In this episode, I talk with Ted Nelson, Vice President of Artistic Planning and Operations at the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, about musical inspiration and how this influences artistic planning of new music for performances by orchestras in the 2020s and beyond.

www.danielperttu.com

Please join me as I talk with Stephen Gunzenhauser, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Endless Mountain Music Festival and former Music Director of the Lancaster and Delaware Symphonies, about his long career and its unique focus on the classical music recording industry. Maestro Gunzenhauser is the fifth most-recorded American conductor, having recorded for Naxos and other labels. He also tells of how he worked with orchestras behind the Iron Curtain before the fall of communism in Eastern Europe. We discuss various sources of inspiration in his work as well as how new music fits into his programming, particularly now at the Endless Mountain Music Festival. Please join us!

www.danielperttu.com

www.stephengunzenhauser.com

Please join me as I talk with Brett Mitchell, Music Director of the Pasadena Symphony and Artistic Director & Conductor of the Sunriver Music Festival, about his approach to programming strategically for orchestras. He loves drawing creative connections across music history and compositional style which yields unified programs where classic "masterworks" are seamlessly presented alongside those of living composers. Join us for a conversation about how he pulls off this programming wizardry!

www.danielperttu.com

www.brettmitchellconductor.com

In this episode, I talk with Matthew Kraemer, Music Director of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, about how he leads the programming of music for these two very different orchestras in unique communities. In Louisiana, he blends local talent from many different genres, and in Indianapolis, he pushes the boundaries with innovative new music. Please join us as we talk about the artistic priorities that Matthew manages as he works through his programming puzzles for his orchestras.

www.matthewkraemer.com

www.danielperttu.com

Please join me as I talk with Francesco Lecce-Chong, the Music Director of the Santa Rosa Symphony on my spinoff series on strategic orchestra programming. Francesco was previously a guest on the "Muse in Music" when it was a blog, and I'm thrilled that he has returned to talk about how he balances programming standard repertoire with new and under-heard compositions. In his programming, he strives to select pieces so that they complement each other in a concert. We also discuss how he considers post-concert surveys and audience reactions to his programming. Please join us for this behind-the-scenes conversation about how a conductor builds programs for orchestra patrons!

Please join me as I talk with conductor Nicholas McGegan about his long, celebrated career. From his early days at Cambridge University through his transition to the United States, Maestro McGegan’s career has taken interesting and surprising turns. While he has spent a lot of his career conducting Baroque music, he also regularly conducts music from the Classical and Romantic Eras, and has also presented works of contemporary music. In this episode, we talk about the fascinating development of his career and various influential musicians he has known, from Benjamin Britten to Christopher Hogwood and Roger Norrington. Please join us!

www.nicholasmcgegan.com

www.danielperttu.com

Have you ever wondered how your personality might influence the way you create? In this episode of The Muse in Music, I explore the Myers-Briggs Personality Type system and how it provides deep insights into my creative process as a composer.

As an INTJ, my compositional journey is guided by introverted intuition (Ni), a cognitive function that helps me develop musical ideas from abstract patterns, imagery, and other-worldly feelings. From envisioning long-term structures to weaving emotional depth into my work, I share how my personality type shapes every step of my music-making process.

I'll discuss how other types might approach composing differently—such as extraverted intuitive dominant improvisers or introverted thinking driven logicians—and how understanding your own type can unlock new levels of creativity. Plus, I reflect on how balancing my dominant traits with moments of sensory engagement (Se) and emotional resonance (Fi) leads to a more integrated and powerful creative flow.

Tune in for a fascinating dive into personality and music, and discover how understanding your Myers-Briggs type might illuminate your own artistic journey.

What’s your Myers-Briggs type, and how does it shape your creativity? Share your thoughts, and let’s explore together!

In this episode, I talk with Carl Topilow, Music Director of the Firelands Symphony and Founding Conductor of the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, about the craft of conducting and what inspires him about his work. We also discuss his approach to working with living composers.