The Curb Center at Vanderbilt

First Person: Interviews with Leaders, Entrepreneurs and Decision Makers

Our collection of First Person interviews illuminate the careers and insights of leaders working across the spectrum of creative enterprise. We ask leaders to reflect on:

  • choices they have made in their careers,
  • their attempts to negotiate creative “wriggle room,”
  • the practice and thinking behind designs and decisions,
  • the broader implications of their work,
  • musings about the future, and
  • favorite stories and inspirations….

View our collection of First Person interviews:

Michael Holland

January 25th, 2012

Biography Michael Holland straddles the ephemeral boundaries between percussion, theater, and movement. He serves on the music faculty of Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music where he is Artistic Director of Blair Percussion VORTEX, a group he describes as “a playground of invention, a virtual sandbox inviting actors, dancers, musicians, engineers—artists of all stripes—to ‘play’ More…

Interview with Daniel Bernard Roumain – Entrepreneur, composer, virtuoso violinist and Vanderbilt alumnus

September 16th, 2009

The Curb Scholars Creative Leaders Salon series offers scholars the opportunity to engage with contemporary issues around creativity and culture, expressive life, leadership, enterprise and the public interest. The 2009 launch of the series featured Vanderbilt alumnus, visiting professor, composer, and violinist, Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR). DBR spoke passionately to the students about taking action to begin their path toward a successful career.
More…

Interview with Elizabeth Ash – Program Manager for Art in Embassies Program, U.S. Dept. of State

September 16th, 2009

The first embrace of American culture is often through visual art for many people around the world.  A decades old program in the U.S. Department of State enables American art to be exhibited in U.S. facilities in over 180 countries.  Elizabeth Ash, a manager for the Art in Embassies Program, tells us about her special project More…

Interview with James Sanders – Copyright Registration Officer, U.S. Copyright Office

September 16th, 2009

Armed with a law degree and a passion for all things musical, Vanderbilt alum James Sanders lands a government gig in the nation’s capitol.  What guides this Atlanta native as he carves out a career path – one that sprouted from an early emersion in performing arts, expanded to the music licensing arena and now More…

Interview with Carol Balassa – Movie Diplomacy

September 2nd, 2009

The Curb Center’s first Senior Fellow entertains creating new movie networks to advance cultural diplomacy.

Foreign films like the sweeping success story “Slumdog Millionaire” rarely gain access to American screens.  Yet U.S. films dominate motion picture markets in most countries.  Does this imbalance affect America’s quest to win over its adversaries and bridge cultural understanding or does it foster resentment and forestall free trade?  Former U.S. trade negotiator now the Curb Center’s first Senior Fellow, Carol Balassa, tackles this topic with Paula Cleggett. More…

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