Arts institutions must be held accountable for the promises that they make in conjunction with DEI initiatives, and in the world of opera, the Black Opera Alliance has answered the call. World-renowned mezzo-soprano, Raehann Bryce-Davis joins Garrett to talk about the goals of BOA, the backstage life of a Black opera singer, and more! Scott highlights a national equity initiative in public radio, and the guys honor the dynamic lives of Ryuichi Sakamoto, Nichelle Nichols, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

This opus of TRILLOQUY is made possible, in part, by Opera Philadelphia. 

Is your New Year's Resolution fat-phobic? It may be! Laura Krider from the American Composers Forum joins Garrett to explore "the last 'acceptable' form of discrimination", and the impacts that it can have on the developing musician. Scott celebrates the music and the legacy of Living Colour, while Garrett honors a soothing piano composition written in honor of Black Lives Matter. The hosts also unpack the art of sampling, and the attack on the United States Capitol. 

The women from the Classically Black podcast return to talk about their new organization, the International Society for Black Musicians, as well as Katie Brown's fellowship with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and Dalanie Harris' use of a new social media app to network with even more Black musicians. Scott honors the personality and the playing of pianist Andre Watts, and Garrett addresses the public defamation and physical assault of Keyon Harrold Jr. 

For the final opus of 2020, Garrett and Scott go back and talk about some of their most memorable TRILLOQUY moments, including their discussion of "cancel culture", the Louis Farrakhan opus, and the compositions that moved them most. Scott honors pianist and bandleader, Matthew Whitaker, and Garrett chats with Quanice Floyd about her op-ed that shook the world of arts administration this year. 

When Dr. Molly McCann isn't doing cannabis consumer research, she's at the piano engaging in the intoxicating sounds of the music of Fanny Hensel. She joins Garrett and Scott to talk about why Mrs. Hensel's music is so important, the stigma surrounding cannabis use, and how "classical" music institutions could benefit from weed culture. An episode of "Good Times" inspires Garrett's musical picks for the week, and Scott offers warm words to people spending the holidays alone for the first time. 

After becoming a mother, oboist Wendy Caudle Hodge decided that she needed to make an impact on Music Education. Through her advocacy, Loudoun Co., VA has created 90 DEI jobs, community-based initiatives that really speak to children's needs, and so much more. She's now a leader at the Historic Ashburn Colored School, and joins Garrett to talk about her work and her love for hip-hop. The guys give an update on some of the latest arts news coming from New York City, and Scott honors the late Charlie Pride. The opus concludes with a TRILLOQUY dedicated to Time Magazine's "Person of the Year" pick, and to mostly-white DEI panels.  This opus is made possible, in part, by KVNO-FM.

​What if Jesus were Black? How would that change the narrative behind his story, and the music that has been written about him? Garrett unpacks this with Adrian Dunn, who's the composer behind a new work called "Black Messiah". Scott shares his thoughts on a new Mozart video game, the music of Michael Abels, and helps Garrett identify the joint, very intentional Euro-centricity that is foundational to America's understanding of Christmas and so-called classical music. This opus is dedicated to the incredible work of arts administrator and arts activist, Quanice Floyd. 

​Donna Walker-Kuhne's book, "Invitation to the Party", has been a tool that arts organizations of all kinds have used to better understand what community engagement really means. She joins Garrett to talk about this, audience development, and how the teachings of Daisaku Ikeda have inspired her continued work. Scott delivers the story of "Blind Tom" Wiggins, and the guys end with a response to the National Philharmonic, and a discussion about reaching a "broader" and "wider" audience with your content. 

​Anthony Davis' career has been marked by his musical responses to the Black experience, with critically acclaimed compositions about the life and times of Malcolm X, the murder of George Floyd, and one of his own experiences with police in a work called "You Have The Right To Remain Silent." He won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in Music for his composition portraying the story of the Central Park 5, and he joins Garrett to talk about it. Scott unpacks Pulitzer Prize-winning music by other Black composers, and the guys offer words of encouragement (and warning) as the holiday season commences. 

In 2017 composer Tyshawn Sorey teamed up with writer Terrance Hayes and tenor Lawrence Brownlee to create a song cycle called "Cycles of My Being". It's a work that showcases the troubled relationship between America and its Black men that will have its digital premiere on the Opera Philadelphia Channel on November 20th. Tyshawn speaks with Garrett about this, and his broader perspective on writing Black-centric music. Scott honors the space-age music of another Black composer, and Garrett teases a move away from Minnesota.