Terrance McKnight: Any musician will tell you, their work is a calling

 

Voice 1: I have to sing, it’s what I’m made to do. 

 

Voice 2: This is the god given voice that I have. I should be able to use the gift given. 

 

McKnight: But what happens when you’re called to a type of music that doesn’t see you? 

 

Voice 3: And as the only Black person in the room I looked around like “Ohhh…is everybody equally appalled?” 

 

Voice 4: And she said to me “Kevin, did you not see it?” She said “That is unacceptable.” 

 

McKnight: It’s no secret, classical music in America is not the most inclusive art form. But is that because there’s never been a diversity of voice within it? Or because because we haven’t been listening. 

 

Harp music blooms in revelation, landing on a resounding chord. A trumpet enters boldly, and the drums diligently march forward. 

 

 McKnight: I’m Terrance McKnight, host of a new podcast that spotlights hidden voices and perspectives in classical music. We’ll interrogate the music we know 

 

Voice 5: I think “The Magic Flute” is one of the favorite operas for building families. 

 

Voice 6: I feel like I don’t want to do the role anymore because in the opera he states it as a fact. He feels negative in his whole being. 

 

 McKnight: And explore the influence of the music you might not have heard before. 

 

Voice 7: They come out converted, saying “is this what opera is?” This is what Sharon Willis writes! 

 

 McKnight: We talk about how we can answer the call to make a beautiful culture for everyone. 

 

Voice 8: They say that sunlight is the best disinfectant. We are pulling these issues out from the shadows. 

 

Voice 9: The battle that we’re trying to fight as a society is to have dark-skinned beautiful representation everywhere in the world. 

 

 McKnight: From WQXR, it’s Every Voice with Terrance McKnight. A podcast that uses powerful storytelling and impassioned music to highlight the beauty of our diversity. Many cultures, many voices, one people.  Every Voice with Terrance McKnight lands February 16th. Listen wherever  you get podcasts. 

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