TiA 108: The Fearless Classical Influencer - Dacia Clay
 - 20 July 2020 -
TECH IN ART: Performance on the Digital Stage with Ward Holmquist

• What makes music “classical”?
• And who even listens to it now?
• Why should anyone?
• Who is showing the younger generations what classical music is, and some ways to approach reportedly great works by dead European white guys?
• What do today’s classical music performers think of other music styles? Do they play pieces that aren’t traditionally thought of as “classical”?

These and a host of similar questions are being posed by thoughtful music lovers as the audience for traditional classical artists, groups and organizations steadily implodes.

And then there’s Dacia Clay.

A library science graduate with a decidedly egalitarian world view, whose secret desire was to work in public radio. Her quest began when she got her first break in front of a mic, having her “beginner” questions about classical music answered by the performers and educators whose music she catalogued for NPR station KUHF in Houston, Texas.

Her quest turned into a podcast, ClassicalClassroomShow.com. Now over 279 episodes and counting, her inquisitiveness has brought forth many interesting interviews with leading artists, by asking intelligent, intriguing questions about a wide variety of topics, and delightfully encapsulating the experiences in bite-sized episodes.

Her work is the motherlode example of classical music relevancy and education.

EPISODE LINKS

• Houston Public Media
• Classical King FM 98.1
• ClassicalClassroomShow.com
• Joyce DiDonato interview

MUSIC CLIPS (via YouTube)

1. Metallica's One for violin and cello - Rachel Barton Pine and Mike Block [00:00]
2. Metallica: One (Official Music Video) [00:34]
3. "Tu lo sai" - Joyce DiDonato: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert [17:07]
4.  Arcade Fire - Everything Now (Official Video) [36:19]

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