Rhapsody in Black

Composer and pianist Julius Eastman’s personal philosophy was, “To be what I am to the fullest.” A graduate of the Curtis Institute, his music was highly acclaimed and challenged racist and homophobic stereotypes. Find out more in 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.

Randall Goosby has been playing violin since he was 7, including studying with legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman, and the trajectory of his career shows no signs of slowing down. Find out more in the latest episode of the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

Violinist and composer George Bridgetower was good friends with Ludwig Van Beethoven. So much so that Beethoven wrote a violin sonata just for him. Find out more in the latest episode of the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

Afro-Brazilian guitarist Plínio Fernandes’ style is a unique alchemy of the Brazilian folk and popular songs he grew up with, Latin classical traditions, and the Western canon. Now located in London, Fernandes’ recently released his debut album, ‘Saudade,’ and is working to teach and inspire new generations of musicians. Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

Duke Ellington once said, “All arrangements of historic American Negro music have been made by conservatory-trained musicians who inevitably handle it with a European technique. It’s time a big piece of music was written from the inside.” That piece of music premiered in 1943 in Carnegie Hall, and it was titled ‘Black, Brown, and Beige.’ Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black‘ podcast.

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.

The award-winning strings duo Black Violin has been mixing classical and hip hop for over twenty years. The group’s goal is to make the violin and viola sound naturally and unabashedly Black. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Composer Damien Geter began his musical path as an educator before becoming an acclaimed vocalist. But now, his path as a composer is ‘breaking down the barriers of what classical music should be.’ Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

On the latest episode of the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast, we learn about Omar Thomas, a composer whose music is rooted in topics such as Black liberation and affirmation, including those who are also members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Listen now.