This Is Nashville

Nashville has a new Black symphony


Listen Later

If you were to buy a ticket to the symphony right now — here in Nashville, or in another city — you likely wouldn’t see many Black performers. That won’t be the case at this weekend’s inaugural performance of the Nashville African American Wind Symphony. The group aims to challenge what has become the norm in classical spaces. We talk to members of the group about why they felt a Black symphony was needed. Then, educators and students talk about ways to bridge the gap.

But first — the way we pronounce the names of some places in Tennessee can raise eyebrows for newcomers. But, even long-time residents can’t always explain why those names are the way they are. This prompted a question to our Curious Nashville project and sent WPLN’s Marianna Bacallao in search of the stories behind a few prominent place names.

Guests:

  • Marianna Bacallao, WPLN’s afternoon host

  • Bruce Ayers, founder of the Nashville African American Wind Symphony

  • Ashley Crawford, president of the board of the Nashville African American Wind Symphony

  • Lee Pringle, founder and artistic director of the Colour of Music Festival

  • Xayvion Davidson, bassoonist and recent high school graduate

  • Jabril Muhammad, trumpet player and recent TSU graduate

  • Margaret Campbelle-Holman, executive director and founder of Choral Arts Link

  • ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    This Is NashvilleBy WPLN News - Nashville Public Radio

    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7

    4.7

    58 ratings


    More shows like This Is Nashville

    View all
    Fresh Air by NPR

    Fresh Air

    38,594 Listeners

    The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

    The New Yorker Radio Hour

    6,793 Listeners

    Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

    Hidden Brain

    43,601 Listeners

    The Book Review by The New York Times

    The Book Review

    3,954 Listeners

    On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti by WBUR

    On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti

    4,005 Listeners

    Travel with Rick Steves by Rick Steves

    Travel with Rick Steves

    2,509 Listeners

    The Daily by The New York Times

    The Daily

    113,432 Listeners

    It's Been a Minute by NPR

    It's Been a Minute

    9,109 Listeners

    Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda by Alan Alda

    Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda

    3,758 Listeners

    Throughline by NPR

    Throughline

    16,473 Listeners

    The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

    The Ezra Klein Show

    16,435 Listeners

    The Interview by The New York Times

    The Interview

    1,604 Listeners

    NashVillager by WPLN - Nashville Public Radio

    NashVillager

    43 Listeners

    This Old House Radio Hour by American Public Media

    This Old House Radio Hour

    101 Listeners

    Sources & Methods by NPR

    Sources & Methods

    855 Listeners