Contacts
Info
For Your Ears Only
Episodes & Posts
Episodes
Posts
Transcribed
4 SEP 2026 · Morgiane, the opera by Louisiana native Edmond Dédé got national and international attention when it was performed and recorded earlier this year. This 1887 opera was finally included in the opera canon after 138 years and a 12-year effort by Givonna Joseph, Artistic Director of Opera Creole in New Orleans. This opera company continues singing about historical events in the Black community of New Orleans and beyond as they prepare for their 2026-2027 season.
Transcribed
28 AUG 2026 · Heartbeat Opera in New York has a reputation for modern reimagining’s of classic operas. They did it earlier this year with their production of Manon by Jules Massenet. Now they’ve done something they’ve never done before. They called back the cast to record a cast album of the show.
Transcribed
20 AUG 2026 · Since 2021, the Catalyst Quartet has released albums of the music of Black composers. The series called Uncovered featured the works of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Florence B. Price, Coleridge-Taylor, Perkinson, William Grant Still, and George Walker. The latest and last album features the works of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. The National Symphony orchestra won’t be performing at the Kennedy Center this coming season. They’re performing all over the Washington DC area and in other cities. The BBC Proms continues with an All American program and a performance from the American Soprano Angel Blue.
Transcribed
31 JUL 2026 · Since the 21st century started in earnest, there’s been some discussion about opera. New operas versus the standard repertoire and how it’s measured against the prevailing views about race and attitudes. Now comes One Ounce Opera out of Austin, Texas. They are seeking to throw the old views out about everything that opera represents with their annual show Fresh Squeezed Ounce of Opera.
Transcribed
23 JUL 2026 · A soothing album as a balm for the ICE infested people of Minneapolis. Mozart’s newly discovered jam, Elaine Andrews found an undiscovered Ralph Vaughn Williams piece and there's a pianist who likes to perform his concerts outdoors.
Transcribed
15 JUL 2026 · Some ideas nag at you over time. That is until something happens and you have to act. This is what happened to Ruby Ortiz who finally decided to start Houston’s first LGBTQ+ symphony orchestra. It’s called the Houston Pride Orchestra.
Transcribed
23 JUN 2026 · We are just days away from the actual 250th birthday of America. The music developed for this event just keeps coming. Perhaps none as expansive as the Declaration Project from pianist Lara Downes. She created it to get various takes from anyone about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This national program will end with a concert at Lincoln Center in New York.
Transcribed
17 JUN 2026 · Many classical music groups have released new music or albums about the 250th birthday of America. Some are straightforward, others take a diverse view, like the Apollo Chamber Players. Founder and Director Matthew Detrick says the album, We The People, features music from composers with disparate American experiences.
Transcribed
11 JUN 2026 · We have been inundated with new music and performances of old patriotic music because of the 250th birthday of the United States. On this June 8th podcast, I’m starting a series on music composed and performed specifically for the big bash next month. This time it’s Karen LeFrak’s American Promise. You’ll also meet Dawn Carroll who was inspired to compose Songs for Mary. It’s about a woman who created the National Negro Opera Company and the house where it all started. June is also the month of Juneteenth and Pride month celebrations with some big firsts among them.
Transcribed
2 JUN 2026 · There aren’t many musicians, classical or otherwise who aren’t presenting their own versions of a birthday song for America’s 250th. On this episode, we hear from Min Kwon, a pianist with a little activist nature on the side. Back in 2021 she started a project called America/Beautiful. Since then she’s commissioned over 70 composers to come up with their musical versions of what’s beautiful about America at this time using the song America the Beautiful as source material. Plus it was important to her because she has two daughters, with birthdays on Presidents’ Day and the Fourth of July.
For Your Ears Only
Information
| Author | Judlyne Lilly-Gibson |
| Organization | Judlyne Lilly-Gibson |
| Categories | Music |
| Website | secondstreetdreams.com |
| contact@secondstreetdreams.com |
Copyright 2026 - Spreaker Inc. an iHeartMedia Company
