The Conversation: Black classical musicians are building supportive communities

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Black classical musicians including U of T Music alumni violinist and faculty member Tanya Charles Iveniuk and bassoonist Sheba Thibideau speak up about their experiences with anti-Black racism, sharing their stories, and creating communities

Excerpt from an article in The Conversation by Gloria Blizzard and Gillian Turnbull

"Music has been significant for many during COVID-19 isolation, and in these same months Black musicians have amplified the momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement.

While pop or hip hop music are genres whose agility and responsiveness make them natural sites for popular commentary, this threatens to neglect other arenas of music making.

Some arts organizations in Canada have pledged support for Black Lives Matter, turned their platforms over to Black artists or spotlighted their work. Recently a virtual event aired, “Black Opera Live: Canada,” featuring acclaimed sopranos Measha Brueggergosman, Othalie Graham and Audrey DuBois Harris, produced by Black Opera Productions, a U.S. documentary film company. But what of a wider and cohesive community of Black classical instrumentalists in Canada today?

While there is a long history of professional classical musicianship in the Black community, there are gaps of knowledge about Black classical artistry in Canada."

Read the full article at The Conversation