Where we turn up the voices of Black artists in the world of classical music, with host Vernon Neal.
Jazz singer Billie Holiday discovered “Strange Fruit,” Abel Meropol’s protest song against lynching In 1939. It became her closing number at all of her performances at Café Society and the best selling record of her career. Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.
Gil Scott-Heron was a self-described ‘bluesologist’ and a bold voice of social activism in music in the 1970s and ‘80s. Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.
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.
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.
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 seven, 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.
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 and is making strides to open the barriers of entry to the world of classical music so every kid has the opportunity to be on stage. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Conductor Kedrick Armstrong uses both archives and youth education to serve the longevity of classical music by working to represent everyone in the concert hall. Find out more on the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Explore the legendary career of Stevie Wonder, the influential artist who transformed R&B and funk music. From his soulful voice to his groundbreaking compositions, learn about his classical music roots, record-breaking hits and his magnum opus. Find out more on the latest episode of the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.
Where we turn up the voices of Black artists in the world of classical music, with host Vernon Neal.
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