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.

8. Max Q – Melody Quah

Pianist Dr. Melody Quah, a 2017 Peabody DMA graduate, joins Christina Manceor on Max Q. Melody has a broad-ranging career as a soloist, collaborative pianist, and educator across multiple continents. They discuss navigating the requirements of a new faculty position, keeping a healthy separation from your work, and building experience towards a faculty position. 

The episode closes with a selection from Melody’s recording of Chopin’s Scherzo Op. 54, No. 4. 

www.melodyquah.com
Penn State School of Music – https://music.psu.edu

Recorded June 9, 2021.

2021 Intro music by Dmytro Nebesh. Audio editing by Greg Hays. Logo by MegDig Design.

7. Max Q – Passepartout Duo

Christina Manceor speaks with percussionist Chris Salvito (Peabody MM ’16) and pianist Nicoletta Favari of Passepartout Duo. Making music that escapes categorization, the duo’s travel around the world informs the multi-disciplinary collaborations, instrumental compositions, and evocative music videos that constitute their work. The conversation centers on how artistic residencies have been foundational for the duo, the path from graduation and traditional instruments to their current work with portable ones, and the economics of a small, mobile ensemble. Currently, they are in Iceland working with composer Hafdís Bjarnadóttir on a project called Sheep Music, where they will be performing for sheep throughout Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

https://passepartoutduo.com
Passepartout Instagram
Passepartout Facebook
Daylighting on Bandcamp

Recorded May 12, 2021.

2021 Intro music by Dmytro Nebesh. Audio editing by Greg Hays. Logo by MegDig Design.