Bertha Sadler Means Orchestra Students Presentation by Judlyne Lilly Gibson
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Tag Archive for: Classical Music In Color
Sarah Kirkland Snider Goes Forward Into Light
As any musician, classical or otherwise, knows, it’s a difficult climb to success. It took Sarah Kirkland Snider almost 20 years to find it with her composing career. She’s out with a new album of ethereal, spiritual music called Forward Into Light.
Black History Month soars with hundreds of events this month. Here are just a few.
A Behind the Scenes Look at Treemonisha
Karen Slack sings from her Grammy winning album
Sphinx Virtuosi Performs with cellist Sterling Elliott
It’s Black History Month
Oh Happy Day!
It’s Black History Month.
There are so many events celebrating “black excellence” in all genres of music. I’ve only mentioned a few, including the Colour of Music Festival. See more links below.
There’s a new audio edition of the Harry Potter books.
Believe it or not, the National Endowment for the Arts is offering Challenge Grants.
The Cliburn ends its piano competition for Amateurs. There are plenty of other piano competitions for amateurs, like this one in Paris.
Then there’s the closing of the Kennedy Center, ordered by the President.
Here are more links to Black History Month events:
Song Offerings From Christopher Tin
So many events are happening this month and early in February in the classical music community.
There’s the Grammys, a new album of choral works from the composer of Baba Yetu, Christopher Tin, a fresh take on Bach, another cancellation at the Kennedy Center and the March broadcast of the Oscars with a nomination about Verdi.
There’s also a sad story about a violinist whose violin case was too big for the overhead bin.
Music About The Fallen. More Firings and Resignations While Promotions Abound.
The firings and resignations continue in all parts of the American universe. National Endowment for the Arts grants have been slashed, leaving arts and music organizations scrambling for funds.
With memories of Memorial Day still with us, two new albums have been released honoring the fallen. A Symphony For Vietnam Veterans tells the musical tale about the trauma and some joy in that war. The opera An American Soldier spotlights the suicide of a Chinese American soldier after weeks of daily beatings by members of his own unit.
There’s a quick reminder to all professional women conductors to apply for a competition that’s already considered prestigious: The La Maestra International Competition for Women Conductors.
Harpist Ashley Jackson, DEI Takes A Hit and Two Shows You Don’t Want To Miss.
To steal a phrase from a big budget movie franchise:
There is a disturbance in the force.
Many if not all of DEI programs have been cut by the federal government.
Harpist Ashley Jackson has a new album that will soothe your soul.
The Equity Arc Wind Symphony and Words and Music of Black America are two shows you need to see and hear.
A couple of competitions are waiting for your application.
The Thomas Zajac Memorial Scholarship
Lillian and Maurice Barbash J.S. Bach Competition
Loving v. Virginia. An Opera Out of History And On to the Stage
A new opera is about to premiere in Virginia called Loving v. Virginia. It tells the true story of an interracial couple who had to go to the Supreme Court to legalize their marriage. Two well-known opera singers were asked to compose and direct. Bass Baritone Damien Geter composed the music and Mezzo Soprano Denyce Graves is directing.
Also on this March 2025 edition of Classical Music In Color. The heartbreaking story of a music camp for BIPOC high school musicians that was shut down by the federal government.
Here are the links to the competitions mentioned in the show.
The Audition Intensive from Sphinx
Early Music America Engagement Awards
LIFT EVERY VOICE FOR JULIA PERRY
February 2025 brings us Black History Month and the 125th anniversary of the Black National Anthem, Lift Every Voice And Sing. There are many arrangements of this uplifting song including two acapella versions featured in this month’s podcast. There’s also celebrations at Lift Every Voice and Sing Park in Florida.
Composer Julia Perry (1924 – 1979) has finally found a copyright holder and a distributor of her music. After a long legal tussle, a non-profit called Vidamus has the copyright and Boosey and Hawks will distribute it.
Watch with joy as Karen Slack and Michelle Cann accept their Grammy.
IT’S NICE TO BE BACK. On Classical Music In Color
I was pretty happy to see the last of 2024.
So many reasons but I think after some time, I am happy to be back producing more episodes of Classical Music In Color in 2025.
In this episode I tell you about music organizations like Arts2Work and the League Of American Orchestras offering help for those affected by the Los Angeles Wildfires. Shoppe Black also has a list of African-American businesses that are helping too.
I also cover BIPOC classical musicians who are up for Grammy Awards.
Application season is here for young musicians looking for a summer music program. Equity Arc is offering a streamlined application.
There’s a job open at the Berkeley Symphony with Joseph Young stepping down.
There’s Almost No Music In This Classical Music Program
You would think that a “special” classical music program would be all about the music. You’d be wrong if you’re talking about one particular program for high school aged female classical musicians. The Fortissima program at Colburn School in Los Angeles is aiming for something completely different.
Artistic Director and Violinist Jannina Norpoth says they aim to teach their charges how to make it in the world they want to pursue. One student, Tess Reed, says this was the best experience ever.