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 with a concert at Lincoln Center in New York.
Here are the links to other items mentioned in the podcast.
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 who was inspired to compose Songs for Mary.
It’s aboutMary Cardwell Dawson, a woman who created the National Negro Opera Company in the Pittsburgh home that housed some famous Black sports figures and music makers. BTW: The song “If the Walls Could Talk” was enhanced by Danny Borgers
June is also the month of Juneteenth and Pride month celebrations with some big firsts among them.
Here are the links to some of the other items mentioned in the podcast.
When you think of countertenors what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?
Randall Scotting, a countertenor, sees himself as a preserver of this unique male voice. He’s releasing the album Divine Impresario to celebrate one of the most popular castrato opera singers of the 17th and 18th centuries. His name is Nicolini.
Cancellations at the Kennedy Center continue even as the building is set to close for renovations.
The San Antonio (Texas) Philharmonic shuts down with hopes of returning someday.
Here are the links mentioned in the podcast for mentoring programs.
League of American Orchestras Applications now open for their Essentials of Orchestra Management program.
The Pegasus Opera Company in London is looking for opera singers.
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
While we look forlornly at the holiday bills as we head into tax season, there is some joy this January.
The Grammy winning and nominated this year again Jazz pianist Sullivan Fortner is grateful and humble after winning the 300k Gilmore inaugural 2026 Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Award.
Donors have nearly flooded the Washington National Opera with funds after the opera company departed the Kennedy Center.
There are still many ways to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and many other African American leaders as we head into Black History Month.
And oh my as George Takei would say, there’s a Star Trek version of a Mozart opera.
Here’s a link to the League Of American Orchestras Student Leadership Council.
While we still might be recovering from Thanksgiving, there’s the rest of the holidays to consider. Shopping for gifts, decorating the house while listening to music. Gifts have already come to Kyle Rivera, who won the Michael Morgan Prize for Black composers.
The Pegasus Opera Company in the UK is looking for partners to produce an opera about the Windrush Generation.
The Detroit Opera presents two little known and rarely staged operas.
The Miro Quartet debuts its first holiday album called Hearth.
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.
There will be many honors this Memorial Day week for the military men and women who lost their lives while serving their country. Music will be a large part of that.
One of them is the world premiere recording of the opera An American Soldier. It’s the true story of the young Chinese-American Army Pvt. Danny Chen who committed suicide because he was beaten every day by his fellow soldiers and a superior officer during his service in Afghanistan.
There is also a new version of Symphony For Vietnam Veterans. Composer and retired U.S. Army Captain James Kimo Williams has released a string orchestra version of his orchestral piece about his time in war.
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
Photo by www.ireneyoungfoto.com
After reading numerous articles about our shorter than short attention spans, I’ve decided to split this, the August 2024 Classical Music in Color into two parts. It may be a permanent fixture. Let me know what you think.
The first part is an interview with 85 year old composer Mary D. Watkins who’s about to premiere her latest opera “Is This America” about the Mississippi Civil Rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer.
Mary D. Watkins is a Colorado native who earned a degree in classical composition from Howard University in Washington, DC. She started getting noticed later in life. She won a Female Composer grant from Opera America in 2020, has previously won composer fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, along with various other grants. AND She received a 2021 Artist Legacy Award from the California Arts Council. She was also recognized with a 2022 Composers Now Visionary Award. She says her composition of this opera was a long time coming.
The Second part of this, the August 2024 edition of Classical Music In Color is what I’m calling for now, the Albums, Opportunities, Events and Milestone section of the show.
Here are the links:
Black Violin Foundation Grants
