Feminine Fusion

December 10, 2017: Women of Color – Performers, Part 2

by Diane Jones

December 4, 2017

Chi-chi Nwanoku, double-bassist and founder of the Chineke! Orchestra

“Music does not discriminate.” – Chi-chi Nwanoku

Women have made tremendous strides in the Classical music world.  Nearly 50% of professional orchestra musicians are women nowadays.  Yet only about 4.5% – both men and women – are musicians of color.  This episode of Feminine Fusion showcases some of the talented women of color performing today.

“Women of Color: Performers, Part 2”

Michael Brown:  Echoes of Byzantium
Elena Urioste, violin; Michael Brown, piano
“Echoes”
Bis 2284

J.S. Bach:  Partita No. 2 in d minor, BWV 1004 (excerpts)
Nokuthula Ngwenyama, viola
“J.S. Bach: Partitas”
EDI Records 829757673820

Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson:  Lamentations: A Black Folk Song Suite
Tahirah Whittington, cello
“Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson: A Celebration”
Cedille Records 087

Jean Sibelius:  Finlandia
Chineke! Orchestra; Kevin John Edusei, conductor
“Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 & Sibelius: Finlandia”
Signum Classics 515

Run time:  58:41

Feminine Fusion highlights the roles of women in classical music. Host Diane Jones brings you stories and music of the women who create, perform, and inspire. Produced in the studios at WCNY-FM.