Migrations in Rhythm:
A Concerto For Beatbox and Rhyme
Migrations in Rhythm: A Concerto for Beatbox and Rhyme is a project jointly designed by Devlin, composer Evan Meier, and progressive Hip-Hop artist Christylez Bacon. The piece was commissioned by Devlin and the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra and premiered in the fall of 2022. Migrations traces connections between musical genres, cultures, and peoples and incorporates a full symphony orchestra, rap (including a freestyle cadenza), beat-boxing, spoon playing, and other special surprises. The concerto can be presented in two ways. Firstly, it can be included in symphonic programs in place of a traditional concerto. Secondly, it can be utilized as the basis for an engaging Young Peoples or Family concert that is fully designed and includes an actor role, script, props, and costumes. The show features “Indiana Tones” journeying across the globe with the help of her friends Christylez and Maestro John, as they search for the proper musical key that opens their super-secret, very important magical treasure chest.
Everything Conducting
A Community Resource
The Everything Conducting project, launched in June of 2020, serves as a comprehensive resource for aspiring conductors with its extensive article database, podcast series, and video resources. Devlin is one of the four founding members of the website, along with Ankush Kumar Bahl, Anna Edwards, and Enrico Lopez-Yañez. Everything Conducting is a place where community-minded leadership and fully inclusive program design are at the core of our mission.
Devlin and the rest of the EC team are proud to provide this free resource to our community.
“Upbeat” Podcast
A Podcast For Conductors, By Conductors
Hosted by John Devlin and Enrico Lopez-Yañez (Principal Pops Conductor, Nashville Symphony Orchestra), UpBeat is a podcast by conductors, for conductors that puts an "upbeat" spin on a range of topics. Whether you conduct an orchestra, band, chorus, ballet, opera or other type of ensemble — we want to help and provide a place for fun, engaging discussion.
Each episode features “The 4/4” where John and Enrico dive into a specific topic in a highly practical way. Then, they are joined by a special guest for a discussion about the field. Occasionally, special interview-only episodes shed an important light on a topic facing the classical-musical world.
You can find UpBeat on Apple and Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform.
