Open Ears

Open Ears: Jose Moncayo

Explore the life of José Pablo Moncayo García, Mexican composer of Huapango, who championed post-revolutionary musical nationalism. Learn about his studies, career, and 40 diverse works.

Open Ears: Get to Know “the Dean of Black Women Composers”.

Explore the life of Undine Smith Moore, a significant 20th-century composer and teacher of spirituals, known as "the Dean of Black Women Composers".

Open Ears: Eva Jessye and the Harlem Renaissance

This article explores the life of Eva Jessye, a key figure in American music and the Harlem Renaissance, who made significant contributions to civil rights and classical music.

Open Ears: The Endlessly Unfolding Story of Margaret Bonds

Explore the underappreciated life and work of Margaret Bonds, a pioneering Black composer and pianist, whose music is still being discovered 46 years after her death.

Open Ears: The Trailblazing Journey of Rudolph Dunbar

Explore the life of Rudolph Dunbar, the first Black man to conduct the Berlin and London Philharmonics, his fight for racial equality, and his mysterious career decline.

Gay Guerilla: Julius Eastman Comes to Los Angeles

This article explores the life and work of Julius Eastman, a gay Black American composer who fused jazz and classical music. It discusses his struggle with identity, his unique compositions, and his posthumous recognition.