Rhapsody in Black

St. Olaf College choral conductor Anton Armstrong has been sharing the power and beauty of singing since he was a child. His work in choral music involves breaking down racial and cultural barriers that keep us from uniting in song. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Guadeloupean Creole composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de St. George, was born to a slave woman and rose to join French aristocratic circles as a musician. While sometimes called “the Black Mozart,” find out why he’s far too interesting and multifaceted to be seen as anything but his own in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Composer William Grant Still is the record holder for many firsts in the Black classical world. His ‘Afro-American Symphony’ was the first to be performed by a major orchestra. Find out more about his achievements in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Composer Omar Thomas remembers never playing music in concert band that celebrates Black traditions while he was growing up, but he has made it his mission to change that. Find out more about his socially conscious compositions in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Composer Nkeiru Okoye doesn’t fit neatly into any kind of classical category. Her compositions showcase her genius by incorporating different types of musical styles that help create a sound that’s uniquely hers. Find out more about Okoye’s diverse compositions in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Composer Julius Eastman’s personal philosophy was “to be what I am to the fullest. Black to the fullest, a musician to the fullest, and a homosexual to the fullest.” Find out more about his brilliant, beautiful and challenging life in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Baritone Henry T. Burleigh, who worked with Antonin Dvorak, is a forgotten figure in American music history. Find out how they helped create a new identity for American sound in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Contralto Marian Anderson sang her way to the top. Despite racism and sexism, she found support from first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and sang at the Lincoln Memorial. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.

Listen to our new podcast Rhapsody in Black, an exploration of classical music that’s aesthetically and uncompromisingly Black. Tesfa Wondemagegnehu hosts this 5-minute weekly program, which launches Thursday.