Lecturing at Virginia Tech.

Directing at Kentucky Opera.

Teaching at the Princeton University Atelier.

Leading a seminar at the Seasons Festival in Yakima, WA.

Leading a vocal masterclass for the Russian Opera Workshop at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia.

Teaching at the Fresh Inc Festival via Skype.

Daron speaks to the graduate composition students at New York University (the NYU-Steinhardt, Music and Performing Arts) about survival strategies for contemporary composers of art music. Topics will include:

• letting go of preconceptions about what constitutes "success" as a composer
• unlearning attitudes you learned at school
• exploiting social media effectively for image-building and self-marketing
• avoiding thinking of oneself as a victim
• avoiding being a legend in one's own mind
• avoiding being pigeon-holed
• embracing the hyphenated career
• using academia as a tool, not a crutch
• performing as income source
• publishing prose to take up space and establish an intellectual reputation outside of academia
• using technology to improve the quality of performances of technically-demanding pieces
• pitching to opera companies, orchestras, and chamber ensembles
• the importance of mechanicals and synchronization, as well as rights in general
• self publishing efficiently
• the importance of being perceived as being on the "outside"
• avoiding danger words: "visionary", "inspired", "cutting edge", "genre-busting", "multi-media", "innovative", "emerging", "courageous", etcetera
• embracing public speaking
• embracing being a performer
• embracing the process of being a public composer, rather than the fantasy of perfection
• balancing home life and career

The presentation will be followed by a Q & A session.