Sergio A. Mims: Chineke! Orchestra: CBC Radio: Europe's first all non-white orchestra is changing the face of classical music - The Sunday Edition with Michael Enwright

 Chi-chi Nwanoku

(David Gutnick)

Chi-chi Nwanoku MBE writes:

Dear Bill and Sergio

I hope you are well. This is to give you a heads up and let you know about this ahead of tomorrow morning’s broadcast. They are happy that we put it out today…

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thesundayedition/may-14-2017-the-sunday-edition-with-michael-enright-1.4110476/europe-s-first-all-non-white-orchestra-is-changing-the-face-of-classical-music-1.4110490

Very best wishes

Chi-chi Nwanoku MBE, FRAM, FTCL
Founder, Artistic & Executive Director Chineke! http://chineke.org/

Chineke! Showreel https://youtu.be/oepETzk0YLU

Tel/Home: +44 20 8892 4126
Tel/Mobile: +44 7956 546121

ABO Award winner, 2017 http://www.chineke.org/news
Black British Business Awards Person of the Year http://www.thebbbawards.com/
Skype: chichinwanoku
Website: http://www.chi-chinwanoku.com

Chineke Foundation is a Registered Charity in England and Wales, No. 1165933.

CBC Radio

Sunday, May 14, 2017

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNTaeS7SA-w 

 Desmond Neysmith is the principal cellist of the Chineke! Orchestra.

When Chi-chi Nwanoku was a teenager, she had a dream: to represent Great Britain in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.

She was one of the fastest 100-metre sprinters in England, despite being only five feet tall and weighing a little over 100 pounds. But at 18, a serious knee injury ended her competitive running days forever. She shifted gears.  

She had always loved classical music, and decided to learn to play the double bass. She had the chops. She received scholarships. And for the past 30 years, Chi-chi Nwanoku has made her living as a soloist and member of prestigious orchestras.  

A few years ago, she started chasing another dream: to change the face and colour of classical music.

This is the 21st century. It should not be a novelty to see people of colour playing Beethoven. - Chi-chi Nwanoku

She decided to form an orchestra of her own. She had just two criteria.

One, the musicians would be have to be world class.

And two, none of them could be white.

The Chineke! Orchestra's first concert in London was sold-out and got rave reviews. This summer they are touring Britain and will play the Royal Albert Hall in the prestigious BBC Proms. 

Desmond Neysmith, the principal cellist of the Chineke! Orchestra, says the magnitude of what they were creating didn't hit him until the rehearsals for their inaugural concert.

"There was a moment when I looked up ... and I saw the faces — a sea of different shades of brown really — and I don't know how else to describe it," he says.

"I freelance in all the major London symphony orchestras.... The vast majority of time, I am usually the only musician of colour in those ensembles."

Chineke!'s first CD recording will be released on July 7, and will contain recordings of Sibelius' Finlandia and Dvorak's Symphony No.9.

 (Provided by Chineke! Orchestra)