Chords and Queens

In this episode we dive into the world of classical music education and how initiatives like the Benedetti Foundation are leading the charge in creating fulfilling, inspiring and elite music education in a variety of different locations. We talk about discouraging A-Level and GCSE statistics and the disparities between different countries within the UK and how having a certain postcode can put you at an advantage when it comes to affordable, or even free music education. The Benedetti Foundation: Website: https://www.benedettifoundation.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/benedetti_foundation/?hl=enCardiff Benedetti Sessions: https://www.benedettifoundation.org/cardiff-benedetti-sessions✨New Episodes Every Monday✨Website 💻https://www.chordsandqueens.comLet’s Get Social 📱For more Classical Queens, follow us on: Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueensTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens

In this episode, I chat to multi-disciplinary artist Nwando Ebizie about her new opera Ecstasy of the Virtues presented by Mahogany Opera. Which is her bold new take on the 900 year old Ordo Virtutum by medieval composer Hildegard of Bingen. We also talk about how she got her start in the creative industries as well as where she gets her inspiration from, and how she creates projects that not only entertain audiences, but invite them to look inward and question what they know. 

Ecstasy of the Virtues: 

https://mahoganyopera.co.uk/new-works/hildegard-visions

Nwando Ebizie: 

Website: https://www.nwandoebizie.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nwando_ebizie/?hl=en

Mahogany Opera:

Website: https://mahoganyopera.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mahoganyopera/

✨New Episodes Every Monday✨

Website 💻

https://www.chordsandqueens.com

Let’s Get Social 📱

For more Classical Queens, follow us on: 

Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueens

TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens

Joining me on the podcast today is the wonderful cellist, singer, pianist and composer Ayanna Witter-Johnson. We chat about her love of music at an early age, her new album New Roots and we look ahead to her upcoming performance at LSO St Luke's in London on 16th September as part of her new residency there, where the album comes to life through an evening of music, poetry and dance.New Roots First Light Tickets Here: https://www.lso.co.uk/whats-on/ayanna-witter-johnson-new-roots-first-light/Ayanna Witter-Johnson: Website: https://www.ayannamusic.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayannawj/?hl=en✨New Episodes Every Monday✨Website 💻https://www.chordsandqueens.comLet’s Get Social 📱For more Classical Queens, follow us on: Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueensTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens

In this episode, I get to talk to composer Rockey Sun Keting about her creative process, her role as Co-Director of the artist collective Tangram, and Tangram's newly announced position as one of three Artistic Partners for LSO St Luke's 2026/27 season. We also dig into her latest project, Chronicle 时•录 which is a new choral theatre work created with Tangram and SANSARA, celebrating six incredible women poets across a thousand years of Chinese history, premiering at LSO St Luke's on the 30th and 31st of August 2026. 

Get tickets here: https://www.lso.co.uk/chronicle-时录/

Rockey Sun Keting: 

Website: https://www.ketingsun.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockeysunketing/

✨New Episodes Every Monday✨

Website 💻

https://www.chordsandqueens.com

Let’s Get Social 📱

For more Classical Queens, follow us on: 

Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueens

TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens

On today’s episode I’m joined by American composer Jocelyn Hagen. We talk about how she grew up with a musical family and how she discovered her love for composition through writing songs. We discuss how she founded the collective and podcast Compose Like a Girl, her upcoming album Here I Am, which features her stunning recording of The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, alongside the title track which is a piece born from conductor Eric Holtan's suggestion that Jocelyn write something celebrating the women's suffrage movement and the centennial of the 19th Amendment. Jocelyn Hagen: Website: https://jocelynhagen.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelynhagenmus/Compose Like a Girl Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Lw4XKm99bCMw5vAMPGccF?si=0ddbebf3d0ac4dddApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/compose-like-a-girl/id1698863746✨New Episodes Every Monday✨Website 💻https://www.chordsandqueens.comLet’s Get Social 📱For more Classical Queens, follow us on: Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueensTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueensTimestamps: 0:00 - Intro 1:11 - Jocelyn's Early Start in Music2:00 - Choosing a Career in Music 5:06 - How songwriting helped Jocelyn’s compositional career 5:52 - How Much of Composing is Inspiration vs Discipline 7:26 - Combining Debussy and Ed Sheeran 9:47 - The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci 12:05 - Working Across Genres 12:58 - Here I Am Album 15:47 - What made Jocelyn Start Compose like a Girl 21:22 - Interviewing other Women Composers 23:27 - What advice would you give to aspiring composers? 24:00 - Jocelyn’s Music Recommendation 25:32 - Outro

On today's episode, I sit down with pianist and composer Beatrice Nicholas to talk about her journey learning piano and composing her own music, plus her advocacy for the next generation of classical pianists and the opportunities she's creating for young musicians. We also chat about her upcoming headline show at London's Ronnie Scott's, where she'll be spotlighting the work of African American women composersBeatrice Nicholas: Website: https://www.beatricenicholas.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/beatrice_nicholas_pianist/✨New Episodes Every Monday✨Website 💻https://www.chordsandqueens.comLet’s Get Social 📱For more Classical Queens, follow us on: Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueensTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueensTimestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:02 - Early Years in Music 2:14 - The Power of Music Teachers 4:42 - Making Classical Music Accessible 7:55 - The Moment Beatrice Knew She Wanted to be a Pianist 9:21 - Rewiring Classical Music 10:52 - Becoming a Composer14:34 - Beatrice the Amazing Astronaut 16:05 - Balancing being a performer and composer 16:51 - Black and Classical EP 19:53 - The Lack of Diversity in Composition 22:08 - Creating more opportunities for composers 25:19 - Upcoming Performance at Ronnie Scott's 28:30 - What the audience can expect at Ronnie Scott’s 30:30 - Does Beatrice have any Pre-Show Rituals? 31:00 - Advice for aspiring musicians and composers 33:25 - What piece written by a woman does Beatrice recommend? 33:49 - Outro

On today's episode, I sit down with two of the composers featured at the 2026 Three Choirs Festival: Cheryl Frances-Hoad and Kerensa Briggs.We talk about how they each got started in music and found their way into composition, before diving into the pieces they're bringing to this year's festival, walking through their compositional processes, the ideas and inspirations behind the works, and what audiences can expect to hear.Cheryl Frances-Hoad: Website:https://www.cherylfranceshoad.co.ukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherylhoad/Kerensa Briggs: Gloucester Service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLVhzSrk9Q4Website: https://www.kerensabriggs.co.ukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerensabriggs/Three Choirs Festival: Website: https://3choirs.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/threechoirs/?hl=en✨New Episodes (usually) Every Monday✨Let’s Get Social 📱For more Classical Queens, follow us on: Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueensTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueensTimestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:07 - Cheryl Frances-Hoad 1:18 - Compositional Background 2:25 - Inspiration for Stones of the Sky 3:19 - Writing a composition for a specific musician to play 4:19 - Turning Gemstones into Music 5:57 - Stones of the Sky Writing Process 7:43 - Anything surprising about the finished piece? 8:40 - Being apart of Three Choirs Festival 9:29 - Kerensa Briggs 9:41 - Kerensa’s start in Composition 10:21 - What made you want to write Choral Music? 11:05 - Having your music played in the Cathedral she once performed in 12:34 - Gloucester Service Writing Process 13:24 - Did being a young chorister help with composing? 13:45 - Anything surprising about the finished piece? 14:08 - Her family history with the Three Choirs Festival 14:51 - Three Choirs Festival 2027 and Outro

On today's episode, I'm joined by percussionist, conductor, scholar, and educator Dr. Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey. We talk about her early music education in Alaska, growing up surrounded by extraordinary role models, and how that upbringing shaped her drive to put her musical training in service of real-world issues. We also dig into the persistent underrepresentation of women composers on concert programmes, and why in this day and age programming Beethoven is anything but a neutral choice. We also explore her remarkable 2019 project with the Women's Orchestra of Afghanistan, as well as her latest endeavour: recording the complete keyboard works of composer Marianna Martines.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cayennaconductor/

Marianna Martines Life and Music: https://youtu.be/rKE_N21fz_0?si=SP3myJnoOxBqXBi4

0:00 - Introduction 

1:37 - Growing up Playing Music 

3:24 - Learning to Play Percussion 

5:08 - Why Music Genres Don’t Matter 

8:02 - How did Cayenna get into Conducting? 

11:56 - How can we get more women into conducting? 

14:27 - Adding Value to Orchestral Performance 

17:52 - How Can Orchestral Music Help Push for Change 

19:40 - Championing the Work of Women Composers 

22:18 - Working with the Women’s Orchestra of Afghanistan 

31:17 - How Impactful Orchestras Can be 

33:24 - Recording the Complete Keyboard Works of Marianna Martines 

36:30 - What did you learn about Marianna Martines? 

46:38 - Reacting to male conductors calling Martines a “second rate composer”

51:10 - Should all Orchestras try to Programme More Women? 

53:52 - What advice would you give to the next generation? 

55:17 - Who’s Cayenna adding to the playlist? 

✨New Episodes Every Monday✨

Let’s Get Social 📱

For more Classical Queens, follow us on: 

Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueens

TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens

On today's episode, we sit down with the magnificent Anna Clyne. We explore her earliest childhood memories of writing music, her love of collaboration, and her new piece Sirens, as well as her advice for the next generation of women composers. She also reflects on the distinction of being the most performed living woman composer, and whether that title feels like an honour, or whether she'd simply rather be known as a composer. 

Anna Clyne: 

Website: 

https://www.annaclyne.com

Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/annaclynecomposer/?hl=en

Music: 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4d2fe6u4HBGX4ZbBbEmM3j

https://classical.music.apple.com/gb/artist/399017062

✨New Episodes Every Monday✨

Let’s Get Social 📱

For more Classical Queens, follow us on: 

www.chordsandqueens.com

Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueens

TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens

On today’s episode we welcome violinist and composer Rebekah Reid, who talks to us about navigating hypermobility as a violinist, writing music and her upcoming gig at the famous London Jazz Club - Ronnie Scott’s. During the episode we get an insight into her writing process as she shows us how she constructs a song live on stage using a loop pedal. We also chat about the harrowingly low statics highlighting that only 0.59% of Black Women had their work preformed by major Orchestras in the 2023/24 Concert Season.* As well as how we can improve this statistic moving forward and support other women. As she prepares for her gig at Ronnie’s, she also lets us know that 2027 will be a big year for new music, and oh, we’re also manifesting a loop pedal at the proms… Rebekah Reid at Ronnie Scott’s: https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/find-a-show/rebekah-reidWebsite: https://www.rebekahreidviolin.co.ukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bekareidviolin/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rebekahreidmusicFia Roberts - Producer: https://www.fiaroberts.com✨New Episodes Every Monday✨Let’s Get Social 📱For more Classical Queens, follow us on: Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ChordsandQueensTikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chordsandqueens⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chordsandqueens?igsh=eGlkYWgyN3hmMnhm&utm_source=qr⁠ Substack: https://substack.com/@chordsqueens0:00 - Introduction 1:24 - Rebekah’s start in Music 1:57 - What made you want to play the violin? 2:32 - Did Rebekah ever think about giving up the violin? 3:55 - Navigating the Physical Side of Playing the Violin 6:27 - Talking about Injuries and Chronic Pain in Classical Music8:47 - How Music Education Shaped Rebekah’s Career 10:30 - How Rebekah Reid writes her music 13:39 - Rebekah walks us through how she creates her tracks live 14:04 - Rodeo Ride Live 16:22 - Max Richter Inspired Piece Live 18:35 - Unpacking the Writing Process 20:23 - At what point did Rebekah find her own compositional voice 22:55 - Have you ever felt excluded from the Classical genre?25:59 - Creating your own Opportunities 26:56 - Live Vs. Recording 28:13 - Preforming at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club 28:52 - Do certain venues make classical music feel more accessible? 31:09 - What can audiences expect from the Ronnie’s gig? 32:44 - Releasing Music 34:56 - The Lack of Women and Diversity in Music Composition 39:30 - Navigating the ‘Women Composer’ title 40:46 - How we can make composition more diverse 44:13 - Age in Classical Music 45:43 - AI in Classical Music 48:55 - Advice to Composers 52:15 - Rebekah Reid’s Music Recommendation 53:31 - Ending *https://donne-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/DonneReport2024.pdf