so we’re gonna talk about classical music I thought what better way to start
music I thought what better way to start
music I thought what better way to start them with a little bit of listening so
them with a little bit of listening so
them with a little bit of listening so I’m going to play two pieces for you
I’m going to play two pieces for you
I’m going to play two pieces for you both written in the Classical period now
both written in the Classical period now
both written in the Classical period now listen very closely here’s the first
[Music]
[Music] all right now here’s the second
all right now here’s the second
all right now here’s the second [Music]
great so both of these beautiful violin
great so both of these beautiful violin concerto were composed in the 18th
concerto were composed in the 18th
concerto were composed in the 18th century by classical music composers one
century by classical music composers one
century by classical music composers one was written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
was written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
was written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart who is one of the most iconic classical
who is one of the most iconic classical
who is one of the most iconic classical composers in the history of the world
composers in the history of the world
composers in the history of the world the other was written by this man Joseph
the other was written by this man Joseph
the other was written by this man Joseph Boulogne Chevalier the st. George
Boulogne Chevalier the st. George
Boulogne Chevalier the st. George now Joseph bulan was born about ten
now Joseph bulan was born about ten
now Joseph bulan was born about ten years before Mozart in Guadeloupe to a
years before Mozart in Guadeloupe to a
years before Mozart in Guadeloupe to a black slave and her white master he was
black slave and her white master he was
black slave and her white master he was a conductor composer and violinist
a conductor composer and violinist
a conductor composer and violinist during his lifetime he was appointed by
during his lifetime he was appointed by
during his lifetime he was appointed by the King of France to be the conductor
the King of France to be the conductor
the King of France to be the conductor of the prestigious Paris Opera however
of the prestigious Paris Opera however
of the prestigious Paris Opera however he was unfortunately never able to take
he was unfortunately never able to take
he was unfortunately never able to take that post because the members of the
that post because the members of the
that post because the members of the orchestra refused to be conducted by a
orchestra refused to be conducted by a
orchestra refused to be conducted by a mulatto man today approximately
mulatto man today approximately
mulatto man today approximately two-thirds of his works are lost
two-thirds of his works are lost
two-thirds of his works are lost and his work is seldom performed as many
and his work is seldom performed as many
and his work is seldom performed as many young people I spent a lot of my life
young people I spent a lot of my life
young people I spent a lot of my life trying to find a sense of belonging in
trying to find a sense of belonging in
trying to find a sense of belonging in the world and in my field as a musician
the world and in my field as a musician
the world and in my field as a musician myself I spent a lot of time performing
myself I spent a lot of time performing
myself I spent a lot of time performing and practicing and meeting with conduct
and practicing and meeting with conduct
and practicing and meeting with conduct conductors and professors that don’t
conductors and professors that don’t
conductors and professors that don’t look like me about the music of
look like me about the music of
look like me about the music of composers that don’t look like me either
composers that don’t look like me either
composers that don’t look like me either in my everyday endeavors performing and
in my everyday endeavors performing and
in my everyday endeavors performing and having class and my other things outside
having class and my other things outside
having class and my other things outside of school
of school
of school I’m often the only black person in the
I’m often the only black person in the
I’m often the only black person in the room many times I find myself being the
room many times I find myself being the
room many times I find myself being the only person of color at all as you can
only person of color at all as you can
only person of color at all as you can see in this picture you can spot me on
see in this picture you can spot me on
see in this picture you can spot me on the third row this was taken last
the third row this was taken last
the third row this was taken last quarter
quarter
quarter now I don’t say these things to complain
now I don’t say these things to complain
now I don’t say these things to complain that’s simply the state of things as
that’s simply the state of things as
that’s simply the state of things as they are now on the other hand I’ve
they are now on the other hand I’ve
they are now on the other hand I’ve spent a lot of time in high school and
spent a lot of time in high school and
spent a lot of time in high school and college asking myself questions like am
college asking myself questions like am
college asking myself questions like am i black enough
i black enough
i black enough does anyone that looks like me care
does anyone that looks like me care
does anyone that looks like me care about the same things that I do should I
about the same things that I do should I
about the same things that I do should I be spending my life pursuing something
be spending my life pursuing something
be spending my life pursuing something that’s more historically associated with
that’s more historically associated with
that’s more historically associated with black culture how could I not ask myself
black culture how could I not ask myself
black culture how could I not ask myself these things when people in in my high
these things when people in in my high
these things when people in in my high schools and in college have called me an
schools and in college have called me an
schools and in college have called me an Oreo because they thought that I was
Oreo because they thought that I was
Oreo because they thought that I was black on the outside yet somehow my
black on the outside yet somehow my
black on the outside yet somehow my interest made me white on the inside I
interest made me white on the inside I
interest made me white on the inside I don’t get it either I felt that I was
don’t get it either I felt that I was
don’t get it either I felt that I was spending my life pursuing an art that
spending my life pursuing an art that
spending my life pursuing an art that simply wasn’t meant for me however since
simply wasn’t meant for me however since
simply wasn’t meant for me however since this time I’ve come a long way to
this time I’ve come a long way to
this time I’ve come a long way to realize that the contributions of
realize that the contributions of
realize that the contributions of minorities and and women in the arts
minorities and and women in the arts
minorities and and women in the arts have been going on since the 18th
have been going on since the 18th
have been going on since the 18th century and and before now this brought
century and and before now this brought
century and and before now this brought me to a very common place where
me to a very common place where
me to a very common place where minorities often occupy seeing that
minorities often occupy seeing that
minorities often occupy seeing that people of their background have been
people of their background have been
people of their background have been doing amazing things in the field and
doing amazing things in the field and
doing amazing things in the field and contributing to our society yet they
contributing to our society yet they
contributing to our society yet they asked themselves questions like why
asked themselves questions like why
asked themselves questions like why didn’t I know about this why didn’t I
didn’t I know about this why didn’t I
didn’t I know about this why didn’t I learn about this in school the work of
learn about this in school the work of
learn about this in school the work of people of color has been marginalized as
people of color has been marginalized as
people of color has been marginalized as a side note if it’s mentioned at all in
a side note if it’s mentioned at all in
a side note if it’s mentioned at all in my 14 years of classical music study I
my 14 years of classical music study I
my 14 years of classical music study I have played three pieces by black
have played three pieces by black
have played three pieces by black composers one of which was by myself
this is a real problem and I think that
this is a real problem and I think that needs to be addressed when I first
needs to be addressed when I first
needs to be addressed when I first started getting interested in diversity
started getting interested in diversity
started getting interested in diversity inclusion in classical music I did what
inclusion in classical music I did what
inclusion in classical music I did what anyone else would do and started doing a
anyone else would do and started doing a
anyone else would do and started doing a lot of research I talked to my mentors
lot of research I talked to my mentors
lot of research I talked to my mentors colleagues professors went online did
colleagues professors went online did
colleagues professors went online did Google searches and because I was
Google searches and because I was
Google searches and because I was looking for what work was already being
looking for what work was already being
looking for what work was already being done in the field and to my surprise I
done in the field and to my surprise I
done in the field and to my surprise I actually found that there are a lot of
actually found that there are a lot of
actually found that there are a lot of initiatives that are trying to address
initiatives that are trying to address
initiatives that are trying to address this issue of diversity in classical
this issue of diversity in classical
this issue of diversity in classical music upon finding all of these
music upon finding all of these
music upon finding all of these different organizations that are out
different organizations that are out
different organizations that are out there I thought to myself how is it that
there I thought to myself how is it that
there I thought to myself how is it that I can’t name five black composers after
I can’t name five black composers after
I can’t name five black composers after going to some of the finest classical
going to some of the finest classical
going to some of the finest classical music institutions in the country in the
music institutions in the country in the
music institutions in the country in the University of North Carolina School of
University of North Carolina School of
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
the Arts
the Arts Indiana University Jacobs School of
Indiana University Jacobs School of
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Northwestern University
Music in Northwestern University
Music in Northwestern University something clearly was not working it’s
something clearly was not working it’s
something clearly was not working it’s very interesting when in moving forward
very interesting when in moving forward
very interesting when in moving forward with this I thought to myself not only
with this I thought to myself not only
with this I thought to myself not only are they are the problems within these
are they are the problems within these
are they are the problems within these schools the problems are in the
schools the problems are in the
schools the problems are in the professional scene as well if you look
professional scene as well if you look
professional scene as well if you look at the orchestras around the country
at the orchestras around the country
at the orchestras around the country four percent of performers in the top 25
four percent of performers in the top 25
four percent of performers in the top 25 orchestras are black or Latino combined
orchestras are black or Latino combined
orchestras are black or Latino combined zero percent statistically speaking of
zero percent statistically speaking of
zero percent statistically speaking of pieces performed were by any composer of
pieces performed were by any composer of
pieces performed were by any composer of color at all zero percent now I’m not
color at all zero percent now I’m not
color at all zero percent now I’m not saying that there were zero pieces
saying that there were zero pieces
saying that there were zero pieces performed by these major orchestras
performed by these major orchestras
performed by these major orchestras however the fact that the number is less
however the fact that the number is less
however the fact that the number is less than 0.5% of all the pieces is startling
than 0.5% of all the pieces is startling
than 0.5% of all the pieces is startling within itself and if you look at the
within itself and if you look at the
within itself and if you look at the conservatories around the world in the
conservatories around the world in the
conservatories around the world in the country you’ll see that the faculty
country you’ll see that the faculty
country you’ll see that the faculty students and administration simply do
students and administration simply do
students and administration simply do not represent the diverse world in which
not represent the diverse world in which
not represent the diverse world in which we live
we live
we live now I could give you single-digit
now I could give you single-digit
now I could give you single-digit statistics all day to explain how much
statistics all day to explain how much
statistics all day to explain how much this is an issue some of them might be
this is an issue some of them might be
this is an issue some of them might be two digits because there’s a decimal
two digits because there’s a decimal
two digits because there’s a decimal place but I think from here we need to
place but I think from here we need to
place but I think from here we need to move forward I had a conversation with
move forward I had a conversation with
move forward I had a conversation with Aaron Dworkin who is the Dean of the
Aaron Dworkin who is the Dean of the
Aaron Dworkin who is the Dean of the University of Michigan School of Music
University of Michigan School of Music
University of Michigan School of Music Theatre and dance and one of the most
Theatre and dance and one of the most
Theatre and dance and one of the most amazing advocates for diversity and
amazing advocates for diversity and
amazing advocates for diversity and inclusion in the performing arts and he
inclusion in the performing arts and he
inclusion in the performing arts and he told me something very interesting that
told me something very interesting that
told me something very interesting that has stuck with me ever since
has stuck with me ever since
has stuck with me ever since he said that in dealing with these
he said that in dealing with these
he said that in dealing with these issues of diversity many times it’s not
issues of diversity many times it’s not
issues of diversity many times it’s not difficult to address to address them
difficult to address to address them
difficult to address to address them they simply require that you think about
they simply require that you think about
they simply require that you think about them at all for example at the
them at all for example at the
them at all for example at the University of Michigan they’ve started
University of Michigan they’ve started
University of Michigan they’ve started recently an international chamber music
recently an international chamber music
recently an international chamber music competition called the M prize
competition called the M prize
competition called the M prize now the M prize is amazing in a lot of
now the M prize is amazing in a lot of
now the M prize is amazing in a lot of different ways it has some of the
different ways it has some of the
different ways it has some of the largest cash prizes I’ve ever seen there
largest cash prizes I’ve ever seen there
largest cash prizes I’ve ever seen there are there is phenomenal and media
are there is phenomenal and media
are there is phenomenal and media coverage for all the ensembles that
coverage for all the ensembles that
coverage for all the ensembles that participate and the ensembles get to
participate and the ensembles get to
participate and the ensembles get to collaborate with each other and it’s
collaborate with each other and it’s
collaborate with each other and it’s simply amazing however the most
simply amazing however the most
simply amazing however the most important thing to me about the Emprise
important thing to me about the Emprise
important thing to me about the Emprise competition is that if you look at the
competition is that if you look at the
competition is that if you look at the panel of judges and the board members
panel of judges and the board members
panel of judges and the board members you’ll find an extreme amount of
you’ll find an extreme amount of
you’ll find an extreme amount of diversity there are female musicians
diversity there are female musicians
diversity there are female musicians representatives black musicians Asian
representatives black musicians Asian
representatives black musicians Asian musicians Latino musicians now in doing
musicians Latino musicians now in doing
musicians Latino musicians now in doing this he did not have to sacrifice
this he did not have to sacrifice
this he did not have to sacrifice artistic excellence for the sake for the
artistic excellence for the sake for the
artistic excellence for the sake for the sake of diversity in fact the Emprise
sake of diversity in fact the Emprise
sake of diversity in fact the Emprise competition is now one of the most
competition is now one of the most
competition is now one of the most prestigious in the entire world he
prestigious in the entire world he
prestigious in the entire world he simply had to think about it at all here
simply had to think about it at all here
simply had to think about it at all here at Northwestern we are also making a few
at Northwestern we are also making a few
at Northwestern we are also making a few changes in speaking with a lot of my
changes in speaking with a lot of my
changes in speaking with a lot of my friends in the beena School of Music and
friends in the beena School of Music and
friends in the beena School of Music and colleagues I started a petition among
colleagues I started a petition among
colleagues I started a petition among students to show our administration that
students to show our administration that
students to show our administration that this is a serious issue that is a
this is a serious issue that is a
this is a serious issue that is a concern of the students now we’re not
concern of the students now we’re not
concern of the students now we’re not asking that anyone reinvent the wheel
asking that anyone reinvent the wheel
asking that anyone reinvent the wheel we’re not asking that anyone throw away
we’re not asking that anyone throw away
we’re not asking that anyone throw away what we already have we’re simply asking
what we already have we’re simply asking
what we already have we’re simply asking that the contributions of all people are
that the contributions of all people are
that the contributions of all people are considered in our music theory music
considered in our music theory music
considered in our music theory music history and oral skills curriculums now
history and oral skills curriculums now
history and oral skills curriculums now these are not difficult issues to
these are not difficult issues to
these are not difficult issues to address as Dorkin said some concrete
address as Dorkin said some concrete
address as Dorkin said some concrete things that we can do are simply adding
things that we can do are simply adding
things that we can do are simply adding sample materials by diverse composers by
sample materials by diverse composers by
sample materials by diverse composers by female composers into our everyday class
female composers into our everyday class
female composers into our everyday class classroom activities another thing that
classroom activities another thing that
classroom activities another thing that we could do is simply by when we are
we could do is simply by when we are
we could do is simply by when we are introducing a major work play a piece
introducing a major work play a piece
introducing a major work play a piece that has been recorded by a diverse
that has been recorded by a diverse
that has been recorded by a diverse musician this will allow the students to
musician this will allow the students to
musician this will allow the students to have a much more wide-ranging education
have a much more wide-ranging education
have a much more wide-ranging education and I think that this is a model that’s
and I think that this is a model that’s
and I think that this is a model that’s that’s conservatories all around the
that’s conservatories all around the
that’s conservatories all around the world can follow very easily now I know
world can follow very easily now I know
world can follow very easily now I know that there is definitely no quick fix
that there is definitely no quick fix
that there is definitely no quick fix for this issue however there are a few
for this issue however there are a few
for this issue however there are a few succinct things that I think are very
succinct things that I think are very
succinct things that I think are very important when we’re starting
important when we’re starting
important when we’re starting initiatives to combat diversity and
initiatives to combat diversity and
initiatives to combat diversity and inclusion firstly I think that all of
inclusion firstly I think that all of
inclusion firstly I think that all of these initiatives need to be thought of
these initiatives need to be thought of
these initiatives need to be thought of as top-down what I mean by that is that
as top-down what I mean by that is that
as top-down what I mean by that is that the nation’s best music schools the
the nation’s best music schools the
the nation’s best music schools the nation’s best orchestras wind ensembles
nation’s best orchestras wind ensembles
nation’s best orchestras wind ensembles chamber ensembles and soloists need to
chamber ensembles and soloists need to
chamber ensembles and soloists need to take it upon themselves and realize that
take it upon themselves and realize that
take it upon themselves and realize that they are the trendsetters in this field
they are the trendsetters in this field
they are the trendsetters in this field what they do other people will follow
what they do other people will follow
what they do other people will follow who they Commission for new works other
who they Commission for new works other
who they Commission for new works other people will Commission second we need to
people will Commission second we need to
people will Commission second we need to ensure that our initiatives are
ensure that our initiatives are
ensure that our initiatives are inherently inclusive and not more
inherently inclusive and not more
inherently inclusive and not more divisive many times there will be a
divisive many times there will be a
divisive many times there will be a black or Latino only orchestra that only
black or Latino only orchestra that only
black or Latino only orchestra that only plays the music of black or Latino
plays the music of black or Latino
plays the music of black or Latino musician of composers and there are also
musician of composers and there are also
musician of composers and there are also lots of initiatives where there are
lots of initiatives where there are
lots of initiatives where there are musicians that go into inner-city
musicians that go into inner-city
musicians that go into inner-city schools and they perform classical music
schools and they perform classical music
schools and they perform classical music for the students there and this is great
for the students there and this is great
for the students there and this is great however what they don’t realize is that
however what they don’t realize is that
however what they don’t realize is that these children are seeing people that
these children are seeing people that
these children are seeing people that don’t look like them coming into their
don’t look like them coming into their
don’t look like them coming into their school playing music of people that they
school playing music of people that they
school playing music of people that they can’t relate to they need to be hearing
can’t relate to they need to be hearing
can’t relate to they need to be hearing about people like Joseph boulogne
about people like Joseph boulogne
about people like Joseph boulogne because I can tell you from personal
because I can tell you from personal
because I can tell you from personal experience that learning about the
experience that learning about the
experience that learning about the contributions of people like you at such
contributions of people like you at such
contributions of people like you at such a high level it’s so empowering and
a high level it’s so empowering and
a high level it’s so empowering and gives you the confidence to know that
gives you the confidence to know that
gives you the confidence to know that your form of expression can also be
your form of expression can also be
your form of expression can also be appreciated third within our each of our
appreciated third within our each of our
appreciated third within our each of our minority groups we must value the people
minority groups we must value the people
minority groups we must value the people that have come before us and teach our
that have come before us and teach our
that have come before us and teach our children that they can truly do whatever
children that they can truly do whatever
children that they can truly do whatever they put their mind to when I was a boy
they put their mind to when I was a boy
they put their mind to when I was a boy I learned about people like Jackie
I learned about people like Jackie
I learned about people like Jackie Robinson Harriet Tubman George
Robinson Harriet Tubman George
Robinson Harriet Tubman George Washington Carver because they were
Washington Carver because they were
Washington Carver because they were people that I could look up to that have
people that I could look up to that have
people that I could look up to that have made major contributions to the world
made major contributions to the world
made major contributions to the world and are also black however I hope that
and are also black however I hope that
and are also black however I hope that the next generation can also learn about
the next generation can also learn about
the next generation can also learn about people like Sanford Allen who was the
people like Sanford Allen who was the
people like Sanford Allen who was the first black musician to ever enter the
first black musician to ever enter the
first black musician to ever enter the New York Philharmonic or people like
New York Philharmonic or people like
New York Philharmonic or people like Florence price who was the first black
Florence price who was the first black
Florence price who was the first black woman to have a piece performed by a
woman to have a piece performed by a
woman to have a piece performed by a major orchestra in the Chicago Symphony
finding out about people like this is
finding out about people like this is what’s truly going to create diversity
what’s truly going to create diversity
what’s truly going to create diversity in the field that we love so much now I
in the field that we love so much now I
in the field that we love so much now I realize that today I’ve focused a lot on
realize that today I’ve focused a lot on
realize that today I’ve focused a lot on black musicians and that’s simply
black musicians and that’s simply
black musicians and that’s simply because that’s my experience
because that’s my experience
because that’s my experience however in dealing with the petition
however in dealing with the petition
however in dealing with the petition I’ve realized that so many other of my
I’ve realized that so many other of my
I’ve realized that so many other of my colleagues feel the exact same way there
colleagues feel the exact same way there
colleagues feel the exact same way there are so many people that feel like the
are so many people that feel like the
are so many people that feel like the work of people of their background has
work of people of their background has
work of people of their background has been marginalized and pushed
been marginalized and pushed
been marginalized and pushed aside it’s time that we realized that
aside it’s time that we realized that
aside it’s time that we realized that the oppression of one of us is truly the
the oppression of one of us is truly the
the oppression of one of us is truly the oppression of us all we must fight for
oppression of us all we must fight for
oppression of us all we must fight for ourselves but we must also fight for our
ourselves but we must also fight for our
ourselves but we must also fight for our neighbors it’s time that we truly bring
neighbors it’s time that we truly bring
neighbors it’s time that we truly bring the contributions of minorities and
the contributions of minorities and
the contributions of minorities and women into the Canon of classical music
women into the Canon of classical music
women into the Canon of classical music now I’d like to close today just by
now I’d like to close today just by
now I’d like to close today just by performing a short little excerpt of a
performing a short little excerpt of a
performing a short little excerpt of a piece by William Grant still with one of
piece by William Grant still with one of
piece by William Grant still with one of my good friends in the School of Music
my good friends in the School of Music
my good friends in the School of Music and fellow musician Karen Zane thank you
”
Be First to Comment