Listen: Recent Episodes
Ben MacDonald
Listen provides an opportunity for musicians of all backgrounds and walks of life to come together to have unscripted, unedited, genuine conversation. Join Ben MacDonald as he speaks with the people that are revolutionizing the field of music and hear their thoughts and opinions on anything and everything.
Steven Banks is professor of saxophone at Ithaca College. He is the first saxophonist to join the Young Concert Artists roster in its 59-year history.
Ethan "Lime" Hicks is host of the Twitch channel "Guided Lime Time," a gaming channel that incorporates music and community.
Liz Ames is a collaborative pianist based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She performs with musicians throughout the Midwest and serves on the piano staff at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance.
Mark Smith is the saxophone instructor for the Hebron cluster band programs in Carrollton, Texas. His students have received top awards in numerous national competitions including the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.
Nick Zoulek is a Chicago based saxophonist who specializes in contemporary and avant-garde music. His album, "Enter Branch," will be released later this year.
Joshua Chism is a music education PhD candidate at the University of Oklahoma. Joshua is both a choral conductor and a music researcher. He currently serves as the Minister of Music at Southpark Baptist Church in Oklahoma City
Abby Shepard is both a musician and psychologist. She holds positions with environmental organizations such as Take Back the Tap and the College Climate Coalition. Abby is also the creator of the Sustainable Shepard, an online community at the intersection of music, meditation, and social justice.
Kevin Day is a composer and jazz pianist. His Concerto for Wind Ensemble will be premiered later this year.
Valentin Kovalev is a concert saxophonist who has performed at numerous international venues. He is the most recent winner of the International Saxiana Solo Competition, the Music Teacher National Association Young Artist Competition, and the University of Michigan Concerto Competition.
Staff Sergeant Connor Mikula is a saxophonist in "The President's Own" United States Marine Band.
Jasmine Pigott is a tuba player and an activist for increasing the diversity in the field of classical music. Her upcoming album, "Revolutions," consists of works written by composers of color.
Jeffrey Leung is the Vice President of Novus New Music, the Associate Director of the International Saxophone Academy, and performs with Maryland Chamber Winds. His new YouTube series, "Take it From the Top," explores topics on saxophone performance and pedagogy.
Joel Love is Houston-based composer and a recipient of a 2019-2020 Copland Residency Award. "Solace: A Lyric Concerto" for alto saxophone and wind ensemble has been performed numerous times by wind ensembles throughout the United States. He has found noteworthy successes in writing works for solo instruments, chamber ensembles, large ensembles, and film scores.
Emma McPhilemy is a British saxophonist and co-founder of the viral #lockthesaxdown series. She is also the soprano saxophonist and musical director of the internationally acclaimed Irish dance show, Riverdance.
Jake Johnson is an Associate Professor of Musicology at Oklahoma City University and the author of two books: “Mormons, Musical Theater, and Belonging in America” and "Lying in the Middle: Musical Theater and Belief at the Heart of America."
Kayla Green is a concert violinist and Artistic Director of the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Arts. She is the founder and president of GrandStand Music Festival, a nonprofit organization that merges the arts with social activism into one-of-a-kind events that take a stand against sex trafficking in the state of Michigan.
Brennan Lagan is a saxophone technician and owner of Lagan Music, a saxophone repair and restoration business in Pennsylvania. He is the inventor of the Lagan Lip Saver and the Lagan Wrist Saver, two products designed to make playing the saxophone more comfortable.
Taylor Huitema is a band director at Spring Hill High School in Middle Tennessee and baritone saxophonist of the award winning Zenith Saxophone Quartet. Their debut album, "Convergence," is available now.