If you are a fan of NPR’s Tiny Desk concerts, you’re in luck! Tom Huizenga is a long time NPR producer, editor, and reporter whose work you’ve probably heard. Suzanne interviewed Tom about some of his favorite Tiny Desk performances and NPR interviews, and he shared stories about what it was like to meet some […]
Grammy-nominated pianist Simone Dinnerstein has a wide variety of musical passions, but music by Johann Sebastian Bach is an important part of her foundation. She believes Bach’s music has it all – intelligence and heart – and her expertise inspired The New York Times to describe her as “an utterly distinctive voice in the forest
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Frederick Ballentine is an American tenor whose awards include a Grammy for his recording of George Gershwin’s PORGY AND BESS. The opera star exudes a sense of ease, confidence, and fun when it comes to his career as an in-demand collaborator on everything from classic operas, to cutting-edge contemporary works. Frederick Ballentine spoke with Suzanne
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Award-winning musician Shawn Okpebholo earned his degrees at the prestigious University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. But he credits his start in music to The Salvation Army church, where he received free music lessons as a child, and to his mother’s tenacious support. The breadth of Dr. Okpebholo’s work is extraordinary: chamber works, art songs
From the time he was just a small child, Charles Wilson III – aka BLKBOK – showed extraordinary musical talent. The budding piano virtuoso’s family nurtured his interests, which blossomed to include many genres of music: classical, hip-hop, rap, and much more. BLKBOK chose his name, in part, as a way to honor his admiration
Scotland-based American conductor Kellen Gray is Assistant Conductor of the English National Opera and Assistant Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. He’s attuned to the orchestral repertory, including Bela Bartok, Antonin Dvorak, Aaron Copland, and Ralph Vaughan Williams. He’s also passionate about championing African-diasporic composers, and has two critically acclaimed albums — African-American Voices
Grammy-nominated flutist Brandon Patrick George is a member of Imani Winds and has appeared as a soloist with soloist with the Atlanta, Baltimore, and Albany symphonies, American Composers Orchestra, and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, among others. He’s also on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music. Suzanne spoke with Brandon Patrick George about
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As a music lover, you may be familiar with Melvin Chen for his recordings of piano music by Dmitri Shostakovich or Ludwig van Beethoven. He put his double degrees from The Juilliard School to work as Professor in the Practice of Piano at Yale School of Music and is Director of Norfolk Chamber Music Festival,
Acclaimed harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani – the first and only harpsichordist to be named a BBC New Generation Artist, and the youngest ever recipient of the Wigmore Medal – is an outspoken and passionate advocate for his instrument. Although the harpsichord is most closely associated with baroque music, Mahan Esfahani’s repertory is large and diverse, from
Loki Karuna (formerly Garrett McQueen) began his life in music in church. In middle school, he was handed a bassoon and he embraced the instrument, going on to earn degrees in music and performing in orchestras. His passion for music and justice propelled his career as a musician, leading him to become a radio and
