HearTOGETHER Podcast The Philadelphia Orchestra / Khadija Mbowe

On the final episode of our series, host Khadija Mbowe is joined by the renowned trumpet player and composer Terence Blanchard. Hear the pair talk like two old friends as they get real about everything from their experiences navigating the opera world to the power that sharing an article has to convey fatherly love. 


Get Tickets To See Terence Blanchard Live in Philly on April 7, 2024!

https://www.ensembleartsphilly.org/events-and-tickets/2023-24/kcp/terence-blanchard/


Music from this episode:
BLANCHARD  - "Opening Credits," Malcolm X  
BLANCHARD - "Peculiar Grace," Fire Shut Up in My Bones, The Metropolitan Opera
BLANCHARD - "Step Dance Sequence," Fire Shut Up in My Bones, The Metropolitan Opera
DVORAK - Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 (“From the New World," The Philadelphia Orchestra


The Philadelphia Orchestra’s HearTOGETHER series is generously supported by lead corporate sponsor Accordant Advisors. Additional major support has been provided by the Otto Haas Charitable Trust.

Two-time Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano, Curtis Institute of Music graduate, and former varsity basketball captain J’Nai Bridges joins host Khadija Mbowe for a free-flowing conversation about her wide-ranging musical influences, structured systems for success, and the public humiliation that (inadvertently) led to her becoming a star.

In February 2024, Bridges joined The Philadelphia Orchestra to announce the upcoming rededication of its home inside the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts as Marian Anderson Hall. It will be the first major concert venue in the world to honor the late performer and trailblazer.


Chapters:

[00:00-2:59] Get To Know J'Nai Bridges
[3:00- ] J'Nai Reflects On Marian Anderson's Impact On Herself And The World
[09:16-12:44] The Public Humiliation That Changed J'Nai's Path
[12:45- 17:15] J'Nai's Full Circle Moment Being Part of the Hall Rededication Announcement
[16:16-17:14]  Music: J'Nai Bridges with Gustavo Dudamel, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) perform “Whole World In Your Hand” during Global Goal: Unite for Our Future on June 27.
[17:17-20:02 ] The Triumphs and Trials of Travel
[20:03-24:41] How J'Nai Has Developed Structures for Success
[24:42-27:31] J'Nai Reflects on Progress in the Classical Music World 
[27:32- 29:27] J'Nai's Cataclysm Sentence


Music from this episode:

BIZET, HABANERA,  J’Nai Bridges in the Canadian Opera Company’s 2022 production of Carmen

J'Nai Bridges with Gustavo Dudamel, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) perform “Whole World In Your Hand” during Global Goal: Unite for Our Future on June 27.


Links from this episode:

READ MORE: The Philadelphia Orchestra to Rename Its Home at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts MARIAN ANDERSON HALL in Honor of the Legendary Contralto, Civil Rights Icon, and Philadelphian:  https://www.philorch.org/about-us/contact-us/press-room/news-releases/the-philadelphia-orchestra-to-rename-its-home-at-the-kimmel-center-for-the-performing-arts-marian-anderson-hall-in-honor-of-the-legendary-contralto-civil-rights-icon-and-philadelphian/


Want more Marian Anderson? Listen to our season one episode with Jillian Patricia Pirtles, CEO of the National Marian Anderson Museum: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1364857/5986438


Marian Anderson Museum: http://marianandersonhistoricalsociety.weebly.com/


J’Nai Bridges:
https://jnaibridgesmezzo.com/

https://www.instagram.com/jnaibmezzo/

https://www.facebook.com/jnaibridgesmezzo/


The Philadelphia Orchestra’s HearTOGETHER series is generously supported by lead corporate sponsor Accordant Advisors. Additional major support has been provided by the Otto Haas Charitable Trust.

A candid conversation between host Khadija Mbowe and 23-year-old Detroit Symphony Orchestra assistant conductor, Na'Zir McFadden. You'll hear about his collaborative conducting style, day-in-the-life, and deep Philly roots.   


Music from this episode:

STRAUSS, Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (Opening), Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Na’Zir McFadden, conductor.

COLRIDGE-TAYLOR,  African Suite: Danse Nègre, Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra, Na’Zir McFadden, conductor.

HOLST, The Planets, Op. 32, Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Na’Zir McFadden, conductor.


Links from this episode:

Nazir McFadden's Website: https://www.nazirmcfadden.com/

What is "The Hive"?: https://music.fandom.com/wiki/Bey_Hive

Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra: https://www.dso.org/community-and-learning/wu-family-academy/civic-youth-ensembles/civic-youth-ensembles


The Philadelphia Orchestra’s HearTOGETHER series is generously supported by lead corporate sponsor Accordant Advisors. Additional major support has been provided by the Otto Haas Charitable Trust.

Music historian, pianist, composer, and the Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Term Professor of Music at the University of Pennsylvania Dr. Guthrie Ramsey joins Judith Anne Still, daughter of the late composer William Grant Still, to discuss her father’s life and music, how his experiences as a Black man informed his compositions, and how, despite his many “firsts,” his music was largely unrecognized until recently.


Music from this episode:

STILL, Symphony No. 4 (“Autochthonous”), The Philadelphia Orchestra

STILL, Out of the Silence, First Philadelphia Orchestra performances, Jeffrey Khaner, flute


Links from this episode:

William Grant Still Music - http://www.williamgrantstillmusic.com/

Dr. Guthrie Ramsey on Twitter —  https://twitter.com/DrGuyMusiQology

William Grant Still and the Adventure of Discovery — https://www.philorch.org/about-us/learn-more/Blog/william-grant-still-and-the-adventure-of-discovery/
The Philadelphia Orchestra’s HearTOGETHER series is generously supported by lead corporate sponsor Accordant Advisors. Additional major support has been provided by the Otto Haas Charitable Trust.

On our season finale, interdisciplinary artist respectfulchild (they/them) shares a frank discussion with host Khadija Mbowe about their creative journey of experimentation and discovery. Born in Canada to Chinese-Malaysian parents, early on, respectfulchild yearned to defy expectations as a classical music student. Today, their compositions and artwork are a vehicle to imagine, discover, and occupy altogether new ways of being.


Chapters:

[00:00] Introduction - what's in a name?
[04:35]  Early musical influences 
[09:13]  Expectations of people with Asian heritage in classical music
[14:22]  Finding spiritual connection through creating interactive art
[22:43]  Upcoming album: breaking boundaries of gender & music
[27:00]  Striving for enjoyment 


Music from this episode:

Beauty," from respectfulchild's upcoming album, 更新 re:new (2023)

"Forest," from In the Shadow of the Pines (2021), the original soundtrack to Anne Koizumi’s 2021 animated short documentary of the same name

“Glitter” from, respectfulchild’s debut album, 在找 ::searching:: (2017)


Links from this episode:

respectfulchild website: https://respectfulchild.com/

Native Women's Shelter of Montreal: http://www.nwsm.info/donate

落叶归根 , Falling leaves return to their roots at Ramai Modern: https://respectfulchild.com/falling-leaves-return-to-their-roots/

Remai Modern Emerging Artist Series: https://remaimodern.org/?s=emerging+artist+series

Girls Rock Saskatoon: https://www.girlsrocksaskatoon.ca/


The Philadelphia Orchestra’s HearTOGETHER series is generously supported by lead corporate sponsor Accordant Advisors. Additional major support has been provided by the Otto Haas Charitable Trust.

Ian Cusson celebrates deep questions and despises stereotypes. is In this episode, you'll hear the sought-after Indigenous (Georgian Bay Métis Community) and French Canadian composer share a candid conversation with host Khadija Mbowe, digging into his experiences of privilege, shame, and one anecdote of sweet, swift, cosmic justice. 

Chapters:
[00:00] Introduction
[02:49] Métis community influence on Ian's artistic approach today
[10:00] Navigating indigenous heritage and Western religion will be a lifelong process 
[16:50] The privilege and shame of being "white-passing"
[25:16] Becoming better by making art 
[34:23] In-depth lightning round bonus!

Music from this episode:

Ian Cusson, "Le Loup de Lafontaine," world premiere performance by Alexander Shelley & NAC Orchestra as part of the Móshkamo Festival which marked the launch of the National Arts Centre’s Indigenous Theatre department. Le loup de Lafontaine was a National Arts Centre Orchestra commission as part of the Carrefour Composer Program, made possible by the Canada Council for the Arts.
 
Ian Cusson, "Where There’s a Wall,”  Song-cycle for voice and piano with text by Joy Kogawa. Performed by Krisztina Szabó, voice and Rachael Kerr, piano. Recorded at the Canadian Music Centre, Toronto on November 14, 2019, by John Gray.

Ian Cusson, "Of the Sea," a co-production with Obsidian Theatre Company and Tapestry Opera. Libretto by Kanika Ambrose, Directed by Philip Akin, Conducted by Jennifer Tung. 


Links from this episode:
Métis Nation: https://www.metisnation.org/
 
Yvette Nolan: https://nac-cna.ca/en/bio/yvette-nolan
 
Katherena Vermette: https://katherenavermette.com/

More on Ian's Louis Riel re-do: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/thursday-sept-19-2019-chilina-kennedy-hot-chip-and-more-1.5288615/changing-the-past-how-composer-ian-cusson-rewrote-part-of-the-famous-louis-riel-opera-1.5288860

BANFF Indigenous Classical Music Gathering: https://www.banffcentre.ca/programs/indigenous-classical-music-gathering/20220811



The Philadelphia Orchestra’s HearTOGETHER series is generously supported by lead corporate sponsor Accordant Advisors. Additional major support has been provided by the Otto Haas Charitable Trust.