NEWS

WDAV Classical Public Radio Spotlights the Contributions of Classical Artists from Underrepresented Groups with ‘NoteWorthy’ Stories

April 25, 2023 | DAVIDSON & CHARLOTTE, NC – Beginning Monday, May 1st, WDAV Classical Public Radio will premiere NoteWorthy, a series of 2-minute stories that will broaden our view of classical music by shining a light on the lives and music of artists of color, women, and others from historically underrepresented groups. Each NoteWorthy episode provides a bite-sized introduction to one artist or performing ensemble, and musicians and composers from all eras and genres of classical music represented in the series. In just a couple of minutes, listeners will learn about the contributions these artists have made and are making to the art form while discovering some great music along the way. NoteWorthy is hosted by bassoonist, activist, podcast host, radio announcer, and celebrated “classical agitator,” Garrett McQueen.

“As a musician and activist, highlighting areas of the classical music field that haven’t always been centered is a vital part of my work,” says McQeen. “NoteWorthy perfectly aligns with my personal mission and goals as a change maker in the arts, because it directly connects audiences to the musicians and composers, both historic and current, who are shaping the more inclusive and ever-expanding future of the art form we all love.”

Each new episode of NoteWorthy will air daily throughout the week that it is released. Options for listening include tuning to 89.9 FM in Charlotte and surrounding areas, WDAV’s app for smartphones, streaming at WDAV.org, or with a smart speaker such as Google Home or Amazon Echo (Alexa).

NoteWorthy is available on demand at WDAV.org, the smartphone app, and at NoteWorthyClassical.org. At NoteWorthyClassical.org, visitors can dig deeper into the artists and music featured in the series, subscribe to WDAV’s NoteWorthy newsletter, and watch archived performances from WDAV’s groundbreaking, genre-bending NoteWorthy concert series.

WDAV Content Director and midday announcer Rachel Stewart said of NoteWorthy, “This series of audio shorts is an important piece of WDAV’s strategy to reach new audiences and delight existing listeners by introducing them to composers who have been largely absent from classical radio. Working on this project has revealed to us so many overlooked artists and we’re excited to give them the spotlight they deserve.”

NoteWorthy is produced and distributed by WDAV Classical Public Radio. Funding is provided in part by Foundation For The Carolinas.

Garrett McQueen is a bassoonist who has performed as a member of the South Arkansas Symphony, Jackson Symphony, American Youth Symphony, Memphis Repertory Orchestra, the Eroica Ensemble, and most recently, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

Giving voice and offering space to music by Black creators and marginalized composers drives his passion for music and continues to be his primary focus as a performer. In addition to remaining active in performance spaces, McQeen is the host and producer behind a number of nationally-syndicated radio programs, including “The Sound of 13” and “The Sounds of Kwanzaa”, and continues to work as a guest radio host in a number of American markets. Away from the airwaves, McQeen specializes in music and racial equity presentations, with collaborators including the Gateways Music Festival, the Sphinx Organization, the Kennedy Center, the Apollo Theater, the San Francisco Symphony, and countless schools, colleges, and universities. In 2021, the New York Times noted his weekly podcast, TRILLOQUY, as a standout and one that is “required listening for industry leaders and listeners alike.”

McQueen holds a Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance from the University of Memphis and a Master of Music in Bassoon Performance from the University of Southern California. McQueen is the President of TrillWerks Media, the Director of Artist Equity for the American Composers Orchestra, and a contributing writer for Represent Classical. He serves on the boards of the American Composers Forum as Equity Committee Chair and the Beethoven Festival Orchestra as Vice President, and maintains leadership and artistic advisory positions with the Black Opera Alliance, the Gateways Music Festival, and the Lakes Area Music Festival.

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WDAV Classical Public Radio is dedicated to building a community focused on classical music by providing easy access to the art form, as well as opportunities for exploration and discovery. In addition to producing 149 hours per week for its own broadcast use on 89.9FM, HD-1, HD-2, and wdav.org channels, the station produces nationally distributed programs, including Concierto, and, in partnership with South Carolina Public Radio, Carolina Live. A service of Davidson College in Davidson, NC, WDAV’s main source of operating revenue comes from annual member contributions. The station’s 89.9FM signal reaches a 22-county region centered in the Charlotte, NC metro area and ranges from Rock Hill, SC to Galax, VA. WDAV’s broadcasts can also be heard live online 24 hours a day at wdav.org and iTunes, as well as on any Android, iPhone, or iPad device equipped with the WDAV Classical Public Radio app, or the TuneIn, NPR Music, or Public Radio Player apps.

For  more information, contact Will Keible, Director of Marketing & Corporate Support, (704)-894-2983 or [email protected]