CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME AN A?: A Richmond Symphonicast

Welcome to Richmond Symphony's very own podcast! (We know you're excited, but we insist you hold your applause for the end, please.) Join hosts Matt Gold, (Orchestra Librarian/sometimes-symphony-bass player) and Zoe Thomas (Patron Services Assistant) as they chat with special guests, react to fascinating pieces of music, and endeavor to make classical music fun and accessible! Each episode will provide a multi-faceted look at the goings-on of both the Richmond Symphony and the classical music scene as a whole. We look forward to bringing home everything that makes us feel so fortunate to say that we work for Richmond Symphony. Have feedback? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at podcast@richmondsymphony.com.

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CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME AN A?: A Richmond Symphonicast

Episode 1: Thank You, Russell Wilson

February 01, 2021 • Richmond Symphony • Season 1 • Episode 1

Welcome to the premiere episode of CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME AN A?!: A Richmond Symphonicast.

Hosts Matt Gold and Zoe Thomas are joined by Richmond Symphony's own Principal Piano and Celeste, Russell Wilson, to discuss Undine Smith Moore's Scenes from the Life of a Martyr, the 16-part oratorio composed in 1981 to commemorate the life and death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Russell recalls his path to Richmond: from attending school in Memphis to working with Moore herself! Get to know Russell and explore the career of a composer and educator often referred to as the "Dean of Black Women Composers".

The trio also mention upcoming events at Richmond Symphony, including:

A Night for Harmony: a virtual re-imagining of our annual gala
Masterworks 5: Russian Treasures (tickets on sale now!)
Richmond Symphony School of Music's Spring semester

An extra special shoutout to our Symphony marketing team who have been hard at work helping us promote and distribute the podcast!

DISCLAIMER: While the compositions discussed in the episode were written to commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, this episode will focus primarily on the music itself and the composer. We will not be exploring Dr. King’s life or the Civil Rights movement in depth. We recognize that the life and death of Dr. King is a multifaceted and at times heavy subject. If you are interested in learning more about Dr. King, check out King in the Wilderness on HBO or click here for a reading list on Dr. King, compiled by the Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford.

Let us know what you think! Podcast feedback can be directed to our email, podcast@richmondsymphony.com.