For the past several years, the South Dakota Symphony has engaged local Indigenous communities through dialogue, music making, and recently, with a new recording! The ensemble's Music Director, Delta David Gier, and resident artist, Bryan Akipa join Garrett and talk about racial relations in South Dakota, the formation of the Lakota Music Project, and what the impact has been for white and Indigenous communities. Garrett and Scott celebrate Esperanza Spalding and offer feedback on the upcoming film, "The Chevalier", and share music by Nina Simone, Ned Rorem, and many others.

Support for TRILLOQUY comes from Schubert Club: schubert.org 

This week Garrett and Scott highlight the power of inter-disciplinary blending and collaboration and the benefits therein with the help of an HBCU band inspired article by Katie Brown and a profile on cellist and "clown" Karen Hall. The guys highlight compositions by James Lee III, Shawn Okpebholo, Ludwig Göransson, and many others. Composer Elijah Daniel Smith returns to the third movement to talk more about life as an emerging composer, as well as the importance of respecting the diversity of Blackness and artistically being true to oneself. 

Support for TRILLOQUY comes from Schubert Club! 

​Elijah Daniel Smith is a composer whose star is rising, with performances and commissions from orchestras across the country. He joins Garrett (57:00) to talk about the rock band origins of his musical trajectory, the vital nature of artist service organizations, and his reactions to being critiqued in a previous opus of TRILLOQUY. Scott honors Orchestra Noir's recent performance with Rick Ross and the late singer, Mimi Parker, Garrett speaks to the new movie, "Tár" and shares a cover of an Anita Baker song, and more.

TRILLOQUY is made possible, in part, by Schubert Club! 

​Rocky, Lee, and Paige, hosts of "The Score" from Minnesota Opera return for part 2 of their conversation with Garrett in the third movement (58:00). Garrett and Scott honor Dia de los Muertos with Mexican music of different shades, engage conversation about the affordability of opera, and consider the nuance behind teaching music students who will likely never "make it" in the field. 

TRILLOQUY is made possible, in part, by Schubert Club.

​Minnesota Opera's Rocky, Lee, and Paige have been innovating the classical field with their hit podcast, "The Score". They join Garrett (56:30) to talk about the musical inspirations of the podcast, the issues they're working to engage within the opera field, and the nuances of leaving those who don't want to change behind. Scott offers music by Matisyahu, Garrett highlights a string quartet by Michael Laster, and the guys recount their week away from the studio, from the good to the bad. 

Support for TRILLOQUY comes from Schubert Club: https://schubert.org

Playlist:

Louis Armstrong - "Spooks"
Inbal Segev - "Room to Move" for Cello Octet
The Verve - "Bitter Sweet Symphony" 
Michael Laster - "Graffiti for Idealists" 
Matisyahu - "One Day"
The Fugees - "Ready or Not" 
Lauryn Hill - "I Gotta Find Peace of Mind"
Heitor Villa-Lobos - Trio for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon 

More:

The Score Podcast: https://mnopera.org/edi/the-score/
Louis Armstrong Museum: https://www.louisarmstronghouse.org
Glenn Alexander II Makes Carnegie Hall Debut: https://www.msmnyc.edu/news/msm-doctoral-student-glenn-alexander-ii-makes-carnegie-hall-debut-conducting-jon-batistes-american-symphony/
Talent Exodus in Classical Music: https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/report-classical-industry-parents-women-carers/
Michael Laster: https://www.michaellaster.com/listen

Garrett and Scott offer a pre-recorded opus this week that features conversations about social media's role in "classical" audience development, organ music by Black composers, and the alleged connection between AirBnB and midwest orchestras. Violinist Asher Laub is featured in the third movement to unpack his unique journey and career creating covers as an electro-violinist, and the guys spend the final movement discussing their perspectives on the latest Kanye West sagas. 

***TRILLOQUY is made possible, in part, by Schubert Club.

DESCRIPTION/PLAYLIST COMING SOON

Shelley Washington lives at the intersections of many "boths" and has written a piece that explores it. She joins Garrett (1:02:00) to discuss the duality of her existence, mental health, and what it's like being a composer at these intersections. Scott celebrates Indigenous Peoples' Day with "Navajo Piano", Garrett shares some African drumming, and the guys discuss the week in news. 

Playlist/links coming soon! 

Brian Raphael Nabors is described as a composer of emotionally enriching music that tells exciting narratives with its vibrant themes and colorful harmonic language. He joins Garrett (1:04:00) to talk about his southern upbringing, his upcoming premieres, and his perspective on a slowly evolving "classical" music ecosystem. Scott honors Kate Bush and celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with music by Manuel Ponce, Garrett shares his weekend of theater and choirs, and the guys unpack some of the newest data collected on orchestra programming around the world.

TRILLOQUY is made possible, in part, by the Schubert Club

Following a critically acclaimed debut, the second iteration of the album "White Power Outage" includes everything from classically-stylized Latin music to hip hop to spoken word. Nick Cooper, Karega Ani, and Michele Thibeaux are among the collaborators on the album, and they join Garrett (1:13:00) to unpack some of the music featured on the album as well as the sentiments and stories that inspired them. Scott offers a "sharp" that challenges concert hall "shushers", Garrett recounts his latest trip to New York, and the guys celebrate the sounds of Alicia Keys, Abel Selaocoe, Felix Mendelssohn, and more.

TRILLOQUY is made possible, in part, by Schubert Club: https://schubert.org/events/

The debate over opera's use of skin-darkening makeup has triggered many conversations, and even more opinions. Opera superstar Limmie Pulliam returns to share his idea on this issue and to highlight the growing need for unity among musicians of color. Scott shares music inspired by his recent trip home to Omaha, NE, Garrett introduces the idea of racism in computer music to TRILLOQUY, and the guys celebrate Imani Winds, Ray LaMontagne, and more. The guys close the show with a TRILLOQUY movement themed around their personal relationships with Disney and the company's recent decision to platform an Afro-mermaid.

SUPPORT FOR TRILLOQUY COMES FROM SCHUBERT CLUB

After leaving the performance industry for many years, Limmie Pulliam has returned and is considered, among many, an up-and-coming superstar. With upcoming performances at the Metropolitan Opera, he's notable at the very least. Limmie joins Garrett (1:00:00) to offer insights into his start with music, his departure, and the unlikely situation that brought him back. Scott offers new by Björk and shines a light on Maestro Ofentse Pitse, Garrett returns to music by Kanyé West and speaks to The Proms, and the guys offer their opinions on reactions to the death of England's Queen Elizabeth II.

***TRILLOQUY is made possible, in part, by Schubert Club***

Karen Slack is not only one of the nation's most celebrated sopranos, but a leading voice in changing-making spaces in classical music, as well as the host of one of the industry's most popular digital talk shows: #KikiKonvos. She joins Garrett (59:00) to offer her ideas and opinions on arts activism, what it takes to traverse a predominantly white industry as a person of color, and fostering unity across generational lines. Scott honors Irma Thomas and shares his experiences presenting at the Public Radio Program Director's National Conference, Garrett highlights musical arrangements by Hubert Laws and shines a light on the newly formed San Antonio Philharmonic, and the guys "connect the dots" between Schubert and the rest of the world. 

​Support for TRILLOQUY comes from Schubert Club

Decolonizing ideas and structures require an engagement of educational systems, and Decolonizing the Music Room is uniquely poised to do that work. The organization's Founder and Executive Director, Brandi Waller-Pace, joins Garrett (1:01:00) to unpack the idea of decolonization, the process of building the organization, and her ideas on unity and reparations. Scott celebrates Chastity Brown while criticizing FN Meka, Garrett shares his experiences at a Rammstein show, and the guys weigh in on the student loan cancellation conversation. 

The Waves Cafe is a new kind of venue: a pop-up cafe where the menu features live poetry and new music. Described as small, fresh, ephemeral, and unpredictable, you never know what you’re going to hear through this refreshed approach to live music. The Waves Cafe's founder, Maura Bosch, joins Garrett (1:05:00) to talk about what inspired The Waves Cafe, the importance of this unique space in today's arts ecosystem, and more. Scott and Garrett celebrate Solange's collaboration with New York City Ballet, speak to the fall of Plácido Domingo, and offer music from the silver screen. 

After meeting at a Buddhist-inspired creator convening, New York-based artists HUNT DAWG and YOUAGOODKID have joined forces to disrupt violence and hate with an album called RADICAL HAUS. They join Garrett (1:01:00) to talk about their musical inspirations, Buddhism's impact on their radical approach, and what they think about "classical" music. Scott shares music by Danger Mouse & Black Thought, Garrett celebrates the symphonic sounds of Brent Faiyaz, and the guys unpack the diversity conversation in Europe, orchestra data collected by Women's Philharmonic Advocacy, and what it could look like to inspire political conservatives to join the cause of centering American music in concert halls. 

Many don't know that the United States military offers training for composers, but Greg LeGette is a living example. He joins Garrett 1:01:00 to talk about life in the military, traversing the industry as a living, white male composer, and his ideas on American classical music. Garrett celebrates music from Rick and Morty and recounts his weekend at a Buddhist commune, Scott reports on classical music's diminishing audiences, and the guys discuss the idea of cancelling Russian in light of recent events. 

There are many contemporary choral institutions that honor the "traditional" repertoire - the Southern California-based Choral Arts Initiative is not one of them. The group's Artistic Director, Brandon Elliott, joins Garrett (55:00) to talk about their new album, the power of entrepreneurship, and his unique view of diversity. Scott and Garrett share their favorites from Beyoncé's latest album, discuss the latest misstep by the Aspen Music Festival, and unpack a fundraising call from the Metropolitan Opera. 

​Pulitzer Prize-winner Jennifer Higdon is one of America's busiest composers, and her catalogue is even more vast than many people realize. She joins Garrett (49:00) to talk about the Pulitzer win, her late brother, and the influence of East Tennessee on her musical identity. Scott unpacks "The Price of Luck" and highlights a one-man band; Garrett celebrates Tower of Power and offers a critical look on a historic conductor hire, and the guys spend the finale raising awareness about the potential connections between shows of equity and white supremacist organizations. 

​Inspired by the viscerally provocative poem, "Here, Bullet" by Brian Turner, the art song of the same name by composer Kurt Erickson is, among many things, a plea for western classical arts spaces to directly address gun violence. This composition inspired multi-disciplinary artist Will Chase to write a screenplay, which will be the foundation for an upcoming short film. Both Kurt and Will join Garrett (1:02:00) to unpack the inspirations and challenges of this work, along with its context within the framework of "classical" music. Scott highlights a work by Phillip Glass and cites excerpts from "Stuff White People Like", Garrett addresses opera's latest use of blackface, and the guys talk "big steps" in the finale. 

Kelly Hall-Tompkins is a professional violinist and multi-disciplinary entrepreneur whose love for music, coupled with her grandmother's loving spirit, inspired Music Kitchen: the pioneer organization to bring top classical music artists in concert into homeless shelters. Kelly talks with Garrett (1:02:00) about Music Kitchen's origins, the impact it's had on patrons, and how we all can change the world by leading with compassion. Scott celebrates Maestro Jeri Lynn Johnson and Joe Rainey, Garrett highlights the music of Reena Esmail and Flutronix, and the guys unpack the week in news, social media, and advocacy. 

​One of the biggest challenges for living composers today is getting music played by orchestras, but Akron-based music creator Eriq Troi focuses on his gift, utilizing digital technology to fuse the sounds of funk, Western classical, and more. He joins Garrett (1:05:00) to talk about his process, his own discovery of Black orchestral musicians, and his early inspirations. Scott turns to the music of Eric Ewazen, Garrett celebrates Mason Bates, and the guys unpack the week's news in police brutality, gun violence, and arrest warrants.

Applauded by The Washington Post as “a perfect encapsulation of today’s trends in chamber music,” and by The New Yorker as “independent-minded,” the GRAMMY nominated PUBLIQuartet’s modern interpretation of chamber music makes them one of the most dynamic artists of their generation. The ensemble's Jannina Norpoth and Curtis Stewart join Garrett (1:00:00) to unpack the music and inspiration behind their latest album, "What Is American". Scott continues his Pride Month-inspired musical picks with a work by Angela Morley, Garrett highlights orchestral music by Janelle Monáe, and the guys unpack the latest, including Opera America's scathing report on racial diversity, the recent decision made by SCOTUS, and more.

Orchestral percussion is usually only featured from the back of the stage, but Third Coast Percussion is changing the concert experience by bringing percussion to the front. Garrett chats with Sean and David (1:00:00) from this unique quartet to unpack their new album, "Perspective", and to get their thoughts on musical entrepreneurship, collaborating with today's most famous composers, and more. Scott honors the music of Aldous Harding, Garrett shares his favorite tracks from Drake's new dance album, and the guys cover the dissolution of the San Antonio Symphony, the many musical moods of Yo-Yo Ma, and more. 

​This year, Raven Chacon became the first Native American to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music with his "Voiceless Mass". He joins Garrett (1:00:00) to talk about his reactions to the win, his perspective on Indigenous land acknowledgements, and more. Garrett and Scott cover a Lizzo misstep, unpack a maestro's words pertaining to "thoughts and prayers", and highlight music by Jennifer Higdon, Kendrick Lamar, and more. Scott takes the lead in the final movement to address racist reactions to Moses Ingram's recent role in "Obi-Wan Kenobi". 

Led by rap duo Thee Phantom and The Phoenix, the Illharmonic Orchestra masterfully links classic hip-hop with "classical" music in a way that's wowed audiences from Carnegie Hall, Philadelphia's Kimmel Center, and countless other venues. The duo joins Garrett in this week's third movement to talk about their recent developments, the Illharmonic Orchestra's upcoming Juneteenth concert, and more. Scott offers insights on TV themes from decades past and celebrates Pride Month with a Lil Kim accidental and music by Orville Peck. Garrett engages the conversation of "Jewface" as it applies to an upcoming Leonard Bernstein film, and shines a light on film music by Terence Blanchard. All of this and lots more!