Violist Eliesha Nelson had the pleasure of meeting Pulitzer Prize winning composer George Walker a few times during her career. She developed a passion for his music and eventually performed it with the Cleveland Orchestra. Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

Pianist Hazel Scott was billed as “The Darling of Café Society” due to the her ability to sell out shows with her masterful improvisations. But her music was heavily intertwined with politics as she spoke up time and time again against segregation. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Margaret Bonds dealt with racism as she broke barriers for future generations of Black women composers. Find out how the words and friendship of renowned Black novelist Langston Hughes helped her with that struggle 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.

Carlos Simon is a Grammy-nominated composer and an activist for Black and brown representation in classical music. His latest work, ‘Good News Mass,’ is unlike anything he’s done before. 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.

Flutist, composer and producer Allison Loggins-Hull is often described as someone whose work ‘defies classification.’ Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known in the hip hop world as RZA, is a founding member of the hip hop collective Wu Tang Clan. Now, he’s taking things a step further by writing a ballet. Find out more on the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

Whitney Houston’s musical legacy was recently celebrated in a concert tribute at the Kennedy Center. Her powerful voice soared through heart-rending pop ballads, and she could hold her own in an operatic aria, too. Find out more on the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

Bass player Joseph Conyers made history in 2023 when he became principal bass of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He is also the founder of ‘Project 440,’ an initiative that helps young people ignite change in their communities through music. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.