Bloomfield Township

Local violinist spotlights young musicians

By Chris Jackett
C & G Staff Writer

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — Resident Jordan Allen Broder has been around the world as a violinist with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in 2009-10, but now he’s trying to bring the world to the Bloomfield area and provide similar opportunities for up-and-coming musicians.

Broder, 25, started a nonprofit in January 2011 called Concert Prodigy. Geared at helping young musicians find their way and providing a stage to perform on, Concert Prodigy expanded in March 2011 by forming the TZIGON ensemble, and then adding a TV show on Bloomfield Community Television in December.

“I saw a real need to provide a platform for those musicians to get their name out there,” Broder said. “I started funding out of my own pocket for concerts here and in Florida. I’d fly them in and give them a stage for performance.

“TZIGON is a component of Concert Prodigy. I think of it was the Concert Prodigy orchestra. The concept is really a win-win for everyone when we’re focused on keeping the arts relevant for everyone. The arts, they are hurting in a lot of ways. There’s no organization out there, there’s no ensemble out there that unites young talent.”

Looking to provide that medium, Broder, who has played in front of crowds of more than 20,000 people with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, has helped musicians land on “America’s Got Talent,” the Miss America pageant and other international competitions and TV shows.

“They’ve gone on to win international music competitions, appear on Broadway and appear on national television,” Broder said of those he’s consulted, although he opted to keep names confidential. “As a music lover, I love all different kinds of music. I think the public is responsive to young talent, even when they don’t really like that type of music.”

Broder is now looking to improve that connection through his “Concert Prodigy” show on BCTV, Channel 15.

“I’m looking to take this television show concept and take it national. The potential is out there to get a huge following,” Broder said. “I’ve had different television opportunities in the past as a performer, but I’ve never had my own show.

The “Concert Prodigy” TV show is a blend of VH1’s “Behind the Music” backstage look at a musician and Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,” which focuses on finding undiscovered talent. Although Broder’s talent will be young musicians instead of chefs, he said he gets calls from four or five artists per day looking for consulting help or advice.

“The audience loves to see not only the performance, but behind the scenes with the performer,” said Broder, who noted he wants to include all music genres. “I wanted some platform that brought together talent across the platform. We’re going to try to be as diverse as possible.”

Broder, along with his 19-year-old brother Daniel Broder, took a slightly different approach to kick off the series by interviewing Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. Broder got connected with the rocker through Bloomfield Hills resident Joan Smith, Chad Smith’s mother, who Broder has known for the past two years.

“The Chad Smith interview is unique because he’s already established and enormously successful,” Broder said. “I wanted to focus on how he’s gone from a young self-taught drummer to … an enormously successful drummer with the Chili Peppers. Going forward, that show is looking for those young, extraordinary artists.”

The Broder brothers sat down with Smith at Hunter House in Birmingham in December and spent 30 minutes talking about a range of topics, including how Smith, 50, got started drumming, his musical influences and his memories of growing up in the area.

“I used to ride my bike from West Court and Telegraph. I would come here, and these hamburgers are just incredible,” Smith told Broder during the taping. “There’s just something about them. I travel a bit, I get around. Hunter House is no doubt the finest hamburger in the world. The first thing I do when I come into town is to visit my mom and we come in and scarf down about 12 hamburgers.

“I just have such an affinity for this place. I feel so grateful and fortunate to say I’m from Detroit, because there’s such a rich musical history from Detroit, for sure.”

Smith said his first drum set consisted of a Baskin Robbins ice cream tub and some Lincoln Logs.

“If you really love what you do and you find your passion early on in life, like I did with the drums at 7 years old, you just do it because you love it, and if you love it and you’re honest and you play from your heart, people will pick up on that and appreciate that,” Smith said. “Whatever your talent is, work hard at it and you will be successful.”

Broder learned violin at age 6 through a teacher in Birmingham and took up saxophone in his fourth-grade band.

He said the “Concert Prodigy” show will next feature local violinist and singer Abigail Elder. An episode featuring Ann Arbor fiddler Corinna Smith, who toured with an international fiddling group, has already been taped as well. Other potential episodes include a local band, a hip-hop artist, a singer/songwriter from New York and a folk duo from Ann Arbor.

“It would be great to have two episodes per month,” Broder said.

The show airs 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays, and all episodes will be viewable online at www.bloomfieldtwp.org/Services/cable/Videos/ConcertProdigy.htm.

Most BCTV programs are viewable online after they air at www.bloomfieldtwp.org/Services/cable/VideoOnDemand.htm.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Chris Jackett at cjackett@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1110.