I usually write about movies on this blog, but today I want to let you know about a very important webinar I'm presenting about the future of music and musicians. We've all seen how the pandemic has changed our lives in so many ways, and music of all types has certainly been hit hard. On Wednesday, March 10 at 7pm EST, I'll be hosting a Zoom webinar on how the pandemic has affected music and musicians, looking at what the future may hold, and what we can do about it. Please read on.
I have invited a panel of professional musicians to join us for this discussion. I know them all and know that COVID-19 has had an enormous effect on live music, music education, music recording, and many other aspects of music that touch our lives daily. Let me introduce these very special guest to you:
Thom Rotella is a jazz guitarist who has performed and recorded with Norah Jones, Donna Summer, Frank Sinatra, Cher, The Beach Boys, Phil Spector, Lionel Richie, Bette Midler, Luciano Pavarotti, Seth MacFarland, David Foster, Stanley Turrentine, Tom Scott, Rick Braun, and many others. Yet that's just part of everything Thom's done.
Alice Jones is a flutist, composer, educator, and Assistant Dean of Community Engagement and Career Services at the Juilliard School of Music. You can (and should) read more about her many accomplishments here.
Brad Tatum performs on a wide variety of horns around Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia, and is always in demand. Brad also the Director of Band and Orchestra at Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, MD.
Brian Stephens is a drummer, producer, audio engineer, and head of Secret Cove Studios in Atlanta, GA. You can read the rest of his impressive credentials here.
At the March 10 webinar, we're going to hear from these professionals, learning about what their musical lives were like before the pandemic, what they're like now, and what they're doing to keep music alive. This is a very important topic for me, since I was a music educator for 15 years before becoming a librarian. In fact - full disclosure - Alice and Brian are two of my former students (although I had very little to do with their successful careers).
This webinar is for people who are considering careers in music, whether performing or teaching. This webinar is for music fans who are wondering when they'll get to see their favorite musicians performing live again and what that might look like. This webinar is for people who want to learn how they support musicians right now while times are tough. In short, this webinar is for everyone who loves music and can't wait to see it return it all its beauty and splendor.
So regardless of your tastes in music, please join us. Sign-ups for this webinar begin on February 24. This event is sponsored by the Anne Arundel County Public Library, but you don't have to live in Maryland, or even in the United States, in order to attend. And please tell your friends about this program. I hope to see you there!