Jason Levi ('04, '07 M.M.) gets lots of questions about his job with Cirque du Soleil's Kooza.

"Maybe the hardest thing about the gig is explaining to people that, yes, I'm an artist in Cirque, and no, I don't fly through the air," he says.

Levi plays trumpet for the show. And he's used the music and business skills he learned at UNT.

Levi created GigShark, web-based software that allows freelance performers to manage their calendar and financial details. He was inspired to create GigShark from a music industry entrepreneurship class he taught at UNT in the late '00s.

The software makes it easier for him to focus on his music. Levi says Cirque du Soleil is a "dream gig" because he can travel around the world for free. He even performed at Royal Albert Hall in London for eight weeks.

He always remembers his time at UNT, which includes playing in the One O'Clock Lab Band.

"I truly believe there is no better place to hone your skills as a musician," he says. "And the professional connections you make with your peers will last a lifetime."