Full Transcript for Tony Thomann

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WEBVTT 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:20.879 Welcome back, commuters, to the Beyond Artless Podcast, the show where three music educators get together, turn on some microphones, and somehow convince ourselves that people need to hear what's gonna happen next. 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:37.840 So grab your coffee, finish that drive to school, ignore the email you probably should have answered yesterday, and settle in for another episode of the podcast that proves you can take music education seriously without taking yourself too seriously. 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:39.840 I'd love to see you with that contract. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:41.679 Welcome to Beyond Artless. 00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:00.240 You know, camera. 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:02.159 Second one, you're like getting back into it. 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:07.840 So last year you wanted it to follow you around, and now you you've decided that's not a cool feature anymore. 00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:09.200 No, it's not a cool feature. 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:09.920 I'm over that. 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:11.519 I do not want it to follow me. 00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:15.040 I want it to be stagnant, just like my personality. 00:01:15.519 --> 00:01:19.519 And you figured out how this whole uh system works now after five years. 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:22.239 So we seem to be running better today than the other. 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:25.200 Yes, we're running, we're running exceptionally well. 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:29.920 Um this is uh episode two of 38. 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:30.719 Nine. 00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:32.560 It's all downhill from here. 00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:33.439 39? 00:01:33.760 --> 00:01:34.400 We added one? 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:35.359 We still can't count. 00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:36.159 What? 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:36.560 God. 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:38.400 All right. 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:39.920 We're almost done. 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:41.040 We're almost done. 00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:44.719 Your week going well, uh, Wisconsin maestro. 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:45.680 Christopher, what? 00:01:46.799 --> 00:01:47.439 Oh, that's me. 00:01:47.519 --> 00:01:48.879 I'm the Wisconsin maestro. 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:53.920 Uh the I uh I uh yeah, no, life is good. 00:01:54.079 --> 00:02:01.359 Uh busy, super busy with uh work, and um but but taking time to smell the roses. 00:02:01.519 --> 00:02:11.680 I mean, I am uh after that deep philosophical talk by coach at our last episode, I've decided to take more time to really reflect. 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:16.319 And I thought I thought we'd agreed to there's a joke or something coming to be careful. 00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:22.479 Yeah, I thought we'd agreed to to let moments like that go and just let them be a moment in time and and let them pass. 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:23.759 Like and let it pass. 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:25.680 Find Cold 45. 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:26.719 Yeah. 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:31.919 Um no, I've been spending quality time with Scott Watson and Jerry Young doing another project. 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:37.599 And uh uh I'm great humans. 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:39.520 Oh, I love those humans. 00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:41.199 It is it's been so much fun. 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:50.400 Honestly, every day for the last two weeks, my day ended spending time with them and just listening to them answer questions. 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:52.159 Oh, it's a beautiful thing. 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:53.520 So yeah. 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:59.599 Um so and so you have approximately 250 hours of material to wear. 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:01.680 That's just for the first chapter. 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:03.280 That was the first episode. 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:05.759 The other episodes Iron Frog here. 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:09.280 Yeah, there's a little bit of editing that's gonna happen, but yeah, God bless them. 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:10.240 It's a great book. 00:03:10.400 --> 00:03:12.800 Studio teaching and in higher education. 00:03:12.960 --> 00:03:14.319 Uh get the book. 00:03:14.479 --> 00:03:15.439 It's it is brilliant. 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:16.000 It's neat. 00:03:16.319 --> 00:03:18.800 This is not to be, it's not an audio book necessarily. 00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:21.199 It's just commentary surrounding the book. 00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:28.560 Would you say it would be faster to read it than to listen to them talk about it? 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:29.759 Absolutely. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:32.319 100% faster. 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:39.199 There's no there's no question it's faster if you just read the book. 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:41.840 But but that's not it's gonna be as fun. 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:44.879 You've got to you gotta watch them. 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:47.199 You know, you gotta watch them. 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:49.520 A practical guide to studio teaching higher education. 00:03:49.599 --> 00:03:50.319 Gotta get it right. 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:50.960 GIA. 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:51.680 There you go. 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:52.319 Go get it. 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:53.039 But don't read that. 00:03:53.199 --> 00:04:02.719 The other thing is you could read the chapter, and then you could enjoy the process of watching them talk of the chapter and then, you know, alternate, then read the next chapter. 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:03.439 It's beautiful. 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:06.719 Peter, I feel like you're gonna start the academic year before the rest of us. 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:07.599 Is that true? 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:08.879 Very true. 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:14.400 Um we had uh meetings started today, they're gonna go through this week. 00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:18.319 Um, this afternoon through Friday morning for me. 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:24.800 And then we set up, and uh all the first years arrive on Sunday, and we have auditions 8 a.m. 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:25.600 to 10 p.m. 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:27.920 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday next week. 00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:38.000 So g give me one way

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you're gonna squeeze just one last bit out of summer before you like launch into well uh I'll tell you the hope. 00:04:38.240 --> 00:05:00.560 The hope is this Saturday, there's literally nothing on the calendar, and I plan to shower, put my pajamas back on, something I learned in my sabbatical, and just do the art of like studying and being the music, because right now I'm just being the director of band's administrator with auditions and faculty and meetings and right. 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:02.560 All that's fine, part of the job. 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:06.079 But that is that's how I'm gonna squeeze one last bit out. 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:17.839 What's really probably gonna happen is something's gonna explode in the family that I'll have to do, and or my phone will light up with Slack messages, texts, and all the other things. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:20.399 And I'm but uh we won't talk about that. 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:20.959 That's fine. 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:23.839 I'm staying with the hope that it's gonna be music. 00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:26.079 Sounds like a good effective use of your musical time. 00:05:26.160 --> 00:05:27.120 You want to know what I'm gonna do? 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:28.959 Oh, yeah, I do actually. 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:31.519 Uh I'm gonna take my wife to see Spider-Man. 00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:33.199 Oh on Saturday. 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:34.079 Good for you. 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:40.240 I don't I don't it it it could be any day between Thursday and Sunday. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:41.279 And it'll be up to her. 00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:42.959 She gets to When do you start auditions? 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:44.480 Do you start next week or do you start? 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:47.360 I'm just not going to soon. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:48.560 They're all in. 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:53.519 This is a uh speaking of never, uh, that's not a segue, but we're gonna go to a guest. 00:05:53.600 --> 00:05:54.319 Are you ready? 00:05:54.639 --> 00:05:54.800 Okay. 00:05:55.519 --> 00:05:56.639 Never never read it. 00:05:57.360 --> 00:05:58.000 It was a hard picture. 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:00.800 Sorry about immediate turn. 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:01.360 I don't know. 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:02.240 Yeah, that's okay. 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:05.759 You're not clinking ice cubes or glasses, so I don't really quite know what to do. 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:06.800 There it is. 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:07.439 All right, yeah. 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:08.959 Yeah, it sounds like a Yahtzee change. 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:09.680 Great. 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:15.759 Um Our guest came in second place in their first grade spelling B. 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:17.759 Uh missed the word calendar. 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:19.759 Uh it's not D-E-R. 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:24.240 Uh and there's still some deep-seated regret. 00:06:25.839 --> 00:06:26.319 Which is right. 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:27.199 I don't I don't know. 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:29.600 This sounds like a

better use of AI. 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:41.439 Um guest is not just an average or above average forklift driver, but basically per pro-level forklift driver. 00:06:41.759 --> 00:06:42.480 Oh, no, that's fun. 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:49.040 This you know, uh I I would say as many or more than five years driving a forklift. 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:59.120 Um and in fact, I knew this as uh particular guest as someone who worked uh the early shift in college before starting classes. 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:00.720 So pretty amazing. 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:03.120 Um Teamster. 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:05.120 Uh that's we'll find out. 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:08.240 There is probably a low-grade mafia connection. 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:10.800 I'm not sure exactly what, but definitely a teamster. 00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:11.279 Keep going. 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:12.879 So this is a family member. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:13.680 Got it. 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:18.319 Everyone's in the family. 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:23.279 Uh our guest has been active leading nonprofit organizations for years. 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:26.800 Our guest studied voice and music education at the Eastman School of Music. 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:27.759 Are you familiar with that school? 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:28.639 Never heard of that. 00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:29.199 Okay. 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:30.000 Well, that's okay. 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:34.800 Uh, our guest taught elementary school and has worked as a singer and actor in the Twin Cities. 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:40.000 Uh, right now, our guest is the executive director for the Minnesota Youth Symphonies. 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:51.199 MYS is one of the nation's premier youth orchestra education programs, and students can come uh from locally or hours away to participate in all sorts of programs on Saturdays uh here in the Twin Cities. 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:59.040 MYS gives uh concerts at Orchestra Hall each year, trains musicians for future careers as performing, but uh just wonderful musicians. 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:04.639 Um, I reconnected with our guest when my daughter briefly played bass in MYS. 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:12.959 And this was just one of the secret, wonderful hidden gems about spending some time uh just listening to the NYS orchestras is when my daughter was doing it. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:19.920 Uh essentially, this is one of the great servant musicians uh that I know and a wonderful person and a longtime friend. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:21.439 This is Tony Thoman. 00:08:21.680 --> 00:08:22.800 Tony Thoman. 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:23.439 Tony. 00:08:26.480 --> 00:08:29.360 So did you all meet an Eastman or no? 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:30.959 We did indeed. 00:08:31.439 --> 00:08:33.600 Oh we did indeed. 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:44.399 I think I was a year in front of Phil as a student, but as Phil mentioned, I had been out of school for a number of years before that. 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:50.159 So I was probably about five years older than five or six years older than Phil, but I was a year ahead of him at school. 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:50.960 And he was right. 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:53.440 I was a forklift driver, and you are also correct. 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:54.639 I was a teamster. 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:55.440 Yes. 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:57.200 Look at that. 00:08:58.159 --> 00:08:59.679 I don't know if I get to keep that. 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:06.159 I mean, I don't know, you know, if you get to, you know, port Teamster into your 50s, but uh I, you know, I was a Teamster. 00:09:06.399 --> 00:09:06.960 No, you can't. 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:12.480 I know this is a trend that you're encouraging everyone at MYS to follow this forklift driver into a music career. 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:16.639 It's one of my key to the key to high-level musicianship. 00:09:17.440 --> 00:09:23.840 I would not encourage it, but it it uh it was certainly helpful as a as a low-voice singer to have a couple extra years. 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:25.440 That's and I gotta say it. 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:27.279 Your voice is stunning. 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:28.639 It is fabulous. 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:29.360 Oh my god. 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:30.720 Well, thank you so much. 00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:32.320 I really appreciate that. 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:36.159 Can you say can you say Beyond the Notes Music Festival? 00:09:36.559 --> 00:09:38.799 Beyond the Notes Music Festival. 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:41.120 Don't worry, we'll send you royalties. 00:09:41.200 --> 00:09:42.000 We'll send you royalties. 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:45.200 I mean, I just want you to know my voiceover work doesn't come cheap. 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:47.200 So I was gonna say, we'll pay you. 00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:48.080 That's good. 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:48.799 Wow. 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:49.360 All right. 00:09:49.600 --> 00:09:53.440 So forklift, have you ever tipped over on that forklift? 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:55.120 Carried something too heavy. 00:09:55.440 --> 00:10:00.960 Um well, I I didn't go all the way over, but I did pick up something that brought the back wheel up. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:01.279 Yep. 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:03.759 Oh, and then what were your first words? 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:05.600 My first words when that happened? 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:06.240 Yeah, yeah. 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:12.399 I don't think this is the kind of podcast and I don't think I'm in a position to really speak the words that I said when that started to happen. 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:13.519 Fair enough. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:18.960 I think there's a possibility that some parents of uh children in the Minnesota Youth Symphonies might listen to this. 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:22.080 So let's just say it would not be something that I would share. 00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:23.519 Oh shoot. 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:24.399 Oh shoot. 00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:25.120 Darn it. 00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:27.360 Wow, that is very, very heavy.

00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:28.639 Oh my goodness. 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:31.919 Beautiful. 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:35.039 And you worked your way through school and made that happen. 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:46.159 So when Phil would have known me, I was what I did was I uh, you know, a lot of people did this day, at least back in the, what was it, Phil, the 90s, late 90s, it is that we, you know, I worked at UPS in the morning. 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:49.360 So I would do the truck loading before school and then head to school. 00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:53.039 As a matter of fact, I remember it very well because I had German diction class. 00:10:53.279 --> 00:11:02.320 It was my first class, and if it was if it was close to Christmas, I got there and I was stinky, and but it was time to be at school, so I got there. 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:09.039 Then sophomore year was harder because at Eastman, sophomore year was theory, and sophomore theory was always super early in the morning. 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:14.720 So sophomore year was really tricky, and that was toward the end of my sophomore years when I had to pull the plug. 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:18.639 It was just too much, it was just exhausted to get through a day of school. 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:19.200 Right. 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:21.360 So you let go of the UPS gig. 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:22.159 Yep. 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:28.320 And and I also became then an RA and I was uh resident advisor and head resident advisor for a long time at Eastman. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:28.879 Yeah. 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:29.279 Okay. 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:32.240 For some reason or other, I'm not sure why. 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:40.159 The the uh uh residence life staff at the dormitory at Eastman thought that Tony was responsible enough to take on that position. 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:45.679 He signed on that paper and they had between him and Phil, and it was an obvious choice. 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:48.000 That was a slam dog for Tony. 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:56.559 I mean, Tony, how does how does an east coaster from Eastman get back to get to Minnesota and working with MYS? 00:11:57.279 --> 00:12:01.440 Well, originally I'm actually I was uh went to high school in Illinois. 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:07.759 I'm originally from Indiana and then moved to Illinois, went to high school at in suburban Chicagoland. 00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:15.440 Um, and my I I mean, I didn't know anything about music, and clearly, I mean, before my voice changed, it didn't sound like this. 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:16.720 I was a soprano. 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:32.399 Um, but once my voice changed and I went to high school, my high school voice teacher was like, You got pipes, and he's like, You probably could get into a place like Eastman, which of course I gotta be honest, as you know, coming from not really a musical family meant very little to me. 00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:34.879 I just didn't know anything about it. 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:38.480 So right out of high school, I auditioned and and got in. 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:40.559 But then I just couldn't afford it. 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:45.360 It was just too expensive at the time, and so I left and was out of school for five years and went back. 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:47.519 So re-auditioned and got right back in. 00:12:47.679 --> 00:13:04.799 So then we were out at Eastman, met my wife at Eastman, um somewhere in there, not as important, met Phil, and then um in 2000, we uh I taught for a couple years out there in Spencerport, New York, right right near Rochester. 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:11.279 And then uh 2000, my wife decided she wanted to do her doctorate here at the University of Minnesota. 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:16.159 So we moved here in this, what, the fall of 1999 and been here ever since. 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:18.320 That's how how we got back to Minnesota. 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:26.080 She's actually originally from um Minnesota, she's from a town called Hutchinson, about an hour and a half west of the Twin Cities. 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:27.840 Yeah, there you go. 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:37.120 Uh Antonio, you uh we can edit this out or you can leave it in, but I know that we share this uh as a commonality that you've had your own children in MYS, right? 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:38.960 Well, I mean it's it's a family affair. 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:43.519 As a matter of fact, my wife was in MYS in the late 80s. 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:46.080 And then yeah, both of my kids. 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:50.080 So my older son is a junior at uh Bard College and Conservatory. 00:13:50.159 --> 00:14:04.639 He was a cellist in the Minnesota Youth Symphonies, and then my younger son um is a violist and he's a sophomore, and he's a violist, and he was in MYS uh only for a year because last year he uh entered, and I I don't want to brag about it, but let me brag about it. 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:09.120 My my younger son goes to the Interlock and Arts Academy for high school as a violist, so he's there. 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:09.759 Awesome. 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:12.720 Um so can't be in NYS anymore, but that's all right. 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:14.639 It's nice to go in here and play. 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:19.759 It is 10 hours, it's 20 hours a day, but it's good because we keep him home. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:20.559 That's right. 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:21.440 That's right. 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:34.639 Uh so I mean we were busy moaning, complaining about the academic year coming up, but I mean you gotta have a pretty full um plate right now at MYS, just getting everything ready for programming. 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:35.200 Right. 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:37.519 So uh you guys were talking about auditions. 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:39.279 We do our uh biggest audition set. 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:41.919 So we do live auditions, so we don't do video auditions. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:44.159 We we have everybody come in and do live

auditions. 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:47.039 We think it's a really important part of kind of what we offer. 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:55.759 And so we do our biggest set of live auditions in kind of mid-June, right as school they're getting out for the season that's gonna start here in in September. 00:14:56.080 --> 00:15:03.679 Um, and so we probably had, I don't know, 350 kids come through for auditions over a couple of days. 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:15.919 We have some alternate days, but we're, you know, we really, really want kids to um do a live audition because we think it's gonna be a part, if they decide to keep it music, it's gonna be a part of their lives and we want them to get that opportunity. 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:17.600 That's absolutely right. 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:26.480 And then over the course of, you know, July and and the beginning of August, we're doing a lot of placement and getting music set for the first trimester. 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:27.840 And then, you know, now you're right. 00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:35.360 I mean, actually, this is kind of a lull time because we're in pretty good shape for the this um season that'll start on the 12th of September. 00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:37.039 But let me just throw out here. 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:38.559 We always take kids. 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:48.080 So I I don't want anybody to ever think, oh, but I I did I miss the June audition I can't ever be in, just in case somebody within the sound of my voice is like, I've always wanted to be in an orchestra. 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:49.039 It's never too late. 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:54.639 I mean, we we'll you know, we may not be able to squeeze in the first trimester, but there's three of them. 00:15:54.799 --> 00:15:56.159 That's why we call them trimesters. 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:57.360 You can get into one of them. 00:15:57.840 --> 00:16:14.159 I mean, uh not to belabor the fact, but that was one of the super attractive things uh for when my daughter did it, is that uh I I don't remember if she joined a trimester late or played in the last trimester, but there was some flexibility because if you have a kid who's an athlete, sometimes they can't do it all. 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:20.879 And it was like uh the fact that I could even get my daughter there was a huge deal to me. 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:25.519 Um and Tony was really, really helpful in making that happen. 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:29.519 I just I want to say that I I came around the corner. 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:35.200 I had I had just kind of started my job and I came around the corner into the room we had this bass player warming up. 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:41.759 Came around the corner, I saw her standing there, I just wanted to make sure that my staff had told me that her dad had come with her. 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:45.840 I want to make sure that dude, you know, if he wanted some coffee or something, we had some coffee. 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:47.840 So I came around the corner and I'm like, Do you need any coffee? 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:48.879 He's like, No, no, no, I'm fine. 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:54.159 And I walked away, and as I'm walking away, I'm like, that guy looks like an old Phil Ostrander. 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:56.480 Really, really. 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:00.639 So I went over to my I went to my staff person. 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:02.559 I'm like, was what's that? 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:03.679 What's that girl's name? 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:04.640 It was Ostrander. 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:06.960 I'm like, holy moly. 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:10.799 That is so he didn't recognize you, but you recognized him. 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:12.720 Tony, Tony was clean shaven. 00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:14.960 So Tony, you were clean-shaven in college. 00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:18.880 I my head was completely shaved, and I did not have a giant white beard. 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:21.200 I did not look like Santa on vacation at that time. 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:22.640 No, no, it looks good. 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:26.640 No, and it's still hard because if I don't see Tony for a couple months, I'll see him again. 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:31.279 But I expect to see clean-shaven, slightly less young Tony. 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:37.440 Um, and uh I I I see Tony with a beard to to end all beards. 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:48.079 So, Tony, I want to hop in with a question about your work uh uh with MYS. 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:51.920 How do you balance as an executive director of this? 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:57.279 How do you balance honoring tradition but yet looking at innovation? 00:17:57.920 --> 00:17:59.359 Like how do you balance those things? 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:01.440 Well, that's a good question, Christopher. 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:03.519 You know, that's a really good question. 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:10.640 And of course, part of um part of what I do, of course, is outside of the art, right? 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:29.039 So we have an artistic staff, we have an artistic director, and it's really critical for those people, those conductors and folks to really be looking at how are we gonna make the art stay core to orchestral tradition, but bring in newer music, bring in experiences for kids that are outside of that. 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:36.319 And certainly I support that by making sure that we have budgets in place for that stuff and and and really supporting that logistically when it happens. 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:54.799 You know, what I do on my side, frankly, Chris, is more uh I optimize how we function uh as a team, as an administration, as an administrative team to make sure that we have the structures in place so we can stay focused on who I think is the most important in this, which is the parents. 00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:58.640 Because the parents make make it all happen, right? 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:02.160 Like without the parents, you you don't get youth orchestras. 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:19.920 So, you know, we

really you know focus on making sure that we're using as much automation, as many kind of tools in that way to make it easy enough for the families to interface with us to continue things like I said, uh uh, you know, live auditions, but make it easy to get to the live audition. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:21.039 This is when they will be. 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:29.680 Make sure you're flexible, make sure you have systems that aren't so rigid that it's like, uh, you know what, your audition's gonna be this time, this day, and that's it. 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:32.480 If you can't do it, uh you know what I mean? 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:42.160 So we're really we're working hard to make sure we have really, you know, systems that really allow both flexibility, but really cover us and make it easy for people to interface with us. 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:51.039 That to me is really critical because if the parents can't interface well, you can't get the kid the, you know, until they're an upper high school student. 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:53.759 The parents gotta bring them, the parents gotta take them the lesson. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:55.119 The parents have to do everything. 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:58.480 So we're really working to make sure, you know, we really focus. 00:19:58.640 --> 00:20:00.079 Did we ask too many questions? 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:01.359 Do we need to know that? 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:04.240 Do we really want to send the parents another survey? 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.519 Don't send it to them. 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:09.519 If you don't want to know, if what you really want is to make it easy for them, make it easy for them. 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:11.039 And so we really focus on that. 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:18.480 That's not super interesting from an art standpoint, but from uh, you know, what we're trying to accomplish, it's really important. 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:23.039 Well, it's essential because you're creating the conditions for everything else to work. 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:30.640 You know, you you have to and you're thinking in systems and big systems, and that's uh that's a challenge with everything changing too. 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:34.880 Okay, I'll uh relinquish my time to the other two folks. 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:40.240 Tell me about some of your other nonprofit work before MYS executive director. 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:41.039 Yeah. 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:50.079 So before this, I really for the last probably, I don't know, eight years before this, I was working in um autism nonprofits. 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:54.960 So really focused on both workforce development on folks on the autism spectrum. 00:20:55.119 --> 00:21:06.799 And then I was working on with the Minnesota Autism Center during the horrible days of COVID, really treat figuring ways how we could keep therapy going and also expand services across Minnesota. 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:11.839 So, you know, was kind of doing that work and you know, in that work, it

was really more functional. 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:20.000 It was like just like I was talking about, it was like putting systems in place or going to start a new building in the middle of uh the pandemic or you know, that stuff. 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:24.160 It was really that that was that that was the work. 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:30.799 Um, but it was, I think, one of the things I've always appreciated about being in that kind of nonprofit or this kind of nonprofit. 00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:32.480 It just has a lot of meaning. 00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:34.799 And that's really that's pretty great. 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:39.039 It's really easy to lock into to be like, you know, this is something I'm really doing good. 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.319 Feels great. 00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:52.480 So your your next your next gig is going to be basically sort of uh some some kind of uh making sure that uh you know, uh old forkless have a good home to go to. 00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:57.279 Is that like that's really my understanding is one of the big needs. 00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:59.759 My understanding is one of the big needs in the future will be. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:04.720 Figuring out to do with old low brass players, really giving them opportunities. 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:07.039 That's true. 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:08.400 Well done, Tony. 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:09.359 I like you. 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:12.160 I mean, it just was my understanding. 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:16.880 It's just normal. 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:18.480 No, you're not going to get them. 00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:21.519 Wait, Tony, did you never did you never play an instrument? 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.160 I did. 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:22.640 You know what? 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:25.839 So I I played the piano. 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:30.160 Um, you know, and that that was probably my second best instrument. 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:41.359 And then uh in the band, so when I started band, they, despite the fact that I played the piano and wanted to be in percussion, in fact, my band director gave me the baritone horn. 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:43.920 And I just want to be clear about it. 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:48.880 I was terrible, terrible as that kind of player. 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:57.039 And one of the reasons is I don't know if you know this, but even in in the bands that I was in in the 80s, we sat in the very back, and that was never really my spot. 00:22:57.200 --> 00:23:03.279 I really did enjoy being an opera singer because I stood in the front and the musicians sat in the hole in front of me. 00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:04.559 And that felt best. 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:07.759 That felt really like the proper, kind of the proper thing. 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:12.079 And I knew there was somebody also down there who kind of waved a stick around. 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:13.599 I wasn't really sure what they were doing. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.720 I didn't really watch them. 00:23:15.200

--> 00:23:20.720 But I know I know that they there were there was a lot of activity going down there, but I really felt supported by it. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:21.599 That's great. 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:22.960 That's great. 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:23.920 Um okay. 00:23:24.079 --> 00:23:30.960 So I'm gonna uh uh I wanna so my wife is also in um at nonprofit work. 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:42.319 She works at Dyslexia Foundation now, so a little neurodivergent thing, but has also worked at the Fargo Moorehead Symphony as a director of development and things, but started also as a flute performance and you know, all the masters and stuff. 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:46.400 So um, and I have a lot of people now that I'm alumna. 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:58.640 I teach back at the school I went to for my undergrad at Concordia, and I'm meeting all these alumni that left with these music education degrees or music degrees that are now working in arts administration. 00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:05.519 And so my question to you is how did you feel well prepared to do this job, leaving with a music degree? 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:16.000 And what's something that could have been part of somebody's degree, or what skills do you need outside of that love of music to make yourself successful in this type of work? 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:28.480 Well, I mean, Peter, I when I left school, even with a music education degree, that that stuff probably hasn't helped me a whole lot as an administrator. 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:42.640 What's helped me a whole lot is, you know, a decade or so outside of that, in the world of of you know, kind of functional, operational, not even just nonprofits, but just in operations, right? 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:53.200 So understanding spreadsheets, understanding budgets, understanding bylaws, all of that stuff is stuff that I I wouldn't have had, but I got through experience, right? 00:24:53.279 --> 00:25:07.519 So what I would say is a lot of people would get to this work if they got, if they went to a um music administration course or they they did some of that learning, they could have learned a lot of this stuff a long time before me, right? 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:28.480 Um, what I felt when I saw that the position was open and just having some understanding of what was going on was I thought that I could bring in some of the stability and kind of management practices I've learned over the decades to kind of create stability in the staff, which would then facilitate the stuff I was talking to Chris about, having more functional teams, have you know what I mean? 00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:33.200 Like having a functional team is beneficial wherever you work. 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:33.599 Period. 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:44.720 And so um having a, you know, creating a beneficial team in in a in a in a space like uh Minnesota Youth Symphonies is is really been is really good, right? 00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:45.839 Like it helps everything. 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:47.359 It makes everything a little bit easier. 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:53.680 And when everything's a little bit easier for us, it's easier for the parents, it gets easier for the kids, it gets easier for the artistic staff. 00:25:53.839 --> 00:26:03.599 Everything's easier when the person you asked to do something can just make it happen because they're not new, they're not confused, they're not, you know, like where do I function? 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:05.279 Am I gonna do something wrong? 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:08.559 Like we don't have any of that because we all work together. 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:10.559 We're we're all together on a team. 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:17.200 So kind of just basics of good management, good supervision, good leadership, those things are really functional. 00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:21.279 Um, and I got those just through years of time. 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:26.319 I mean, even with courses, and uh sorry, I have an ulterior motive here. 00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:42.000 We're actually thinking we have a music business degree and we're trying to make some tracks, so maybe more music production, but then also like uh entrepreneurship side, so a composer or a performer learning how to do their own marketing and sell t-shirts and make money. 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:58.079 And then um also an arts administration side, because there's so many alumni in arts administration, and I'm just trying to think about they've said the same thing, but they're like, But it would have been nice to have some sort of grant writing experience or know at least the basics of those things as they go out. 00:26:58.240 --> 00:27:00.160 So um, and I'm all on board. 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:01.119 I think this is great. 00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:10.480 I think people recognize sometimes as an undergrad that they love singing, they want to be a singer, but they realize that the world is not gonna need them as a singer. 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:16.000 And if we could find some ways to help them continue to stay in the world of arts, I think that's great. 00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:20.319 Yeah, I think for that you're right, like a grant writing course, super helpful. 00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:23.599 Um but you know, experience a real simple one. 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:30.079 Uh what a real simple one, one of the best classes I ever took was a random supervisor class. 00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:36.720 Just thinking about supervising people, if you go into arts management, you're gonna be managing humans. 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:58.240 So you have to supervise them, and they're gonna do stuff like coming in late, they're gonna get sick, they're gonna have, you know, conflicting interests with other people that they work with, and having some understanding of how to be a supervisor of people, how to manage those things, and that's outside of and beginning to understand what's the difference between managing people and leading people. 00:27:58.400 --> 00:28:00.160 It's

not always the same, right? 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:07.519 And just having some of those that knowledge that I picked up through courses and learning and mistakes, right? 00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:09.920 Like you people are pretty smart. 00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:15.440 If you gave them that knowledge before they started, they probably could get to it faster than waiting as long as I did. 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:31.920 Uh Tony, I think you're selling yourself short a little bit because I mean, from the age, well, probably before I met you, seems like you've either been fairly high up in a team sort of structure, uh, whether that be in business or not, um, or at least or a team leader from about age 25 on. 00:28:32.079 --> 00:28:35.759 I don't think you've ever not been a team leader since you were about 25 years old. 00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:38.480 I mean, there's no question I'm pushy. 00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:51.200 So But there's a lot, there's you know, there's a lot of difference between saying follow me and then actually turning around and seeing people there as opposed to walking off by yourself, right? 00:28:51.359 --> 00:29:00.559 And so like there was always a person willing to walk out in front, but uh unfortunately, too often, you know, until you learn how to do it, people aren't actually behind you. 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:04.000 They just they're just like, look at that person walking away. 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:08.480 Um and now a message from our sponsors. 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:19.599 Grand Tours Incorporated is a trusted leader in designing custom international group concert tours for student and adult music ensembles, setting the standard for traveling with purpose. 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:32.799 I know because we use them at Concordia all the time, and when I was a high school teacher as well, because they provide authentic music performance opportunities at distinctive venues, and they engage local musicians, conductors, and composers. 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:34.079 Grand Tours. 00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:42.640 They aim to inspire artistic growth and enable transformative cultural connections through music, while creating a sense of family throughout the journey. 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:45.920 Visit Grand Tours Online at Grand Tours Inc.com. 00:29:46.079 --> 00:29:49.119 That's Grand ToursINC.com. 00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:54.960 To learn more about their services and request an international tour design specifically for your ensemble. 00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:58.240 Anyone can sell you an instrument. 00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:01.599 A true music partner helps you build something bigger. 00:30:01.839 --> 00:30:08.079 At Hyde Music, they support the educators, families, performers, and advocates who keep music thriving. 00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:23.519 For nearly 80 years, their family-owned, musician-operated team has provided instruments, rentals, repairs, educational resources, and creative solutions with personal service every step of the way. 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:25.839 Expect more than a transaction. 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:27.200 Expect a partner. 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:36.640 Learn more at hidemusic.com or visit Hide Music in Appleton, Green Bay, Madison, Oshkosh, and Stevens Point. 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:39.920 Can't get enough of me? 00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:41.359 Not sick of me yet? 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:45.680 Come get your master's degree in music education with me at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. 00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:55.279 We offer a hybrid degree plan so you can keep teaching and getting paid and still have an in-person cohort in the summers to enrich your experience and learn a lot from others as well. 00:30:55.599 --> 00:30:56.880 Already have your masters? 00:30:57.119 --> 00:30:59.680 Prank your less educated colleagues by sending them my way. 00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:00.720 You got students? 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:03.039 Ship those beautiful children off to Moorhead. 00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:07.920 We want your music majors, your non-majors, good kids, bad kids, smart kids, and everything in between. 00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:14.079 Music scholarships here are available for all students with an annual deadline of February 1st. 00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:19.359 Info about all these options and more can be found at Concordiacollege.edu slash music. 00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:22.960 That's Concordiacollege.edu slash music. 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:25.759 Or just contact me and I'll take care of it. 00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:34.960 Without getting like uh too specific, I mean, uh you were touched on this earlier about barriers when you first started at MIS. 00:31:35.119 --> 00:31:42.720 Um other than dealing with parents, were there other barriers too that you just you know in general had to sort of like um get through? 00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:44.319 Um of any sort? 00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:50.079 You know, a coup uh yeah, I I I mean I don't think anything un you know un unsurprising. 00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:57.279 Um one, uh you know, I started in 2022, so it was only just about a year and a half out of COVID, right? 00:31:57.359 --> 00:32:03.839 And so, you know, that impacted, you all know this best, how that impacted any kind of ensemble work was astonishing. 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:05.599 I wasn't there for that. 00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:08.799 Um, but they had had an artistic leadership change. 00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:20.880 So Mark Mondorano, who's our current artistic director, he's um he started just a few months before me, and they had been without an executive director for about seven months when I started. 00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:29.359 And so, you know, just coming in, you know, it's really unsettling for people who are trying to work, right? 00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:33.279 So everybody who's at Minnesota Youth Symphonies is attached to music. 00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:37.519 Like I everybody who works at NYS has a music degree, right? 00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:45.680 All of these

people love music, and most of them are much more accomplished musicians and instrumentalists than I will ever or ever could have been. 00:32:45.920 --> 00:32:49.279 But what they didn't have is somebody saying, you know, we're gonna be all right, everybody. 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:58.079 Let's just settle in here and let's just get walking, let's just get moving and and kind of working together as a team and trying to enjoy each other in the work that we're doing. 00:32:58.240 --> 00:33:07.599 So I think probably that was the the biggest challenge was just it had been a little unsettled and it just needed some, all right, all right, let's let's go get it. 00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:10.720 See, I know of a nonprofit that really could use that. 00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:12.319 It's called Beyond the Never. 00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:23.920 Could we ever uh You were thinking about teams earlier, and I was thinking about, you know, I had to leave Eau Claire because the team there, I mean, this I had to work with the team, and I was like, this isn't gonna get any better. 00:33:24.160 --> 00:33:24.559 That's true. 00:33:24.640 --> 00:33:37.839 I mean, you gotta have people that know people, that know systems, that know, I mean, like the fundraising part of the nonprofit world and the budgets, and just like it's an immense amount of work. 00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:40.319 So, Tony, I'm how many, can I just ask? 00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:47.039 And I apologize for not knowing this, but how many, roughly, how many student musicians uh are involved in MYS? 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:50.559 Well, throughout the course of a year, it's close to about 400. 00:33:50.720 --> 00:33:55.759 Um uh, I think in our core program, so we have what we call our kind of seasonal programs. 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:56.960 We have five ensembles. 00:33:57.200 --> 00:34:07.519 We have a wind orchestra, which is a beginning orchestra for we try to keep pretty small for kind of kids who are looking to start their orchestral journey on winds and brass instruments. 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:16.719 Then we have a small string orchestra, which is where we put our, you know, the people who are just kind of moving past their first steps in in string and want to get a little bit more advanced. 00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:23.199 Um, and then we have three full orchestras, our philharmonic orchestra, our repertory orchestra, and our symphony orchestra. 00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:25.039 So those are, you know, kind of the range. 00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:27.440 They're all auditioned orchestras. 00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:39.039 And then we have a summer program where we'll have um we have a string camp for kids to, you know, for younger kids, it's this is one of those ones where it's their very first time with an orchestra. 00:34:39.199 --> 00:34:43.760 And then we also have just started um a classical music symphony. 00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:49.119 So Mark started this um last summer, and then we um sorry, two summers ago, and we've now done a tote. 00:34:49.280 --> 00:34:53.679 So we did a Haydn symphony for a week, and then the like Beethoven's second symphony. 00:34:53.760 --> 00:35:03.039 So it's some of these works that are kind of hard to pull off with with a large youth symphony where we you gotta it's a little bit tighter group, a smaller group, so an opportunity to do that. 00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:08.800 Is that what we do in the symphonic orchestra or the symphony orchestra that you take players from within, or is it just extra? 00:35:09.519 --> 00:35:10.719 It's it's two groups. 00:35:10.800 --> 00:35:16.800 So we'll take um players from the repertory or the symphony orchestra, which are top two groups, to play in that. 00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:23.440 And then if if we don't fill up the sections with those groups, then then kids from outside can kind of climb onto that. 00:35:23.519 --> 00:35:38.159 But we do ask them to play for us just to make sure because what we don't want is you know, we're gonna go for four and a half days, and if playing the violin part in that Hyden Symphony is gonna be past you, we don't want to put you next to somebody who's you're just it's gonna make you feel bad. 00:35:38.400 --> 00:35:41.760 We don't want you, we want you to feel successful, not like you can't keep up. 00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:42.639 Okay, Tony. 00:35:43.599 --> 00:35:48.159 No names, funniest story from the NYS. 00:35:48.719 --> 00:35:51.360 Uh kid throwing their violin out the window. 00:35:51.519 --> 00:35:54.079 Like what what what's the funniest thing that's happened? 00:35:54.320 --> 00:35:57.760 Or maybe to a conductor, but no names, no names. 00:35:57.840 --> 00:35:58.719 Just want to hear the humor. 00:35:58.800 --> 00:36:04.880 And I want to be careful of my conductors because I I really, really like all of them. 00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:20.559 I think probably the thing that is continually funny is, you know, so the kids who play in our symphony orchestra, especially our our string players, in particular our violin players, many of them have been playing for over a decade, right? 00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:22.800 I mean, these kids are very, very fine players. 00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:24.480 They're playing very difficult rep. 00:36:24.719 --> 00:36:26.320 They're very good players. 00:36:26.559 --> 00:36:33.039 Um, but they will have strings break or their or their bridge slip on their instrument, right? 00:36:33.199 --> 00:36:33.440 Sure. 00:36:33.599 --> 00:36:35.679 And when it happens, of course, they're just shattered. 00:36:35.760 --> 00:36:37.760 They're like, oh no, oh no, no, no, right. 00:36:37.840 --> 00:36:44.320 Because I don't I mean, I don't know if you've ever noticed this, but violinists can be kind of A-type personalities that can maybe get really worked up a little bit. 00:36:45.599 --> 00:36:47.360 I don't know if you've ever would you agree with that, Phil? 00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:47.760 Yes. 00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:51.840 No, our our house is

a bastion of relaxation. 00:36:52.239 --> 00:36:52.960 Yeah, I'm sure. 00:36:53.119 --> 00:36:53.440 I'm sure. 00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:54.079 Yes, I'm sure. 00:36:54.960 --> 00:37:04.559 So anyway, so they will come to, they'll come outside in the lobby where we are, and they'll say, What what do I even do? 00:37:04.639 --> 00:37:05.599 What do I do with this? 00:37:05.760 --> 00:37:06.000 Right. 00:37:06.159 --> 00:37:08.960 And I'll be like, it's no problem, just give it here, I'll just put it back on. 00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:15.840 And that moment where, you know, they know Tony, they know he's the executive director, right? 00:37:16.079 --> 00:37:24.239 But they're about to hand me their instrument, and it just and all of a sudden in their eyes, I can see the fact that they remember I was a singer. 00:37:24.559 --> 00:37:25.280 Yeah, yeah. 00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:34.239 That doesn't seem like you mean the guy who drives the percussion truck every day is gonna put my bridge back on on my violin. 00:37:34.480 --> 00:37:36.000 Like it really is very difficult. 00:37:36.079 --> 00:37:41.519 And then I put the bridge back on, and of course, you know, the bridge has scuffed the instrument a little bit. 00:37:41.679 --> 00:37:43.119 There's a little mark where the bridge has. 00:37:43.199 --> 00:37:46.239 So if you don't put it on quite right, you could see that scuff mark. 00:37:46.400 --> 00:37:48.239 And so I a number of times. 00:37:48.400 --> 00:37:57.440 It's not just happened once, where I have put a bridge back on, start tightened the strings again, and they've looked down and seeing that little mark, they're like, oh my gosh, my parents are gonna kill me. 00:37:57.519 --> 00:37:58.639 There's a scuff mark. 00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:01.760 That's been my it's been my real highlight. 00:38:01.840 --> 00:38:09.440 I I just love the look of the violinists in their eyes when they're like, this person is completely unqualified to put this piece of wood back together. 00:38:09.679 --> 00:38:13.920 I'm gonna be in so much trouble because I gave my violin to Tony and now it's all my yeah. 00:38:15.599 --> 00:38:17.840 You know, and then for the rest of the day, I'll be like, how's it working? 00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:19.280 Well, I think it's okay. 00:38:20.800 --> 00:38:21.679 Yeah, it's okay, right? 00:38:22.079 --> 00:38:22.320 Yeah. 00:38:22.639 --> 00:38:22.880 All right. 00:38:23.119 --> 00:38:23.599 It's beautiful. 00:38:24.320 --> 00:38:24.880 I love that. 00:38:25.679 --> 00:38:35.440 Tony, I I know you have like a part of your leadership style and part of your sort of team development strategy is to I think you dream big a bit at times. 00:38:35.679 --> 00:38:39.840 Um how would you relate those big dreams to MYS? 00:38:39.920 --> 00:38:45.920 I mean, are there things you see you're see the group growing and like where where do you want to go next with it? 00:38:46.400 --> 00:38:47.920 Well, I mean, two two things. 00:38:48.079 --> 00:38:53.519 One, I do have a big dream, but my big dream is so titanic that I just keep working away at it. 00:38:53.599 --> 00:39:06.159 And my big dream is that, you know, what we do at MYS and what I would say all of you have a part of, and you know, all you symphonies have part of is in fact we are creating the future of orchestral music every day. 00:39:06.559 --> 00:39:18.079 We're creating the future of orchestral music, whether it be future players, parents of future orchestra players or future orchestra audience members. 00:39:18.639 --> 00:39:20.719 That's all that's all we're doing. 00:39:20.960 --> 00:39:29.440 And without groups like us, the the story of orchestral music is thinner, right? 00:39:29.599 --> 00:39:40.320 So when I find out that the kids, you know, one of the kids, some of the kids went to see the Minnesota Orchestra because they have started an orchestra, and that's just something now that their family does. 00:39:40.880 --> 00:39:42.639 That's the future of orchestral music. 00:39:42.719 --> 00:39:45.280 Now, will we have players who eventually play in orchestras? 00:39:45.519 --> 00:39:46.239 Yeah, we will. 00:39:46.719 --> 00:39:48.559 But those aren't the most important ones. 00:39:48.639 --> 00:39:56.000 Like my wife met her at Eastman, but she was a singer, she played cello, she's now a software engineer. 00:39:56.320 --> 00:39:59.679 But both of our children play in the orchestra now, right? 00:39:59.920 --> 00:40:04.159 So they created the future of orchestral music, and it took decades. 00:40:04.480 --> 00:40:12.800 So when I'm talking about a big dream, the future of the orchestral music that I'm thinking about is one where I'm not in, I'm not with NYS anymore. 00:40:12.880 --> 00:40:25.920 I'm well retired, but it grows, not because necessarily NYS grows, but because this thing where kids involve themselves in orchestra, that continues and it's really important. 00:40:26.079 --> 00:40:27.679 So that's that's one big dream. 00:40:27.760 --> 00:40:37.679 But for my specifically for my own group, I'd love to have a five million dollar endowment so no kid would have to pay tuition to be in a in a youth orchestra. 00:40:38.880 --> 00:40:45.920 It's it's sad to me that we have to charge tuition, but can't pay for anything if I don't have some money, right? 00:40:46.079 --> 00:40:52.320 So as we say in nonprofit administration, money is the mission, and the mission needs money. 00:40:52.559 --> 00:40:53.599 That's just how it is. 00:40:53.760 --> 00:40:55.920 I wish it weren't, but it is. 00:40:57.119 --> 00:41:07.760 And so to get to this point where we could have a world where you know you would need an endowment that's big enough where you on the endowment you could pay kids tuition, right? 00:41:07.840 --> 00:41:10.079 So that's you know, like we know schools that do it. 00:41:10.639 --> 00:41:14.320 Curtis does it, Colburn does it, Juilliard wants to do it, right? 00:41:14.400 --> 00:41:18.960 These are big institutions,

important institutions that want this to occur, right? 00:41:19.039 --> 00:41:20.960 And I would just love to see that. 00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:22.480 Now, will I see it? 00:41:22.719 --> 00:41:23.360 I don't know. 00:41:23.519 --> 00:41:24.320 Yes, you will. 00:41:27.440 --> 00:41:28.559 You're teaching Chris a lot. 00:41:28.639 --> 00:41:31.360 He's really paying attention here on this uh arts administration side. 00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:33.119 He's true, right? 00:41:33.440 --> 00:41:34.079 That's a baloney. 00:41:34.159 --> 00:41:36.639 He's been looking at pictures of forklifts ever since Tony got on. 00:41:39.039 --> 00:41:41.119 My only mission was to spend money. 00:41:41.360 --> 00:41:43.679 Gotta keep it you gotta make money. 00:41:43.840 --> 00:41:45.360 Money's the mission, please. 00:41:45.440 --> 00:41:46.480 And money's the mission. 00:41:46.800 --> 00:41:49.440 I I I put meat was the mission. 00:41:49.599 --> 00:41:50.719 It was all about meat. 00:41:50.880 --> 00:41:51.920 Um Tony. 00:41:52.239 --> 00:41:56.480 Well, I mean, you can do meat raffles, and by the way, don't underestimate a meat raffle. 00:41:56.559 --> 00:42:03.440 And I once heard from a very wise fundraiser that said, before you do a fun run, do a bake sale. 00:42:03.599 --> 00:42:04.960 That's the way you make some cash. 00:42:05.280 --> 00:42:06.480 That's how you make some cash. 00:42:06.639 --> 00:42:07.360 Listen to this. 00:42:07.519 --> 00:42:08.719 I'm gonna consult with you. 00:42:08.880 --> 00:42:13.360 Tony, it's a lot of bake sales to get to five million dollars, just saying this is a lot of bake sales. 00:42:13.599 --> 00:42:15.599 I that that part I understand, but maybe it'd be a good idea. 00:42:15.920 --> 00:42:17.199 Money and Tony getting there, though. 00:42:17.360 --> 00:42:21.840 Uh Tony, I love because everything I hear you saying is really based on equity. 00:42:21.920 --> 00:42:28.320 It's all about access, it's all about pulling down barriers and making this more available. 00:42:28.639 --> 00:42:31.039 What what, you know, we're talking systems. 00:42:31.199 --> 00:42:41.280 What systems are already there to help broaden that net, to cast the net a little farther, to bring more people in with our organizations. 00:42:41.679 --> 00:42:49.360 I mean for me and for us, you know, at NYS, I mean very specifically, but I know that I I don't speak solely. 00:42:49.519 --> 00:42:53.760 I I mean I know that there are many organizations, at least in the Twin Cities, that see the same. 00:42:53.920 --> 00:43:01.360 Like we don't require if somebody can't pay, but their kid wants to be in, they're in. 00:43:02.079 --> 00:43:10.480 So, you know, but because of that, then we have to be honest about the fact that then some people actually, if you can pay, you have to, even if your kid's the very best one. 00:43:10.639 --> 00:43:19.599 So we can't, unfortunately, we can't do merit because we need to have the family who, you know, this year can't, they just can't afford it. 00:43:19.920 --> 00:43:23.679 But their child wants to be an orchestra that we let them in. 00:43:24.239 --> 00:43:25.199 They come in. 00:43:25.519 --> 00:43:30.159 Um, and then the hope is maybe two years down the road, they're fine and they can pay. 00:43:30.239 --> 00:43:34.400 And maybe they'll they'll do a donation, but like that's that's how we have to do it. 00:43:34.559 --> 00:43:38.800 We have to build a community that will support it because they'll support it. 00:43:39.039 --> 00:43:43.840 And and I know, you know, there's a local um teaching studio called Walker West. 00:43:44.000 --> 00:43:46.960 It's a musical academy here in in the Twin Cities. 00:43:47.119 --> 00:43:48.480 They have the same philosophy. 00:43:48.639 --> 00:43:55.519 If a kid wants to play an instrument, get in the instrument, the the money will either come or it won't. 00:43:55.599 --> 00:43:59.679 But you you you have to you have to do that, or you're not gonna. 00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:01.840 Doing your mission, right? 00:44:02.000 --> 00:44:03.760 Like so that's that's what we do. 00:44:03.920 --> 00:44:10.639 We I think last year we deferred fifty-nine, fifty-eight thousand dollars worth of tuition. 00:44:13.039 --> 00:44:18.320 So if folks wanted to give to the cause and the organization, how would they do that? 00:44:18.800 --> 00:44:21.119 They go to Beyond the Notes Festival. 00:44:23.119 --> 00:44:24.000 Not for us. 00:44:24.159 --> 00:44:25.679 We are flush with cash. 00:44:32.000 --> 00:44:37.679 I mean, I I I just know every single one of us got into music going, I man, I am just gonna be rich, rich, rich. 00:44:37.760 --> 00:44:42.159 I I tell everybody who's in this business, uh, and then this is Peter, you could share this with people. 00:44:42.400 --> 00:44:47.360 If they did if they want to do something for money, they should go into like commercial real estate. 00:44:47.440 --> 00:44:54.480 I hear it's fantastic, but if they want to do something for art, arts administration is good, but they should not mistake one for the other. 00:44:55.920 --> 00:45:03.519 So anyway, it you know, for us, people can go to our website, mnusymphonies.org, and you know, there's always a way to donate there. 00:45:03.679 --> 00:45:09.119 We uh are actively engaged in um uh Give to the Max Day here in Minnesota, right? 00:45:09.199 --> 00:45:11.760 I mean, there are always ways to give. 00:45:12.079 --> 00:45:23.440 I I think more importantly, what I would ask is, you know, if folks are like, you know what, I wanted to give to the Minnesota Orchestra, maybe look out there and just cast a little bit wider net. 00:45:23.519 --> 00:45:28.400 I'm not saying give it to me, but look up maybe a little bit further upstream, right? 00:45:28.639 --> 00:45:31.679 I'm not gonna turn away your cash, but just look upstream a little bit. 00:45:31.760 --> 00:45:33.440 Where did those people come from? 00:45:33.599 --> 00:45:38.000 How could you help orchestral

music maybe a little bit further upstream? 00:45:38.079 --> 00:45:41.360 So does your local PTO support their band? 00:45:41.519 --> 00:45:42.639 Do you have band boosters? 00:45:42.800 --> 00:45:44.239 Do you have orchestra boosters? 00:45:44.480 --> 00:45:50.239 You know, like again, uh if all of us are doing a little bit better, all of us will be a little bit better off. 00:45:50.559 --> 00:45:55.280 So, Tony, uh how do you define success as an arts administrator? 00:45:55.679 --> 00:46:03.360 Um I I mean, one thing is that you're uh you make slightly more money than PSB. 00:46:03.920 --> 00:46:11.519 Wait, we just had this conversation about making the money in the uh little I mean but that's arts administration, right? 00:46:11.679 --> 00:46:13.920 Like um on the other side. 00:46:16.639 --> 00:46:20.719 Well, if you can, keep the lights on, keep the mission going. 00:46:21.360 --> 00:46:24.320 Um and then grow it if you can, right? 00:46:24.400 --> 00:46:27.280 But like but understand what you're trying to grow, right? 00:46:27.440 --> 00:46:31.679 So from a nonprofit standpoint, you gotta be careful of mission creep, right? 00:46:31.760 --> 00:46:32.320 What do you do? 00:46:32.559 --> 00:46:34.400 Does it fit in with what you do? 00:46:34.719 --> 00:46:40.320 You know, are are are you okay with you know the ups and downs of what's going on? 00:46:40.559 --> 00:46:46.079 And and so from an ad, you know, what's a successful thing, that's that's about it. 00:46:46.320 --> 00:46:47.199 Are you on mission? 00:46:47.760 --> 00:46:49.440 Chris Gleason about mission creep. 00:46:49.519 --> 00:46:52.159 Can you define mission creep for Chris? 00:46:52.480 --> 00:46:56.000 I have identified both Peter and Phil as mission creep. 00:46:56.239 --> 00:47:03.360 And so I I think you you're talking mission creep, not mission creep. 00:47:03.760 --> 00:47:04.079 Creepy. 00:47:06.000 --> 00:47:07.119 You put the S on it, yeah. 00:47:07.199 --> 00:47:11.360 When you put the S on the creep, then then all of a sudden it's it's it's bad. 00:47:11.440 --> 00:47:13.039 So I mean that that could be something. 00:47:13.119 --> 00:47:17.039 But taking no mission, I mean, you are you joking around with me? 00:47:17.280 --> 00:47:18.000 No, I'm joking around. 00:47:18.079 --> 00:47:19.760 Chris Chris is so creative. 00:47:19.920 --> 00:47:21.920 Our first answer, he's like, I've got an idea. 00:47:22.000 --> 00:47:24.000 The first thing we always say is no. 00:47:24.159 --> 00:47:33.280 We just hands down say no until he starts to convince us, and then sometimes we encourage, but usually we just say no. 00:47:33.440 --> 00:47:34.800 He's done it already anyway. 00:47:34.880 --> 00:47:39.440 But you know, one time he made us a business card and didn't have any contact information on it. 00:47:39.599 --> 00:47:41.840 He forgot to get that on the card, but it looked really cool. 00:47:42.159 --> 00:47:42.480 Cutting edge. 00:47:42.639 --> 00:47:43.760 It looked really cutting edge. 00:47:44.159 --> 00:47:46.320 Well, I don't highly recommend bleeding. 00:47:46.719 --> 00:47:48.480 Highly recommend for all nonprofits. 00:47:48.960 --> 00:47:51.519 Highly recommend creating what's called a logic model. 00:47:51.760 --> 00:47:54.719 So logic models really, really show you if you're creeping. 00:47:54.880 --> 00:47:56.639 So I really, really recommend it. 00:47:57.440 --> 00:47:59.920 Speaking of creeps, do you know Paul Kyle? 00:48:01.280 --> 00:48:01.440 No. 00:48:02.000 --> 00:48:03.280 The name is familiar, but it's not. 00:48:03.360 --> 00:48:04.159 I I'm not sure. 00:48:04.559 --> 00:48:05.440 Okay, that's it. 00:48:07.440 --> 00:48:07.920 It's a board. 00:48:10.079 --> 00:48:10.800 Forget about it. 00:48:10.880 --> 00:48:11.119 It's fine. 00:48:11.280 --> 00:48:16.800 Um Tony, uh uh really the reason we've invited you here today uh is for a speed round. 00:48:17.119 --> 00:48:20.000 And I think you can guess what today's speed round is going to be about. 00:48:20.320 --> 00:48:22.480 It's gonna be a big uh forklifts. 00:48:22.719 --> 00:48:24.159 It's gotta be about forklifts. 00:48:25.199 --> 00:48:26.159 I've done this before. 00:48:26.559 --> 00:48:26.719 Really? 00:48:28.079 --> 00:48:30.079 Unencumbered by the thought process. 00:48:30.239 --> 00:48:32.559 Just answer the first thing that comes into your mind. 00:48:32.800 --> 00:48:35.599 Do forklifts have a suspension system? 00:48:35.840 --> 00:48:36.000 Yeah. 00:48:36.320 --> 00:48:37.119 Look at this. 00:48:37.199 --> 00:48:37.679 That's right. 00:48:37.760 --> 00:48:39.599 The tires and the chassis absorb bumps. 00:48:39.679 --> 00:48:40.159 That was easy. 00:48:40.239 --> 00:48:41.280 We're gonna get harder now. 00:48:41.440 --> 00:48:43.199 Uh when was the forklift invented? 00:48:43.360 --> 00:48:44.639 I can give you choices if you want. 00:48:45.280 --> 00:48:45.840 Please. 00:48:46.159 --> 00:48:46.480 All right. 00:48:46.719 --> 00:48:52.400 1905, 1915, 1917, and 1923. 00:48:52.719 --> 00:48:53.280 15? 00:48:54.639 --> 00:48:55.599 I'll give it five. 00:48:57.360 --> 00:48:58.000 1917. 00:48:58.320 --> 00:48:58.639 That's right. 00:49:00.079 --> 00:49:00.239 Yes. 00:49:00.320 --> 00:49:03.920 It was it was called the truck tractor, um, made by the Clark Equipment Company. 00:49:04.079 --> 00:49:04.800 Very important information. 00:49:04.880 --> 00:49:08.239 It's gonna help you in your uh uh with all things that we're gonna do. 00:49:12.159 --> 00:49:12.320 Yeah. 00:49:13.440 --> 00:49:19.760 Um how long uh were the earliest forklifts designed to last, the batteries in these early forklifts? 00:49:20.079 --> 00:49:20.559 Oh boy. 00:49:20.719 --> 00:49:23.599 Man, oh man, those were big dog things, the electric ones. 00:49:23.760 --> 00:49:24.480 I don't know. 00:49:24.800 --> 00:49:25.599 Three hours? 00:49:25.920 --> 00:49:27.599 Uh one shift, eight hours. 00:49:28.079 --> 00:49:28.639 Oh exactly. 00:49:28.800 --> 00:49:30.320 Okay, one

shi one shift. 00:49:30.719 --> 00:49:33.679 Uh are forklifts rear or front wheel drive? 00:49:33.920 --> 00:49:34.719 Front sure. 00:49:35.119 --> 00:49:35.519 Not really. 00:49:35.760 --> 00:49:36.079 Rear. 00:49:36.239 --> 00:49:37.280 Um, no, no, no. 00:49:40.079 --> 00:49:41.440 But the power in the front. 00:49:41.679 --> 00:49:42.079 I don't know. 00:49:42.320 --> 00:49:42.960 So he's right. 00:49:43.760 --> 00:49:46.480 Um Phil doesn't know what we're talking about. 00:49:48.400 --> 00:49:51.679 Um the power is in the front wheels and you steer the back wheel. 00:49:51.840 --> 00:49:52.559 That's okay. 00:49:52.800 --> 00:49:53.039 Yes. 00:49:53.280 --> 00:49:53.440 Yeah. 00:49:53.519 --> 00:49:53.679 Okay. 00:49:54.000 --> 00:49:56.000 Um we'll add that later. 00:49:56.960 --> 00:50:00.159 What are arachnid, are forklifts designed after? 00:50:00.480 --> 00:50:02.400 What a rachnid forklifts? 00:50:02.559 --> 00:50:03.280 Arachnid. 00:50:04.960 --> 00:50:05.599 I'm sorry. 00:50:05.920 --> 00:50:07.280 They're designed after spiders. 00:50:07.440 --> 00:50:08.719 They're designed after spiders. 00:50:08.960 --> 00:50:09.599 How are they different? 00:50:10.320 --> 00:50:12.480 Probably should have been arachnid. 00:50:12.559 --> 00:50:14.320 I don't really think. 00:50:14.480 --> 00:50:15.840 Um these questions are getting better. 00:50:15.920 --> 00:50:16.400 Can you feel it? 00:50:16.559 --> 00:50:18.559 Um, this is going really well. 00:50:19.280 --> 00:50:22.320 Um name something that's on the forklift driving test. 00:50:22.719 --> 00:50:24.400 Name something that's on the test. 00:50:24.559 --> 00:50:26.239 Anything that's on the forklift driving test. 00:50:26.800 --> 00:50:28.400 I don't think Tony took a test. 00:50:28.719 --> 00:50:31.199 I don't think I did I think they said get in there. 00:50:31.519 --> 00:50:32.000 That's right. 00:50:32.320 --> 00:50:35.280 Um is don't hurt yourself or others. 00:50:35.440 --> 00:50:35.760 Okay. 00:50:36.079 --> 00:50:40.000 Um next, uh are our forklift rodeos. 00:50:40.559 --> 00:50:41.760 So sorry about this, Tony. 00:50:42.000 --> 00:50:44.480 Are forklift rodeos real? 00:50:44.880 --> 00:50:47.519 It seems like they must be, though I think they have to be. 00:50:48.239 --> 00:50:48.960 Worth a Google. 00:50:49.199 --> 00:50:52.079 I I highly recommend a Google on uh forklift rodeo. 00:50:52.320 --> 00:50:54.800 Okay, highly, highly recommend it. 00:50:54.960 --> 00:50:56.400 Uh and then final question here. 00:50:56.559 --> 00:50:58.400 This is it, uh, and there's no wrong answer. 00:50:58.559 --> 00:51:01.199 Who looks more like a forklift, Peter or Chris? 00:51:01.599 --> 00:51:04.800 Who looks more like a forklift, Peter or Chris? 00:51:04.960 --> 00:51:13.760 Well, it's tricky because, you know, Peter's got the glasses going on, so that does remind me of some of the, you know, kind of the specs that I saw. 00:51:14.079 --> 00:51:19.280 On the other hand, just because of clarity, I can really see Chris's earphones. 00:51:19.519 --> 00:51:24.320 And those earphones do have that kind of look of the kind of the cage over the top that keeps you safe. 00:51:24.559 --> 00:51:29.599 So I I'm probably gonna say Chris, but I I mean it's not hurt. 00:51:30.000 --> 00:51:30.559 I'm not hurt at all. 00:51:30.800 --> 00:51:31.840 It's very, very close. 00:51:32.559 --> 00:51:32.960 That's it. 00:51:33.199 --> 00:51:36.639 Uh highly suspect questions, but Tony, you passed the uh forklift test. 00:51:36.960 --> 00:51:38.000 Oh, thank you so very much. 00:51:38.400 --> 00:51:38.960 Well done. 00:51:39.119 --> 00:51:41.920 Man, that's uh That was worth your time. 00:51:42.559 --> 00:51:42.960 I think so. 00:51:43.440 --> 00:51:44.079 I'm so sorry. 00:51:44.320 --> 00:51:48.800 Uh Did you call Phil a friend or an acquaintance? 00:51:49.119 --> 00:51:51.039 How would you define your relationship? 00:51:51.280 --> 00:51:51.840 You know what? 00:51:51.920 --> 00:51:54.559 I used to be one and maybe moving toward the other. 00:51:58.320 --> 00:52:00.480 I like forklift questions. 00:52:00.719 --> 00:52:04.480 Uh well, I get all my sort of speed round questions. 00:52:04.559 --> 00:52:07.840 I designed them after Chris's uh speed rounds. 00:52:08.239 --> 00:52:08.320 Yeah. 00:52:08.639 --> 00:52:09.920 Tony, it's great to meet you. 00:52:10.079 --> 00:52:32.000 I do have to tell you, um, it's not just the voice, but when you speak your uh philosophy and passion about what you do or why you do what you're doing, as well as if I were a parent and I heard this conversation, or even a teacher that could encourage kids, I feel like the team is in a good place with you driving the forklift. 00:52:32.239 --> 00:52:36.320 And that's uh that's a real uh that's a real gift. 00:52:36.400 --> 00:52:40.559 And we're pretty leadership sad right now in this country in lots of ways. 00:52:40.719 --> 00:52:46.639 And just to know that that organization has you at the front of it on the executive side is really wonderful. 00:52:46.800 --> 00:52:49.199 So great to meet you and thanks for all you two for everyone. 00:52:50.000 --> 00:52:50.559 Yeah, thank you. 00:52:50.639 --> 00:52:54.159 You got uh you got some of our kids coming your way this this year. 00:52:54.400 --> 00:52:59.039 We got one of our we got a really good, really good percussionist from last year coming up toward you guys. 00:52:59.440 --> 00:52:59.840 Yeah, Ethan. 00:53:00.239 --> 00:53:00.800 Very excited. 00:53:00.960 --> 00:53:02.400 Yeah, he's a good player. 00:53:02.639 --> 00:53:15.840 We really he was he did he played the bass drum so beautifully on we did the Romeo Juliet overture, fantasy overture, and he was on the bass drum, and there's really only three percussion parts in that, but that bass drum is so important. 00:53:16.079 --> 00:53:17.440 He did it beautifully. 00:53:17.599 --> 00:53:19.039 He was a great addition to the team. 00:53:19.119 --> 00:53:21.280 I yeah, I wish that

we'd have had him for longer. 00:53:21.360 --> 00:53:22.320 We only had him for a year. 00:53:22.480 --> 00:53:23.519 You are lucky to get him. 00:53:23.679 --> 00:53:25.199 He is a delight. 00:53:25.760 --> 00:53:26.320 Yeah. 00:53:26.639 --> 00:53:28.639 Is that the Jack stamp arrangement? 00:53:28.800 --> 00:53:29.599 Oh dear lord. 00:53:32.239 --> 00:53:32.960 Very useless. 00:53:33.199 --> 00:53:35.519 Uh I don't I don't even I don't even know. 00:53:38.400 --> 00:53:39.599 Not worth not worth. 00:53:40.880 --> 00:53:41.440 Not not at all. 00:53:41.840 --> 00:53:44.159 Is this like a a weird band thing that I don't understand? 00:53:45.760 --> 00:53:46.079 A little bit. 00:53:46.960 --> 00:53:50.159 It's uh it's not even inside baseball, it's wrong baseball. 00:53:50.400 --> 00:53:55.599 Um Tony, thanks for doing this. 00:53:55.760 --> 00:54:07.440 And um, you know, I'm I'll reiterate something you said earlier on is that uh uh I think sometimes band directors or parents or even students are like, oh, it's I miss the auditions, I can't do it. 00:54:07.679 --> 00:54:11.840 But I I can say from firsthand experience that you know you have auditions all the time. 00:54:12.000 --> 00:54:19.360 And you're gonna find a way to get a kid in the experience that's appropriate to where they are uh and get them playing in a hurry. 00:54:19.679 --> 00:54:26.159 So uh I just can't advocate for enough for what NYS does and for what you do for the organization. 00:54:26.400 --> 00:54:27.519 Thanks for talking about it. 00:54:27.920 --> 00:54:29.360 Thanks for having me, guys. 00:54:30.400 --> 00:54:32.239 Nice work, Phil Tony. 00:54:33.039 --> 00:54:33.760 I really like it. 00:54:33.920 --> 00:54:34.480 That was great. 00:54:34.639 --> 00:54:35.039 He's great. 00:54:35.280 --> 00:54:35.760 He's a good guy. 00:54:36.320 --> 00:54:40.639 Um fabulous uh music advocate and leader. 00:54:40.719 --> 00:54:41.760 You know, just a great guy. 00:54:41.840 --> 00:54:42.880 And I've known him forever. 00:54:43.360 --> 00:54:43.920 You can tell. 00:54:44.000 --> 00:54:46.400 He's got a vision, he knows how stuff works too. 00:54:46.639 --> 00:54:47.840 Articulate, love it. 00:54:48.079 --> 00:54:48.320 Yeah. 00:54:48.480 --> 00:54:51.199 And I'm telling, he says something, I would just believe it. 00:54:51.280 --> 00:54:53.199 That voice is unbelievable. 00:54:54.000 --> 00:54:57.440 If he said it, I'd believe it beyond the notes music festival. 00:54:57.599 --> 00:54:58.480 Well, honestly. 00:54:59.039 --> 00:55:00.400 I'm just like, yep, okay. 00:55:00.719 --> 00:55:01.679 Yeah, he's got pipes. 00:55:01.840 --> 00:55:03.440 Tony's got pipes for sure. 00:55:03.840 --> 00:55:06.000 The mission is money, Gleason. 00:55:06.159 --> 00:55:06.719 Remember this. 00:55:06.880 --> 00:55:07.360 The mission. 00:55:07.840 --> 00:55:09.599 Yeah, I wrote down a lot of stuff. 00:55:09.760 --> 00:55:12.960 Like, and I realize I'm doing a lot of stuff wrong. 00:55:13.199 --> 00:55:14.719 So that's uh that's good. 00:55:14.880 --> 00:55:15.280 That was great. 00:55:15.519 --> 00:55:24.960 I'm I mean, Tony was super patient and like a great friend to all these sort of 18 and 19-year-old boneheads um uh uh undergrad. 00:55:25.119 --> 00:55:26.880 Tony was a lot further along. 00:55:27.039 --> 00:55:33.280 And he just had an appreciation for what a luxury college is, let alone a place like Eastman. 00:55:33.840 --> 00:55:39.679 Tony just came at it a little differently than the rest of us and a lot more mature than the rest of us. 00:55:39.760 --> 00:55:40.320 Aaron Powell, of course. 00:55:40.559 --> 00:55:44.400 I mean, that four or five years that that's a lot of four or five years of life. 00:55:44.960 --> 00:55:53.679 I mean, the fact that we made it through the whole podcast and he really didn't tell many of the embarrassing stories about me uh shows you what a stand-up guy is. 00:55:54.079 --> 00:55:54.400 That's right. 00:55:54.639 --> 00:55:56.559 He didn't even bring it up, which is pretty impressive. 00:55:56.639 --> 00:55:57.119 Aaron Ross Powell No. 00:55:57.280 --> 00:55:58.239 No, didn't at all. 00:55:58.480 --> 00:56:00.400 He's got he's got some ammunition on me. 00:56:00.800 --> 00:56:02.239 We didn't bring it up, actually. 00:56:02.400 --> 00:56:04.079 That's kind of our fault, I think, a little bit. 00:56:04.800 --> 00:56:05.199 It's okay. 00:56:05.280 --> 00:56:06.079 We're just gonna let it. 00:56:06.239 --> 00:56:06.800 You know, I'm sorry. 00:56:06.880 --> 00:56:07.280 Yeah, okay. 00:56:07.679 --> 00:56:08.400 Gotta warm up to it. 00:56:08.480 --> 00:56:09.280 It's a long season. 00:56:09.440 --> 00:56:11.599 Hey, uh, you ready for another boozler? 00:56:11.760 --> 00:56:14.000 It's a back-to-back boozler. 00:56:15.679 --> 00:56:16.719 Bamboozler. 00:56:17.679 --> 00:56:18.639 Bamboozler. 00:56:19.039 --> 00:56:19.840 I don't need to be able to do it. 00:56:19.920 --> 00:56:21.599 And you know why, but yes, why? 00:56:21.920 --> 00:56:24.480 Because I do not have anything else prepared. 00:56:24.559 --> 00:56:27.199 But we did get a uh a letter in the mail. 00:56:27.280 --> 00:56:37.280 Uh, this was handwritten, and it says, Dear gentlemen, one of my uh strongest students has a parent who is a musician. 00:56:37.840 --> 00:56:48.320 The parent is incredibly supportive, but also sends the student to school with a steady stream of suggestions about my teaching, repertoire choices, and other things about my teaching. 00:56:48.480 --> 00:56:54.719 The student is doing great, so technically there's not a problem there, but do I say something to the parent? 00:56:55.199 --> 00:56:57.599 I think all three of us are that parent. 00:56:58.000 --> 00:56:59.199 I was dangerous. 00:57:00.880 --> 00:57:02.159 I hope this is not Pam Riddlinger. 00:57:02.960 --> 00:57:05.280 Because if this is Pam Ridlinger, no, no. 00:57:05.440 --> 00:57:08.239 Um they all come from my daughter, not from me. 00:57:08.400 -->

00:57:15.840 She tells us she tells Pam all the pieces that she hears in from me that they should do, which is a bare a bit embarrassing. 00:57:16.159 --> 00:57:20.800 Um I mean, there's nothing you can do about that except say, oh, thank I'll think about that. 00:57:20.880 --> 00:57:21.199 Thank you. 00:57:21.280 --> 00:57:22.000 That's great. 00:57:22.239 --> 00:57:23.599 And then you move along. 00:57:23.840 --> 00:57:27.920 You know your students best and what they're able to do. 00:57:28.239 --> 00:57:32.880 But um, Pam, I'm sorry if that's what uh it sounds like from Claire, because that's not coming from me. 00:57:33.280 --> 00:57:36.480 Every time I see my son's band director, I say the same thing. 00:57:36.639 --> 00:57:44.960 I look at him and I I I sort of fight the urge to hug him and and tell him, thank you for creating this opportunity for my child to play. 00:57:45.440 --> 00:57:48.000 He would break you in half if you I know he would. 00:57:50.960 --> 00:57:55.119 But uh I'm just so wildly grateful. 00:57:55.199 --> 00:58:05.280 Um and uh uh I'm I I am uh pretty cautious about offering any commentary past thank you. 00:58:06.559 --> 00:58:20.480 I mean the cool thing about being a music parent is that you with piano, for instance, with my daughter, I just I can't say anything, right? 00:58:20.639 --> 00:58:24.159 But when teacher Karen says something, we'll do it. 00:58:24.480 --> 00:58:36.960 And so I am so in awe of the non-parent adult that's guiding my student through experiences, my daughter, through experiences in music, and giving her those opportunities. 00:58:37.199 --> 00:58:43.760 She does like doing bands with me, like she comes out to the Montana every year and really enjoys that experience. 00:58:43.840 --> 00:58:47.440 Not so much because I'm her band director, but that we have fun with music together. 00:58:47.599 --> 00:58:48.800 I think she does enjoy that. 00:58:48.960 --> 00:59:08.320 But um, I mean, I can't I look at her to give her a suggestion as a musician, and she's already rolling her eyes in the back of her head in my ensemble, and I'm like, uh, it's not so I think I am all in support of the band directress and would never give suggestions. 00:59:09.039 --> 00:59:19.760 When what one way of handling that potentially might be uh finding a mission for uh each and every parent of a kid in your band is really important. 00:59:20.079 --> 00:59:22.639 And each set of parents has a different gift. 00:59:22.800 --> 00:59:30.880 Um, where I I think if Tark asked me if I want to be involved, I'd probably say something like, sure, do you need me to sit there during the bake sale? 00:59:31.119 --> 00:59:33.920 That'd probably be a really good thing for me to do. 00:59:34.079 --> 00:59:42.559 Um and it keeps me um uh away from the front line where I I'm not sure that my own child would really appreciate having me there. 00:59:42.800 --> 00:59:46.800 Um uh and it keeps me involved in the program and supporting on a sideline. 00:59:46.880 --> 00:59:59.519 So in in so in a nutshell, is find the right mission for each parent in your band that really wants to be involved, whether that be fundraising or um organizational aspects or whatever it is. 00:59:59.679 --> 01:00:05.679 Um each parent has a different gift, and sometimes we need to be more active in steering those gifts. 01:00:05.920 --> 01:00:06.159 Yeah. 01:00:06.320 --> 01:00:06.639 Amen. 01:00:07.039 --> 01:00:08.400 That's very well said, Philip. 01:00:08.559 --> 01:00:10.159 Wow, that was very mature of you. 01:00:10.320 --> 01:00:11.119 Adult, thoughtful. 01:00:11.519 --> 01:00:12.400 I'm getting bored, hey. 01:00:13.519 --> 01:00:14.400 You're good at that. 01:00:15.360 --> 01:00:19.679 Uh gentlemen, we're gonna end today with a new uh wrap-up. 01:00:20.320 --> 01:00:22.000 It's called an exit ticket. 01:00:22.159 --> 01:00:26.639 Just like many great educators will do, they'll end class with an exit ticket. 01:00:26.719 --> 01:00:29.199 And so today's exit ticket is this question. 01:00:29.440 --> 01:00:35.360 If today's episode were a band rehearsal, what would we need to fix before the concert? 01:00:36.159 --> 01:00:37.440 Uh all of it. 01:00:38.079 --> 01:00:40.559 Wait, can you say that again one more time? 01:00:40.800 --> 01:00:48.239 So I can Beyond Artless is sponsored by Beyond the Notes Music Festival. 01:00:48.400 --> 01:00:55.119 Our mission is to create and provide profound learning and social experiences through music that go beyond the notes. 01:00:55.280 --> 01:00:59.199 Visit BTN Musicfestival.com to learn more.

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