Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jeffrey Biegel . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jeffrey , appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Creating commissioning projects with many composers for 25 years has been a soul searching experience, beyond playing the standard repertoire. Bringing repertoire into the hands of future pianists and orchestras (three ned works for piano, orchestra and chorus) is part of what I believe is my purpose as s musician. Maintaining the traditions of the standard repertoire is very important to me, and the evolution of music is of even greater importance. The latest project, the Rhapsody National Initiative for 50 states, has been through most meaningful because it not only brings a new work to the repertoire by Peter Boyer (“Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue) but makes for an historic moment during times of political disconnect whereas music reconnects the country through music while honoring the National flag.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I was born unable to fully hear, but after corrective surgery, went to the piano. Music has always been my best way to communicate. Along with playing the standard repertoire, I have had success in creating over two dozen commissioning projects – the first largest commission with Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, to the first 50 state project without buy-ins from orchestras and first 50 state project for a work for any instrument and orchestra – the Rhapsody National Initiative with composer Peter Boyer and the “Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue” – a title I created, to honor the centennial of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”. Commissioning projects have set me apart from my colleagues, but not purposely, it just evolved. I don’t use the word ‘divided’, but I say ‘disconnected; rather than inclusion, which creates exclusion, I use inclusive diversity. Rather than ‘change’, I use ‘reveal’ or ‘evolved’.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Using social media helps connect us with others who we can build relationships and work together in special projects as a legacy. There are composers, conductors, orchestra administrators, donors, audiences, who work together. I created group pages specific to each commissioning project. Building bridges with people is how to make things happen. The motto is: It’s not about me, it’s not about you, it’s about creating projects for tomorrow’s musicians and tomorrow’s audiences. The building of relationships through social media helps bring it s closer to each other, but this takes time. Cultivating relationships through comments on others’ pages or topics for discussion, is a helpful way to join us together. The group pages for specifics projects helps to focus posts and comments specifically for those new composition group pages. Using the “story” and “posts” on Instagram keeps people in the loop for various projects and performances. Tagging is a very helpful means to invite others to see what you are creating, and a way to build potential relationships as long as you’re not overdoing it.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Being able to embrace the past, the traditions of musicianship, and add vision for the future to create and recreate music of the past and present is my legacy. Making sure there will be music for the future is very important to me. Being creative opens yourself to doing new and unprecedented things. It gives one a purpose to build and expand purpose, if that creative flow warrants and one is open to that. Many musicians are re-creators, performing and teaching the classics, which is important to keep the evolution of tradition alive. But, if they are creators as well, that opens up new vistas for creating new products.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jeffreybiegel.com
• Instagram: Jeffreybiegelmusic
• Linkedin: Jeffrey Biegel
• Twitter: @JeffreyBiegel
• Youtube: YouTube.com,/user/biegel88