What's in a name?

We've been thinking a lot about career lately, which is an expected pastime for two middle aged musicians who are sending their oldest daughter off to college this fall! University life seems like it was only a few years ago for us- circling around the practice building at Indiana University, taking lessons with world- class professors, and being inspired by our amazing student colleagues was our normal daily experience. As we reflect on that time with gratitude, we can also see how little we knew about what makes a "career" in music!

Jennifer and Matt's engagement photo, 2005

After meeting in a Music Theory entrance exam at Indiana University (Jennifer was taking the test, and Matt was proctoring it), we knew we always wanted to be together! We married two years later after Jennifer finished her Master's degree. I (Jennifer) started taking professional auditions and continued to enter competitions, while Matt secured a full time lecturer position in the music department at Murray State University in Murray, KY. During our first years of college teaching, we were only a few years older than many of our students ( or in some cases, much younger!). We learned so much from our amazing colleagues at Murray State, including ideas about networking with colleagues from around the country, programming engaging concerts , and teaching with integrity and depth. The Mazzoni Duo, as a chamber ensemble, spread its wings, and we grew both artistically and professionally. We also learned that higher ed has many challenges including limited funding and a highly competitive job market. After our oldest daughter was born in 2007, we started looking for a larger area where our artistry could flourish. That search led us to St. Louis, MO.

Early days of the Mazzoni Duo, 2006 at Murray State University

This is the part of the story that started to test our calling to be classical artists, as well as the definitions of what a professional musician truly meant to each of us. I (Jennifer) started to shift from taking professional auditions, re-focusing my energy into performing recitals with Matt and my private teaching studio ( something that worked very well while raising young children ). Matt made a pivot, too. Instead of working strictly in higher ed, he entered the world of church music with a full-time music director position. He was still collaborating with local universities and professional musicians, in addition to Mazzoni Duo concerts. But this willingness to think outside of the career box meant flexibility and perseverance, and challenged some of our preconceived notions about what a music career looked like.

While we were at IU, there was a huge emphasis on only a handful of models for a successful music career. The first, and undoubtedly most far-fetched, was to be a full-time concert artist. Playing solo recitals and making concerto appearances would be the norm. A second viable option was to join a top-tier orchestra, and a third path would be to pursue a terminal degree ( DMA) and teach at a university. These were the days before social media

( Facebook was just starting to creep into our lives and YouTube wasn't invented yet!). While our teachers encouraged us to grow and flourish as creative artists, we were left to wonder and dream about what that career would actually be.

Over the past twenty years, that definition has continued to be transformed, expanding into new and sometimes unexpected areas. We're still creating engaging programs and sharing beautiful music- flourishing as music artists! We continue to pursue creative ways to tell our story through music, and we've challenged musical boundaries through daring transcriptions and arrangements. The musical landscape is wide open, and we love reaching audiences in the far reaches of the world through social media and YouTube. All of this shapes a reality of what it truly means to be a "musician." And none of these is an exact copy of that music career we had set our sights on in 2003. I've ( Jennifer) realized that a vibrant life in music looks so different today than I could have imagined in the halls of Indiana University. So much can hinge on a "name." One of the most valuable lessons we've learned in these past twenty years is that categories can be limiting, and moving forward artistically can mean letting go of past assumptions. The definition of a legitimate career rests in our hands and our artistic aspirations, not in a fixed orchestral position, faculty appointment, or successful competition.

The Mazzoni Duo 20 years later!

Are you an aspiring musician? What's your story? How has music inspired you to share and grow?

We ask ourselves every day how we can continue to flourish and create, as we are shaped by the Creator. Life, with its many challenges and joys, is a gift. We see the beauty and love of God reflected in our world, and we're compelled to share that with others.

Truly, no two musical careers are alike! Whether you are continuing to sharpen your musical skills, or are pursuing music alongside another professional calling, you are bringing beauty and joy to others through your work.

After all, "professional musician" is just a name. What you do with that name is what truly matters!