Episode #25: Tyler Austin

Hello and welcome back to the Dominic Brancazio Podcast, where we talk about all things classical music. In this episode, we are joined by Tyler Austin. Tyler is the Interim Associate Director of Bands at Oklahoma State University and the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Maryland Chamber Winds. Founded in 2015, Maryland Chamber Winds is a professional wind ensemble that performs chamber music, educational programing, and community engagement throughout western Maryland. Each summer the ensemble hosts a two week long festival, called the Maryland Wind Festival, and they also commission music by new composers. Their debut album titled ‘Preludes and Recitations’ can be heard on streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

In this conversation, Tyler talks about the origins of Maryland Chamber Winds and many of the details that are involved with forming a professional chamber music ensemble. We specifically go over Tyler’s background getting into music, how he found musicians for the group, how the ensemble turned into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the importance of interacting with communities and audiences, advertising the ensemble and choosing repertoire, how they plan the festival each year, thoughts on reimagining the ensemble for the future, working with new composers, and conducting in a recording setting.

If you would like to learn more about Tyler or Maryland Chamber Winds, please check out the links in the description below. If you have a chance to visit the festival when the ensemble reunites again in the summer, I highly recommend it. The ensemble’s high quality performances and passion for music mixed with the beautiful settings and venues in western Maryland make it a truly remarkable experience for everyone involved. I had a lot of fun putting this episode together and I hope you all listening enjoy it too. Thank you and please enjoy the show.

To learn more about Tyler Austin:

https://cas.okstate.edu/greenwood_school_of_music/faculty_bios/austin.html

To learn more about Maryland Chamber Winds:

-https://marylandchamberwinds.org

-https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn7KM-lPhkpd6X8O8J9XhkA/videos

Links to hear ‘Prelude and Recitations’:

-https://open.spotify.com/artist/6HVYh1NIRx69HOhIhYbDWa? si=GVJZySOlSNOeyg09TsMDRA

-https://marylandchamberwinds.org/recordings/

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts: https://mdvla.org