Birth of a Nation: Marginalized Representation in Casting (Pt 4)
Today we’re going to talk about the Birth of a Nation, not the 2016 version about Nat Turner, the 1915 OG in all of its black and white. For those who […]
Fires in The Mirror: Marginalized Representation in Casting (Pt 3)
When I was 8, I spent two months trying to convince my mother I was allergic to water. That has nothing to do with anything, but for the life of […]
Marginalized Representation in Casting (Part One)
Last weekend my friends and I held a presentation party. For any of you who aren’t familiar with them, presentation parties are arguably the worst thing to come out of […]
Nine Non-Profits for Non-Profit November
Good Morning all you cool cats and kittens! Did you think Tiger King references were overused and outdated? Did you think my humor got more sophisticated with my week off? […]
It’s Over, It’s Done, It’s Canceled Pt. 2
Welcome to It’s Over, It’s Done, It’s Canceled part 2! If you read part 1 skip this section, if you missed it I talked about the history of canceling and […]
Virtual Visionaries Week 2: Forging New Paths with Tanya Kalmanovitch & Ryan Muncy
About the Authors: Tanya Kalmanovitch is a Canadian violist, ethnomusicologist, and author known for her breadth of inquiry and restless sense of adventure. Her uncommonly diverse interests converge in the […]
EXCEL Prize Winning Project Resumes This Month
The SMTD & Our Own Thing Piano Partnership Program (EXCEL Prize ‘18) provides free weekly piano lessons to Ypsilanti students and was created to address the lack of diversity and representation […]
EXCEL interviews Amy Porter
Featured in the March 2018 edition of New on NAXOS for her recording of Michael Daugherty’s Trail of Tears with the Albany Symphony Orchestra, flutist Amy Porter has been praised by critics for her exceptional musical […]
Interview: Rebekah Heller, bassoonist
Rebekah Heller is a uniquely dynamic solo and collaborative artist. Called “an impressive solo bassoonist” by The New Yorker, she is fiercely committed to expanding the modern repertoire for the bassoon. Her debut […]
New Young Creatives Book Club Tackles Imposter Syndrome
How do you find the confidence to get past imposter syndrome and get down to business? Right now, the new Young Creatives Book Club (YCBC) is tackling this big, relevant […]
Michael Malis on Self-Employment and Living In Between Genres
A graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, Michael Malis (b. 1988) is a composer, pianist, and music educator based in Detroit, MI. He performs […]
EXCELcast: Project Trio
Project Trio is an eclectic group from Brooklyn, NY, whose music defies genres and expectations. In this EXCELcast with Jonathan Kuuskoski, the group discusses tactics on establishing a unique performing […]
EXCELcast: Christopher Koelsch
In this EXCELcast Christopher Koelsch, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Opera, talks about his own position as well as transitioning from a performing arts student into an entrepreneurial […]
EXCELcast: Paolo Debuque
Follow Melissa Coppola and Paolo Debuque in a conversation about the Meridian Vocal Ensemble. This EXCELcast features some of Paolo’s thoughts and inspiration for creating the ensemble, as well as […]
EXCELcast: Yarn/Wire
Yarn/Wire is a percussion and piano quartet, and one of the laureates of the MPrize. In this EXCELcast, they talk about their origins as an ensemble, as well as the […]
EXCELcast: Britt Baron
In this EXCELcast, EXCEL director Jonathan Kuuskoski interviews with Britt Baron, SMTD Alumna and cast member of the Netflix series: GLOW (Glowing Ladies Of Wrestling). Baron discusses the process she […]
EXCEL Log 