Discussing the lesser-explored or taboo facets of the classical music industry

A new talk series from Things Musicians Don't Talk About (TMDTA) and The Royal Society of Musicians looks into lesser-explored or taboo facets of the classical music industry. Along with a series of guests, these live podcast conversations will put a unique spotlight on gender discrimination, neurodivergence, mental health and substance abuse. Where do these issues stand, where do we go from here and who can we learn from?

The first conversation - Authenticity in the industry - the future of classical music? - looks at the image of classical music and musicians. Often seen as a middle-class, white and privileged profession by its onlookers, many of the new generation of musicians are challenging this perception. We speak with bassoonist and broadcaster Linton Stephens about exploring his identity within classical music as a Black musician, as well as choosing to express his identity fully as a creative with a public platform. We will also discuss how this feeds into the next generation of listeners and whether representation is a powerful tool for inspiring new audiences.