Composer Jessie Montgomery is in a constant state of creation. She actively plays violin and teaches, while composing award-winning pieces. Find out more about her amazing achievements in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Composer William Grant Still is the record holder for many firsts in the Black classical world. His ‘Afro-American Symphony’ was the first to be performed by a major orchestra. Find out more about his many firsts in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Composer Omar Thomas remembers never playing music in concert band that celebrates Black traditions while he was growing up. He has made it his mission to create music that speak directly to the issues of representation, social consciousness and liberation. Find out more about Thomas’s socially conscious compositions in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Composer Nkeiru Okoye doesn’t fit neatly into any kind of classical category. Her compositions showcase her genius by incorporating different types of musical styles that help create a sound that’s uniquely hers. Find out more about Okoye’s diverse compositions in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Composer Scott Joplin is best known for his ragtime piano compositions that include ‘The Maple Leaf Rag’ and ‘The Entertainer.’ Like many other Black artists, he composed so much more than that! Find out more about Joplin’s other compositions in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Composer Julius Eastman’s personal philosophy was “to be what I am to the fullest. Black to the fullest, a musician to the fullest, and a homosexual to the fullest.” Find out more about his brilliant, beautiful and challenging life in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Baritone Henry T. Burleigh is a forgotten figure in American music history. His singing caught the attention of Antonin Dvorak, who made Burleigh his assistant. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Contralto Marian Anderson sang her way to the top. Despite racism and sexism, she found support from first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and sang at the Lincoln Memorial. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Justin Holland is not the first name that people think of when asked about the classical guitar. It might come as a surprise that one of the best guitar virtuosos of the 19th century was a free black Oberlin College graduate. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Listen to our new podcast Rhapsody in Black, an exploration of classical music that’s aesthetically and uncompromisingly Black. Tesfa Wondemagegnehu hosts this 5-minute weekly program, which launches Thursday. Listen to the trailer now.