Checking in with Dr. B.

Dr. B., also known as Dr. Dawn K. Batson, interviews past students and other professionals as they find and keep their joy while navigating life and career challenges and successes. Dr. B. is a creative professional with over 20 years of experience in multicultural education and arts administration. She utilizes music and the arts with emphasis on the steel pan (the steel drum in the United States) as a medium for cross-cultural outreach. As the Executive Director of Keep Your Joy and Rise, LLC, she conducts training sessions in personal empowerment, team building, equity and inclusion for professionals and institutions across the globe. *Disclaimer: Checking in with Dr. B. is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host.

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Checking in with Dr. B.

Life - 10% what happens, 90% - how you react: An Interview with Josh Quillen

October 20, 2022 • Dawn K. Batson • Season 1 • Episode 2

Josh Quillen has forged a unique identity in the contemporary music world as all-around percussionist, expert steel drum (also known as the steel pan) performer (lauded as “softly sophisticated” by the New York Times), and composer. His collaborations with other composers frequently incorporate the steel drums as a core element.

A member of the acclaimed ensemble Sō Percussion since 2006, Josh has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Lincoln Center Festival, Stanford Lively Arts, and dozens of other venues in the United States. In that time, Sō Percussion has toured Russia, Spain, Australia, Italy, Germany, and Scotland. He has had the opportunity to work closely with Steve Reich, Steve Mackey, Paul Lansky, David Lang, Matmos, Dan Deacon, and many others.

An avid educator, Josh is a performer-in-residence at Princeton University with Sō Percussion, as well as co-director of the Sō Percussion Summer Institute, an intensive workshop for college-aged percussionists on the campus of Princeton University. He is in his 14th year as the director of the New York University Steel Band.

Listen to Josh’s tribute to Martin Douglas aka “Dougie”:

Josh touches on:

The importance of family and mentors

Joan Wenzel and the Dover High School Steelband

The Ohio State Marching Band

Larry Snider and the University of Akron Steelband

The maestro - Len “Boogsie” Sharpe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve7MbtNh25g

https://www.discogs.com/artist/4059016-Lennox-Boogsie-Sharpe

The late, great Clifford Alexis:

https://www.pas.org/about/hall-of-fame/clifford-alexis

https://niutoday.info/2019/02/04/cliff-alexis-co-founder-of-nius-steelband-program-passes-at-82/

Teaching, performing ensembles, community development and podcasting

NYU Steel

Sō Percussion

Learn more about Josh:

Josh Quillen

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Dawn K. Batson

Host