The Conductor's Podcast

In today’s episode, we will be discussing “decolonization.” One of the trends that the world of classical music is slowly embracing in recent years.

In politics, the process of decolonization can be very broad, from colonies becoming independent countries recognized by the international society to recognizing how the colonial powers have taken advantage of the colonies, to changing the language used when referring to “native” people to the “indigenous,” to colonized people regaining confidence in and respect for their own cultural and traditions. This is a long and somehow painful process, and also very individual to each country and to each person.

However, my guest today, Dr. Kiernan Steiner, or Dr. Kiki, as she is known, will focus our decolonization process on a personal level, and discuss how we can apply the same principles to free our own mind. How we can become independent from stereotypes or social rules that were imposed upon us, and to find our own voices. As a transracial adoptee, she will also speak to us how her journey of finding her biological family has shaped who she is now, a truly lovely story to hear.

Dr. Kiki Steiner is a holistic vocal coach, decolonization consultant, and choral conductor. She empowers others to connect with their voice through releasing shame around one’s voice and facilitating self-led healing. Dr. Kiki’s ancestors are from the Philippines, Ireland, and Germanic Europe, and was raised in Southwestern Wisconsin. Dr. Kiki’s doctoral research focused on power structures within choral music education, which has led her to creating decolonized virtual spaces for creatives, artists, and educators in order to activate creativity and hope for the future.

All About Chaowen Ting

The pandemic has taught us a lot of things. Many of us lost their loved ones, and some of us had a chance to reflect on their relationships with others.

Being forced at home gave some people a chance to spend more time with their families, while some others couldn’t see their loved ones for months because of Covid related travel restrictions or other concerns.

In today’s episode, I will be exploring the topic of a family centered career trajectory with my friend Kristin Roach. Kristin will share with us how she fostered her relationship with her family while creating projects around her homebase, San Antonio, Texas. We will also discuss challenges in the career as a working and traveling parent, and how you can make it work by owning your decisions and taking responsibility resulting from your choices.

Kristin is a Grammy-nominated pianist and international conductor with 37 new operas and 21 world premieres under her baton. Her high level of artistry, comprehensive knowledge of operatic repertoire and performance practices, and strong communication, management, motivational, and organizational skills place her in demand as a conductor, pianist, and vocal coach across the nation. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of Opera at Lawrence University, and conductor at Vocal Academy of Orvieto, and maintains a busy private practice as vocal coach and award-winning pianist with extensive collaboration.

As Founding Music Director of Alamo City Opera, Kristin conducted 17 productions of operas, including many South Texas premieres. A San Antonio native, she partnered with founder and General Director, the late Mark Richter, to help ACO establish an atmosphere of intimate opera with diverse and ground-breaking programming, which drew hundreds of audience under the age of 35, and many of whom were first-time opera-goers.

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Competitions Are for Horses, Not for Artists?
Today we are going to discuss a sensitive and yet, somehow controversial topic - music competition. Composer Bela Bartok‘s famous quote says, “Competitions are for horses, not artists.” However, some of us, including myself, dream about winning a major competition and then have a career that just takes off at times.

Professional ensembles, agents, or businesses continue to organize conducting competitions, and we continue to enter them because we are seeing people successful through this route. However, we are not seeing those who won a competition without a major career, not to mention those who tried, also worked hard, perhaps equally talented or qualified but didn’t win the glory. We only see the flamboyant and sparkling part of the business.

With the pressing call for more diversity in the conducting field, la Maestra was the first conducting competition for women only, which was held in March 2021 in Paris amidst Covid-19. My guest today is the winner of the inaugural La Maestra Competition, Rebecca Tong, and she will share her journey before, during, and after the competition with all of us.

Rebecca is Resident Conductor of Jakarta Simfonia Orchestra and is Artistic Director and Music Director of Ensemble Kontemporer. She recently completed her two-year tenure as Junior Fellow in Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music, and previously studied at Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. During her studies, Rebecca worked extensively in assisting the BBC Philharmonic and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and frequently collaborates with the Hallé Orchestra and Manchester Camerata.

All About Chaowen Ting

Welcome to the Conductor’s Podcast. I am your host, Chaowen Ting, founder of Girls Who Conductor who has mentored hundreds of conductors from across the globe. I created the Conductor’s Podcast to share all the behind the scene secrets with you while I interview conductors, musicians, and business gurus from around the world. This is a space created for conductors, conducting students, musicians, and non musicians who are curious and interested in learning more about the profession, crafts, industry, and business. I will give you simple, actionable, step–by–step strategies to help you take action on your big dream, move through the fear that’s holding you back, and have a real impact. Now, pull up a seat, make sure you’re cozy, and get ready to be challenged and encouraged while you learn.

All About Chaowen Ting

Five key preparation factors for competitions (and as a good conductor in general!)

1. Know the score inside out

2. Have (form and be very firm) your own opinion about the music

3. Have enough techniques to deliver your ideas

4. Keep a high energy and engage musicians at all times

5. Develop problem solving skills - rehearsal techniques, interruptions from the jury, being asked to do a piece you are less good at

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