Hartford to Miami is not your average commute, but for Maestro Doris Lang Kosloff it's a reality. As the artistic director of Opera Connecticut, director of the Hartt School opera theater and vocal studies departments, and the principal guest conductor at the Miami Lyric Opera, she's got herself quite a few frequent flyer miles. And she's used her lifelong immersion in music to impact audiences and performers from all over the world.

#opera #HARTTSchool #operaconnecticut #music #performance #maestro

Most meetings should just be emails. It's a fact. And it's an irritation that is universally accepted. Well, there's an anthem for that feeling now, and Thomas Benjamin Wild, Esq. is responsible for it. Tom is from Bedford, England, and his song "I've No More Fucks to Give" has racked up more millions of views than I'm going to count. He plays the banjolele dressed as someone who stepped out of a time machine from the 1940s, and mixes humor and stories from his life to create some unique and thoroughly entertaining songs. Visit thomasbenjaminwildesq.com to order a copy, or stream wherever you get your music!

Bill Covitz moved from the heat of a French cuisine kitchen to the sub-zero temperatures of the ice house in pursuit of of creative passions. A chain saw may not seem like the tool of an artist, but when you see the way Bill uses power tools to bring life to ice there is no doubting the artistry at hand. And there's music to be had in the ice, too. Visit icematters.com for photos or to commission an ice carving for your event!

#icecarving #icesculpture #ice #icemusic #chainsaw #powertools #carving

Rebecca Maloney is a Naugatuck-based artist, painter, and pet portrait extraordinaire. You can spend an evening painting with her, take one of her more intense workshops, or visit one of her upcoming gallery showings - and definitely visit rebeccamaloneyart.com to get a glimpse at her work. Vivid color seems (at least to my untrained eye) to be a hallmark of her personal style, and there is an expression of joy in each piece. Follow her on Instagram or Facebook to keep up with workshop and paint night dates, too!

#paint #ctartist #visualarts #painting #paintnight

Newington, Connecticut, native #filmmaker and #actor Erik Bloomquist has been involved in #theater and #film since high school, and has studied the craft intensely. Erik's latest film, Long Lost, is a #suspense #thriller that leans into the tension and doesn't give up. Erik previously worked with some of the film's cast members on his project "The Cobblestone Corridor," which was picked up by PBS. For more information about Erik's projects, check out his production company, Mainframe Pictures. Long Lost is available now to stream exclusively on Amazon, so dive in for a game of #sharksandminnows.

#KeepCreating #PBS #IndieFilm #fluffybunny #CobblestoneCorridor

It's episode 50! :::drops a funky beat::: How does a local, theater-loving, son of a teacher and a musician grow up to be an #Ableton Programmer and an orchestrator? Well, apparently by accident. Scott Wasserman stumbled into learning the Ableton system while working on a small project called #Hamilton. But he worked REALLY REALLY hard to get that lucky break, and has worked with some of #Broadway's most iconic figures, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Alex Lacamoire, and Alan Menken. Scott is also the co-host of one of my favorite #podcasts, Song Salad, with his long time friend, lyricist Shannon Deep. Scott recently put up his first full orchestration of an original musical with "Austen's Pride" which is running through April 14. Visit ACT of CT for ticket information. You can see what else Scott has been up to at scott-wasserman.com - including #DearEvanHansen and #TheGreatComet.

#musicaltheater #orchestration #ableton #songsalad #keepcreating

#Grammy-winning songwriter Bill Pere joins the pod today to talk about his life-long passion for songwriting and social justice. The LUNCH Ensemble represents Bill's work toward ending childhood hunger, and he has incorporated his songwriting passion into this work. He's also written "The Songwriter's Coloring Book" to help other budding songwriters work on the craft. Bill is also a former Connecticut State Troubadour, and is a member of the Connecticut Songwriter's Association. This was a wonderful conversation with a genuine expert in his craft. Be sure to visit lunchensemble.com, ctsongs.com, and billpere.com for more information and upcoming programs.

#songwriting #grammy #ctsongs #harrychapin #music

Faithlyn Johnson is the founder and executive director of Act Up! Theater, and her daughter Tyler Johnson is the production manager of the Hartford-based theater company. They spoke with me about the Act Up! mission, productions, and how the arts can have a positive impact in disadvantaged communities. Act Up! offers productions to the Hartford community including "Ebony Annie", "Stand", and the April 2019 offering, "Raisin", based on the classic play, "A Raisin in the Sun." The Johnson ladies have some amazing things to say about inner-city arts programs and how families and communities can grow together by participating. Visit actuptheater.org for information and tickets. Raisin has performances April 4-5 & 12-13.

#hartford #actuptheater #raisin #ctarts #keepcreating

Khaiim the RapOet (@rapoet), also known as Self Suffice, is a #Hartford based #hiphop artist and educator. His influences run deep in the civil rights movement and his music reflects those influences. He focuses on the positive message of moving forward and overcoming oppression. His latest album, #SelfControl, is available now at bandcamp.com, and can be streamed (partially) via #iTunes, #GooglePlay, and #Spotify. Visit rapoet.com/music to stream the track "Plus" which features Suffice and #DJBoo. If you're in the area March 29-31, be sure to check out Trinity International Hip Hop Fest. And be sure to follow @rapoet on all the social media!