[Top: R. Nathaniel Dett; Center: David N. Baker; Bottom: Ellis Marsalis]“Live From FM 91” On Toledo Public Radio and Streamed Online 10:00 A.M. Eastern TimeThe WGTE Program Guide describes “Live From FM 91”: “Join Classical Music Director, Brad Cresswell, for conversation and live music with some of the area's finest musicians.” The program will be heard Friday, July 10 at 10:00 A.M. Works by three African American Composers will be performed by Merwin Siu, Second Violin with the Toledo Symph... Read Full Story

TheNassauGuardian.comOpera at the DundasBy THEA RUTHERFORD ~ Guardian National Correspondent:“'Treemonisha,' an opera written by the African American composer Scott Joplin featuring the sounds of ragtime, comes to life on stage at the Dundas for the nation's 36th birthday. Courtesy of Dr. Cleveland Williams, the operatic singer who recently returned home with a passion to give back to society, Treemonisha will unfold during a four-night run at the Dundas from July 6 - 8 and 11. The opening ni... Read Full Story

[Sexy Paradise; Mariea Antoniette, harp; Maasai Records (2002)]Rashida Black is Founder/Executive Director of The Myrtle Hart Society, dedicated to classical musicians of color. Its July 2009 eNewsletter features this article, presented here in part:“L.A. Hear: Mariea AntonietteAfter rehearsing for a concert one afternoon on Long Island, one of the major donors approached me and said, 'I have a question to ask--and I don't mean to offend you in any way, but I have been sponsoring orchestras a... Read Full Story

[Kenneth Amis, Tuba, With Fellow Members of Empire Brass; Solo Eclipse; MIT Wind Ensemble; Kenneth Amis, tuba; Bill McHenry, tenor saxophone; Amis Musical Circle AMC-CD-050 (2008)]EmpireBrass.com“Kenneth Amis was born and raised in Bermuda. He began playing the piano at a young age and upon entering high school took up the tuba and developed an interest in performing and writing music. A Suite for Bass Tuba, composed when he was only fifteen, marked his first published work. A year later, at ... Read Full Story

[Deep River: Songs and Spirituals; Oral Moses, bass-baritone; Ann Sears, piano; Troy 332 (1999)]AfriClassical recently posted: “American Legacy: 'A Czech In The Land Of Spirituals' on Antonín Dvořák & Henry T. Burleigh”. We brought the post to the attention of Adina Williams, author of the article which prompted the post, and we sent a Letter to the Editor of American Legacy, Audrey Peterson:“Dear Editor, When my copy of American Legacy Magazine arrived I was immediately drawn to the comp... Read Full Story

[Anton Arensky: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 2; Twelve Etudes for Piano, Op. 74; Etude Op. 36, No. 13; Etude Op. 25, No. 3; Richard Alston, piano; Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Paul Freeman, conductor; Centaur Records CRC 2307 (1997)]The African American pianist Richard C. Alston has performed widely in the United States and Europe in solo recitals and concerts with orchestras. His website tells us: “A native of East Orange, NJ, Richard received his first instruction from Dorot... Read Full Story

[Photo from Roundabout’s Tin Pan Alley Rag by Joan Marcus.]Broadway.tv/blog“Tin Pan Alley Rage: Irving Berlin Plagiarist?BROADWAY MAGAZINE—The new offering from Roundabout Theatre is Mark Saltzman’s Tin Pan Alley Rag, featuring the music and characters of Irving Berlin and Scott Joplin. The two men are unquestionably saints in the cannon of American popular music. However, there is more than a little suggestion that Mr. Berlin may have also been a bit of a sinner too. In Charles Hamm’s book, ... Read Full Story

[Deep River: Songs and Spirituals; Oral Moses, bass-baritone; Ann Sears, piano; Henry T. Burleigh, composer; Troy 332 (1999)]“American Legacy, The Magazine of African-American History & Culture, http://www.AmericanLegacyMag.com/” has published a “Special Music Issue” for Summer 2009. One of the articles is:“A Czech In The Land Of Spirituals”by Adina Williams“Years ago, as a young woman and a fairly advanced student of music and violin, I had the opportunity to perform Antonín Dvořák's Sym... Read Full Story

[Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges: Violin Concertos, Op. 5, Nos. 1 & 2; Op. 3, No. 1; Op. 8, No. 9; Bernard Thomas Chamber Orchestra; Jean-Jacques Kantorow, Violin; Arion 68093 (1990)]A visitor to AfriClassical.com has written a Guest Book entry which highlights an obstacle to learning of African Heritage in Classical Music:Tuesday, 6/23/09, 8:36 PM “Thank you so much for this site. I took an Introduction to Music class this summer to renew my teachers license. We had to do a small research ... Read Full Story

[William Grant Still: Afro-American Symphony; Fort Smith Symphony; John Jeter, Conductor; Naxos 8.559174 (2005)]Judith Anne Still recently informed AfriClassical of a forthcoming recording of music of her father, William Grant Still, by the Fort Smith Symphony, whose Music Director and Conductor is John Jeter. Maestro Jeter, in his 13th season with the orchestra, agreed to be interviewed about the project. Fort Smith is the second largest city in Arkansas, located across the Arkansas River fr... Read Full Story