In this episode, we talk with graduate student Michael Robert Smith about writing the opera Downwind in collaboration with librettist Demian Chavez Galvan and the entire Butler Opera Center. Michael discusses the inspiration for the opera, followed by a brief score study of a few key moments from the work.

In this week's episode, we sit down with master of composition student Kirsten Townander. We talk about Kirsten's newest piece Bicycle Face, which will have its world premiere with the New Music Ensemble on Monday, November 17th, at 7:30 p.m. She discusses how her inspiration for the piece came from society's pushback against women riding bicycles in the 1890s.

In this podcast episode, we talk to Master's student Minoo Dixon about his recently composed piece, Balatro. Balatro recently won the National Band Association and Alfred Publishing Young Band Composition Contest and has since been published by Alfred Publishing.

In this week’s episode, we chat with Chris Prosser, Lecturer in Theory at the Butler School of Music, about the upcoming 2025 Here Be Monsters music festival. Chris walks us through this year’s exciting and eclectic lineup, which spans two nights of cutting-edge performances.