Black History Month

Dr. Derrell Acon is a bass-baritone singer, a Fulbright scholar, and an activist. He earned his doctoral degree in 19th-Century Opera History and Performance and his Master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). He graduated summa cum laude from Lawrence University with a B.Mus. degree and B.A. degree in Government, with […]

Josh Jones is Principal Percussionist in the Kansas City Symphony. The Chicago native lives and breathes his craft, as you will see when you watch the video below about him. According to his bio, he started hitting things at age 2, got his first drum set at age 3, and that planted the seeds for

Edmund Dédé lived from 1827-1903. Born in New Orleans, his parents were free Creole people from the French West Indies. Dédé’s father was a band director and his son’s first music teacher. Edmund was a child prodigy on the violin, and later became a conductor like his father, as well as a composer who trained

Violinist Yanet Campbell Secades was born in Camagüey, Cuba. The accomplished soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player has performed in Cuba, Europe, North America and the Caribbean. She earned her Master of Music from Memorial University of Newfoundland and an Artist Diploma from The Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.

Happy Birthday, George Frideric Handel! He was born on February 23, 1685 in Halle, Germany. Even as as child he was drawn to music, which his father discouraged, but his mother secretly helped him pursue. Read more about Handel using the link below to his biography. Today’s Beautiful Music features the extraordinary bass-baritone Dashon Burton

Marlene Ngalissamy is a bassoonist who started playing at age 13 in Canada. She says she quickly developed a deep passion for the instrument and was accepted at the Montreal Conservatory of Music, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree. Ms. Ngalissamy has participated in international festivals, workshops, and competitions, and has performed across Canada. She

Kalena Bovell is Assistant Conductor to the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Conductor of the Memphis Youth Symphony. The Los Angeles native earned her Master of Music and Graduate Professional Diploma in Orchestral Conducting from The Hartt School. She also holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the College of the Performing Arts at Chapman University,

On this President’s Day holiday, today’s Beautiful Music features the magnificent contralto Marian Anderson. She was prevented from performing at Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1939 because the venue banned Black performers. Instead, Marian Anderson performed on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, in front of the massive statue of

Today’s Beautiful Music highlights the late, great conductor James DePreist. At the time of his death in February 2013, Maestro DePreist was Director Emeritus of conducting and orchestral studies at The Juilliard School and laureate music director of the Oregon Symphony. James DePreist was the nephew of legendary contralto Marian Anderson, and you can read more about him