“Abdullah started on clarinet, excelling to the point where he could play in the New World Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas. He had already flirted with conducting in classes at Aspen and Verbier, but decided to go the whole hog in Miami.” “'Kazem’s this calm, sunny, constructive personality in the service of rather difficult music,' said an impressed Tilson Thomas.” “Black conductors are rare— the last one in a similar position to his was Calvin Simmons, who died tragically at age 32 in 1982. And there are of course other fine conductors out there like James DePriest. But Abdullah envisions more African American interest in classical music during the hopeful Age of Obama, in a 'globalized world where more and more people have access to this art form.' He himself was ignited as a kid catching great black singers like Price, Norman and Battle on radio broadcasts and 'Live from Lincoln Center.' Abdullah is slated to conduct Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha in 2010 at the Chatelet in Paris. 'Joplin was trying to find legitimacy as a black classical composer,' he said. 'So I feel simpatico. To think this son of slaves created such a great opera about the African American experience!'” [Full Post] [James DePreist (b. 1936) and Scott Joplin (1868-1917) are profiled at AfriClassical.com]
