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Press Releases
Melanated Moments in Classical Music podcast offers 8 new episodes starting March 2
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana --
Eight new episodes of Melanated Moments in Classical Music hit the airwaves on Wednesday, March 2. The growing audience in 100 countries and over 1600 cities can expect guests, topics, and artists from the late 18th century through the present, all spotlighting music composed by, for, and about Black people. Co-host and music sociologist Joshua Thompson describes this season as "nearly 250 years' worth of melanin!"
In this fourth season, co-hosts Angela Brown and Joshua Thompson highlight composers Francis Johnson and Julia Perry as well as iconic singers Leontyne Price and Shirley Verrett. Reminding us that classical music is a living and evolving art form, Brown and Thompson conduct insightful interviews with composers James Lee III and Mikhail Johnson as well as baritone and scholar Robert Sims to discuss the life and career of tenor Roland Hayes. Violist and entrepreneur Drew Forde, known to over 100,000 Instagrammers as thatviolakid, rounds out the season as a tangible indication of how the future of classical music will be indelibly shaped by the African diaspora.
Thompson expounds, "Season Four provides our listeners an opportunity to immerse themselves in compositions, biographies, and histories that illustrate just how evolved and revolutionary Black peoples have been and continue to be in classical music - whether we’re talking about Francis Johnson’s role in codifying patriotic music as a national musical identity, Julia Perry’s massive thumbprint and footprint on the Postmodernist movement, or Drew Forde’s (thatviolakid) intersectional approach to artistry and entrepreneurship in the 21st century." Colorful co-host and international opera star Angela Brown says the required research has intensified with each season, energizing her to mine potential episode topics and guests for gold nuggets to pique her listeners' interest. "As each new season unfolds, I am learning so much about my people and the music they have created, are creating. I’m proud to be part of the unearthing and championing of this GREAT music!"
Melanated Moments crossed the 10,000-download milestone last season, a testament to its enthusiastic global community of listeners of all ages and backgrounds, including classrooms and lecture halls of musicians eager to expand their musical palettes. Jenny Burch, President of Classical Music Indy, quickly capitalized on the podcast's success by adding live shows of Melanated Moments for schools, universities, concert and community series. She acknowledges the podcast's part in Classical Music Indy's outstanding program offerings and overall mission: "Joshua and Angela are incredibly talented artists, amazing collaborators, and engaging storytellers. Classical Music Indy counts on them to help us change the classical music narrative." The signature commentary from Angela and Joshua and their deep commitment to be a voice for Black artists as Black artists alongside loads of incredible music are now available for live audience engagements around the country.
Melanated Moments in Classical Music is made possible in part by the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Additional support comes from the Indy Arts Council and the City of Indianapolis. Our promotional partners are Morning Brown, Inc., and Symphony Tacoma.
Listen and subscribe to Melanated Moments in Classical Music on your favorite podcast app.
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About Classical Music Indy:
Classical Music Indy is Central Indiana’s premier syndicator of Peabody-award winning classical music radio programs, producer of 24/7 classical music streaming and award-winning podcasts, community programs provider, publisher of NOTE Magazine, and advocate for classical music and classical music-makers.
https://classicalmusicindy.org
About Joshua Thompson:
Combining his passions for social advocacy and music education, Joshua Thompson (SockJoplin) is a noted thought leader and advocate for access to educational resources nationwide. In 2020, he completed a residency at the Africana Studies Center for Music and Society at the Berklee School of Music in Boston as a Beckmann Emerging Artist Fellow of the Arts Council of Indianapolis. Joshua is an accomplished pianist with a personal mission to exclusively program and perform classical masterworks by composers of African descent.
https://www.classicalmusicindy.org/musician/joshua-thompson/
About Angela Brown and Morning Brown, Inc.:
Soprano Angela Brown’s multi-genre career has been lauded on the front page of The New York Times, CNN, CBS, in Oprah Magazine and Reader's Digest. With performances spanning six continents, Angela has graced the leading opera and symphonic stages of the world. She is the founder of Morning Brown, Inc., a nonprofit with the mission of bridging the gap between accessible, live-music programs and underserved individuals, schools, and communities.
About Symphony Tacoma
Inspiring audiences with live musical experiences that transcend tradition, Symphony Tacoma has been a vital part of Tacoma’s cultural landscape for 75 years. Deeply committed to their role as one of the hubs of Tacoma’s cultural sector, Symphony Tacoma is dedicated to the belief that the community is made stronger and more vibrant by experiencing great music together.
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