We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kadeem Chambers. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kadeem below.
Kadeem, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
So, I think, for me, my optimism stems from me being in a place where optimism didn’t live before. I’ve had some bad days in my life and I have had numerous thoughts and attempts at ending it all, but I thing the beauty in it, was that because I am still here, I get to see all the things I would’ve missed out on in my life. Yes, I have had bad moments and have been through terrible things that I wouldn’t want anyone else to have to experience, but to have the experience to live life and see it through is what makes me optimistic. to know that at one point in time, I was in a space where I thought today wasn’t worth it, and to see that im still here to experience all of the good that happens to me is a beautiful feeling and it makes me feel optimistic about any and everything that happens in my life
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Kadeem Chambers and I am a Music Instructor at Southwest DeKalb High School. I am also the Instrumental Director for the Atlanta Hawks’ Band, the “ATLBOOM”, freelance musician, and CEO of “5th Quarter”, a company that helps musicians find gigging opportunities in the metro Atlanta and other neighboring areas.
To know that at one point in time, I was in a space where I thought today wasn’t worth it, and to see thatI’m still here to experience all of the good that happens to me is a beautiful feeling and it makes me feel optimistic about any and everything that happens in my life
During this short period, I became a member of the District IV Honor Band, which enhanced my musical career. I was also a member of the GMEA All State Band for two consecutive years. For me, being apart of an elite musical group was an honor, because I was among some of the best musicians in the state of Georgia. Throughout my high school career, I proceeded to work with some of the most influential musicians and conductors which helped shape my musical craft. Musical influencers such as James Seda, Samuel Rowley, Nicholas Thomas, Gabriel Arnold, Natalie Brown, and Bernard Flythe, helped me become a member of the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony for 4 consecutive years. These mentors also helped me become a member of the University of Georgia’s JanFest Honor Band program, while allowing me to continue my membership in the GMEA All State Band for an additional 3 years. Because of my successful mentorship, I was able to become a member of the Music For All National Honor Band of America during my senior year which motivated him to do more.
I have also engaged in the entertainment side of music as well, through spectacular performances using my instrumental skills.
I am also a Grammy Award Winner for my involvement as a tubist at Beyoncé’s historic Coachella Performance and I also served as a musician on Drumline Live, where I toured across the nation to perform shows on a yearly basis. I am also a member of the Atlanta chapter of GrammyU, which is an organization that helps local artists and promotes music in the Atlanta area. Along with this, I am also a Regional Artist for Eastman Winds, who has been an amazing piece in helping me fulfill my dreams and becoming the musician I am today with their state of the art equipment that they have
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The 3 qualities the were the most impactful is the ability to be humble, to network, and to stay focused on my craft. A lot of people will, typically, be phenomenal in their craft and will be the best musicians in the world, but it doest mean anything if you aren’t humble about your craft and you dont network with the right people. As musicians, you have to learn to get outside of your comfort zone a lot because you can be the best musician in the world, but if only the people in your community knows about it, then you will be the best in that neighborhood and nowhere else. So getting out there and putting yourself out there and getting that exposure, negative or positive, will always work out in your best interest and being humble about every experience that you go through to get to that point.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
Interestingly enough, my most impactful and helpful people have been my friends that I keep around me. I have friends that run their own businesses, friends that work in the corporate office, friends that run band programs and a ton of different lifestyle and career choices and seeing that everywhere I look are people who love what they do and are making big moves in the field that they chose makes me wanna go hard on whatever I do and give my 100 percent each and every time and that is what motivates me to work as hard as I do
Contact Info:
- Instagram: MusicalStruggle
- Facebook: Kadeem Chambers
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