School of Music

David Cutler: pianist; composer; author, “The Savvy Musician”

Dr. David Cutler balances a varied career as a jazz and classical composer, pianist, educator, arranger, conductor, collaborator, concert producer, author, blogger, consultant, speaker, advocate and entrepreneur. (In fact, a recent career diagram illustrated that he maintains no less than 24 income streams! Ah, the life of an artist…) In all these pursuits, he works to push boundaries while connecting with new audiences. One of the world’s leading voices on arts leadership, career and entrepreneurship training, he has offered ground-breaking interactive workshops for organizations such as the Julliard School, Dutch Classical Music Meeting, New World Symphony Orchestra, Indiana University, and Italy’s soundSCAPE music festival. Cutler’s book "The Savvy Musician: Building a Career, Earning a Living, and Making a Difference" was heralded by Jeffrey Zeigler of the Kronos Quartet as "Hands down, the most valuable resource available for aspiring musicians." Following 11 years of teaching at Duquesne University, Dr. Cutler joined the faculty at the University of South Carolina as the director of music entrepreneurship in fall 2012, where he is working to create a culture of entrepreneurship across and beyond curriculum.

Lance Laduke: trombone; euphonium; ukulele; member, Boston Brass

Lance Laduke, internationally known as a performer, writer, producer, speaker and educator, is busier than euphonium players are supposed to be. In addition to his duties on trombone and euphonium (and ukulele-wielding singer/court jester) in Boston Brass, Lance teaches at Duquesne and Carnegie Mellon Universities. He was also a member of both the USAF Band in Washington D.C. and the River City Brass Band. Mr. LaDuke co-wrote and produced “Band Blast Off,” a band recruiting DVD and is currently in development of another. His comedy songs include a touching elegy to a dead goldfish and a song about getting underwear for Christmas. His new book, “Music Practice Coach, Five Workouts to Get the Most Out of  Your Practice Time!” is transforming the way musicians across the country practice their instruments.

Justin Kantor: cellist; co-founder, (Le) Poisson Rouge

Justin Kantor is a co-founder of (Le) Poisson Rouge (LPR), a multi-media performance space, art gallery, and cabaret in New York's Greenwich Village. LPR has hosted artists such as the Kronos Quartet, Lou Reed, Yoko Ono, Florence & the Machine, Norah Jones, Juilliard String Quartet, and others. As well as being an active partner in LPR he is a performing cellist who has performed with the Wordless Music Orchestra, the Glenn Branca Ensemble, Karen O, and Ensemble LPR. He lives in New York City.

Michael Harley: bassoonist; founding member, Alarm Will Sound; director, Southern Exposure New Music Series

Michael Harley enjoys a varied career as a teacher, performer and music advocate. He teaches bassoon, chamber music and music literature classes at the University of South Carolina where he also serves as artistic director of the award-winning Southern Exposure New Music Series. Southern Exposure, a nonprofit concert series that presents free concerts exploring the rich variety of contemporary classical and world music, has hosted the Columbia debut of many of today’s most exciting and adventurous ensembles, including the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), the JACK and Calder string quartets and Imani Winds.  Southern Exposure won the 2007 Chamber Music America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming.Harley’s playing been called “spectacular” (Washington Post) and “exquisite” (Columbus Dispatch).  As a founding member of the contemporary music chamber orchestra Alarm Will Sound, called “one of the most vital and original ensembles on the American musical scene” by the New York Times, Harley has worked with and premiered pieces by many of today’s most accomplished composers, including John Adams, Derek Bermel, Caleb Burhans, Donnacha Dennehy, Michael Gordon, Aaron Jay Kernis, Meredith Monk, Steve Reich, Roger Reynolds, Wolfgang Rihm and Augusta Read Thomas.

Janet Hopkins: mezzo-soprano, Metropolitan Opera; arts entrepreneur

Janet Hopkins, a 16-year veteran with the Metropolitan Opera, has many endeavors besides concert halls and stages around the world. Ms Hopkins’ performances include her creation of “Diva Dialogues,” a collaboration between performer and audience, and her “Business of Music” master class. More recently, Ms. Hopkins produced a unique music and wine project called “Aria.” The New York Times and USA Today gave it glowing reviews and it sold out in two months. Ms. Hopkins is also collaborator and co-founder of Everyday Opera (EverydayOpera.com). This has bloomed from an internet radio show to a website with articles, interviews and networking for the those interested in opera. Last year brought about the creation of Opera-tunity Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit for the education and appreciation of opera and the arts. Ms. Hopkins is currently in collaboration with the Westminster Dog Show, Spinone Italiano Ecco D’oro and owner Amy Hines. Together they are creating and marketing a joint musical/animal rescue coloring book that includes an interactive app. Ms. Hopkins is assistant professor of voice at the University of South Carolina.

Armen Shaomian: pianist; founder and CEO of Armenize

Dr. Amen Shaomian, assistant professor of sport and entertainment management at the University of South Carolina, has an extensive background in performing arts, education and project management consulting. He is the Founder and CEO of Armenize, Inc., an arts consulting agency specializing in non-profit arts management and foundational strategies. Prior work includes programs manager/associate producer for the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA) and its signature Young Arts program. In his role as their associate producer, Dr. Shaomian oversaw live performance logistics as well as strategic relations with the Baryshnikov Arts Center in N.Y.C., the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., as well as the United States department of education and the United States presidential scholars program. His work with the NFAA included cost analysis and contract negotiations, allowing the Foundation to save fiscally while raising the quality of its programming. Dr. Shaomian holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in collaborative piano from the University of Miami, Florida.

Ken May: executive director, S.C. Arts Commission

Ken May is executive director of the South Carolina Arts Commission, where he has served in several positions since 1985. He has been a panelist and site visitor for the National Endowment for the Arts; a panelist, presenter, consultant and facilitator for national, state and local arts organizations; and is a regular guest lecturer in the arts administration program at the College of Charleston. He is a member of the board of South Arts (formerly Southern Arts Federation) and serves as treasurer of the South Carolina Afterschool Alliance board. He is a member of the Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee for the City of Columbia and is a fellow of the Diversity Leaders Initiative of the Riley Institute at Furman University.Before beginning his career in arts administration, he worked in the for-profit world, holding positions with ARA Services Magazine and Book Division and McGraw-Hill. Prior to his long sojourn in the realm of day jobs, he worked as a professional musician.

Tayloe Harding: composer; dean, USC School of Music; past-president, College Music Society

Tayloe Harding is a passionate advocate for the impact of higher education music study on American communities and national society, and is devoted to an array of organizations whose missions are consistent with this vision. As president of the College Music Society from 2005-2006, he founded the Engagement and Outreach Initiative, where efforts of the music professoriate are articulated with national constituents, including other higher education disciplines/populations, music businesses and industries, and general audiences to meet common musical and civic goals. As dean of the University of South Carolina School of Music, he brought a bold idea to fruition: to more fully prepare tomorrow’s professional musicians by combining conventional music study with a systematic exploration of advocacy, entrepreneurship and community engagement, forming the Carolina Institute for Leadership and Engagement in Music (recently rebranded as Spark: Carolina’s Music LeadershipLaboratory). He remains active as a composer earning commissions, performances and recordings around the world; he was recently awarded the 2010 Pi Kappa Lambda Composition Commission.

Rebecca Nagel: oboe; director, Spark: Carolina’s Music Leadership Laboratory

Rebecca Schalk Nagel enjoys a varied music career. As an oboist, she has performed in orchestras, chamber ensembles and as a soloist across the United States and in Europe. Her CD “Synthetic Dances,” released on the Centaur label, features solo and chamber music of American composers Libby Larsen, Allan Blank, John Valerio and Dutch composer Hendrik Andriessen. One of her most memorable musical experiences was performing Bach's “Mass in B Minor” in the St. Thomaskirche in Leipzig, Bach's own church.As director of Spark: Carolina's Music Leadership Laboratory, professor Nagel helps guide students to find their own musical paths. Careers in music can take many forms, often unconventional. Spark helps students think about and prepare for their future careers in music. Music entrepreneurship courses, community engagement activities, and new initiatives in areas like wellness, give Carolina music students a leg up as they become the next generation of music performers, teachers and entrepreneurs.

Ellen Woodoff: public information coordinator, USC School of Music  

Ellen Woodoff has more than 20 years experience in marketing communications for arts and education institutions. Prior to joining the USC School of Music, she held positions as director of marketing and communications for the Columbia Museum of Art, marketing manager for Midlands Technical College and art director/production manager for Columbia Metropolitan magazine. Ms. Woodoff has won numerous awards for communications, creativity and graphic design, including the S.C. Public Relations Society of America's 2010 Mercury Award for Integrated Communications Campaign for "Turner to Cezanne: Masterpieces from the Davies Collection, National Museum Wales." She joined the School of Music in 2012 as public information coordinator and is content and media writer, editor and designer for the school's website and publications. She also manages the social media and public relations for the School.