{"id":741074,"date":"2026-07-03T15:10:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T15:10:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/741074\/"},"modified":"2026-07-03T15:10:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T15:10:09","slug":"the-arts-the-sound-of-america-brings-together-musicians-across-genres-as-the-united-states-marks-250-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/741074\/","title":{"rendered":"“The Arts & The Sound of America” brings together musicians across genres as the United States marks 250 years"},"content":{"rendered":"

UNCSA has released a new episode of its podcast, \u201cThe Arts & Everything<\/a>,\u201d hosted by Chancellor Brian Cole<\/a>, exploring the artists, traditions and lived experiences that have shaped the country\u2019s
\n musical identity. In \u201cThe Arts & The Sound of America<\/a>,\u201d Cole asks musicians from across the country and across genres a seemingly simple
\n question: What does American music mean to you?<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

From left to right, top row: Ben Folds, Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Ollie Watts Davis,
\n Justin Poindexter, Johnny Gandelsman and Steven Banks. Bottom row: Madeleine Peyroux,
\n Aristotle Jones, Eric Slick, G. Phillip Shoultz, Martha Bassett and Rex McGee.<\/p>\n

The episode features reflections from beloved North Carolina singer and bandleader Martha Bassett; pianist and frontman
\n Ben Folds; Black Sacred Music Symposium Founder and Director Ollie Watts Davis; singer,
\n guitarist, educator and Music alumnus Justin Poindexter<\/a> (HS \u201901, BM \u201806); celebrated Appalachian singer, songwriter and storyteller Aristotle
\n Jones; indie singer-songwriter Eric Slick, who has performed and recorded with Dr.
\n Dog, Taylor Swift and more; the acclaimed jazz singer and songwriter Madeleine Peyroux;
\n saxophone virtuoso and Music alumnus and faculty member Steven Banks<\/a> (H.S. \u201911); Innovative American roots multi-instrumentalist Rex McGee; Artistic Director
\n of Sing Democracy 250 G. Phillip Shoultz; award-winning music director, conductor,
\n and Music alumna Mary-Mitchell Campbell<\/a> (HS \u201992); and Grammy Award-winning violinist and producer Johnny Gandelsman. Together,
\n their perspectives span classical, jazz, rock, roots, gospel, musical theater, soul,
\n indie music and more.<\/p>\n

Released as the United States marks its 250th anniversary, \u201cThe Arts & The Sound of
\n America\u201d considers American music not as a single genre or tradition, but as an evolving
\n conversation shaped by generations of people bringing their histories, cultures and
\n experiences with them.<\/p>\n

Poindexter demonstrates that evolution through the traditional ballad \u201cWayfaring Stranger,\u201d
\n tracing how its musical structure can move through Appalachian folk, blues, ragtime,
\n gospel, jazz and popular song.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sound keeps changing, but the soul of the song stays intact,\u201d Poindexter says.
\n \u201cTo me, that\u2019s the sound of American music.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe music of Black Americans is a shield,\u201d Davis says. \u201cIt is armor for trauma. It
\n is shelter, a haven in times of storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pianist and singer-songwriter Folds reflects on how touring internationally deepened
\n his appreciation for the complexity and influence of American music.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could feel how complex the melting pot in my system was,\u201d Folds says. \u201cI could
\n tell that it\u2019s something that might grow on trees here but can\u2019t be imitated elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Several guests describe American music as an ongoing exchange among traditions, communities
\n and generations. North Carolina singer and bandleader Bassett connects that evolution
\n to the people and places surrounding each artist.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmerican music is who we are based on where we\u2019ve been, and it\u2019s never static,\u201d Bassett
\n says.<\/p>\n

Jazz singer and songwriter Peyroux considers both the creative freedom and contradictions
\n within the American experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom within this enormous, messy, barbaric landscape, the American people influence
\n the world with creative freedom, secular passion, open-mindedness, life-giving ideas
\n and beauty,\u201d Peyroux says.<\/p>\n

Indie singer-songwriter Slick expands on that tension, describing American music as
\n both experimental and deeply connected to the experiences of people pushing against
\n social and creative boundaries.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmerican music dares to be different, but it\u2019s also rooted in deep pain and the yearning
\n to break out of traditional boxes,\u201d Slick says.<\/p>\n

Together, these perspectives show how musicians build upon inherited traditions while
\n introducing their own experiences and creative points of view. Saxophonist and composer
\n Banks describes music made in America as a reflection of the country\u2019s cultural, social,
\n political and spiritual life.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe ask questions, imagine better futures, and express and inspire feelings from joy
\n to frustration to hope and determination,\u201d Banks says. \u201cAmerican music is as diverse
\n as the people are, with an endless array of stories to tell.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other guests explore the influence of immigration, musical theater, regional communities and artists working beyond conventional
\n creative boundaries. Their reflections trace connections among spirituals, blues,
\n jazz, gospel, country, rock, roots, hip-hop and other forms that have developed in
\n the United States.<\/p>\n

Cole concludes the episode by recognizing the many cultures and communities whose
\n contributions made those traditions possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor all of the incredible musical riches that we have in the United States of America,
\n we are indebted to the many diverse peoples that brought their culture to this land
\n from elsewhere,\u201d Cole says. \u201cOn this nation\u2019s 250th birthday, we celebrate how so
\n many different traditions of music-making made our music what it is today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Arts & Everything\u201d examines timely issues shaping the arts and their future through
\n conversations with thought leaders and arts and entertainment industry experts. Past episodes<\/a> have explored artificial intelligence and creativity, the realities behind an artist\u2019s
\n \u201cbig break<\/a>,\u201d and the relationship between the arts and brain health<\/a>.<\/p>\n

About host Brian Cole<\/p>\n

Brian Cole is the ninth chancellor of the University of North Carolina School of the
\n Arts (UNCSA). Since becoming chancellor in 2020, he has led the development and implementation
\n of the university\u2019s strategic plan, \u201cUNCSA Forward,\u201d guiding the institution as it
\n adapts to a transforming arts and entertainment landscape. His initiatives include
\n expanding industry partnerships; launching the university\u2019s mission-driven media publishing arm, UNCSA Media; and elevating campuswide mental health and wellness
\n efforts. Cole has filled key leadership roles, overseen several major capital projects,
\n and is leading the comprehensive $85 million renovation of the university\u2019s performing
\n arts center and learning laboratory, the Stevens Center in downtown Winston-Salem.
\n An experienced conductor, Cole previously served as dean of the School of Music at
\n UNCSA, founding dean of academic affairs at Berklee Valencia, and associate dean of
\n academic affairs at the Puerto Rico Conservatory, and holds degrees from Louisiana
\n State University and the University of Illinois.<\/p>\n

About \u201cThe Arts & Everything\u201d\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"UNCSA has released a new episode of its podcast, \u201cThe Arts & Everything,\u201d hosted by Chancellor Brian Cole,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":741075,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[23,3,21,19,22,20,25,24],"class_list":["post-741074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-united-states","tag-america","tag-news","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unitedstates","tag-unitedstatesofamerica","tag-us","tag-usa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/741074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=741074"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/741074\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/741075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=741074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=741074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=741074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}