Diversity isn鈥檛 exactly classical music鈥檚 strong suit. The work of white, European composers has been center stage for centuries. Today, of musicians in American orchestras, though that number appears to be growing. Black violinist and author Brendan Slocumb says representation plays a big role in this.
鈥淲hen I was a kid, had I seen someone who looked like me playing the violin? I mean, I would probably never put it down 鈥� ever, ever,鈥� Slocumb said.
Slocumb is a longtime music educator and when he goes into schools, students don鈥檛 believe he鈥檚 a violinist. He says he doesn鈥檛 fit the part for a few reasons. 鈥淚f it's warm out, I usually have on a short-sleeved shirt and I've got tattoos. And, you know, I'm going to go ahead and say, I'm a, you know, muscular guy,鈥� he laughed.
Then Slocumb picks up his violin and plays. 鈥淎nd they're just like, are you serious? You really do this?鈥�
Slocumb鈥檚 response is typically: 鈥淵eah, it's for everybody. You don't have to live in a certain place or have a certain zip code or have a certain bank account.鈥�
His experiences as a young aspiring Black musician navigating the classical music world are central to his book 鈥淭he Violin Conspiracy,鈥� which is the selection for this year鈥檚 . The citywide event brings residents together to read, discuss and celebrate one noteworthy book. Ahead of his talk in Fort Collins on November 5, he joined In The NoCo.
