If 8 year old me could’ve seen this orchestra then, he’d never have asked his mum if he really belongs classical music. And if 8 year old me could see this now, playing the most lush bsn duet from the worlds most famous symphony to a sold out RAH. Well I think he’d be dead proud.
@_mrseras
@RoganJoshh
I get it and I get why you’d want to do it for your own sanity. But you shouldn’t have to sign post your race akin to wartime regimes from the early 20th century.
I’ll be standing in for the irreplaceable
@MannGeorgia
on essential classics today. Starting with the obligatory
#onthewaytowork
selfie. Join me at 9am for music from Ruth Crawford Seeger, Sibelius and beautiful song by Agnes Baltsa ✌🏾
@BBCRadio3
I get asked a lot about whether we should still play music with outdated stereotypes or problematic language. After a few conversations with other ED&I specialists, I’ve pulled together a little guide of things to consider when programming such music.
Thanks to everyone for your kind comments and the wonderfully supportive radio 3 listenership. Bloody loved it. Big up to producer David for his music choices today and special mention to producer Elizabeth making this whole process so smooth! See you at the proms
@MannGeorgia
THE most important feedback I’ve had about last night was from an 8 year old. ‘That was SOOOOOO good!’ It goes to show even the most complex art can be accessible if presented well. Already got withdrawal from this amazing
@auroraorchestra
project and my fellow bassoons 🫶🏾
I’m delighted be able to announce that I’ll be moving to afternoons on
@BBCRadio3
a new slot called classical live joining
@elizabethalker
&
@tom_mckinney
With this comes the sad news that Classical Fix will end but I’m so excited for this next chapter.
Next year in collaboration with
@BLKLivesinMusic
we hope to launch the UK’s (and possibly Europe’s) first Black, ethnically diverse and underrepresented classical & instrumental music festival. It’s an ambitious task but we’re moving forward and will hopefully have more news soon
Replying to the barrage of racism against my son
@ShekuKM
this week. So many feel it’s ok to call for deportation, flogging, sending him ‘back to Africa’ and to use ‘Ni**er’ against someone trying to engage in a conversation about music and inclusion. Horror, rage, heartbreak.
The 9-12 slot on
@BBCRadio3
means it’s time for the obligatory
@MannGeorgia
style selfie. Also Georgia I clocked your little Stockhausen teddy bear challenge on Thursday 😉 join me for music from Mel Bonis,
@Hanpeel
, Ravel and more.
Because Tannhauser is just that bit too challenging for women horn players…
Now listen. I know they get women in. Every so often. But what message are you sending
@RoyalOperaHouse
‘We want to help modernise classical music. We don’t play the normal rep. With us you’ll get something unexpected. Something different and emotional that challenges the cannon and changes the landscape’
Proceeds to play obscure Mozart piano concerto
Good mornting. In the great tradition of
@MannGeorgia
join me from 9 am on
@BBCRadio3
now I know I’m supposed to be impartial but you may hear my slight bias for the bassoon today….
Women composers. Until we don’t have to talk about it being a thing, we have to talk about it being a thing.
Amazing to hear albums focusing on rep by women, by exquisite artists like
@rosalindventris
and
@Aoyarzabalpiano
drop this morning 💥
Saturday breakfast from 6:30 on bbc radio 3 with the lovely Les looking after me in the producers chair. Loads of great music from the likes Ida Moberg and Albeniz to enjoy with your morning coffee
Cobalt blue gown for tonight’s outing. What a pleasure it was to play in
@ndanielmusic
birthday concert. Poulenc with
@WatkinsHuw
and all looking resplendent.
@wigmore_hall
a real joy. Happy birthday Nic xx
Speech and language therapy for quite a few years as a child, for a fairly debilitating speech impediment and stutter. And now I talk for a living. Literally nothing can hold you back!
I had a pretty traumatic night after work and ended up writing off my car after a collision with a Deer on the M6 toll. Biggest thing is that I’m fine, aside from a little shock. Big thanks particularly to Lizzie, Paul & Jeremy at BBC who were incredibly supportive and managed to
Today’s the day. My first run on afternoons. Classical Live from 1pm showcasing some of the greatest live performances from across the uk and Europe with a focus this week on music from Scotland. And I’d be absolutely delighted if you’d join me. 😊
If I can ask, please don’t use my illustrations without permission. They took me so so long to draw. And to everyone asking I’ll make them into a poster and time permitting free education resource at the end of the month.
Ok so on everyone’s advice I’ve added names and dates. And a QR code that takes you directly to the playlist on Spotify. DM me if you’d like a copy for your music dept and I’ll see if it’s enough to get printed up. I’ll only charge printing cost plus p&p.
Aside from my bsn teachers. I owe much of my playing career to 3 amazing women who saw undeveloped potential and put me on the right path. Lydia Dalby my first bsn teacher, Victoria Wells my A-level teacher and Karen Humphries (now retired) head of JRNCM, a 🧵 about junior depts
The Cadenza from Eric Fogg bassoon concerto. Head to Scarborough this Saturday at 7:30 for the whole thing with the wonderful Scarborough Symphony Orchestra. PLUS the UK PREMIERE of Grant-Still symphony number 4.
Just reposting this as a few people have asked for it. Planning on something slightly similar for women’s and lgbtq+ history months too so watch this space!!!!
I’ve always hated the word ‘accompanist’. 9 times out of 10 it reflects the music and not the performers. Not to mention pianists often have a more nuanced and even more difficult job than the soloist - sometimes playing a reduction of their an entire orchestra.
You only need watch this video to see how much I LOVE working with
@MULTISTORYORGUK
. ROUTES is on for one more night only at bold tendencies in Peckham. Tomorrow (Friday) at 7pm.
Quick coffee stop on my way to present the Sunday morning shift. Join me from 9 for great music by Hamish MacCunn, Mozart and an beautifully serene piece by Daniel Herskedal.
@BBCRadio3
Delighted to have been re-elected onto
@WeAreTheMU
Equality Committee. Hand on heart my equality work is my true passion. Working towards a more inclusive industry and making things better for everyone. I won’t let you down.
Making my rite debut in its entirety this year. Having only ever played excerpts. And what better way than to do it memorised 😂 actually can’t wait for this dream team of ‘oons tho
💥 RITE OF SPRING at the
@bbcproms
💥
That's right, we're bringing Stravinsky's masterpiece to the
@RoyalAlbertHall
this summer. By heart, with a staged introduction.
You might want the sound on for this one...
#Blacktober
31 days of Black and ethnically diverse composers to listen out for
Day 10
Ayanna Witter-Johnson
@AyannaWJ
Born 1985 Islington, London
A second-gen Brit-Jamaican, whose music represents, celebrates and pays homage to her ancestral heritage, culture and identity.
Not officially back at work yet as I’ve three more weeks in the splint then physio, but as there’s a key in place of the A hole (no pun intended)I can just about navigate the contra
Coming up this Women’s History Month
March of the Women
31 days of women composers and conductors with illustrations complete with biogs and a playlist.
I try to display my political stance in actions rather than words on Twitter. But with the anti-trans bile I’m hearing this week I’m reiterating my solidarity. No body and indeed nobody should be treated as less than human. 🏳️⚧️
#Blacktober
31 days of Black and ethnically diverse composers to listen out for
Day 11
Eleanor Alberga OBE
Born 1949 Kingston, Jamaica
A highly regarded British composer whose music is played all over the world.
March of the women
31 days celebrating women composers
Day 5
Florence Price
Born 1887 Little Rock,Arkansas
Died 1953
Composer, Pianist & Music teacher and widely acknowledged to be the first Black woman to have a symphony performed by a professional orchestra.
What a thrill presenting my first TV Prom with these two ⭐️s
@LeahBroad
@LintonStephens
Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony, Grace Williams’ Sea Sketches & Carwithen Bishop Rock. Catch it
@BBCFOUR4
Friday evening. BEHOLD, THE 🌊 ❤️⭐️🎶
@bbcproms
#Blacktober
31 days of Black and ethnically diverse composers to listen out for
Day 9
Julius Eastman
Born 1940, New York
Died 1990
Composer, pianist and vocalist whose work is a combination of improvisation, performance art and activism.
At last weeks Prom with
@the_halle
I talked to
@PetrocTrelawny
about what makes a good conductor. Aside from keeping a steady beat, what do you think makes a good conductor?
‘The unions are ruining our Christmas holidays which we wouldn’t even have if it wasn’t for the unions’
Solidarity with the nurses (postal workers, rail workers and more) enough is enough.
I’m not one for clangs but this man’s music has literally been a part of my life since the age of about 3. His piece for NYO is something else!!! Tune in tonight at 7:30 on
@BBCRadio3
#meetingamusicalhero
@dannyelfman
#Blacktober
31 (plus) days of Black and ethnically diverse composers to listen out for
Day 1
Adolphus Hailstork
(For more info head to
@insta_sketcher
on Instagram)
It’s amazing to see my poster popping up in music departments across the country. Not cos it’s my illustrations (that’s pretty awesome) but because women in classical music historically and today - are starting to get the recognition they’ve deserved for literally centuries.
Our new display in the BCCS music department foyer. Thank you to
@LintonStephens
for the brilliant poster and links to inspiring composers and conductors. Also thanks to
@bccs_sixthform
for making a surrounding montage of our very own BCCS women in music 🌟🎶
I’m absolutely spoilt this weekend. Not one but two proms. Presenting the
@Chineke4Change
for
@BBCRadio3
and playing Rite of Spring with my absolutely fab colleagues in
@auroraorchestra
. 🫶🏾
I have strong political opinions but I generally don’t share them on here.
However one thing I will say is that we should change the lexicon around politics and talk about how parties and MP’s are voted into service and not power.
#Blacktober
31 days of Black and ethnically diverse composers to listen out for - celebrating Women composers
Day 27
Errolyn Wallen CBE
@ErrollynWallen
Born 1958 Belize
Renaissance woman of contemporary British music.
If you’re one of the 47% of attendees who went to the proms for the first time this year, and want to explore more classical music then check out the brand new series of
#classicalfix
. A new episode this week with the brilliant
@Karen_Bryson
#Blacktober
31 (plus) days of Black and ethnically diverse composers to listen out for
Day 2
Margaret Bonds
Born 1913, Illinois
Died 1972
🧵
Playlist in bio
@insta_sketcher
on Instagram
Absolutely delighted to be re-elected as chair of the
@WeAreTheMU
Equalities committee. Working with
@AliyeCornish
as vice chair. Hugely productive first meeting!
I wanted to give this thank you its own post. To the incredible team behind classical fix. All pictured here. Matt, Laura, Rachael, Charlotte, Nick, Becky & Jessica. The people who make me sound half decent which as Rachel said is ‘not easy sometimes but someone’s gotta do it’
#Blacktober
31 days of Black and ethnically diverse composers to listen out for - celebrating Women composers
Day 24
Florence Price
Born 1887 Little Rock,Arkansas
Died 1953
Composer, Pianist & Music teacher and the 1st Black woman to have a symphony played by a pro orchestra
#Blacktober
31 days of Black and ethnically diverse composers to listen out for
Day 17
Samuel Coleridge Taylor
Born 1875 Holborn, London
Died 1912
The earliest and probably most well known Black British composer from the late 19th and early 20th century.