Rhapsody in Black

Damien Sneed is a musician of many skills and genres

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000

A musician of multiple hats and genres, Damien Sneed is recognized today as a pianist, vocalist, organist, composer, conductor, arranger, producer and arts educator in high demand. Find out more in the latest episode of the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

Florence Price meets Frederick Stock

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Composer Florence Price dealt with many systemic barriers in her pursuit of musical greatness. Find out how her hard work paid off after she won a composition competition and formed a partnership with Chicago Symphony Orchestra conductor Frederick Stock.

Violinist Randall Goosby enjoys meteoric rise but remains grounded

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000

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.

Celebrating Julia Perry

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 07:02:00 +0000

Composer Julia Perry for years existed only in the margins. Lost to time because of structural racism and sexism in America, her works are finally getting renewed attention. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Composer Jessie Montgomery uses music to connect with the world

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000

On the latest episode of the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast, we learn about Jessie Montgomery, a composer, violinist and educator whose music helps her connect with the world. Listen now.

Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason is a young and promising classical music superstar

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000

At 19, Sheku Kanneh-Mason became the first Black musician to win BBC Young Musician of the Year. A genuine classical music superstar who grabbed the spotlight early, he continues to focus on what is most important to him: the music, the cello and music education. Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

Pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason grew up in a family surrounded by music

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Raised in a family surrounded by music, pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason has worked hard to become a successful concert and recording artist. She had help along the way, primarily from her parents, who made sacrifices to ensure that she and her six younger siblings have all had wonderful music educations. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Roberta Flack was the shepherd of a new R&B sound

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Pop artist Roberta Flack grew up classically trained and continued to love the music even when revolutionizing the R&B scene. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Melanie DeMore uses her voice as a 'weapon of mass connection'

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Community leader and musician Melanie DeMore uses the power of her voice to bring people together and create meaningful connections in her community and beyond. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Awadagin Pratt is opening doors for young Black classical artists

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Awadagin Pratt is a professor of piano at the University of Cincinnati and the recipient of multiple awards. He’s never shied away from talking about his experiences as a Black man in classical music, and he’s working to make it a more welcoming space. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Gil Scott-Heron's message for the 1970s — and today

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +0000

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.

Moses Hogan created community through worship

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Choir director Moses Hogan, who died at 45 in 2003, built community through worship and song. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Paul Robeson was a brilliant star who was almost erased

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Columbia University graduate and polyglot Paul Robeson was a bass-baritone who advocated for the performance of African American spirituals in classical spaces. Considered a ‘darling of the entertainment industry,’ he was almost erased from history for his outspoken activism. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Paul Freeman meets MLK

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Find out how a chance meeting with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. helped give composer and conductor Paul Freeman the resolve to make classical music more inclusive and diverse on the latest episode of the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast. Listen now.

Margaret Bonds and the words of Langston Hughes

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0000

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's 'Good News Mass'

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0000

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.

Everett McCorvey and the American Spiritual Ensemble keep our heritage alive

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Founded in 1995 by Everett McCorvey, the American Spiritual Ensemble teaches about the history and traditions of enslaved people in America through the power of music. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Duke Ellington's 'Black, Brown and Beige' fuses jazz with classical orchestration

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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.

Grammy winner Jon Batiste recounts his life in 'American Symphony'

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Right after Jon Batiste won the Grammy for album of the year in 2022, he spent three weeks sleeping in a hospital couch as his wife, Suleika Jaouad, received a bone marrow transplant for Lukemia. Now, the couple recounts the ups and down of their recent years through the Netflix documentary, ‘American Symphony.’ Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Mary Lou Williams is perfect for concert halls and jazz clubs

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Mary Lou Williams’ artistic vision and her ability to blend diverse musical influences into a cohesive and unique composition are perfect for concert halls and jazz clubs. Find out more on the latest episode of the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

Thanksgiving's longstanding connection with gospel music

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Before the turkey and pies, Black households across America would start their holiday in church. Hymns like “Come Ye Thankful People, Come” were sung with spirituals like “Give Me Jesus.” That choral tradition became the soil from which soul music grew. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Imani Winds have faith in music as their core value

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +0000

The Imani Winds has had faith in commissioning new works that uplift the profile of BIPOC composers and performers. They have been doing so for over a quarter century. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

William Dawson's Tuskegee Institute legacy

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +0000

When William Dawson was 12, he ran away from home to study music at the Tuskeegee Institute. In 1930, he returned to his roots as director of the Tuskeegee School of Music, a post he held for 25 years. Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

Hazel Scott 'jazzed up the classics' and stood up against segregation

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +0000

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.

Legendary rocker Jimi Hendrix loved classical music

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Jimi Hendrix, who set London’s club scene ablaze and literally set his guitar ablaze while performing at Woodstock, also had a burning desire to study classical music. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Tosin Abasi is a guitar trailblazer

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Guitarist Tosin Abasi uses the influences of punk, funk, jazz and classical to forge a voice that didn’t fit into any single category. He’s one of the most innovative guitarists alive today. Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

Herbie Hancock is a musical innovator

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Herbie Hancock helped rewrite post-bop language and reimagined the rhythm section as a conversational engine. But his musical imagination wouldn’t stop at jazz. He has continued composing for film and the concert hall alike. Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

Miles Davis reinvented the jazz scene

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis redefined the genre in subtle and caustic ways. While he had great success he was always restless for innovation. Find out more in the latest episode of the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

Quincy Jones was a legend across genres and decades

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

At his core, Quincy Jones was a composer and arranger whose voice was shaped by the world of classical music. His ability to weave Black musical traditions into classical frameworks opened doors for new generations of Black and Brown composers. Find out more in the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast.

Pianist Michelle Cann inspires next generation as a noted music teacher

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Michelle Cann is a trailblazing African American concert pianist and teacher who is inspiring the next generation of musicians at the Manhattan School of Music and the Curtis Institute. Find out more in the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.