Black Music Seen
The Black Music Seen Podcast highlights and celebrates Black musicians in genres where Black people are seldom seen. Produced by the Black Orchestral Network, Black Music Seen serves to lift our voices and tell our stories.
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Episodes
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
In today’s episode, we’ll meet Booker Rowe. A Philadelphia born violinist who played for just over 50 years with the Philadelphia orchestra. He sat down with us to tell his story and even agreed to chat with two of our Black Orchestral Network founding members with whom he has a pretty special connection .
Booker, like so many Black musicians we’ll hear from in this series carries with him a rich history of personal stories, musical moments, triumphs and setbacks… all the while bearing witness to the beautiful and troubling experiences one faces when you are Black and just so happen to love classical music.
In the style of a true gentleman, Booker Shares his story.
Friday Feb 24, 2023
Friday Feb 24, 2023
In today’s episode, we’ll meet Rufus Olivier Jr. - the principal bassoonist for the San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Ballet. He joined the symphony in 1977 at only 21 years of age after winning the position for 2nd bassoon. When the Symphony split from the Opera, Rufus auditioned for the Opera and won the principal position. In 1992 he won the principal audition for the Ballet as well.
He has recorded many movie, video, CD, and TV soundtracks including Disney’s Never Cry Wolf and San Francisco Opera’s Grammy-nominated CD Orphée et Eurydice. He was even awarded a Grammy for the soundtrack Elmo in Grouchland.
Over several decades, Rufus Olivier Jr. has led a career as a bassoonist very much worthy of uplifting and celebrating. We had an amazing time sitting down with him and getting to know him. He’s an exuberant guy, full of laughs, who’s certainly mastered the art of the bassoon and “navigating” life one step at a time, day by day.
Friday May 20, 2022
Friday May 20, 2022
Today’s episode takes us through the life and times of the harpist Ann Hobson Pilot - a black woman whose talent and prowess as a harp player shattered the color barrier of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1969, leading her to forge a decorated career as a harpist, inspiring many of the Black classical musicians of today.
For over 4 decades Ann forged an awe-inspiring career through some of our country’s most intense racial moments while performing at the highest level in a field of music most known for racial and social prejudice.
The Black Music Seen podcast is a product of the Black Orchestral Network, where our mission is to cultivate community, lift our voices, and tell our stories. If you’d like to get involved and support the Black Orchestral Network please visit blackorchestralnetwork.org!
The Black Orchestral Network is sponsored by the Gateways Music Festival and generously supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Credits:
Written and Produced by: David A. Norville
Co-hosts: Joy Payton Stevens & Titus Underwood
Music Credits:
Journey To Ascend by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/8951-journey-to-ascend
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license