Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Cook.
Hi Amanda, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a digital editor and music writer running one of the largest online platforms for music by living composers – which is not at all what I studied or intended to do with my life. I hold three degrees in flute performance, and I completed my doctorate with the intention of becoming a college professor.
Unfortunately, it’s getting harder and harder to build a sustainable career in higher education, and I also developed a performance-related injury that left me unable to play my instrument, so after 10 years in music school, I essentially had to start over. I was an adjunct professor for one year before I got my first job in nonprofit arts administration. I had also been writing for I CARE IF YOU LISTEN (ICIYL), which at the time was an all-volunteer publication dedicated to contemporary classical music. I always had an interest in new and experimental art, and reviewing albums for ICIYL allowed me to continue engaging with music even though I was no longer performing.
As I started taking on more responsibilities at ICIYL – and eventually became its Editor – I realized that ICIYL should be operating as a nonprofit. We decided to pursue a strategic partnership with an existing organization that shared our mission and values, and we were officially acquired by American Composers Forum (ACF) in 2020. I’m now a member of ACF’s staff, and all of ICIYL’s writers are paid for their contributions. I feel incredibly lucky that I was able to turn my volunteer side project into full-time work, and that I was able to discover a new passion after my carefully laid career plans went out the window.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
To borrow one of my husband’s favorite words, my path has been circuitous at best. I was pursuing something that I loved deeply and had my entire professional and personal identity invested in – and then it wasn’t a viable option anymore. When you’re trained as a performer and accustomed to spending hours each day practicing, the sudden absence of that routine is very disorienting. Fortunately, I was able to channel that creativity and focus into my work with I CARE IF YOU LISTEN.
ICIYL had some growing pains along the way, too. Even though we were a volunteer publication, we were filling an essential need in our community and had grown to occupy a significant role in public conversations about new music. Because of the quality and visibility of our work, our readers were holding us to the same standards as publications with significantly more resources, but it was clear we had reached the limit of what we could accomplish as a team of volunteers.
ICIYL also took a strong stance on equity in 2018, years before arts organizations started responding to the Black Lives Matter movement with (often empty) solidarity statements or promises to diversify their programming. Our decision to intentionally center the voices of artists who have been historically excluded from classical music spaces was met with plenty of pushback, but the surge of engagement with our content indicated that we were on the right path – and we haven’t looked back.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about I CARE IF YOU LISTEN?
I CARE IF YOU LISTEN is one of the largest online communities for music by living composers. Many people outside of the classical music world might assume that being a career composer like Bach or Beethoven is a thing of the past, but the truth is that there is a vibrant community of living composers and music creators who reflect the diverse and multi-faceted sounds of our time.
As an editorially-independent program of the American Composers Forum, ICIYL offers artist interviews and profiles, album and concert reviews, essays on industry topics, artist-curated playlists, and ACF news and announcements. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a composer or performer, or a music enthusiast; in fact, 12% of our audience identifies as a “curious listener.”
We like to think of ourselves as a one-stop-shop to not only discover adventurous new music but also learn the personal stories of the artists behind the sounds. We also have one of the most diverse contributor teams in classical music criticism, and we are committed to equitably and authentically representing the artists featured on the site.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
If you have a passion, chase it – even if there is no clearly defined path. But at the same time, stay flexible and open to the possibility that you might need to pivot a few times along the way; progress toward our goals is rarely linear.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask for things – being told “no” is often the worst that could happen, and simply having the courage to ask for help, opportunities, mentorship, or advice can open unexpected doors.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://icareifyoulisten.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icareifyoulisten/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/icareifyoulisten
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/icareifulisten
Image Credits
J.E. Hernández, Victor Márquez-Barrios at East Side Freedom Library, and ACF
