Music Mentor
Veteran producer Jayme Stone brings industry expertise to Strathmore’s new Artistic Advancement Fellowship
By Jason Fontelieu
Jayme Stone refers to himself as both an “instigator” and an “integrator,” two roles that make him an ideal fit as artistic strategy consultant for Strathmore’s new Artistic Advancement Fellowship.
“I like sparking and seeding projects and creating things that don’t yet exist in the world,” Stone says. “I help integrate creative vision and make it land successfully.”
In the fellowship’s inaugural year, Stone is providing mentorship to two exemplary artists. Award-winning steelpan virtuoso Josanne Francis from Trinidad and Tobago will work on a major rebrand through a new album and tour concepts, including her Carnival Suite celebration. Boundary-breaking Chinese dulcimer artist Chao Tian will focus on releasing Foliox, a collaborative sound study exploring musical evolution over time. Both fellows, Strathmore Artists in Residence alumni with demonstrated artistic viability, are receiving highly customized support from Stone and a dedicated staff team over 12–18 months.
Stone’s extensive background makes him uniquely qualified for this consulting role. As a musician, he has eight studio albums spanning genres from Western African music to indie pop to a banjo concerto. He has produced more than 500 songs and performed thousands of concerts at venues including the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, and the Chicago World Music Festival.
His connection to Strathmore runs deep, with two appearances in the mid-2010s. His 2014 performance in the Mansion showcased the Lomax Project, focused on songs collected by famed musicologist Alan Lomax. In conjunction with that show, Stone led three workshops at local schools exploring field recordings and teaching students how to make old folk songs sound fresh.
“It was a beautiful way to expand the reach of the research, interpretation, and performance of that folk music project,” says Lauren Campbell, Strathmore’s vice president of education and community engagement. “Jayme was a dynamic and engaging educator with the students.”
Stone’s coaching career evolved from offering friendly advice to peers to leading workshops on topics such as “How to Book Yourself Without an Agent.” He’s also co-founder of Compose Your Career, an online program mentoring independent musicians “looking to make a more sustainable living.”
Rochelle Rice, the fellowship’s director, said the team sought someone with “inroads and connections to the wider music industry,” making Stone a “perfect match.”
“His track record speaks for itself,” Rice says.
Stone describes the fellowship as a “convergence of the different things that I love,” covering everything from recording and post-production to branding, visuals, and marketing strategy.
“It’s not a cookie-cutter kind of program,” he says. “There’s a lot of care and thought being put into the best use of resources and what is going to serve these artists. I wish that every artist could get this level of attention, support, and enthusiasm.”
Artistic Advancement Fellowship is made possible with significant investment from Dale Rosenthal & Michael Cutler. Additional generous support is provided by Ellen & Michael Gold, Karen Lefkowitz & Al Neyman, and Bayo & Funke Oyewole.