Jennifer Miller Hammel on Bridging Classical Music and Video Games & Taking the Scary Path

In this episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with classical broadcaster, vocalist, and creator Jennifer Miller Hammel for a fascinating conversation about reinvention, creative advocacy, and why video game music belongs in the concert hall. Jennifer shares the story of leaving the East Coast for Los Angeles to chase a dream as a session singer—taking every gig she could, building community through connections, and learning firsthand that momentum often comes from saying “yes” before you feel ready. From caroling groups in Dickens costumes to studio sessions for indie games, she explains how each chapter shaped the career that followed. We also dive into Jennifer’s unexpected pivot into radio—how a single holiday greeting recording revealed a new path, what it takes to become an engaging storyteller with only your voice, and why she ultimately moved from news to classical broadcasting after the 2016 election. Along the way, Jennifer opens up about the importance of being your own advocate, especially as a woman in classical media, and how criticism can often be a signal that you’re pushing culture forward. At the center of this conversation is Arcade—Jennifer’s 24/7 stream that blends orchestral video game music, classical pieces used in games, and modern classical works with the same emotional DNA. She explains the resistance she faced when pitching it, how she reframed the project to connect with a traditional classical audience, and what it means to build something “polarizing” that turns into a bridge between generations. Jennifer also reframes how we think about the great composers, sharing her belief that if Handel (or Mozart) were alive today, they’d be writing for PlayStation—because composers have always followed the work, and video games are one of the most powerful storytelling mediums in entertainment. 🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding In this interview, you’ll learn: What it really looks like to move across the country and build a creative career from scratch Why “community” is often the missing ingredient for anyone trying to break into a new world The moment Jennifer realized her voice belonged behind the mic—not only onstage How her performance background shaped her approach to storytelling in broadcasting What Arcade is, how it works, and why orchestral game music fits naturally beside classical repertoire How Jennifer curated Arcade and what qualifies as “classical” in the gaming world Why “polarizing” ideas often just need a new perspective to land with the right audience A powerful story about Arcade inspiring a lifelong classical listener to play her first video game—and reconnect with family The case for video games as a major artistic and economic force in entertainment Jennifer’s biggest lesson: take the scary path, and think long-term when fear shows up Episode Resources: https://www.instagram.com/jenmillerradio/ https://www.instagram.com/classicalcalifornia/ https://www.kusc.org/schedule?stream=CC8_S01 https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation https://www.tiktok.com/@fromvisiontocreation https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding https://x.com/fvtcpodcast Subscribe for more conversations with visionaries turning ideas into reality. This podcast is brought to you by Proper Placement — a full-service marketing agency helping businesses grow through social media, paid advertising, website design, email campaigns, and more. Learn more at www.properplacement.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices