Rhapsody in Black

Composer Colridge-Taylor Perkinson combined classical, jazz and popular music to build a varied career that advocated for the Black community, especially its performing artists. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Named one of the most influential Black people in the United Kingdom, composer Shirley Thompson writes music that inspires and fights against Eurocentrism in classical music. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Composer, performer and arranger Cassie Kinoshi has taken on the role of musical mad scientist by mixing together Black American jazz, West African and Caribbean rhythms, and Western classical music in a process of compositional nuclear fusion. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Tenor Henry Thacker Burleigh was a gifted tenor who dedicated himself to the Black spiritual tradition. He worked closely with composer Antonín Dvořák, and their friendship helped Dvořák unearth the heart and soul of American music. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Sly5thAve is a multifaceted musician from the greater Austin area. His arrangements fuse his education in jazz saxophone, his classical arranging skills, his Nigerian roots and more to create a whole new musical experience. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Tenor Henry Thacker Burleigh was a gifted tenor who dedicated himself to the Black spiritual tradition. He worked closely with composer Antonín Dvořák, and their friendship helped Dvořák unearth the heart and soul of American music. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Michelle Cann is a trailblazing African American concert pianist and teacher who is inspiring the next generation of musicians at the Manhattan School of Music and the Curtis Institute. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Scott Joplin, considered the ‘King of Ragtime Writers,’ opened the door for many other Black musicians and artists making their way in a racially segregated nation at the turn of the century. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Community leader and musician Melanie DeMore uses the power of her voice to bring people together and create meaningful connections in her community and beyond. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis redefined the genre in subtle and caustic ways. While he had great success he was always restless for innovation. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Clarinetist Anthony McGill is the principal clarinetist with the New York Philharmonic, the first Black musician to hold a principal chair in the orchestra’s 178 year history. During his time there, he has wowed audiences and impressed critics with his technique and silky tone, but he has also used the platform to promote social justice issues, specifically racial equity in classical music. Find out more in the latest episode of the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.