This episode is brought to you by Juneteenth LP — celebrating Black artistry and legacy in classical music. 🎉 Get Your Ticket: https://publictheater.org/performances-jp/2025/j/juneteenth-lp/ 🎹 What does it mean to live and create with authenticity? In this powerful season finale, we sit down with Dr. Maria Thompson Corley — pianist, composer, novelist, poet, educator, and advocate — for a conversation that is as multifaceted as her artistry. From performing her compositions to championing music by Black composers and writing novels and librettos, Dr. Corley shares how her lived experiences—as a mother, artist, and scholar—fuel a profoundly human and inclusive vision for classical music and beyond. 💡 In this episode, we explore: ✅ What true inclusion looks like in classical music today ✅ How Dr. Corley integrates underrepresented composers into mainstream repertoire ✅ Her experiences raising two creative children, one of whom is neurodivergent ✅ Writing opera, novels, and poetry as extensions of her voice ✅ Co-founding Silence-Optional concerts for sensory-sensitive audiences ✅ Her reflections on legacy, authenticity, and creative purpose Whether you are a musician, educator, or listener seeking a deeper connection through music, this conversation will move you, challenge you, and expand your sense of what classical music can be. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Corley: 🌐 Website 📘 Facebook 📷 Instagram 📰 The Piano Pod Links 🎧 Sounds of Inspiration (Season 5) - all the music mentioned 📝 Substack VIP Access 🎁 Make a Donation: https://bit.ly/3EsvRDg 🌐 Website: https://thepianopod.com 📢 Link Hub: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod 📸 Instagram: /thepianopod 👍 Facebook: /thepianopodnyc 🎵 TikTok: /thepianopod
