Jacob Smith: Bassoonist, Arts Administrator, Tech Entrepreneur, and Father

Readers, I am very excited to share with you this interview from 2011 with someone I consider a friend, role model -- and inspired me to start this project. I think Jacob must have a Time-Turner to do everything he does. Enjoy!  --AM

Jacob Smith is principal bassoonist with the Academy of Vocal Arts Orchestra and plays frequently with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and is a substitute with The Philadelphia Orchestra. He is a former member of The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. He studied with Nancy Goeres at Carnegie Mellon University and Danny Matsukawa at Temple University. 

Jacob is also Director of Development and Marketing for the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society (PCMS) and Marlboro Music Festival and School. He also owns a web company, Dinkum Interactive. He resides in Philadelphia with his wife Meghan and two sons, Rory and Duncan.

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.