The Score

Greetings, dear Scorekeepers! It's time for episode 15 of THE SCORE!!! This week, we are thrilled to welcome our wonderful guest, composer, Juilliard professor and all-around smart and lovely person, Trevor Weston! Join us for a fun and fascinating conversation as we take a journey through Black music history from Africa to the present and discuss the state of arts education. (0:31:16) Before that...

It's episode 14 of THE SCORE and we have an absolutely jam-packed episode for you this week! First, we couldn't be more excited for this week's guest, composer and Miss America 2019, Nia Imani Franklin! Nia joins us to talk about her illustrious career, her inspiring advocacy work, and her new album, Extended , out 9/17 (0:30:57) . Also, Rocky took a little adventure to the West Coast while we wer...

It's lucky episode 13 of THE SCORE and it's August, the world is on fire both literally and figuratively, and we're hot and tired, but, hey, that doesn't mean we can't find a little joy to celebrate! First, Paige has discovered a passion for Caribbean Carnival Masquerade, so she gives us a fascinating lesson on the history of Carnival and the inspiration for The Cotton Jab, the new character and c...

Greetings, Scorekeepers! Welcome back to MN Opera's THE SCORE! As you can see we're on Mondays now, so let's get this week started off right with... some COVID chat? Like every other human on earth we are doing our best to stay upright as we ride this fourth wave, so we spend a little time trying to process our feelings and find a little oasis of sanity. Come breathe with us! Fortunately, however,...

Greetings, Scorekeepers! We're back from our vacation with a very special new episode of THE SCORE ! And why is it so special, you ask? Because for the very first time ever, Paige, Rocky and Lee are actually recording the show in person in the same room at the same time! What a treat! And on this week's episode, after a brief lamentation on the state of the world, we celebrate some of the incredib...

Episode 10! Can you believe it, Scorekeepers?! We kind of can't, so we're celebrating this momentous occasion by... going on vacation! But fear not, even though this is an abbreviated episode, we've still got that sweet, sweet content you've been craving. First up, we're joined for a chat by our first real-life full-time professional opera singer, lyric tenor Andrew Stenson. Andrew has sung in ope...

Hello, dear Scorekeepers! And welcome to a jam-packed ninth episode of The Score . On today's episode, we voyage all the way to the stars and back with a quick chat about Rocky's recent reading with acclaimed Black astrologer Mecca Woods, followed by a dip into MN Opera's newly announced 2021-22 Season, and a conversation about our conflicted feelings around the well-intentioned acronym BIPOC. The...

Welcome to episode 8 of Minnesota Opera’s podcast THE SCORE! On this week’s episode, it’s June and we're all vaxxed up and ready see our people again. So we think it's high time for a little bit of celebration after such a long, dreadful year! First up, it's Pride Month all over the world, so it's time to give it up for all of our precious, beautiful LGBTQIA+ siblings! This week we’re having a goo...

Welcome to lucky episode number 7 of MN Opera's The Score . Today, Paige, Lee and Rocky are joined by not one, but two, legendary guests! We are honored to speak with composer Dr. Adolphus Hailstork and librettist and poet Dr. Herbert Martin, two incredibly accomplished Black artists and titans of the classical music scene. We'll talk with them about their decades of experience in the industry, ho...

Hi, Scorekeepers! It's episode 6 of Minnesota Opera's THE SCORE! On this week's ep, Paige, Lee and Rocky are all vaxxed up and just in time it seems for the world to start opening up again. We'll talk about the huge impact this will have on the arts and live performance and, of course, our sanity. Next, we're joined by the lovely and talented Pablo Siqueiros, Associate Director of Public Programs...

On this week's episode of The Score , Paige, Lee and Rocky unpack their complicated feelings around last week's verdict heard 'round the world before turning their attention to the incredible art and artists you can find right here in the Twin Cities. They're joined by renowned violinist Emilia Mettenbrink to talk about growing up in Minneapolis, her experiences as a Black woman in classical music...

What's up, Scorekeepers! It's week 4 of The Score ! It's been another depressing and infuriating week here in Minneapolis and on this week's ep, Lee, Paige and Rocky do their best to absorb the shock of seeing another young Black man's life taken by police officers in their community. Rest in Power, Daunte Wright, Sr. (Please scroll down in the show notes to see ways you can help Daunte's family a...

On this week’s episode of  The Score , hosts Paige, Lee, and Rocky chat about finding hope through music in these troubled times. They reflect on recent events here in Minneapolis and the blessed relief of MN Opera’s recent MNiatures program. Next, they discuss the responsibility of opera makers and opera lovers alike to join the movement to #StopAsianHate. Then they tackle the question of ho...

On this week’s episode... It’s Minneapolis Day! Lee is officially a Minnesotan! He gives us his first impressions of his new city and, with the Derek Chauvin trial beginning, what it’s like to move here at this particular moment in history. Plus, Paige takes us inside what’s going on in the local Black arts scene. Then we reflect on Black History Month at Minnesota Opera, and as always we’ll send...

Ready or not, here we come! It’s the very first episode of Minnesota Opera’s first podcast... THE SCORE! On this week’s episode: Black people? Talking about opera? What is this? Who are these people? And why? All these questions answered and more. Also, there’s a new Diversity Officer at the Metropolitan Opera. Let’s celebrate her! (And pray for her…) Plus, we’ll touch on recent controve...

Ready or not, it's time to put opera on game! Hosts Lee Bynum (VP, Impact), Paige Reynolds (Civic Engagement Manager), and Rocky Jones (EDI Director) are three Black artists, pop culture aficionados, and arts administrators at Minnesota Opera, who are working every day to bring more diversity, equity, and inclusivity into opera and classical music. The Score is their provocative, thoughtful, and h...