Composers In Quarantine Drinking Cocktails Episode 5: Nick Finzer (Outside In Music)

Composers are used to being "trapped" at their desks all day long. So, what do they do when a quarantine hits? Well, they drink cocktails and talk about music, of course!

Nick Finzer is a trombonist, composer, bandleader, and the founder and creative director of Outside In Music. He is also a brilliant educator, and is on faculty at UNT. Nick and I are old friends, and had a blast connecting and talking about his approach to education through composition, how he got into writing, and some cool stories about Bob Brookmeyer as well.

Composers In Quarantine Drinking Cocktails Episode 4: Sara McDonald (NYChill)

Composers are used to being "trapped" at their desks all day long. So, what do they do when a quarantine hits? Well, they drink cocktails and talk about music, of course!

Sara McDonald is a NYC based composer, orchestrator and bandleader. She is the leader of NYChill, a large ensemble featuring big band, string quartet, synthesizers, and vocals. We had a lot of fun talking about her new single out called “Mean,” her approach to songwriting, advice for booking tours as a large ensemble leader, and more.

Composers In Quarantine Drinking Cocktails Episode 3: Christopher Zuar

Composers are used to being "trapped" at their desks all day long. So, what do they do when a quarantine hits? Well, they drink cocktails and talk about music, of course!

After a brief hiatus, Composer In Quarantine is back! It was great to get a chance to connect with Christopher Zuar and talk about how he got started in writing for large ensemble music, early beginnings in classical trumpet, his album “Musings,” and a forthcoming large ensemble record.

Composers In Quarantine Drinking Cocktails Episode 2: Miho Hazama

Composers are used to being "trapped" at their desks all day long. So, what do they do when a quarantine hits? Well, they drink cocktails and talk about music, of course!

It was so much fun to connect with Miho Hazama to talk about her band M-Unit, her recent appointment as Chief Conductor of the DR Big Band, and her approach to composing and arranging for large ensemble.

Composers In Quarantine Drinking Cocktails Episode 1: Brian Krock

Composers are used to being "trapped" at their desks all day long. So, what do they do when a quarantine hits? Well, they drink cocktails and talk about music, of course!

I had a blast speaking with fellow NYC based composer Brian Krock about his big band "Big Heart Machine," engraving for Maria Schneider, and more.