"The Enduring Legacy of Marian Anderson" w. J’Nai Bridges

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.