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©2026 Classical California

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Open Ears

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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.

06/08/2026
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Open Ears: Get to Know the Incredible Story of Marian Anderson

Explore the inspiring journey of Marian Anderson, a trailblazing African American singer who overcame racial barriers to perform at the White House and Metropolitan Opera.

03/02/2026
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Open Ears: The Groundbreaking, All-Too-Brief Life of Calvin Simmons

"Discover the life and legacy of Calvin Simmons, the first African American to lead a major American orchestra, whose contributions to classical music are at risk of being forgotten."

02/27/2026
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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.

02/25/2026
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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".

02/19/2026
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How Does One of the Most Famous Composers of the Late 1700s Just Disappear from History?

Explore the life of Joseph Bologne, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a prominent 18th-century musician, fencer, and revolutionary, whose legacy was nearly lost to history.

02/18/2026
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Nora Holt: Free-Spirited Composer of the Harlem Renaissance

Explore the life of Nora Douglas Holt, a pioneering African-American composer, singer, and critic from the Harlem Renaissance, whose contributions to music remain largely unappreciated.

02/14/2026

RELATED TOPICS

Women in ClassicalBlack PerformersBlack ComposersLatin American ComposersPop Culture

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A fond farewell from "Lueth in the Booth”

A fond farewell from San Francisco Classical California President, Bill Lueth.

06/02/2026
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The Sounds of Sunrise

Explore the beauty of sunrise through music with this list of compositions inspired by dawn, from Haydn's "Sunrise" Symphony to Ravel's "Daphnis and Chloe".

05/30/2026
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LA Philharmonic is Soaring with Daniel Harding

Conductor and commercial airline pilot Daniel Harding is announced as the 12th music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

05/27/2026
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Elim Takes the Podium and a Radio Station Goes Ballistic

The Classical California team shares their excitement over the next music director of the San Francisco Symphony, Elim Chan.

05/21/2026
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A Hometown Tribute to Michael Tilson Thomas

This article celebrates the career of conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, highlighting his 25-year tenure with the San Francisco Symphony, his early years in LA, and his contributions to classical music.

04/23/2026
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Celebrating Gustavo!

Classical California's Brian Lauritzen reflects on Gustavo Dudamel's career at the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

04/07/2026