Classical Music World Struggles to Become More Inclusive in the 21st Century

'The classical music world got even less diverse after Garrett McQueen, the only Black classical announcer at Minnesota Public Radio, was let go for making changes to programming such as playing the song, "The Seven Last Words of the Unarmed," by Black composer Joel Thompson in the days after George Floyd’s killing.  McQueen’s firing has reignited conversations about representation in classical music including among composers, musicians, audiences, and even radio hosts. Terrance McKnight, the host for WQXR, New York Public Radio's classical station, and Dr. Aaron Flagg, a trumpet player, Chair of Jazz Studies at The Juilliard School and Chair of the League of American Orchestra's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, joined The Takeaway to discuss.'