Tower-Summer 2019

SUMMER 2019 | TOWER 17 A multiple woodwind instru- mentalist and composer, Marybeth Kern is a triple threat who can play the flute, saxophone and clarinet, and believes that creativity and collaboration, not competition, form the foundation of the most compelling art. “There’s great power in collaboration,” Kern explained. “The best art I’ve experienced has come through multiple people: their ideas, their creativity, and the harmony of making something together. It’s rewarding when you experience other’s ideas, and learn and grow – you don’t get that fromworking alone. Kern began to see the appeal in collective art after joining Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s online platform, HITRECORD, in 2012. The site, which aims to connect likeminded creators, serves as a virtual community for members to work on videos, songs, text pieces and artwork together. Users can build on each other’s content, or access it as inspiration for their own – it’s about being creative together, in a nurturing online environment. While writing a paper for one of her graduate classes, Kern noticed one of Gordon-Levitt’s tweets announcing a joint venture with global phenomenon Logic, and inviting people from around the world to contribute. Heeding the call, she listened to James Brown songs for inspiration, and recorded some tracks. That was just the beginning. “Two other musicians (HITRECORD username FoxandMew) took my horn lines and integrated it into a fun and interesting track,” Kern recalled. “Logic hand-selected by ear what he would put in a song, and built it up from there. I received a call about my availability because they wanted to bring selected musicians to listen to the track in Los Angeles. When we got to L.A. they surprised us! We were making a music video, we were making it today, and they were using Logic’s videographer, Andy Hines.” Along with appearing in the “Do What You Love” music video, Kern was featured in the YouTube Originals special “Band Together with Logic,” which documented the creative process leading to the culmination of the video. She was also chosen to join five other collaborators and Gordon-Levitt at the South by Southwest Music Festival, where the video premiered. Although her meteoric rise as a freelance musician seems extraordinary, it’s part of an organic process: do what you love, say ‘yes’ to every opportunity that comes your way, be humble and stay grateful. With a lot of talent and a little serendipity, dreams do come true. It’s how Kern became the only student to ever work with jazz legend, David Sanborn. A DREAM COME TRUE After graduating from Kutztown, Kern was on tour with Cirque Dreams [Illumination] when her former professor, Dr. Jeremy Justeson, got in touch with an invitation to attend a master class on campus with esteemed musician Allen Won. During a break from tour, Kern seized the occasion to return and listen to Won play. Awestruck with his performance, she took a chance and asked to study with him.