For Good Measure, by Ensemble for These Times (E4TT) Episode 30: Dawn Norfleet (part 5)
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In this week’s episode, we talk to Dawn Norfleet about her experiences with the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music (GLFCAM). If you enjoyed today’s conversation and want to know more about Dawn Norfleet, check her out here: music.columbia.edu/bios/dawn-norfleet . Parts of this episode originally premiered on January 2022, found on Youtube, click here.
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Intro music: “Trifolium” by Gabriela Ortiz, performed by E4TT (Ilana Blumberg, violin; Abigail Monroe, cello; Margaret Halbig, piano), as part of “Below the Surface: Music by Women Composers,” January 29, 2022 Outro music: “Lake Turkana” by Marcus Norris, performed by E4TT (Margaret Halbig, piano), as part of “Alchemy,” October 15, 2021
Transcription courtesy of Otter.ai.
Producer, Host, and E4TT co-founder: Nanette McGuinness Audio Engineer: Stephanie M. Neumann Podcast Cover Art: Brennan Stokes Interns: Roziht Edwards and Merve Tokar
[INTRO MUSIC] Welcome to For Good Measure, an interview series celebrating diverse composers and other creative artists sponsored by grant from the California Arts Council. I'm Nanette McGuinness, artistic executive director of Ensemble For These Times. In this week's episode, we continue our conversation with Dawn Norfleet, who we spoke to in January 2022[INTRO MUSIC ENDS]. What was your experience with GLFCAM (the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music) like? What were some pearls of wisdom you gained?
Dawn Norfleet:
Oh, boy, wow. My experience with GLFCAM has been probably one of the most profound, profoundly positive experiences of the last five, six years, I actually met Gabriela Lena Frank, through the jazz Composers Orchestra Institute, which was a part of the American Composers Orchestra. And so they, they were looking for jazz composers, jazz artists, jazz, you know, people to give them an opportunity to write for the orchestra. And I thought, wow, this is for me. And so it was actually to two year program. So I bet I met her in 2015. And, and just from the first conversation, you know, just clicked right away. You know, she knew what I was feeling when I kind of talked to her about some of the things that I was feeling in grad school, and, you know, just felt like, you know, she knew what I was talking about. And, and then the next year, when I was selected to actually compose the piece, that would be read by ACO, she became my mentor. And mentored me through this, this big, scary orchestra experience, you know, so then, the following year, I was invited to be part of her new program, I think it's just been running for about a year, and where composers of just all kinds of different backgrounds would be brought to Boonville, California, and we would write for a particular ensemble, and the inclusivity and diversity as well as you know, the other things you expect and, you know, select a program excellence and, and innovation. These were all hallmarks of her program. And, and, and just, you know, there were people from all walks of life, just different ages, different experiences and genders, and just, it's just been really wonderful. And now, one of the things that I was selected to be involved in, it's called composing Earth. And I'm a 2020 to 23 Fellow for this particular program with GLFCAM. And that's it. It gets it's a cohort of composers who will come together once a month and learn about climate change and environmental issues. And so we just got our syllabus and it's it's Wow, it's a it's like a college. Yeah, it's intensive and and so we'll be you know, talking about that and talking about different issues and reading about different issues and And then in 2023, will be commissioned to compose for a ensemble or, or something. And based on our experiences.
Nanette McGuinness:
I know she's so committed in a really good way to this. She was one of our 2021 interviewees. And we spoke about that new program and about travel, and how as musicians, we can make a difference on our footprint that we're leaving, instead of having people come to Boonville, that kind of thing. And she did talk about the reading list, which sounds pretty amazing.
Dawn Norfleet:
Yes, yes. Yeah. So. So and I think it's, it's, once again, we're going to be coming from all different backgrounds, and of course, remotely, you know, and, but just from different perspectives, and I live in an urban area, and it's going to be how, how I deal with, you know, how I can live leave less of a footprint and do more to promote sustainability, I guess, can be different from someone who lives in a rural area or more of a suburban area. And I think getting ideas, you know, exchanging ideas is going to be really enlightening, because there isn't one way, you know. And, you know, so I'm even, I've been thinking about it about ways to be more responsible. And and to even incorporate it into things that lead to a healthy lifestyle, like, yes, do I need to drive to the store? Can I walk to the store, and in my part of LA, not a lot of people walk. So it's like, you know, but having lived in New York for so long, it's like, not a big deal to walk. And so, you know, just just walking more to do regular activities, and seeing how I can combine tasks. When I use my car instead of, you know, making one, you know, one off trips, you know, just, just being more conscious about about things, you know, those are some of my little ways to start. Yeah. Yeah.
Nanette McGuinness:
[OUTRO MUSIC] Thank you for listening to For Good Measure, and a special thank you to our guest, Dawn Norfleet for joining us today. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast by clicking on the subscribe button and support us by sharing it with your friends, posting about it on social media and leaving us a rating and a review. To learn more about E4TT Our concert season online and in the Bay Area where to make a tax deductible donation, please visit us at www.E4TT.org. This podcast is made possible in part by a grant from the California Arts Council and generous donors like you. "For Good Measure" is produced by Nanette McGuinness and Ensemble for These Times, and designed by Brennan Stokes. With special thanks to audio engineer extraordinaire Stephanie Neumann. Remember to keep supporting equity in the arts and tune in next week "for good measure." [OUTRO MUSIC ENDS]