http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/03/19/intv-amanpour-noah-stewart.cnn
The video above shows a very common struggle for African-Americans in the US regarding opera. I thought it was very amazing to see such a talented tenor break rules and go against what everyone told him he couldn't do.
I absolutely loved this video! Thanks for sharing it. His voice is beautiful. In his interview, I particularly found his comment regarding costs interesting. "Classical music is... it's an expensive art form: voice lessons, coaching, music, clothes... There's so much that goes into it. " As 21st Century Musicians, I think this ties into a lot of what we are addressing. Many of the other posts have regarded changing performance styles so that they seem less "high brow" or "expensive," more accessible to people of all classes. However, this addresses the opposite side. How are we making not just the performances but the training more affordable and accessible for students of all backgrounds? Thankfully, he had an amazing teacher who pointed out his potential. How many great musicians are we missing out on because they can't afford lessons? I remember at one college audition, the professors talked about a girl who had auditioned several years earlier who could not afford lessons and so taught herself by listening to youtube videos and taking notes on what she liked and did not like. While this romantic story of determination is inspiring, it also reveals a sad truth: the classical music world is largely shut off from poorer students. I'd like to throw out another discussion question: What can we do to make this more accessible?
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