Are Identity Politics Holding Us Back?
In recent years, and especially during critical election seasons, identity politics have become a big part of American political discourse, with both Democrats and Republicans leveraging issues of race, gender, and class to engage voters and adopt identity-driven platforms to appeal to specific voting blocs. Vice President Kamala Harris’s entry as a female, mixed-race candidate has brought up questions about whether focusing on identity is distracting us from the issues at hand. Those who don’t think so argue that voters from diverse backgrounds want to see their unique concerns addressed, and identity politics offers a pathway for inclusion, representation, and empowerment for groups that have been historically sidelined. Those who think it is holding us back argue it distracts from broader policy discussions, prevents constructive dialogue on solutions that benefit everyone, and risks alienating large segments of the electorate who may feel excluded from the conversation.
As voters are deciding who to vote for, we debate the question: In the 2024 Presidential Election, Are Identity Politics Holding Us Back?
Arguing Yes: Coleman Hughes, Host of the “Conversations with Coleman” podcast and Contributing Writer at The Free Press
Arguing No: Alicia Garza, Founder of Black Lives Matter and Black Futures Lab
Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates
No Regrets: The Music & Spirit of Billie Holiday
From Savage Content/Miami, Kent Savage, Executive Producer; New Media Productions/Boston, Steve Robinson, producer; and Willard Jenkins, Writer, Jazz Historian, and NEA Jazz Master
An in-depth series exploring Holiday’s musical genius and legacy.
Hosted by legendary jazz broadcaster Rhonda Hamilton.
Presented in 13 hour-long episodes, No Regrets examines the musician’s early life, her move to Harlem, and first recordings with Benny Goodman, her rise to stardom, the evolution of her singing style, how her haunting rendition of “Strange Fruit” played a vital role in the birth of the Civil Rights movement, the many challenges she faced throughout her life and final years culminating with the beautiful and poignant recording “Lady in Satin.”
The focus throughout is Holiday’s singular musical artistry, her independent spirit, how her unique approach to her music became one of the strongest influences in the evolution of Jazz, and how she continues to influence performers today.
The series includes interviews with musicians and scholars including: Karrin Allyson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Angela Davis, Lara Downes, Dr. Farah Jasmine Griffin, Corky Hale, Alan Harris, Rene Marie, Professor Robert O’Meally, Dan Morgenstern, Fred Plotkin, Adam Clayton Powell III, Beth Roars, Dianne Reeves, Phil Schaap, Andromeda Turre and Casandra Wilson. The program also includes archived interviews collected by Linda Kuehl including Count Basie, Teddy Wilson, Silvia Syms, Jo Jones, Milt Gabler, John Hammond, Billie Taylor, Mal Waldron, Bobby Tucker and others.
The Science Behind Environmental Solutions
In an engaging and easy to understand manner Possibly looks at the science behind proposed environmental solutions to make choices that will, possibly, make a difference.
The news is full of potential ways to “save the planet” – Should we all drive electric cars, install solar panels, drink organic milk? It can feel pretty overwhelming. Possibly helps you think about what matters, what you can let go, and what will actually help.
Possibly features fresh voices delivering trustworthy information to guide informed decision-making.
Award-winning audio journalist Megan Hall, and Brown University Associate Provost for Sustainability and Professor of Ecology, Stephen Porder lead our team of Brown University-student reporters who pitch each story, interview guests, record the show, and mix every episode.
Possibly is a co-production of The Public’s Radio, Brown University’s Institute for Environment and Society, and Brown’s Climate Solutions Initiative.
Possibly 4 minute features are available FREE on PRX, AudioPort & Download
To sample Possibly episodes, visit https://thepublicsradio.org/possibly/.
Valentin Silvestrov: A Composer’s Journey
From New Media Productions/Boston, Steve Robinson, producer
A new, FREE five-part limited series. AVAILABLE on PRX, Content Depot, & Download
Valentin Silvestrov is one of Ukraine’s most honored and revered composers. Born in 1937, he has composed symphonies, string quartets, many choral and vocal works, work for solo piano and other compositions.
Each of the five stand-alone programs focuses on a different part of his output:
- Episode 1 – Overview: Excerpts and complete performances of a wide range of Silvestrov’s music, from solo piano to symphonies.
- Episode 2 – Choral/Vocal Compositions: Silvestrov is now the most prolific composer of choral music in Ukraine’s history. On this program we’ll explore some of his earliest vocal music, a movement from his haunting song cycle Quiet Songs (often called Silent Songs), and an excerpt from his monumental Requiem for Larissa. We’ll also hear an interview with the person most responsible for stimulating Silvestrov’s interest in choral writing, Mycola Hobdych, founder and conductor of the Kyiv Chamber Choir.
- Episode 3 – Solo Piano: Boris Berman is a life-long friend and colleague of Silvestrov’s and is now head of the piano department at Yale. In this program, we focus on Berman’s two-CD recording covering 60 years of Silvestrov’s piano writing, with Berman providing commentary on each piece. The program ends with Elegy, one of three pieces Silvestrov composed in his head while fleeing Kyiv after the invasion in 2022 on his way to Berlin, where he now lives as a refugee.
- Episode 4 – Symphonies: Valentin Silvestrov has written nine symphonies and in this program we’ll hear excerpts from six of them, concluding with a complete broadcast of his Symphony No. 7. Along the way we’ll hear comments by three conductors: Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Sergey Smbatyan and Christopher Lyndon-Gee.
- Episode 5 – Music Composed Since 2015, and a Few Earlier Compositions: We’ll conclude our survey of the music of Valentin Silvestrov with several compositions written since 2015, including a recording of Pastorales 2020 with Daniel Hope, violin and Alexey Botvinov, piano. The program also includes a performance of one of Silvestrov’s most well-known pieces, The Messenger, performed by his long-time friend and colleague, Borys Federov.
Featured in the series are:
Virko Baley, composer; Boris Berman, pianist; David Fanning, scholar; Borys Federov, pianist; Vladimir Feltsman, pianist; Christopher Lyndon-Gee, conductor; Richard Gillies, scholar; Mykola Habdych, choral conductor; Marika Kuzma. choral conductor; Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor; Sergey Smbatian, conductor
The Da Camera Society Fall Season 2024-25
The Da Camera Society of Mount Saint Mary’s University launches its Fall 2024-25 Season at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica on Sunday 15 September at 2pm, with subsequent concerts scheduled for USC’s Cammilleri Hall and Mount Saint Mary’s University’s Doheny Mansion.
The Da Camera Society’s Fall 2024-25 Season:
MUSICA TRANSALPINA – ITALIAN BAROQUE MUSIC FOR ORCHESTRA AND VOICE
Sunday 15 September at 2pm – First Presbyterian Church, Santa Monica
20-member baroque ensemble Musica Transalpina performs sacred works by Corelli, Pergolesi, and Scarlatti, including Pergolesi’s famous Stabat Mater. Featuring concertmistress Cynthia Roberts and vocalists Anselm Decker and Kyle Tingzon.
ALLAKHVERDYAN & ALLAKHVERDYAN – MUSIC FOR CLARINET AND PIANO
Sunday 13 October at 4pm – USC Cammilleri Hall
LA Phil’s principal clarinet Boris Allakhverdyan and pianist Alin Allakhverdyan perform music by Debussy, Saint-Saëns, and Tchaikovsky.
TRIO BOHÉMO PLAYS SCHUBERT AND BRAHMS
Friday 8 November at 8pm – First Presbyterian Church, Santa Monica
The celebrated Czech ensemble Trio Bohémo. performs two shining stars of the piano trio repertoire: Schubert’s Op. 100 and Brahms’ Op. 8.
SCHUMANN, SCHUMANN – AND BRAHMS!
Friday 17 January at 8pm – Doheny Mansion, MSMU Doheny Campus.
An evening of music forged in music history’s most famous love triangle, including Schumann’s Fantasie in C, Op. 17 and Brahms’ Piano Quartet in C Minor, “Werther.” Featuring Livia Sohn, violin, Barry Shiffman, viola, Clive Greensmith, cello, and Micah Yui, piano.
The Da Camera Society was founded at Mount Saint Mary’s University in 1973 by MaryAnn Bonino with the intention of fostering the return of chamber music to the intimate environments for which it was conceived. The Society’s mission expanded over the years to embrace a wide variety of musical genres and educational programming celebrating the diverse communities of greater Los Angeles.
Through its Music in Historic Sites concert series the Society presents internationally acclaimed artists in programs matched to sites of architectural, historical, and cultural significance. Highly praised by music writers and commentators, concerts have been presented at such iconic sites as the Doheny Mansion, the Thomas Mann House, the Second Church of Christ Scientist (Art of Living Foundation), and the Villa del Sol d’Oro.
For tickets and more information visit www.dacamerasociety.org/concerts/, or email dacamera@msmu.edu.