Joseph Hallman, composer

Joe was one of my first friends in Philly and I have found his creativity, talent, passion, and kind personality to be inspriring ever since we first met. I hope reading this interview is as enjoyable for you as it was for me to do!  --AM

Composer Joseph Hallman has written works performed by brilliant musicians including Alisa Weilerstein and members of The Philadelphia Orchestra. He is adjunct professor at Drexel University. He earned a Bachelor of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with Margaret Brouwer. 

Joe is an Administrator at the College of Liberal Professional Studies in the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also earning a Master of Liberal Arts at Penn. His capstone work is an ethnography of African-American Gay Male Youth at The Attic Youth Center in Philadelphia.

Results of the Poll

Thank you to everyone who participated in my first reader poll: "How do you keep track of your schedule?"

Although certainly not scientific --21 votes received -- I actually find the results very interesting!

• Google Calendar was the winner with 52% of the vote.

Christina Schmidt, oboist and children's librarian, Allentown, PA

As mentioned in a previous post, Chris's story is incredible and without her, this entire project never would have happened! I can't thank her enough for participating in the project and for being an awesome and patient editor. 

What I find most interesting is that Chris actually took ten years off from playing the oboe, then took it up again and went on to do so many amazing things -- not only with music, but as a children's librarian and raising a family. She is a true inspiration to all!

Oboist Christina Schmidt of Allentown, PA, recently retired from a professional career spanning more than four decades, including many years with the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra, and the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra. Chris earned a BA in English at the University of Rochester, where she studied with Robert Sprenkle at the Eastman School. Throughout much of her performing career, Chris also worked as a librarian, earning a Master of Library Science degree at Kutztown University and heading the children's departments at Parkland Community Library and Allentown Public Library.

Let’s talk mostly about the time period when you were doing both jobs -- so, oboe and the librarian job.