: https://aldobmusic.com/
Instagram: @aldobmusic

Allen’s recommendations:
48 Laws of Power – Robert Greene

Closing out the episode we have a clip of Allen’s original composition, “Baby Done Changed” from his album 27 Love

 

2. Max Q – Mira Fu-En Huang

On Max Q we’re featuring soprano and arts-administrator Mira Fu-En Huang (MM ’22 Historical Performance Voice). Mira masterfully juggles her performance career—highlighted by roles in operas like Handel’s “Semele” and collaborations with contemporary composers—with her arts administration work at organizations like the Candlelight Concert Society and Business Volunteers Maryland. A former social media intern at LAUNCHPad, she also earned a Launch Grant for her storytelling project, “Story to Song”. Join us as we delve into Mira’s multifaceted career, exploring how she balances her time, starting and running an ensemble, and her drive for storytelling in music.

Closing out the episode, is a recording of Mira from an upcoming release with Ensemble Magdalena.

Website: mirafuenhuang.com
Instagram: @amirsopranosaur

Mira’s recommendations:
Before the Coffee Gets Cold – Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Recorded Oct. 2, 2023

Season 4 music by Soo Hyun Bahn. Audio editing by Greg Hays. Logo by MegDig Design.

1. Max Q – Andrea Copland

This week on Max Q, we spotlight Andrea Copland (MM ’19, Oboe & Musicology), a Baltimore-based oboist, music historian, and librarian. Integrating actively performing and gigging with contributions to research institutions like Peabody’s Friedheim Library and the répertoire international de la presse musicale (RIPM) database, Andrea has also taken on the role of an educator with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s OrchKids program. Passionate about social justice and music accessibility, she delves into the confluence of music, politics, and perception on her blog, ‘Outward Sound’. We discuss the opportunities found in setbacks, balancing multiple priorities, and building what motivates you into your job.

Blog: outwardsound.org
Instagram: @outwardsound

Andrea’s recommendations:
Simone de Beauvoir’s The Ethics of Ambiguity 
William Cheng’s Just Vibrations 
Jonathan Sterne’s Diminished Faculties .

Recorded Aug. 7, 2023

Season 4 music by Soo Hyun Bahn. Audio editing by Greg Hays. Logo by MegDig Design.

9. Max Q – Rush Johnston

Max Q this week features dancer, choreographer, filmmaker, and movement researcher Rush Johnston (BFA ’22, Dance.) During their time at Peabody Rush received several grants including a Launch Grant for their show “Making a Mess.” Alongside creating widely featured performances, choreography, and dance films, they are the founder of the confi-DANCE project in Greenville, SC, which provides movement workshops for at-risk youth, and Kaleid Movement Collective, an interdisciplinary artistic platform for creative experiments and exhibitions.

Website: https://rushjohnston.com/ 
Instagram: @rushj_dance
Facebook: @rush.johnston

Check out “My Room,” one of the pieces Rush mentioned in our conversation.

Recorded Mar. 15, 2023

This is the end of Max Q’s third season! If you have a recommendation for a recent Peabody alum you think we should have on the Podcast, let us know at LAUNCHPad@Jhu.edu

Audio editing by Greg Hays. Logo by MegDig Design.

8. Max Q – Dmytro Nebesh

This episode we’re interviewing Dmytro Nebesh, who graduated from Peabody with degree in Music for New Media in 2022. Dmytro currently works as a sound designer for Firaxis Games and as a freelance composer. In the interview, we explore how Dmytro’s experiences during school led to his sound design role, connecting and collaborating on professional work, and balancing creative projects and other personal priorities with a full-time job. 

Website: https://dmytronebesh.com/
Instagram: @dmytro_nebesh
YouTube: @dmytronebesh6939
Twitter: @Dadmyt

You might notice our intro music is different this episode. Dmytro composed the theme music for the first season of Max Q, and we’ve brought it back as a special feature for this episode. 

Recorded Mar. 1, 2023

Audio editing by Greg Hays. Logo by MegDig Design.

7. Max Q – Nathan Cicero

We’re featuring Nathan Cicero (MM ’18, Vocal Accompanying) on Max Q! Since graduating, Nathan has built a career as a freelance collaborator, church musician, and as music staff for numerous opera companies including Sarasota Opera, Chicago Summer Opera, and Pensacola Opera. We discuss the path to becoming a collaborative pianist, life working as a pianist in an opera company, building a freelance career, and the differences between playing for musicians and a general audience.

Nathan’s Recommendations:

Closing out the episode we have a recording of Nathan playing Poulenc’s “Madrigal,” with Baritone Mark Billy. 

Recorded Jan. 30, 2023

2022 Intro music by Aaron Gao. Audio editing by Greg Hays. Logo by MegDig Design.

6. Max Q – Gavon Peck

This episode of Max Q features violist, arts administrator, and yoga teacher Gavon Peck (GPD ’20, Viola), speaking with Sarah Thomas. Gavon performs regularly with chamber ensembles and orchestras in DMV, is an Artistic Director at Listeso Music Group, and teaches yoga with Baltimore Hot Yoga and Wellness. Sarah and Gavon discuss his different types of work, the evolution of life goals, and the importance of taking care of our bodies as artists. 

Website: http://gavonpeck.com

Recorded Dec. 8, 2022

2022 Intro music by Aaron Gao. Audio editing by Greg Hays. Logo by MegDig Design.