Among the innumerable ways the Frost School of Music prepares students for a musical career after graduation is one of the simplest: it gets them paid gigs.
The Hire a Frost Musician program connects Frost School students with performance opportunities on and off campus. The students’ talent and training have made them highly sought after to play for all types of occasions and venues, and their appearances significantly boost the reputation of the Frost School in numerous ways.
Those have included the annual gala for the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, events at the Adrienne Arsht Center, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, and the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts; the famed Biltmore Hotel; and numerous civic and corporate events in Coral Gables. Frost School students have provided the soundtrack for events for University of Miami donors from Miami to Palm Beach; the Lowe Art Museum; Lakeside Village; the Provost Awards ceremony; and the University’s law, architecture, business, medical, and nursing schools. They perform at numerous private occasions, from weddings to baby showers.
The program, which is over two decades old, is popular with students, who gain income and performing experience. Also known as the Frost Gig Book, it welcomes classical, jazz, and contemporary instrumentalists and vocalists, as soloists or in small ensembles.
Dylan Tucker, a jazz saxophonist and doctoral student, has played frequently for the program. “While I was getting my master’s at Frost, I was a regular hire for law school and medical school events, including holiday parties and alumni association events,” Tucker said. “These gigs have opened the door to other opportunities in South Florida, such as corporate parties, conferences, weddings, video shoots, and more.”
Megan Riccio, who has run the Hire a Frost Musician program for three years, knows many of the school’s musicians through her positions as Managing Director of the Henry Mancini Institute and librarian for the Frost Symphony Orchestra. This helps her match students with requests, most of which come via a simple online form, or occasionally through the dean’s office. Riccio estimates that she booked students for 75 gigs during the 2024-25 school year.
“We provide high-quality live music in all styles for all occasions,” said Riccio. “The students get professional experience in a variety of settings, which helps set them up for success after graduating.”
Bassist Andy Ranieri, a jazz studies doctoral student, said he’s played frequently through the Frost Gig Book since 2023, in jazz piano or guitar trios and Latin jazz quartets at events ranging from faculty retirements to homecoming and Christmas parties.
In addition to income and experience, Ranieri finds that the program offers valuable intangible benefits.
“It’s a great way to be able to play the music you love with great musicians in your program,” Ranieri said. “It helps build my repertoire. Even though I’m mostly playing with Frost MSJ musicians that I know, there’s always a chance I’m going to play with someone I’ve never played with or don’t know that well. This program helped me develop the skill to be able to play with anyone on a gig.”
He has had some pleasant surprises as well. “The most rewarding gig I got to play through the program was a baby shower this past summer,” Ranieri said. “The client specifically asked us if we could play more Pat Metheny, John Scofield, and Medeski Martin & Wood repertoire. Usually we’re just playing background music, playing classical standards. But they wanted something more involved and different, which was great. We were able to play music we really enjoyed in a setting where you wouldn’t expect that.”
