"For 30 years, double bassist Chi-chi Nwanoku has enjoyed a successful
career and as a classical musician and never felt the colour of her skin
has held her back. So why is she now embarking on and ambitious plan to
form Europe’s first professional black orchestra? She explains all"
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jun/02/chi-chi-nwanoku-classical-music-living-colour-black-orchestra-chineke-foundation
Perhaps
I was one of the lucky ones? I somehow slipped through the net. I’m a
classical musician, an all too rare black face on concert platforms
among what are usually all-white orchestras. My Nigerian father and
Irish mother brought me up believing that I could do anything I wanted.
They never doubted me for a second, and I was surrounded by people who
supported and encouraged me.
***
Perhaps the first seed for me was sown about ten years ago when my then colleague and co-founder of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Marshall Marcus asked if I would speak to one of the broadsheets about
our next concert programme. Why? I asked - I don’t know anything in
particular about it. He chuckled and told me he’d send me a link to look
at, and I’d understand why. We were playing a symphony by Chevalier de Saint-Georges,
an 18th-century composer who was also a conductor, a virtuoso
violinist, a champion fencer, and the son of a wealthy French plantation
owner and his African slave. His works included three operas, two
symphonies, 15 violin concertos
and more. And yet this was the first I’d ever heard of him! I was
fascinated and also horrified that I’d never before asked myself whether
there might have been someone like me in previous generations, previous
centuries of classical musicians.
***
Extraordinary composers and musicians such as Chevalier de
Saint-Georges have been virtually written out of history. Is it any
wonder that we struggle to encourage a diverse society of musicians
today and tomorrow?
I resolved to showcase the exceptional talent we have here in the UK
and Europe among performers of ethnicity and so the Chineke! Foundation
and orchestra was born. The name came to me in a eureka moment in the
middle of the night – I leapt out of bed shouting it – Chineke! It’s an Igbo word that pre-dates Christianity. According to the traditional Igbo people from the south-eastern region of Nigeria (where lie my paternal roots), Chineke is the creator of the world.
***
In part my inspiration has been the wonderful Sphinx Organisation in the US, set up in 1998 by Aaron Dworkin,
for Black and Latino players. I’ve worked with them on and off for a
decade and witnessed outstanding musicians come through their hands.
***
Chi-chi Nwanoku was talking to Imogen Tilden
- Chineke’s inaugural concert will be at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, on 13 September. More information at chineke.org and chi-chinwanoku.com
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