There have been several studies on the effect of music on mental health. This is especially true with the elderly. A long running study out of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia is finding that dementia may be delayed in the over 70 set if music is in their lives.
Links to other items mentioned in the podcast.
The Sound Of Silent Film Festival The Gateways Music Festival
This play, set in 1967, is about the first African American manager of a dormitory at a prestigious women’s college.
THE CAST OF NEW TIMES
SHANNA RICHARDS – DIANE MARSHALL
DEANDRA CHANDLER – SAGE JOHNSON
VIVIAN GLAUER – HORTENSE AMSTEN
NATALIA RIOS – MOLLY HARGROVE
JULIETTE QUITA – RAINE TAYLOR
KRISTEN MORLEY – NARRATOR
Sometimes things happen that let you know that you are on the right path.
This is the experience of the Zara Hudson Kozdoj of the UK. This 29-year-old Polish-Jamaican cellist, composer and conductor isn’t all about classical music but has surrendered herself to it in bits and pieces.
She released her first album in October called Remember Who You Are. She found out while making the album that there were items about business that she wasn’t taught during her years at the Royal College of Music in London. Then the fates stepped in again.
Here are links to the competitions mentioned in the show.
In observance of National Native American Heritage Month, White Snake Projects, has introduced the Indigenous Directory for Musical Storytelling. It names Native American musicians, artists, and crew members who are available for work. Some of them are Grammy award winners. The co-founder and Artistic Director of White Snake Projects, Cerise Lim Jacobs says Native American artists were initially reluctant to sign up, fearing it was a scam. That’s despite the Pulitzer Prize White Snake Projects won in 2011 for the opera Madam White Snake.
Links that may be of interest:
With the federal government shut down, (as of this writing) it’s difficult to say if there will be a federal observance of Veteran’s Day on November 11th.
So, In gratitude for their service, the podcast this week is all about the music composed to honor them.
The men and one woman featured in this show are just a few of the Veteran composers who wrote music for and about Veterans. One piece was composed and performed while the composer was in a POW camp.
Betsy Listenfelt, William Grant Still, Aaron Copland, Gustav Holst, Olivier Messiaen
There is also a piece about Native American Heritage Month.
The second change. Segments. I’ll be producing one new segment with one topic a week.
This first segment of the new Classical Music In Colors is about supporters, donors and volunteers who’ve stepped up to help arts organizations who are no longer receiving grants from the National Endowment For the Arts/Humanities.
As an example we focus on Castle Of Our Skins, a Boston based African American organization promoting classical music composers. They were able to hold their annual MassQ Ball thanks to donations from people like you.
Ciyadh Wells – General Director of Castle Of Our Skins.
Let me know what you think of the changes.
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.
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
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.
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.
