Black Lives In Music have partnered for a second year running with Warner Classics to mentor the next generation of Black and underrepresented classical musicians and composers, with an event for young artists at Warner Music’s UK offices, which took place on Thursday.
During the event, the artists heard from Warner Music UK CEO Tony Harlow, Black Lives In Music CEO Charisse Beaumont and Warner Classics UK & North America VP Sean Michael Gross, and were given a tour around Warner Music UK headquarters. There was also a Q&A with award-winning Egyptian soprano and Warner Classics artist, Fatma Said.
The partnership started last year at BLIM’s first Black classical music festival, Classically Black, a symposium one-day event which was sponsored by Warner Classics. It sold out and finished with a headline concert from Ayanna Witter-Johnson. Part of the aim of the festival was to spotlight new classical artists and composers, and Warner Classics sponsored the showcase for emerging talent.
BLIM and Warner Classics will continue to provide mentoring for the artists who took part in the Classically Black showcase 2024. The mentoring will last six months and involve key figures from across the industry assembled by BLIM, including Sean Michael Gross, Harriet Wyborn (general manager, the Royal Philharmonic Society), Sue Spence (director, Askonas Holt) and David O'Leary (artist manager, Intermusica).
“The Black Lives in Music/Warner Classics collaboration is an exemplar of aligned organisations in the music sector working together to make change,” said Roger Wilson, BLIM director of operations. “It's leading the way in the important quest to support the talent we want to see on the stages of our great concert halls. We know that there is more talent from underrepresented communities out there. BLIM's Classically Black festival and this mentoring programme can help to inspire, enable and empower Black and global majority musicians to create, thrive and realise their aspirations. Working together is the only way to drive the change we should all wish to see in today's music sector.”
Sean Michael Gross added: "At Warner Classics, we believe in the power of music to transcend boundaries, connect cultures and reflect the rich tapestry of our world. Our continued partnership with Black Lives In Music is a testament to this commitment. I'm personally thrilled to be involved alongside industry leaders from Warner Chappell Music, the Royal Philharmonic Society, Askonas Holt and Intermusica. It's vital we empower these young musicians with the guidance and support they need to flourish. We're not just investing in careers, we're investing in the future of classical music."
