BALTIMORE, Md. — A collaboration between a professor from the Peabody Institute and a student from Johns Hopkins University has led to the development of an innovative app aimed at bringing musicians from around the globe closer together.
Amit Peled, a renowned cellist and faculty member at the Peabody Institute, often performs worldwide alongside his students, affectionately called his Cello Gang. While traveling last year, he conceived an idea that was inspired by the navigation app Waze.
“I found myself thinking, what if, while I’m honing a piece of music, all the musicians practicing the same work around the world could connect with me? We could support each other on our musical journeys, much like Waze does for drivers,” Peled shared.
Peled aimed to assist musicians in navigating the solitary challenge of mastering their art. “Music is one of the few professions where individuals often spend 4-6 hours daily in isolation since their childhood,” he explained.
He presented this concept to Josh Jang, a fourth-year student at Johns Hopkins University, who is simultaneously pursuing degrees in both cello performance and mathematics. Initially, Jang was unsure about the idea.
“On one hand, I didn’t want to show my professor any doubt. But at the same time, I thought, ‘This guy is a bit out there,’” Jang remarked. “I was just a student, after all!”
Despite Jang’s initial skepticism, Peled continued to refine the idea through research and brainstorming sessions. Eventually, Jang began to see its potential.
“He returned to me with a more focused proposal that seemed achievable. I thought, why not give it a shot?” Jang said.
Together, they launched iMeetStand, an app designed around three fundamental principles: connect, grow, and earn.
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“Currently, there’s a cellist in Spain who reaches out to me through iMeetStand with questions every day. When I’m working on the same pieces she does, I can respond to her directly through the app,” Peled said.
The app is designed to assist musicians by showing them nearby gig opportunities, connecting them with various resources, and creating a platform for artists to candidly share their progress and challenges.
“It’s a vulnerable process. I’ve seen cellists post their practice videos with mistakes, asking for feedback like, ‘What do you think?’ This kind of collaboration indicates a desire to grow together,” Peled noted.
Launched in September, iMeetStand is currently available for free on the Apple App Store, with a paid version set to be released early next year.
“We’re keeping it affordable, as musicians are not typically wealthy,” Peled joked. “I see this app as a fantastic way to foster a close-knit community among musicians.”
For Jang, this venture merges his dual passions and encapsulates music’s essence: unity and collaboration.
“It’s a privilege to partner with someone so visionary and to work on something that can make a meaningful difference in the world,” Jang reflected.
Peled views this partnership as a testament to the potential that exists in the local talent pool.
“I tell my students to harness their skills and combine them with mine. It’s akin to The Beatles—each member is exceptional on their own, but together, they create something extraordinary. This resource is right here in Baltimore, at Johns Hopkins,” Peled said.
This report was originally presented on-air by a journalist and has been adapted for this platform with the support of AI. Our editorial team rigorously checks all reporting across various platforms for fairness and accuracy.
