Artwork and Graphic Design: Louise Mandumbwa

Artwork and Graphic Design: Louise Mandumbwa

 
 
 

Over the course of time there have been many overlooked artists in classical music, because of their race and/or gender. It is important to acknowledge that we have not yet heard the whole story due to this sidelining of voices. Composers Joseph Boulogne Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, William Grant Still, Florence B. Price, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, and George Walker, have all contributed beautifully crafted works to the repertoire, but are not widely celebrated. Another contributing factor to this unfortunate reality is access to their manuscripts and recordings of their work which we believe would lead to greater awareness and programming of their incredible music.

UNCOVERED, concieved in 2018, is an ongoing performance and muti-volume anthology recorded on the Azica label. Vol. 1 featured the music of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor with guest collaborators Stewart Goodyear and Anthony McGill, and released to critical acclaim in February 2021. Vol. 2, released February 2022,  is devoted to composer Florence B. Price – including four world premiere recordings – with pianist Michelle Cann. Vol. 3 will be released on February 3, 2023, featuring the music of George Walker Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, and William Grant Still.

Volume 4 is in the planning and funding phase. Please see below for information on supporting this important project.

 

This program is From the Top’s annual “Where Are They Now” show featuring interviews with From the Top alumni and the fantastic music they’re making in their early professional careers. We meet a pianist who just released an album to raise money for the people of Flint, Michigan suffering from the contaminated water crisis, a winner of last year’s Queen Elizabeth Competition, and a baritone who just won his first Grammy.

We would like to thank the foundations and individuals for their contributions to UNCOVERED Vol. 1, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

Turrell Fund, Sphinx Organization, A. McClellan, Andres Cardenes, Andrew Grams, Angelica Maddock, Annaliese, Anne L. Taylor, Annie Fullard, An Terrail, Asher, Beth Boleyn, Brian Thorton, Caitlin Sullivan, Camille Cintron Devlin, Carlos Tome, Catherine Cosbey, Chris Whittaker, Coco Gonzalez, Colleen Wang, Curtis Stewart, Cynthia D. Jones, Daniel Koo, Danielle Belen, Danielle Rose, Daniel W Chandler, Douglas Cardwell, Ed Montgomery, Emily Kalish,Eugene Sor, Gayle Gonzalez, Geoffrey Reeves, George Trudeau, Gina Cuffari, Harold Arnold, Jacqueline Jove, James L. Wilson, James Wilson, Jannina Kara Norpoth, Jen Arnold, Jinjoo Cho, Jonathon Loy, Jordan Randall Smith, Julie Marx and, Karen Poleshuck.

The Catalyst Quartet is grateful to Irene R. Miller and Marcy Syms who along with the Virginia Arts Festival, are the sponsors of Volume 2 of the string quartets and piano quintets of Florence Price as part of the Uncovered Project anthology. [The recording will be made in the historic Attucks Hall in Norfolk, VA.] Irene and Marcy are long-standing friends, concert-going buddies and amateur musicians who have had successful careers in business, leadership roles in corporate governance and deep involvement in the philanthropic world, including music, education and social equality. They are delighted to support the Uncovered Project, which they believe is a compelling and scholarly addition to the anthology of works by historically important composers who have been overlooked because of their race and/or gender.

Volume 3 was made possible by a grant from Chamber Music America made possible by the Howard Gilman Foundation.

Fundraising for UNCOVERED is ongoing. We still need to record and produce Volume 4, which will be a double disk album with 18 works on it. In order to do this we need to raise approximately $40,000. If you would like to become a part of history please consider making a tax-deductible donation, by clicking the donation button.