black concert-level classical musicians?

[pianohopper]

It's obvious that the classical music "industry" is dominated by white males.  There are more women  than before, but it's still nowhere near even, if I'm estimating correctly.

But the lack of classical musicians of African descent is more saddening.  Rap and pop seems to distance young people of all ethnicities from classical music these days.

Terrence Wilson is the only black classical pianist I can think of at the moment.  (for his bio:  https://www.nottinghamphilharmonic.co.uk/Artistes/wilson.html)  I am looking forward to seeing him in concert this year, but don't know much about him.

I saw a fabulous violinist by the name of Gareth Johnson play Mozart's 4th Violin Concerto last year.  (I don't know much about violin repetoire, but this seemed like a very difficult piece, and he played it spectacularly.)  He's only 18 -- maybe 19 now -- but already has a bright career ahead. 

Can anybody else add to the list?  Any more thoughts about the lack of black concert-level, classical musicians?

P.S. -- I know much has been said about Condoleeza Rice being a phenomenal pianist, but until I hear her, I will pass judgment. 

[pianistimo]

yes.  i wouldn't mind hearing her play (condoleeza)  she's probably really good when she's able to practice.

[arensky]

Andre Watts, Leon Bates, Awadagin Pratt, Raymond Jackson, George Walker, Natalie Hinderas,
Kay Pace. All classical pianists, all Black.

Blanca Uribe, Agustin Anievas, Jesus Maria Sanroma, Horacio Guttieriz, Jose Feghali, Martha Argerich, all Latin American/Hispanic.

Mitsuko Uchida, Mei Ting, Lang Lang, Yundi Li, Kun Woo Paik, Hiroko Nakamura, Hung-Kuan Chen, Haesun Paik, John Nakamatsu, all Asian.

The American Seceratary of State plays quite well, I saw a video of a slow movement from the Brahms d minor Violin and Piano Sonata.

The fact of the matter is that classical piano is largely a rich persons avocation. Pianos, their maintenance,  GOOD piano instruction, these are expensive propositions! And this was not available for most Blacks until recently. A big exception, Duke Ellington, whose father was the White House butler; Duke made the best of a good situation, still with the odds against him. Until the emergence of the Asian economic juggernaut of the past 40 or so years, the planet's monetary wealth has been confined to European and  white North American society. Things are changing. I bemoan the lack of cultural education in our schools and in media and in society. Why should any kid, of any background want to be a Classical Concert Artist? Dead white man music; how uncool is that? And that's how it seems to a lot of kids, that's how academia and the media portray it. Oh, and the "practical" side of society says "Make money"! Don't waste your life doing that, no one cares, you've got to make a living"

Making a dying is more like it.

Anyway, there's your list. If you want to do something to rectify this state of affairs, you could teach a talented minority student free of charge, or through a state or federal government fund and or program; these things exist, at least they did and probably still do in Massachusetts, and I'm sure in other states too.

[quantum]

Add Composer/pianist Stewart Goodyear to the list. 

[Motrax]

And Constance Keene.

[bernhard]

What about Native Americans? Any Native American pianist at all?

[xvimbi]

Regarding Black History & Classical Music, check out: https://chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/History.html
https://creativefolk.com/blackhistory/blackcomposers.html

[mozoot]

jamie foxx

[pianohopper]

jamie foxx

isn't he mostly a jazz pianist though?  and not concert level -- that's why he's actor!

[pianohopper]

What about Native Americans? Any Native American pianist at all?

I think Ferdinand "Jelly-Roll" Morton was half Native American.

[arensky]

What about Native Americans? Any Native American pianist at all?

There is a young Navajo man named Connor Chee who studies at the Cincinatti Conservatory who is a very promising talent, in composition as well as piano. I have had six Navajo and one Yavapai students over the past five years or so, one is now teaching music at a Catholic School on the "Rez", as we call it here. One who currently studies with me is particularly gifted, in both piano and violin, he gave a joint recital with the aforementioned Mr. Chee a few months ago, and my Yavapai student won 2nd Prize in a state competition 3 months ago. I enjoy my Navajo and Yavapai students very much, they have a fantastic work ethic, great attitude and are extremely intelligent.
They also have a very dry and ironic sense of humour, which I enjoy.  My violinist/pianist will probably pursue a career as a professional musician as Allen (the school music teacher) and Mr. Chee are..I'm sure there are more out there, word has gotten around the "Rez" about me, and I always make time for these young people who seek me out, it is time well spent!

[presto agitato]

Just to name a few:

Art Tatum, Keith Jarrett, Winton Marsalis (the best trumpet player in the world), Tony Macalpine, Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell, McCoy Tyner and Herbie Hancock.

[Appenato]

Terrence Wilson is the only black classical pianist I can think of at the moment.  (for his bio:  https://www.nottinghamphilharmonic.co.uk/Artistes/wilson.html)  I am looking forward to seeing him in concert this year, but don't know much about him.

great pianist! i heard him last september. i thought it was cool because he was dressed totally down for rehearsal - t-shirt and jeans and chewing gum. haha... he was so causual about it. and when asking him for his autograph and talking with him briefly, found he's down to earth, too. sometimes that's a rarity in concert performers.... anyway... i thought he was great and it was awesome to see him as a concert pianist.

[orlandopiano]

Just to name a few:

Art Tatum, Keith Jarrett, Winton Marsalis (the best trumpet player in the world), Tony Macalpine, Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell, McCoy Tyner and Herbie Hancock.

Actually Keith Jarrett is white.

[canucks13]

isn't he mostly a jazz pianist though?  and not concert level -- that's why he's actor!

He isn't mostly a jazz pianist, I believe he studied classical piano at Julliard.

[practicingnow]

The fact of the matter is that classical piano is largely a rich persons avocation.

Funny, I thought it was the avocation of an enormously disciplined and talented person, who practiced thier ass off for years, with nerves of steele and skin like a rhino, who had the character to turn his or her back on the "bling" at an early age, and the good taste to know good music from bad.
Discipline, however, being the key word in response to the original question.
Don't insult us!   

[quasimodo]

Hey how comes Naida Cole hasn't been mentionned here  ?

[gkatele]

Jumping in here .....


Augustus Hailstork - Composer (still living)




George

[Alde]

Hey how comes Naida Cole hasn't been mentionned here  ?

excuse me, what are you suggesting?

[steve jones]

I think its more a cultural thing. Black people are less likely to be raised listening to western classical music than whites. The same could be said the other way - why do black people have more 'soul' than white people? Because they are more likely to be influenced by rhythm and groove based music from and early age.

Ands as has been mentioned already, this is unlikely to change imo. I dont see that future generations of blacks are going to be any more exposed to classical music as past. This is not a critisism, merely an observation - Iv not met many black people who actively participate in classical music,

[quasimodo]

excuse me, what are you suggesting?

er... wasn't suggesting anything, actually. Just that she is a very good and rather famous concertist and corresponds to the thread title. I would have thought she would be the first name to come to anyone's mind for this thread.

[Alde]

er... wasn't suggesting anything, actually. Just that she is a very good and rather famous concertist and corresponds to the thread title. I would have thought she would be the first name to come to anyone's mind for this thread.

I did not know that one of her parents is black.  All I know is that she comes from a wealthy family.

I heard a rumour that Naida is deciding to quit piano.

[quasimodo]

I heard a rumour that Naida is deciding to quit piano.

  Why the hell would she take such a decision ? That would be a big loss for music. Her Ravel really touched me.

[thracozaag]

  Going into medicine, apparently (naida).

koji

[quasimodo]

  Going into medicine, apparently (naida).

koji

Hmmm, I see. I cannot be in her head, obviously, but my guess would be that she wants to be of some help for people and considers that music is not the path for that (or something like that). I rule out the idea that she doesn't consider he pianist carreer as successful.

On the other hand, we simple mortals often view being a concertist an ultimate achievement but seemingly, from the inside many don't really enjoy that job. That makes me think about François René Duchâble who was one of the most praised local pianists in France but decided to retire a few years ago, aged 50. In an interview he stated that he was pissed about the musical milieu, saying something like " I don't anymore want to play for specialists."

Okay going slightly off-topic, here.

Anyway, as an afficionado, I'm upset that she quits, and back to the thread, that diminishes the number of black concert-level classical musicians  .

[BoliverAllmon]

Actually Keith Jarrett is white.

wrong keith jarrett.

[brewtality]

Hmmm, I see. I cannot be in her head, obviously, but my guess would be that she wants to be of some help for people and considers that music is not the path for that (or something like that). I rule out the idea that she doesn't consider he pianist carreer as successful.

On the other hand, we simple mortals often view being a concertist an ultimate achievement but seemingly, from the inside many don't really enjoy that job. That makes me think about François René Duchâble who was one of the most praised local pianists in France but decided to retire a few years ago, aged 50. In an interview he stated that he was pissed about the musical milieu, saying something like " I don't anymore want to play for specialists."

Okay going slightly off-topic, here.

Anyway, as an afficionado, I'm upset that she quits, and back to the thread, that diminishes the number of black concert-level classical musicians  .

I didn't know she was black, I always thought she was part asian (?)

[orlandopiano]

wrong keith jarrett.

Huh?

[arensky]

Funny, I thought it was the avocation of an enormously disciplined and talented person, who practiced thier ass off for years, with nerves of steele and skin like a rhino, who had the character to turn his or her back on the "bling" at an early age, and the good taste to know good music from bad.
Discipline, however, being the key word in response to the original question.
Don't insult us!   

                       And who pays for your lessons/tuning/tuition/instrument?
           
Or for having turned your back on "bling", some wealthy person has decided to finance your studies/career? Lucky you, if so; that would make you rich, if you're saving all that money. Sorry to get under your thin rhino skin; if you insult so easily, you're in for a tough time.
 

[practicingnow]

                       And who pays for your lessons/tuning/tuition/instrument?
           
Or for having turned your back on "bling", some wealthy person has decided to finance your studies/career? Lucky you, if so; that would make you rich, if you're saving all that money. Sorry to get under your thin rhino skin; if you insult so easily, you're in for a tough time.
 

It didn't take riches for my decidedly middle class parents to pay for my weekly one-hour piano lessons,  ($30), and a recording once in a while.  After that it was up to me to practice my ass off, read as many music books as I could at the library or from the book store, and listen to those recordings.
What kind of investment do you think it involves?  And do you really think that a wealthy family could produce a concert pianist, the way it produces a doctor or a lawyer, or an accountant?  Really???
You understand nothing if you believe that...
I've never had a wealthy friend in my life - that's a fact - and certainly no one who offered to fund my musical studies.  And college is a major financial burden for any student, not just music majors.
Piano lessons are just not that big of a financial burden, unless of course you want to study privately with Constance Keene, who charges $200 per hour.  So do not make excuses for anyone who prefers to wear a do-rag, stand on a corner and rap about how hard life is, etc.
In fact, I have students right now whose parents spend more on tennis lessons, or karate instruction, or little league, that they pay me for weekly lessons.
In fact, I have two young black students now, brothers, who spend more on a pair of sneakers than they do on a month's worth of lessons with me, and we've even joked about it.  But so much for da bling...
Well, yes, you got under my skin a little, because it's insulting to hear you talk about classical music being a "rich man's avocation".  But it would only be hurtful if it were true, which it is not.
I know what you mean, though - piano lessons are a luxury, not a neccesity - that is true.  But it doesn't require wealth to pay for them.  Or some good recordings, for that matter.  Last I checked, a Beethoven CD sells for as much as a 50cent CD.

[practicingnow]

PS - you know Arensky, you and I are kindred spirits, because we both love the same music.  So it is your responsibilty, then, to not propagate the myth that classical music is for rich white people.  It hurts the industry that we love, and it's just not true!

[arensky]

PS - you know Arensky, you and I are kindred spirits, because we both love the same music.  So it is your responsibilty, then, to not propagate the myth that classical music is for rich white people.  It hurts the industry that we love, and it's just not true!

Yes we are! (kindred spirits) What I mean is that the tools and training involved in being a concert pianist are EXPENSIVE, and that's why many of us come from, well, comfortable or well to do backgrounds. People who need money have to earn it, and that is frequently a time-consuming endeavor, which leaves little time for pursuits which are not immediately lucrative; which gives the "rich" an advantage. Of course there are many talented people who are supported with grants and scholarships or patronage,from wherever,and deserve and need it! When the necessities(not luxuries) are provided for an artist, s/he can focus on the art, without having to worry about the landlord or the next meal. Back to the thread topic, look at Duke Ellington, a "rich" black guy when there weren't very many. Contrast his life and career (fabulously successful) to say, Scott Joplin's ( he had to earn money, which got in his way. He was was a victim of his socio-economic circumstances). Do we denigrate Ellington because he was successful? No way Jose, he was a farking genius! Is Joplin any less of one because he had to scrape? No...
So I should type less quickly, and think first

Anyway, all music is for everyone.... 

I am not rich (but wouldn't mind, donate some pianos to those who need them)

I was not whining, and don't tolerate those who do...

The problem is this perception. Electronic music recording equipment and instruments add up the $$$ too. I think the state of classical music  will get better, but right now it's still perceived as an elitist white thing (back to the thread again  ). The key is the CHILDREN. They are without guile, and if we can get the right stuff in their ears before the media and industry does, we can redefine "classical" music in a new and better way, as part of a badly needed rennaisance. Gee this is a whole new thread, where to put it..