Violinists Maalick Glover (left) and Mwakudua waNgure recently joined the Columbus Symphony. Photo by Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch.
“Growing up in Atlanta, Maalik Glover was accustomed to seeing classical musicians who looked like him—until he started progressing in the field,” writes Erica Thompson in Monday’s (12/19) Columbus Dispatch. “ ‘The higher you go in classical music, the less people will look like you if you’re a person of color,’ said Glover, a 25-year-old violinist who is Black. ‘It feels a little bit alienating to be a part of something that seems like you don’t really belong in visually. And this is one of the reasons why a lot of people quit.’ Glover, however, continued to play and obtained degrees from Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music and the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). He and 26-year-old violinist Mwakudua waNgure were accepted into the Columbus Symphony in September. They are the only Black members of the orchestra at this time. Glover and waNgure advocate for more outreach to young musicians and more diversity programs for adults, but stress that even more effort is needed to fix the root of the problem.”
