Michael Howell, a finalist on Channel 4's The Piano, has said classical music is "not just for white middle class people" as he takes part in a festival designed to encourage black talent into the genre.
Classically Black, organised by Black Lives In Music, will take place at Kings Place in London on October 10, featuring performances, workshops and a panel on intersectional identity in classical music. Howell, who was dubbed "the new Bach" by Lang Lang on the show, will be among those taking part.
Political statement
Howell, who is neurodivergent, told the Press Association: "The whole purpose of it is to promote and to platform black talent in the UK, especially in classical music, and it's basically a political statement that it's not just for white middle class people."
"Black people do classical music as well, and from all sorts of backgrounds, and so that's what Classically Black is about, it's about educating people, it's about bringing that awareness, and it's about being a leading organisation championing and also platforming black UK talent."
Challenges breaking into music
Before rising to prominence on The Piano, Howell said he found it "quite difficult" to break into music because of a lack of funds, discrimination and being neurodivergent.
He added: "I never went to private school, and my parents, they don't really have that capital, I come from a low economic background, I spent most of my childhood growing up on a council estate in west London."
"And so to paint the picture, it was incredibly difficult to carve out a career in classical music early on, I didn't really have that early access to classical music in terms of finding opportunity and things like that, and getting the tuition for that, because that required money…"
"In terms of my challenges personally, being a black person and also a neurodivergent person as well, I found it quite difficult to fit in to the classical music industry, because also my way of doing music, it's not necessarily a traditional methodology of doing music."
Struggles with notation
Howell said he did not know how to read music and had always struggled with notation, describing it as "a huge thorn in my development". He recalled a university freshers week experience where he had to sing classical choral music without understanding the scores, and the conductor's reaction to his countertenor voice.
"But nevertheless, I've always said to myself, just because you don't do what everybody else does, doesn't mean that you're less valuable."
Breaking down barriers
Howell added that classical music could be "very highbrow" and "elitist", but said Classically Black would be "more down to earth".
He said: "It's going to show that it doesn't matter what skin colour you are."
"The whole point of music is to bring all kinds of people together, and it's through the power of music that we can have a sense of unity and solidarity, and we do have common ground."
"Yes, there are people that believe we shouldn't be here and this racism, but I believe that music has a way of, in the moment, breaking down those barriers and those stigmas and those racist ideas."
Tickets for Classically Black are available from the Kings Place website priced at £55 for a full day and £30 for a half day, with doors opening at 11.15am.
