In this episode, David speaks with pianist and entrepreneur Michelle Lynne.

Not only does Michelle embody what a modern musician is today, but she empowers other musicians to have their own thriving careers. As well as performing across the world with immersive performances, she is the co-Founder of The Fearless Artist Mastermind, coaching musicians on their careers, and has taught entrepreneurship at conservatoires in the Netherlands.

In this conversation, we dive into the power of entrepreneurship and self promotion for musicians. We look at some of the challenges that musicians are facing in their careers and how to overcome them. We also explore the impact of AI, the power of telling stories in performances, and the power of continual learning.

Join us in Katowice, Poland for Classical:NEXT 2027 from the 11th to the 14th of May: www.classicalnext.com

Follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

The Classical:NEXT Podcast:

Hosted by David Taylor

Produced by Aliena Haig

Learn more: classicalnext.com/update/introducing-the-classicalnext-podcast

www.classicalnext.com

Classical pianist/educator Ben Laude shares his path from Tonebase to YouTube creator: a 16-part Chopin Podcast with a searchable Opus Index and hosting the Warsaw Chopin Competition. He champions sports-style analysis, explores monetization via Patreon, and urges creatives to write ideas down.

🔗 CONNECT WITH BEN LAUDE

Website: https://benlaude.com/

YouTube: @benlawdy

Instagram: @benlawdy

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The Fearless Mastermind Website - https://www.thefearlessartistmastermind.com/

The Fearless Mastermind Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thefearlessartistmastermind/

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🎵 Intro/Outro Music by Michelle Lynne

📽️ Produced by phMediaStudio, LLC

In this episode, Michelle speaks with acclaimed bass Matthew Rose about life as an opera singer, the realities of building a sustainable career, and his passion for mentoring the next generation. Matthew shares the inspiration behind his summer singing academies in Spoleto and Folkestone, where young and working singers receive intensive training from world-class artists, coaches, conductors, and directors. He reflects on the importance of vocal efficiency, honest self-awareness, choosing the right repertoire at the right time, and treating singing as both an art and a profession. With warmth, humor, and candor, Matthew also discusses arts funding, the future of opera, and why passing on knowledge is essential to keeping the industry alive and thriving.

✨ Connect with Matthew Rose :

Instagram – @matthewrosephotos | @tosti_int_singing_academy | @spoleto_vocal_arts_workshop_

✨ Explore The Fearless Mastermind:

Website – thefearlessartistmastermind.com

Instagram – @thefearlessartistmastermind

🎵 Intro, Outro music by Michelle Lynne

📌 Episode produced by phMediaStudio, LLC

In this episode, Michelle speaks with tenor and author Ben Bliss about the financial realities of life as a freelance opera singer and performing artist. Ben shares his unconventional path from film school and working on the Dr. Phil show to becoming a professional opera singer with a global career. His new book, Making It Work, grew out of a practical problem: realizing that performers often accept impressive-looking contracts without understanding taxes, travel costs, housing, agent commissions, insurance, and other hidden expenses.

Ben explains how freelance artists are essentially running small businesses, even though few conservatories teach budgeting, taxes, investing, negotiation, or long-term financial planning. He emphasizes that every gig offer should be carefully budgeted before saying yes, and that contracts are always worth negotiating. A major theme of the conversation is replacing fear and avoidance with knowledge, structure, and control.

Michelle and Ben also discuss student loans, choosing schools wisely, burnout, the emotional rewards of performing, and the importance of building financial stability so artists are not forced to accept every opportunity out of desperation. Ben encourages listeners to start investing, even with one dollar, as a first step toward confidence and freedom. The episode is a candid, practical conversation about how musicians can protect both their art and their future.

✨ Connect with Ben Bliss:

Instagram – @mrbenbliss

Book - https://makingitworkbook.com

✨ Explore The Fearless Mastermind:

Website – thefearlessartistmastermind.com

Instagram – @thefearlessartistmastermind

🎵 Intro, Outro music by Michelle Lynne

📌 Episode produced by phMediaStudio, LLC

In this episode, marketing expert Dustin Boyer explains how classical musicians can bridge the gap between virtuosity and branding. He discusses "message mining" fan comments, using Meta ads to build email lists, and why live-streaming is the ultimate tool for humanizing the "mysterious" artist.

✨ Connect with Dustin Boyer:

Instagram – @dustintheindustryplant

Website - https://www.industryplantmusic.com/

✨ Explore The Fearless Mastermind:

Website – thefearlessartistmastermind.com

Instagram – @thefearlessartistmastermind

🎵 Intro, Outro music by Michelle Lynne

📌 Episode produced by phMediaStudio, LLC

In this episode of The Fearless Artist Podcast, Michelle Lynne welcomes back educator, coach, and artist-branding expert Pieter Schoonderwoerd for a conversation about how musicians can build more authentic, memorable, and sustainable careers. Pieter shares his background as a drummer, venue director, fundraiser, conservatory educator, and founder of the Music Entrepreneurship Program “Your Art as a Business,” explaining how his work now focuses on helping artists clarify their career goals, revenue streams, audience relationships, and personal brand.

A major theme of the episode is the importance of stepping outside the traditional “box” of classical music. Pieter explains that while technique and mastery are essential, audiences also want to connect with the person behind the performance. By developing a clearer brand personality, musicians can make more personal career choices, communicate with greater meaning, and avoid feeling trapped by generic expectations.

Michelle and Pieter also explore the fear many artists have around being different, especially in the classical world where belonging, safety, and peer approval can feel deeply tied to professionalism. Pieter encourages artists to find a balance between stability and exploration, taking small, authentic steps toward a more distinctive artistic identity.

The conversation also introduces Pieter’s upcoming workshop on finding your brand voice. Rather than relying on generic phrases like “I’m thrilled to announce,” artists will learn how to write bios, social posts, newsletters, and promotional materials in a way that reflects their true personality and values. Pieter also discusses insights from a recent workshop in Denmark with mid-career female artists, emphasizing that audience-building is less about follower counts and more about meaningful connection, platform strategy, and deepening relationships with fans.

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Pieter Schoonderwoerd - https://alwayslookatthebrandsideoflife.com/

Pieter Schoonderwoerd Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pieterschoonderwoerd/

Archetype eBook DM Pieter on Instagram @pieterschoonderwoerd

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The Fearless Mastermind Website - https://www.thefearlessartistmastermind.com/

The Fearless Mastermind Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/thefearlessartistmastermind/

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🎵 Intro/Outro Music by Michelle Lynne

📽️ Produced by phMediaStudio, LLC

In this episode of the Fearless Artist Podcast, host Michelle Lynne interviews Ella Hooper, a life coach and founder of the Bethel Conservatory of the Arts (BCA) in Redding, California. Michelle recounts their initial meeting at a leadership conference and how Ella's compassionate advice profoundly impacted her life. Ella's approach emphasizes self-compassion, recognizing one's unique gifts, and overcoming perfectionism. She discusses how artists often face high industry standards, rejection, and self-comparison, which can hinder their growth. Ella highlights the importance of self-love and kindness, which help artists navigate these challenges and ultimately achieve true transformation. They also explore how judgment and shame can block creativity and how embracing compassion can lead to a more fulfilling and abundant artistic journey. Ella shares insights on dealing with rejection, celebrating progress, and maintaining a positive self-image, which are crucial for long-term success and personal development in the arts.

🔗 CONNECT WITH ELLA HOOPER

Website: www.ella-hooper.com

Instagram: @ella.hooper_ and @nextbravethingpodcast

Next Brave Thing Podcast: https://rss.com/podcasts/nextbravething/

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The Fearless Mastermind Website - https://www.thefearlessartistmastermind.com/

The Fearless Mastermind Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thefearlessartistmastermind/

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🎵 Intro/Outro Music by Michelle Lynne

📽️ Produced by phMediaStudio, LLC

In this episode of The Fearless Artist Podcast, Michelle welcomes cellist, mindfulness teacher, and author Ruth Phillips to discuss her new book, Beauty at the Edge of Catastrophe. Ruth shares her personal journey from injury and debilitating stage fright to finding freedom, joy, and connection in performance. She explains that mindfulness is not about stopping thoughts or forcing positivity, but about meeting our thoughts, emotions, and physical experiences with kindness and curiosity.

Together, Michelle and Ruth explore how musicians often learn through criticism, pressure, and fear, and how a more embodied, compassionate approach can lead to healthier practice and deeper artistry. Ruth emphasizes grounding, listening to the whole body, and paying attention to the “orientation of the heart” in practice and performance. They also discuss the relationship between performer and audience, reframing performance not as proving oneself, but as sharing a human experience through music.

Ruth encourages listeners to ask themselves: “What is my intention here? Is it kind?”

🔗 CONNECT WITH RUTH PHILLIPS

Website: https://ruthphillips.com

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The Fearless Mastermind Website - https://www.thefearlessartistmastermind.com/

The Fearless Mastermind Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thefearlessartistmastermind/

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🎵 Intro/Outro Music by Michelle Lynne

📽️ Produced by phMediaStudio, LLC