Iron City Incline

Amos Levy, aka DJ Thermos, is the Music Technology Coordinator for the YMCA Lighthouse Project, an after school program that empowers students to better their communities through media arts and leadership. Based out of the Homewood-Brushton YMCA, the Lighthouse Project serves as a training incubator for local youth exploring music, media, and artistic expression. In this episode, I sat down with Amos and one of his students to learn about the great things happening in Homewood.   YMCA Lighthouse Project www.mixcloud.com/AmosDJThermos/ Who’s Next https://soundcloud.com/montana_the_rapper/jump-ahead ironcityincline.com patreon.com/ironcityincline/

Kevin Saftner is the former General Manager of James Street Gastropub in Pittsburgh, PA. He has been a part of numerous live music ventures in the Iron City, with experience in owning & operating venues and booking local artists. In this episode, we discussed the unfortunate closing of James Street Gastropub, his more recent ventures, and what it takes to build & sustain live entertainment in Pittsburgh’s music ecosystem.   James Street Promotions ironcityincline.com patreon.com/ironcityincline/

Joseph Badaczewski is a musician, composer, and arranger in Pittsburgh, PA. He has performed for millions of people across the globe, touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Brandon Flowers of the Killers, and Beauty Slap. He teaches jazz trumpet at Duquesne University and has recorded musical spots for ESPN. In this episode, Joe talks about his amazing career, second chances, and the connection of music makers. Joebadmusic.com Duquesne Beauty Slap ironcityincline.com patreon.com/ironcityincline/

Joseph Badaczewski is a musician, composer, and arranger in Pittsburgh, PA. He has performed for millions of people across the globe, touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Brandon Flowers of the Killers, and Beauty Slap. He teaches jazz trumpet at Duquesne University and has recorded musical spots for ESPN. In this episode, Joe talks about his amazing career, second chances, and the power of passion for music and personal connection.   Joebadmusic.com Super Bowl Duquesne Beauty Slap ironcityincline.com patreon.com/ironcityincline/

The Pittsburgh Music Ecosystem Study is the outcome of an intensive 10-month process, including input from more than 1,800 musicians, civic leaders and others. In this episode, we discuss audience development and conclude our coverage of the project. www.pghmusicproject.org www.patreon.com/ironcityincline www.ironcityincline.com

The Pittsburgh Music Ecosystem Study is the outcome of an intensive 10-month process, including input from more than 1,800 musicians, civic leaders and others. In this episode, we discuss suggestions 3+4 of the five, including Regulatory Reform and Industry Development. www.pghmusicproject.org www.patreon.com/ironcityincline www.ironcityincline.com

The Pittsburgh Music Ecosystem Study is the outcome of an intensive 10-month process, including input from more than 1,800 musicians, civic leaders and others. It reveals strengths and weaknesses within Pittsburgh’s interconnected music ecosystem, as well as promising opportunities for progress. In this episode, we discuss the first two suggestions of the study.   www.pghmusicproject.org www.patreon.com/ironcityincline www.ironcityincline.com    

The Pittsburgh Music Ecosystem Study is the outcome of an intensive 10-month process, including input from more than 1,800 musicians, civic leaders and others. It reveals strengths and weaknesses within Pittsburgh’s interconnected music ecosystem, as well as promising opportunities for progress. In this episode, we introduce the study and its presenters.   pghmusicproject.org/ patreon.com/ironcityincline ironcityincline.com

James Blachly is the Music Director of the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra in Johnstown, PA. Mr. Blachly has garnered attention for his innovative concert programming & advocacy of contemporary works, his work with children’s music opportunities, and for his perspectives in business leadership and cultural development. His recent concert with the Johnstown Symphony in a former steel mill was featured on Katie Couric’s ‘America Inside Out.’   www.jamesblachly.com/ www.johnstownsymphony.org Johnstown Area Regional Industries Johnstown Symphony Mill Concert Series

Jim cunningham is the Host of the WQED Morning Show, the voice of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and Senior Executive Producer at Pittsburgh’s voice of the arts, WQED fm89.3. He’s curated a career filled with the love of classical music and of learning, and has captured insights from almost every musician to have come through Pittsburgh.   www.wqed.org/fm/podcasts www.classicalmusicrising.org/ www.patreon.com/ironcityincline/

Cello Fury is a cello rock powerhouse featuring three cellists and a drummer from Pittbsurgh, PA. They have performed in many of Pittsburgh’s largest music venues, including Heinz Field, Three Rivers Arts Festival, and the Byham Theater, as well as abroad at such events as the popular South by Southwest. Cello Fury collaborates with dance companies, theater organizations, opera & orchestras, rock bands & singer-songwriters, and has produced three albums of original music.   www.cellofury.com Cello Fury - Youtube www.patreon.com/ironcityincline

Lance LaDuke teaches Euphonium & Music Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon and serves as a co-director of the Exploded Ensemble, an experimental electro-acoustic ensemble. He has traveled the globe as a professional musician, and now spends his days guiding the next batch of young musicians at CMU, working with VH1 Save the Music, and creating uninhibited arts experiences in Pittsburgh. In this episode, Lance discusses his drives in unleashing the possibilities of students, and shares deeply personal insights to his career success. www.lanceladuke.com/ music.cmu.edu www.pedalnotemedia.com/ Subsurface 2018: Site Specific Site and Sound www.patreon.com/ironcityincline

Maria Sensi Selner is the Artistic & General Director, and Founder of Resonance Works | Pittsburgh, an artist-driven, multi-modal performing arts company in Pittsburgh, PA. Their season program often includes fully staged opera, orchestral music, chamber music, choral music, and musical theater, often with integrated elements of dance, visual media, and spoken word. Ms. Selner is also an acclaimed conductor, and has served as the conductor of several notable organizations in the region.   www.resonanceworks.org/ www.facebook.com/ResonanceWorksPittsburgh/ www.mariasensisellner.org/ www.ironcityincline.com

In this back-to-school inspired short, we address Pittsburgh arts education. I feature quotes from our conversation in Episode 2 with James Gourlay, highlighting how he and River City Brass Band are using their role to supplement music education and create better employees.   www.ironcityincline.com www.rivercitybrass.org/rcb-school-of-brass/ www.drewfennell.com/

The Uptown Woods is a jazz/hip-hop collective that performs throughout the Pittsburgh region and abroad. In this episode, we discussed how they formed out of Duquesne University, and how they have created their own path to success in Pittsburgh through owning their creative process and creating their own opportunities. They provided perspectives on the aging gig environment, what it’s like to build a band through performance, and how they exist in and outside of the jazz and hip-hop scenes.   www.soundcloud.com/theuptownwoods www.facebook.com/theuptownwoods www.burnbyrockypatel.com

Dr. Edward Alan Moore is the Organist and Director of Music at East Liberty Presbyterian Church. Dr. Moore discussed what makes ELPC unique in Pittsburgh, and how the church’s mission provides a home for a progressive faith community and for arts organizations throughout the region.   East Liberty Presbyterian Church Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh Guild of American Organists Pittsburgh CAPA

David Gardner is the Executive Director and a founding member of The Brass Roots, a professional chamber music ensemble from Pittsburgh, PA. Dave and I sat down to discuss what made him decide to stay in Pittsburgh after attending Carnegie Mellon, and how he created the employment opportunities he desired. We discussed how panic & execution can create a lasting organization, and how to build & grow a chamber music ensemble.   www.thebrassroots.com www.facebook.com/thebrassroots www.facebook.com/BiddlesEscape/

My name is Clayton Heath, and I am the creator and producer for Iron City Incline. In this short, I gave a quick rundown of who I am, what brought me to Pittsburgh, and why I wanted to start this journey with all of you Iron City Innovators.   Pedal Note Media: www.pedalnotemedia.com www.thebrassroots.com www.facebook.com/runthemeat www.claytonheath.com

Nick Seyler is a freelance photographer and bassist with Altar Boy. I sat down with Nick to discuss Pittsburgh’s DIY scene, his upbringing & work here in Pittsburgh, and how a tuba-playing, sound recording major hustled 40+ hours a week to become a phenomenal live music photographer. Nick shared his insights on how local music scenes can help attract big name groups, how the conservatory model is dead, and why he wouldn’t chose another path from his portfolio career.   https://www.facebook.com/nickseylermedia http://nickseyler.tumblr.com/ Altar Boy EP: https://craftedsounds.bandcamp.com/album/altar-boy Nick’s Album Artwork: https://www.upstaterecordsny.net/embrace-the-hostility http://www.blackforgecoffee.com/

Beauty Slap is a “future-brass-thunder-funk machine” from Pittsburgh, PA. In this episode, “Chef Jake” Berntsen and Hakeem Bilal discussed their rise to world domination, how they design every aspect of their product with clear intent, and how five guys can go from a university-setting to playing for over 300,000 people at the Indy 500.   Beauty Slap - thebeautyslap.com TBJ Episode 36 - pedalnotemedia.com/the-brass-junkies/episode36 Pittsburgh Cultural Trust - trustarts.org Steve Hackman - stevehackman.com THUNDERFUNK MACHINE - thebeautyslap.bandcamp.com/album/thunderfunk-machine Nu Deco Ensemble - nu-deco.org Hot Mass - facebook.com/hotmasspgh

Dr. James Gourlay is the Artistic & General Director for the River City Brass Band. In this episode, we discussed the great work Dr. Gourlay is doing with a Pittsburgh institution, his unique drive and hard work invested in building the band, and how he strives to create honest experiences rather than just consumable art. It was truly inspirational to hear about how he jumped at every opportunity in his career, and how he goes about leading the only full-time, contracted, professional brass band in the world.   River City Brass Band & School of Brass - http://www.rivercitybrass.org/ Trib Total Media Reders’ Choice Award - http://readerschoice.triblive.com/business-directory/river-city-brass/ TBJ Episode 44 - http://www.pedalnotemedia.com/the-brass-junkies/episode44 Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music -  https://us.abrsm.org/en/home Sistema Scotland - https://www.makeabignoise.org.uk/

Iron City Incline - Episode 1: Morgan Wynn   Morgan Wynn is a Trombonist with The Brass Roots, and an Influential Educator with Antoine Courtois Trombones. In this episode, I sat down with Morgan to discuss her upbringing in the greater Pittsburgh metropolitan area, her education and life experiences that have led to her current artistic pursuits, and what it’s like to be a freelance musician with a day job. Morgan was such a gracious guest, offering up powerful insights from overcoming cancer, and how she leads a happy and successful life as an educator and performer.   Mentions & Plugs: Creatives Drink (Chancellor Humphreys & Cody Baker) - www.creativesdrink.com John Parker Band/City Heat - www.cityheat.us Key of She Brass Workshop - www.keyofshebrass.org The Brass Roots - www.thebrassroots.com Pittsburgh Creators Project - www.facebook.com/PGHcreators Resonance Works PGH - www.resonanceworks.org Antoine Courtois - www.a-courtois.com/en International Women’s Brass Conference - www.myiwbc.org