B4 The Stage

Internationally acclaimed violinist Timothy Chooi, (pronounced “Chewy”), continues to mesmerize global audiences with his electrifying performances and profound musical interpretations. Renowned for his passionate renditions and extensive repertoire, Chooi has cultivated a vast following, with millions of viewers captivated by his artistry both on stage and across digital platforms.Timothy Chooi talks about his relationship with social media, working with managers, and finding new ways to promote your musical career. In this episode, we talked about: How to travel with an instrument working with a manager vs. by yourself. Personal finance tips for musicians, and promoting yourself online | RESOURCES |timothychooi.comfollow on IG:@B4thestage +@gracesviolin

Sophia Kannathasan studied at the University of Leeds. Sophia was also a member of the Chineke! Junior Orchestra. At the time of recording, during her journey to becoming a professional musician, she had been working outside London in Essex, working at a concert hall for an entire year while juggling her solo violin development. In this episode, we talked about: The "Am I good enough for music school?" How diversity plays a role in her relationship to music Practice routines Injuries Find your host, Grace Lamb, on social media: Website Youtube  follow on IG: @B4thestage + @gracesviolin If you have any questions or topics you would like covered on the show, please contact me at b4thestage@gmail.com

Nathan Chan currently is a content creator, and assistant principal cellist in the Seattle Symphony. Listen along as we hear about Nathan's aural explorations as a cellist in different genres and formats (recording, performing, etc), his thoughts on cello technique, as creating music beyond the stage through content creating.In this episode, we talked about:His journey towards entering the professional music worldThe learning pacing he adopted for absorbing orchestral repertoireUsing recording as a tool to develop heightened listening skillsRelationships with social media and creationFind your host, Grace Lamb, on social media:WebsiteYoutube follow on IG:@B4thestage + @gracesviolinPodcast edited byGalle Studios

Hyunji Yi is a professional cellist based out of LA working as an educator and performer. She talks about growing up in a family that encouraged music making, her experience in college, and her pathway to teaching. In this episode, we talked about:1️⃣  Tips on how to start your own studio as a student2️⃣  The gift that teaching gives us3️⃣ The importance of asking questions|MENTIONED|Hyunji'sInstagramHyunji's Youtube channel Find your host, Grace Lamb, on social media:WebsiteYoutube follow on IG:@B4thestage + @gracesviolinPodcast edited byGalle Studios

Creating Your Own Path in Music with Sumina StuderThis episode of B4 The Stage features guest Sumina Studer, who shares what it really looks like to create your own path in music. We go behind the scenes of how she broke the mold in the classical world, choosing not to pursue a traditional violin performance career, instead building a multifaceted identity as a content creator, presenter, speaker, and entrepreneur. Today, she runs her own social media management business, Animus, helping musicians and creatives grow their digital presence.What talk about:- How Sumina shifted from a performance-first path to a diversified creative career- What pushed her to reimagine what a “successful” music career could look like- Building Animus and supporting artists through social media strategyIf you’re exploring your identity as a musician or navigating a career pivot, this episode offers practical insight and inspiration.Connect with Sumina:Website: suminastuder.comAnimus: animussocial.comYouTube + Socials: @suminastuderFollow B4 The Stage:Substack: b4thestage.substack.comInstagram: @b4thestageGrace’s Instagram (Host): @gracesviolinhttps://www.gracesviolin.com/podcastFind the podcast on YouTube and more! https://www.gracesviolin.com/podcasthttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/prof...Enjoy the episode?Subscribe for more conversations on creativity, career building, and the modern music industry.

Alright, where have I been? I paused the show for a couple of years here! But I’m back and ready to be creating once again. :) Tune into this show to go behind the scenes of my own life and what I’ve been up to while I’ve been gone! Also, I’m starting an email list. Be sure to join my Substack! Find your host, Grace, on social media:⁠Website⁠⁠Youtube ⁠follow on IG:⁠@B4thestage⁠ + ⁠@gracesviolin⁠

Gina Luciani is a flutist and recording artist. Gina has a broad range of interests from branding, website building, and building good relationships. This episode of B4thestage explores the importance of creating opportunities for oneself. Gina's passion for film music goes back to her childhood and still lives in her today. In addition to being on 6 Oscar nominated films, Gina has performed with artists such as Kanye West, Ariana Grande, Carrie Underwood, Chance the Rapper, as well as recorded for various shows found on Netflix, including Arcane, and Cobra Kai.In this episode, we talked about:Gina's start with recording and path toward entering the industryImportant things to check when starting to record yourselfHow her mindsets lead her to succeedNetworking as a musician| RESOURCES |WebsiteInstagramYoutube TiktokFind your host, Grace Lamb, on social media:WebsiteYoutube follow on IG:@B4thestage + @gracesviolinPodcast edited byGalle Studios

Kimberlee Dray is a performing musician who experienced hearing loss due to Ménière's disease. After studying music in college and switching to an English major, picking her violin back up became therapeutic and helpful for her condition. Listen to Kimberlee encourage being a doer, making a tribe for yourself, and serving others.In this episode, we talked about:1. Meniere's Disease2. Self-marketing and management3. Intentionality in choosing repertoire4. Serving the donorsFind your host, Grace Lamb, on social media:WebsiteYoutube follow on IG:@B4thestage + @gracesviolinPodcast edited byGalle Studios

John Zion has served as the Managing Director of MKI Artists since taking ownership of the firm in 2015. He oversees strategic planning and operations, and directs the careers of a prestigious roster of international artists. He serves on the board of Chamber Music America and has presented on arts-related issues at the Manhattan School of Music, the University at Buffalo, APAP|NYC, Chamber Music America’s National Conference, and the Avaloch Farm Music Institute. In 2012, he was named one of the “Rising Stars in the Performing Arts” by Musical America. John studied at Lawrence University and the Hartt School of Music; before coming to MKI Artists, he performed regularly as a violinist with orchestras throughout New England, taught public-school music, and toured Vietnam with his string quartet. In his free time, John enjoys cooking, reading, and traveling. |MENTIONED|WebsiteOur Concerts Instagram Editing softwareFind your host, Grace Lamb, on social media:WebsiteYoutube follow on IG:@B4thestage + @gracesviolinPodcast edited byGalle Studios

Anne Sophie Beranger is a violinist and teacher based in London, UK. She spends most of her time as a music teacher in the primary phase (from nursery to age 11), as well as private teaching. She’s been also broadening her Instagram page in creating a series dedicated to sharing musical facts. This episode explores how her musical upbringing lead her to a career of teaching.In this episode, we talked about:1️⃣ How Sophie got started with teaching2️⃣ What drives Sophie to teach music to young kids3️⃣ Curating a series on instagram4️⃣ Getting rid of her fears to then share her passions online| MENTIONED |Anne's WebsiteInstagramFind your host, Grace Lamb, on social media:WebsiteYoutube follow on IG:@B4thestage + @gracesviolinPodcast edited byGalle Studios

Drew Forde is a violist also best known as ThatViolaKid. He runs an improv comedy podcast that talks about music (faking notes podcast). In asking Drew for tips on podcasts, listen along to their conversation about creating connections with people, speaking to your audience, putting the social back into social media and more.In this episode, we talked about:1️⃣  Finding your "why"2️⃣  Conveyance of stories to your audience3️⃣  Tips on how to start and develop your podcast4️⃣  The next stops in the classical music world5️⃣  Kindness and giving to others OR listening and getting to know your community (This was for Drew's story about DMV)| MENTIONED |Faking Notes podcast found on all podcast streaming servicesInstagramFacebooktwitterDrew's website:http://thatviolakid.com/| RESOURCES |Japanese concept IkigaiAtomic Habits by James ClearHow to win friends and influence people by Dale CarnegieFind your host, Grace Lamb, on social media:WebsiteYoutube follow on IG:@B4thestage + @gracesviolinPodcast edited byGalle Studios

Taylor Rossi is a Boston based flutist and website designer for Nicole Riccardo Media, a digital marketing company for musicians and creatives. In this episode, we talked about:1️⃣  Being able to show your authentic self and help others find you through a website2️⃣ How to decide if hiring a website designer is a good fit for you3️⃣  How to write effectively on a website4️⃣  The importance of establishing your website early| MENTIONED |Nicole Riccardo Media WebsiteTaylor's InstagramFind your host, Grace Lamb, on social media:WebsiteYoutube follow on IG:@B4thestage + @gracesviolinPodcast edited byGalle Studios

Alice Ping is a violist graduated from Juilliard currently based in LA. She has done freelancing work on movies, scores, shows, and more. In this episode, Alice shares about her experiences with navigating chronic diseases, all the while debunking myths about being afraid to share about our health to others. In this episode, we talked about:1️⃣  Alice's first signs of having chronic diseases2️⃣  Why she shares about health journey online3️⃣  Her exploration of physical exercise and reclaiming control of her body4️⃣  Shifts in mindsets to find a happy place with career and personal health5️⃣  How making youtube videos boosts Alice's creativity and motivation| MENTIONED |InstagramAlice's websiteyoutube channelFind your host, Grace Lamb, on social media:WebsiteYoutube follow on IG:@B4thestage + @gracesviolinPodcast edited byGalle Studios

This episode was recorded in early spring of 2021, just getting to release it now. I hope you will enjoy the episode!  Jeff Counts is the general manager of the Grand Teton Music Festival, located in Jackson Hole. What makes Grand Teton a festival like no other is their fresh cycles of new musicians each week. Jeff brings to light how managing a 7-8 week-long festival comes to life through diligent planning during its surrounding months. Jeff sheds insight on how you can best succeed by believing in what you do and making your pitch memorable. In this episode we talked about: The complexities of running a music festival you may not expect Being able to address and validate concerns on a large scale The importance of preparation and polish that makes your project memorable |MENTIONED|Ghost Light Podcast Grand Teton Music FestivalFind your host, Grace Lamb, on social media:WebsiteYoutube follow on IG:@B4thestage +@gracesviolin

In this episode Gina Morgano, a singer located in NYC. She currently runs the podcast The Practice Parlour where she interviews musicians to discover the practices that shape their lives and art.In this episode, we talked about:1️⃣ Her musical journey & creating your own opportunities and events2️⃣ Starting the Practice Parlour & becoming an entrepreneur3️⃣ Mindset hurdles musicians work through| MENTIONED |Gina's InstagramGina's Podcast: The Practice ParlourWaitlist for The Practice SocietyFind your host, Grace Lamb, on social media:WebsiteYoutube follow on IG:@B4thestage +@gracesviolin

A musician who "effortlessly weaves between genres and brings as much rock and roll to the violin as she does classical precision and refinement to rock and roll," Grace Youn has established herself as one of today's most versatile violinists. A native of Tacoma, Washington, Grace began violin studies at age 7. Grace's performances have taken her across the United States, with shows in Seattle, Denver, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Fe, Honolulu, Chicago, Formula 1, and the South by Southwest music festival in Austin. She has performed solo with Conspirare, the Balcones Community Orchestra, Montecito International Music Festival Orchestra, Austin Civic Orchestra, the University of Puget Sound Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, and the Tacoma Youth Symphony. She was a prize winner in the Texas Rising Stars Competition, the Beatrice Hermann Young Artist Competition, the International Rockin' Fiddle Challenge, and the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition and has performed at music festivals all over the United States. In 2011, Grace launched her YouTube channel, grace plays violin, where she explores various musical genres, combining classical traditions and techniques with other musical styles. Her videos have accumulated thousands of subscribers and millions of views. Grace's work has also been featured in film, TV, music recordings, and live shows of touring music artists internationally. She is working on her debut EP to be released later in 2021. Grace earned her Artist Diploma and Master of Music degree from the University of Texas - Austin and her Bachelor of Music degree in Performance from the University of Puget Sound. Her primary teachers include Brian Lewis and Dr. Maria Sampen. A dedicated teacher, Grace is on faculty at Huston-Tillotson University and Austin Suzuki Music School, and teaches masterclasses around the United States.Grace Youn's InstagramFind your host, Grace Lamb, on social media:WebsiteYoutube follow on IG:@B4thestage +@gracesviolin

About 8VA Music Consultancy: If you are a musician, you know the musical notation "8va" as "all' ottava", meaning "at the octave". This symbol, without a second thought, makes us play a note an octave higher. For the company, the name 8VA (pronounced āt vē ā) is more than a wink to fellow musicians. We only take on musicians, organizations, and projects we believe in, and by pitching their amazing work correctly, we elevate the work's impact. Our name is also about holding ourselves to a higher standard and about working harder (and smarter) to exceed our client’s goals. Formerly the New York branch of Inverne Price Music Consultancy, our team has worked on behalf of top soloists, conductors, composers, orchestras, music festivals, and other related organizations since the firm’s founding in 2012. With backgrounds in non-profit executive leadership, marketing, advertising, the record industry, public relations - and most importantly, with a deep passion for music, 8VA Music Consultancy is uniquely positioned to take your career or organization - well - up an octave.8vamusicconsultancy.comFind your host, Grace Lamb, on social media:WebsiteYoutube follow on IG:@B4thestage +@gracesviolin

Cellist Ken James Kubota has shattered perceptions of the typical classical music career. While he is celebrated by The New York Times for "dynamic” and “polished” musicianship, most know Kubota as a YouTuber, social media personality, and for pioneering his unique style of strumming the cello like a guitar. As an artist, many know him as one-third of the band Empire Wild, a group now represented by the Concert Artists Guild after receiving their 2020 Ambassador Prize. On social media, his audience numbers in the tens of thousands and continues to rise—he was selected as an Educational Partner by social media platform TikTok, creating fun and instructional videos on playing the cello. Kubota continues to grow a following as the founder and producer of JHMJams, a biweekly video series of pop improvisations by classical and jazz musicians. Described in National Sawdust Log as an “online powerhouse” of classical music’s online ecosystem, JHM has earned additional recognition from Glamour, The Violin Channel, The Strad, and Classic FM. The channel is known for enlisting a brand new ensemble of musicians for each video; its roster numbers 300 and counting. Also found on Instagram and Facebook, the series has amassed over 5 million views on YouTube since 2016. Mr. Kubota holds degrees from The Juilliard School (B.M., M.M.), and serves on faculty at the Peabody Preparatory under Johns Hopkins University, Suzuki Music Schools of Westport and Orange in Connecticut, and Lucy Moses School in NYC. Richard Aaron, Anthony Elliott, and Alice Ann O’Neill are his primary teachers, though he is grateful to all of the luminaries who have shared their ancient secrets of cello and music: Yo-Yo Ma, Frans Helmerson, Peter Stumpf, and members of the Guarneri, Juilliard, Cleveland, Emerson, Cavani, and St. Lawrence String Quartets. Ken is based in New York City, where he continues to film JHMJams in his Harlem living room.  Follow and listen to his journey onInstagram andYouTube andTiktok His websiteFind your host, Grace Lamb, on social media:WebsiteYoutube follow on IG:@B4thestage +@gracesviolin

Violinist Sarah Jane Kenner currently resides in New York City. After beginning her musical studies in her native New Rochelle, New York, Ms. Kenner earned a Bachelor's Degree in Violin Performance from Temple University's Boyer College of Music in Philadelphia, a Master's degree from the Manhattan School of Music, and a Graduate Diploma in Historical Performance from the Juilliard School.  As a period violinist, Ms. Kenner has been hailed as a "fireworks soloist,"  and has performed throughout the US and internationally as a chamber musician, orchestral player, and soloist. In 2018, she made her Lincoln Center debut as a soloist with Juilliard415, Juilliard’s period-instrument ensemble. Ms. Kenner also served as concertmaster and principal second violinist of Juilliard415, and joined them on tours throughout the U.S., Europe, India, and New Zealand. Recent and upcoming engagements include performances with The English Concert, Trinity Wall Street, New York Baroque Incorporated, and The Sebastians, amongst others.She is also a member of the orchestra at Teatro Nuovo, a summer opera festival which presents 19th-century Bel Canto opera with a historically informed approach. Other festival appearances include BachFest Leipzig with members of Juilliard415 and Bach Collegium Japan, and with members of Les Arts Florissants at the Festival Dans les Jardins de William Christie in Thiré, France.Currently, Ms. Kenner is working on a recording project centered around the violin sonatas of Giovanni Antonio Pandolf Mealli. Ms. Kenner has studied with Cynthia Roberts, Elizabeth Blumenstock, Rachel Podger, Robert Mealy, and Leah Nelson. Ms. Kenner is also a 2018-2019 Mercury/Juilliard fellow and an American Fellow of The English Concert. As a modern violinist, Ms. Kenner has led and/or held principal positions in several ensembles, including the Manhattan School of Music Chamber Sinfonia, Texas Music Festival Orchestra, and Temple University Symphony Orchestra. Her principal teachers were Hirono Oka and Lucie Robert. Ms. Kenner has played in masterclasses for notable artists including Arnold Steinhardt, Glenn Dicterow, and Koichiro Harada. Ms. Kenner also studied at the Aspen, Bowdoin, Texas, and Duxbury Music Festivals. She currently performs regularly in New York City and Westchester County. In her spare time, Ms. Kenner maintains a strong interest in cooking, baking, and writing, all of which are documented on her recipe and music blog, "The Hungry Musician."Personal websiteHungry Musician websiteHungry Musician InstagramFind your host, Grace Lamb, on social media:WebsiteYoutubefollow on IG:@B4thestage +@gracesviolin

Violinist Sarah Whitney is celebrated as a performer, teacher, musicians coach, and musical maverick. Praised by The Washington Post for her “marvellous violin acrobatics,” Sarah has appeared on stages worldwide as a soloist and collaborative artist throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Comfortable in a wide range of settings and musical styles, she is fiercely dedicated to bringing fresh new ideas to classical music and empowering musicians to find their own voice.Where to find out about her group coaching program coming up: Career Reboothttps://www.sarahwhitney.com/ The Productive Musician Instagram Find your host, Grace Lamb, on social media:WebsiteYoutube follow on IG:@B4thestage +@gracesviolin