We recently connected with Dylan Gorenberg and have shared our conversation below.

Dylan, appreciate you joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I vividly recall a valuable piece of advice from one of my professors, Dr. John Palmer. He emphasized the significance of not relying solely on one job, a lesson that only truly resonated with me when I made the leap to Los Angeles to pursue a professional music career. In today’s dynamic music industry landscape, diversification is essential. For instance, apart from running a private teaching studio, I am actively involved in recording, composing, and performing.

Recently, I co-composed and arranged music for a production hosted at The Broadwater Theater in Hollywood, CA. This engaging project will continue with performances every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until the end of October. Moreover, this summer presented me with the opportunity to perform in various countries, including Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, and many others.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a guitarist from Pleasanton, CA who currently attends the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music for his Doctorate in Musical Arts as a Teaching Assistant. I also hold my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Thornton School.

I moved to Los Angeles in 2015. During the past 7 years, I have toured throughout the United States, EU, and UK performing in spaces ranging from small clubs to venues that have held over 50,000 people. I have had the pleasure of lending my skills to recording projects spanning diverse genres and styles, contributing to feature films and streaming platforms such as Disney+ and TTV (Taiwan Television Enterprise). Notably, I have performed as a featured instrumentalist with the Budapest String Orchestra.

I have also contracted for many companies, including Fender Guitars in the Fender Play division. Fender Play is a video-centric learning platform that eschews traditional theory-based lessons in favor of instructor-guided videos with over 1 million users

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

One way is to reinstate arts programs. Art programs in public schools are not just a luxury; they are an essential part of a well-rounded education. These programs foster creativity, encourage critical thinking, and enhance cultural appreciation. Sadly, due to budget constraints and shifting priorities, many schools have had to cut back or eliminate their art programs. This not only deprives students of a chance to explore their creative talents but also hampers their overall development. Supporting Live Entertainment is another way. Live entertainment is the lifeblood of our culture and community. It brings people together, stimulates local economies, and provides a platform for artists to showcase their talents.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When the lockdown occurred in March 2020 I felt lost. That March I was supposed to fly to Nashville to perform at the iconic Grand Ol’ Opry which was canceled one week before we were set to leave. Shortly following that, the cruise ship I had signed an eight-month performance contract with was put on indefinite hold. Leading up to that cruise ship commitment I had stepped away from most of my jobs in Los Angeles planning for the upcoming journey at sea. I was at square one and I didn’t know which way to turn. This caused me to essentially start over and look at different avenues and as one door closed a dozen opened. The pandemic gave me time to really learn more about the art of recording and quite frankly made me fall in love with it. That summer, I ended up collaborating and recording for composers and producers all over the world for various film, tv, and artist projects. Although it was a bit bumpy along the way I couldn’t have been more thankful to end up where I am today.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dylangorenberg.com
• Instagram: @Dylan.gorenberg

Image Credits
Kathy Kielar Photography