DEI, Wokeness, and the Future of Art — Jan Swafford

Hyung-ki Joo on Billy Joel, Humor & the Future of Classical Music

A wonderful conversation with my dear friend Hyung-ki Joo for the OAMusic Podcast. We talked about comedy, Bach, Glenn Gould, Billy Joel, music competitions, deaf children experiencing music through vibration, the absurd seriousness of the classical world, and why communication ultimately matters more than perfection. One of the most fascinating musicians I’ve ever met — irreverent, brilliant, deeply thoughtful, and always searching for new ways to bring people closer to music. I’ve known Hyung-ki for almost 30 years, since our days at Manhattan School of Music, and this conversation felt less like an interview and more like reconnecting with an old friend after decades of artistic adventures.

The Rise and Fall of Brooklyn’s Indie Music Scene: Ronen Givony on Us v. Them

Writer, curator, and Wordless Music founder Ronen Givony joins the OAMusic Podcast to discuss his new book, Us v. Them, a history of the Brooklyn music scene in the early 2000s. We talk about DIY venues, Williamsburg, Glasslands, Death By Audio, Grizzly Bear, TV on the Radio, Death by Audio, Nonesuch Records, the post-Napster music world, and how indie music became both a scene and a marketing term. Ronen also reflects on founding Wordless Music, his time at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and the strange cultural moment when classical music, indie rock, and New York nightlife began to overlap. Buy Us V. Them here: https://www.amazon.com/Us-v-Them-Deca [https://www.amazon.com/Us-v-Them-Deca]... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnRLOGVZRmdwcWhVTHFnLU1OT2pZVHVtNHNRd3xBQ3Jtc0trOEtWUGlMUXRTMTZYYVlUYlVmV3hoMnFBUHhZRnlZeWE2eHpJMHp4ek8wUjVTejFWd1RXeTNpVnhtdF9rczdoa05ETENOaTJwNGNLSENmNjA0bi1wckgtVUlQY3VrMVpEV3hReTVSYTIyUHFac0xGTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FUs-v-Them-Decade-2004-2014%2Fdp%2F141977526X&v=pkiYupLUhwA] Wordless Music https://www.wordlessmusic.org/aboutco [https://www.wordlessmusic.org/aboutco]... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGc2Vi0tVDdGbUF4akMtS0tnWEVDcGNpakpCQXxBQ3Jtc0trVlRvRWF1cEp6TkJ0OUk4MlZZY0FRSUZDMlJsbC1pYU5EdW1HTEplVWZudnc4RC05Z25pTkhaT1d3TTF6SkJEcWM1Mmk0RnVNVnJPTjhQOURDQ181bU1ObS1lQmRHVzlLZDdEVGptNnBEbERFSEx5NA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wordlessmusic.org%2Faboutcontact%2F&v=pkiYupLUhwA] Ronen Givony is the founder of Wordless Music, an orchestra and concert series that has worked with artists across genres, from Sigur Rós and Mica Levi to Terrence Malick and Paul Thomas Anderson. A curator for music festivals and venues in the United States and abroad, he is the author of two other books: "24 Hour Revenge Therapy (or, The Strange Death of Selling Out)" and "Not for You: Pearl Jam and the Present Tense." Born and raised in South Florida, he now lives in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.

Ronn Yedidia: 24 Preludes, Prophets, and the Crisis of Contemporary Music

In this episode, I sit down with composer, pianist, and accordion virtuoso Ronn Yedidia for a wide-ranging conversation on music, creativity, and the state of classical culture today. We revisit his extraordinary journey from child prodigy in Tel Aviv to Juilliard, and explore two major recent projects: his deeply expressive 24 Preludes and his jazz-fusion album Prophets. Along the way, we talk about composition, improvisation, influence, the role of beauty in music, and why so much contemporary concert music has lost touch with audiences. Ronn speaks candidly about old forms, new music, jazz, orchestras, programming politics, and the need to reconnect musical life with listeners. A rich conversation about artistry, freedom, tradition, and the future of serious music.

DEI, Wokeness, and the Future of Art — Jan Swafford

In this conversation with composer and biographer Jan Swafford, we examine the growing role of DEI and “wokeness” in shaping the arts — and the consequences for music. Are artistic standards being replaced by ideology? What happens when politics begins to define value in art? A conversation on music, culture, and what ultimately endures. — Jan Swafford is a composer and the author of acclaimed biographies of Yves, Beethoven, Mozart, and Brahms, widely regarded as among the leading modern studies of these composers.

Yury Revich – Peace (New Album)

In this episode of the OAMusic Podcast, pianist and cultural entrepreneur Orlando Alonso speaks with violinist and composer Yury Revich about his new album Peace. Based in Vienna, Revich has built an international career that bridges classical tradition and contemporary creativity. In this conversation he discusses the idea behind the album, the role of music in times of global uncertainty, and the unique cultural environment of Vienna today. The discussion ranges from Bach and Satie to the philosophy of beauty, the responsibilities of artists in the modern world, and why music remains one of humanity’s most powerful languages. Yury's Website: https://yuryrevich.com/ [https://yuryrevich.com/] Link to the album Peace on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3TlohB8TvXt5QEEy6I5j4u?si=bX7zEW6CQqCynrVSgO2hPA [https://open.spotify.com/album/3TlohB8TvXt5QEEy6I5j4u?si=bX7zEW6CQqCynrVSgO2hPA]