On today’s episode, we’re joined by violinist, writer, and cultural historian Rosalyn Story.
For more than 30 years, Rosalyn Story has performed violin with the Fort Worth Symphony — but her artistry doesn’t stop there. She’s also a novelist, a journalist, and a passionate keeper of Black musical history. Whether chronicling the legacy of opera trailblazers like Sissieretta Jones or guiding students through the soundscape of African American music, Rosalyn brings a rare kind of dual fluency — one grounded in both performance and storytelling.
In this episode, she shares how a $0.75 violin class in Kansas City sparked a lifelong passion, what it meant to be the only Black musician in the room, and how music — especially jazz — continues to sustain her in moments of grief and resistance.
It’s a conversation about resilience, reverence, and the many ways we remember who we are — through sound, through stories, and through one another.
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Quenton Blache, Cellist and Composer
In today’s episode, we’ll meet 23-year-old Quenton Blache, a remarkable cellist and composer. Quenton has performed with prestigious groups like the National Youth Orchestra of the USA and Sphinx Virtuosi. He has also been commissioned to create works for the Sphinx Virtuosi, North Carolina Chamber Music Institute, and Little Orchestra Society.
Quenton is particularly passionate about composing for visual media and has scored numerous short films and documentaries. Today, he joins us to discuss his latest project, "To Whom I Pray," an audiovisual piece.
We'll explore Quenton's journey, listen to some of his works, and, at the end of the show, premiere his brand-new piece.
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Beverly Kane Baker, Viola
On today’s episode, we’re talking with Beverly Kane Baker—a pioneering violist whose career has spanned decades, stages, and generations. From her early training at Juilliard to her role as principal violist with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Beverly has carved out a legacy grounded in excellence, community, and spiritual purpose.
In our conversation, she reflects on growing up in a music-filled neighborhood, the mentors who shaped her, and the values of discipline, service, and joy that continue to guide her life. We also talk about what it means to show up—fully and authentically—as a Black woman in classical music spaces, and how she continues to inspire the next generation.
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Celebrating The Gateways Music Festival 2025
On today’s episode, We’re highlighting the Gateways Music Festival — a powerful meeting ground for Black classical musicians from across the country. It’s more than a festival. It’s a home. A reunion. A proving ground.
You’ll hear from four extraordinary artists who carry that legacy forward: Alex Laing, Curtis Stewart, Melissa White, and Damien Sneed.
From world premieres to reimagined classics, from personal reflections to artistic breakthroughs — this episode is a window into the soul of Gateways.
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Carlos Simon, Composer
On today’s episode, we’re talking with Carlos Simon—a Grammy-nominated composer, cultural storyteller, and one of the most influential musical voices of our time.
Carlos’s music blends gospel, jazz, classical, and cinematic soundscapes to tell stories that speak to our collective memory, our spiritual traditions, and the urgency of now. From his work with the Kennedy Center and Boston Symphony to his bold compositions like Requiem for the Enslaved, Amen!, and brea(d)th, Carlos is using music as a form of ministry, resistance, and joy.
We sat down ahead of the upcoming premiere of his monumental new work, Good News Mass, commissioned by the LA Philharmonic. It’s a gospel-infused reimagining of the Catholic Mass that features spoken word, orchestral brilliance, and visual storytelling—anchored in the Black sacred tradition.
In this conversation, we talk about the creative journey behind Good News Mass, what it means to compose from a place of faith and ancestral presence, and how Carlos continues to push boundaries while remaining deeply rooted in purpose.
The Black Music Seen Podcast highlights and celebrates Black musicians in genres where Black people are seldom seen. Produced by the Black Orchestral Network, Black Music Seen serves to lift our voices and tell our stories.
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