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Toshi Clinch is a renowned Australian arranger, performer and educator currently located in Melbourne, Australia. His works have been performed globally in Europe, America, Asia and Australia by artists such as the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey Big Band, Dick Oatts, Danilo Perez, James Morrison, various X Factor and Australian Idol finalists, West End vocalists, and many other ensembles. In 2016 Clinch graduated with a degree in Jazz Arranging from the prestigious University of North Texas where he studied under Grammy Nominated composer Richard DeRosa and Grammy Award Winning bassist Lynn Seaton. Following his studies he recorded his debut big band album Vesuvius that featured an all American version of the Toshi Clinch Big Band. As a bassist Clinch has performed alongside Vincent Gardner, Dick Oatts, Ed Soph, and Pat Coil, and is currently an arranger for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

In 2018 Clinch directed the inaugural Big Band Through The Ages Jazz Festival in Melbourne, Australia to great acclaim. The festival featured artists from the USA working with hundreds of Australian students and educators over a period of two weeks. During the final performance, chief artist Richard DeRosa titled Clinch as “the Quincy Jones of Australia” referencing the production work undertaken to run such a large event. In 2019 the festival grew to accommodate a yearlong youth jazz program, and looking into the future, Clinch looks to develop the organization further.

Topics discussed:

  • Multiple streams of income
  • Freelance composing & arranging
  • Pursuing a mechanical engineering degree at first
  • Studying jazz at University of North Texas
  • Funding music projects
  • Founding a jazz festival and youth program
  • Learning about money by example growing up
  • Treating your music career as a small business
  • Understanding the process to reach your goals
  • Learning to manage larger amounts of money
  • Working airport security to save for college
  • The income stigma
  • International visas for musicians
  • Reinvesting back into the business
  • The importance of financial literacy
  • Nothing is impossible
  • Taking risks

Resources & names mentioned:

Connect with Toshi:

Thanks for listening and keep thriving!