A Composer of Conscience and Thank Goodness for Music Librarians
A soothing album as a balm for the ICE infested people of Minneapolis. This guy likes to play his piano outdoors These are the links to other items mentioned in the podcast.
Entries by Judlyne Lilly
Houston’s FIRST Pride Orchestra
Some ideas nag at you over time. That is until something happens and you have to act. This is what happened to Ruby Ortiz who finally decided to start Houston’s first LGBTQ+ symphony orchestra. It’s called the Houston Pride Orchestra. Here are the links for other stories mentioned in the podcast.
The Declaration Project
We are just days away from the actual 250th birthday of America. The music developed for this event just keeps coming. Perhaps none as expansive as the Declaration Project from pianist Lara Downes. She created it to get various takes from anyone about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This national program will end […]
We The (all kinds of) People
Many classical music groups have released new music or albums about the 250th birthday of America. Some are straightforward, others take a diverse view, like the Apollo Chamber Players. Founder and Director Matthew Detrick says the album, We The People, features music from composers with disparate American experiences. Here are links to some of the […]
Happy 250th And Then Some
We have been inundated with new music and performances of old patriotic music because of the 250th birthday of the United States. On this June 8th podcast, I’m starting a series on music composed and performed specifically for the big bash next month. This time it’s Karen LeFrak’s American Promise. You’ll also meet Dawn Carroll […]
70 Birthday Songs to America From Pianist Min Kwon
There aren’t many musicians, classical or otherwise who aren’t presenting their own versions of a birthday song for America’s 250th. On this episode, we hear from Min Kwon, a pianist with a little activist nature on the side. Back in 2021 she started a project called America/Beautiful. Since then she’s commissioned over 70 composers to […]
Here Be Monsters 2026
Hundreds of people are expected to voluntarily step outside of their musical genre mode this weekend and hear something new, and different and maybe even odd. It’s time for the annual HERE BE MONSTERS, Austin’s Indie-Classical music festival. Co-director Michael Zapruder of Tetractys says this is a growing movement within the classical or near classical genre […]
Requiem For America, The Native American Story
Many orchestras and chamber groups are celebrating the 250th anniversary of America’s founding this year. While most of the music is a positive portrayal of the United States there is at least one musical work telling the tale of the horrific treatment of Native Americans and their lands. The piece is Requiem For America by Mohican/Munsee-Lenape […]
Vanessa, Stripped Down
Even though operas from long ago are still being performed, there’s a movement afoot to freshen them up or to do new 21st century operas. In the case of the 1958 opera Vanessa, a production by Heartbeat Opera is doing a stripped-down version of the Pulitzer Prize winning work. It’s directed by RB Schlather. At […]
Step by Step, the Ruby Bridges Suite
Sometimes when someone makes a suggestion to you, it kind of sticks with you. That’s what happened to jazz artist Darrell Grant. He decided to act on this suggestion from a friend by composing Step by Step, The Ruby Bridges Suite. It is a piece about the 6-year-old girl who was the first African American […]