MusAid: supporting music institutions in developing countries around the world, with donated instruments and volunteer teaching programs MusAid, a project run by Jacobs School of Music alumnus Kevin Schaffter, current student Maria Romero, and a few friends, has blossomed into a deeply inspiring international organization with a vision of “a global community where artists from… Read more »
Emergent. Relevant. Opera… written, performed, and produced by Jacobs School of Music students! New Voices Opera was founded in 2012 by Chappell Kingsland to produce his doctoral thesis project Intoxication: America’s Love Affair with Oil. Since then, the organization has grown into a full student-run company that premieres two operas each year and trains young professionals… Read more »
By developing a professional life that combines performance, scholarship and collaborative leadership, Jacobs School alumnus and conductor Eric Stark has established himself as a leading choral-orchestral specialist. He is currently director of choral activities at Butler University and artistic director of the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir. Project Jumpstart recently caught up with him to discuss trends… Read more »
Musicologist, published writer and researcher, editor, small business owner, entrepreneur, and Jacobs Alumna! With extensive research published in peer-reviewed publications, such as the Journal of the Society for American Music, Cambridge Companion to Hip-Hop, and the Journal of Popular Music Studies, Amanda Sewell is a musicological force. She’s also a highly motivated entrepreneur and has… Read more »
Forward-thinking Baroque musicians, ensemble leaders, entrepreneurs, and Jacobs School of Music alumni! For the past three decades, Ingrid Matthews and Byron Schenkman have blazed an extraordinary trail in the early music world by co-founding the internationally recognized Seattle Baroque Orchestra in 1994 and emerging as leading soloists, chamber musicians, music directors, and recording artists. They… Read more »
Internationally Renowned Vocal Jazz Conductor, Educator, Pianist, and Arranger Meet Steve Zegree, Project Jumpstart’s December Entrepreneur of the Month! Dr. Zegree is the Pam and Jack Burks Professor of Music, director of Singing Hoosiers, and director of the Down Beat Award-Winning IU Vocal Jazz Ensemble I. Between teaching, performing, arranging, holding clinics, writing books, recording albums,… Read more »
Multi-stylistic Violinist, Versatile Instructor, Arts Advocate, and Bloomingtonian! Critically acclaimed violinist and Jacobs alumna Sara Caswell is defining what it means to be a multi-stylistic musician. Her solo and ensemble performing have led her around the world—from university concert halls, to jazz clubs, bluegrass gatherings, and everything in between. Her teaching includes equally varied arenas… Read more »
Pianist, Entrepreneur, Vocal Coach, and Mentor Meet Kim Carballo, Project Jumpstart’s October Entrepreneur of the Month! As a first-rate pianist and innovative project director, opera coach Kim Carballo offers important insights into building a not-for-profit arts organization and career preparation in the 21st century. Kim founded Reimagining Opera for Kids (ROK), a Bloomington-based opera company that serves the community… Read more »
Violinist and Innovative Teacher (and Jacobs School alumnus!) Meet Ching-Yi Lin, Project Jumpstart’s September Entrepreneur of the Month! Ching-Yi Lin spent her formative musical life as a talented performer focused on a concert career. While studying at IU, her entrepreneurial spirit was ignited while working with Mimi Zweig and Brenda Brenner, co-directors the Jacobs School’s… Read more »
President and Executive Director of the New York Philharmonic (and Jacobs School alumnus!) A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Matthew VanBesien earned a bachelor of music degree in French horn performance from the Jacobs School of Music. He performed with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in New Orleans from 1992 to 2000 and then completed the… Read more »