Greetings, Scorekeepers! We're back from our vacation with a very special new episode of THE SCORE! And why is it so special, you ask? Because for the very first time ever, Paige, Rocky and Lee are actually recording the show in person in the same room at the same time! What a treat! And on this week's episode, after a brief lamentation on the state of the world, we celebrate some of the incredible POC making huge strides in the opera world, like MN Opera's very own Priti Gandhi who will take the reins as the amazing new Artistic Director at Portland Opera this fall! (Yay, Priti!) Then we're joined by artist, educator and MN Opera Creative Programs Manager, Rebecca Blackwell, who gives us some frank and frankly beautiful insights into what it's like to live and work at the intersection of education and EDI, as well as the immeasurable ways equity-focused arts education programs can change kids' lives for the better. Then it's time for another round of America's favorite new game show, Fire That Canon! This time around we discuss Aida and Porgy and Bess. Can either be presented responsibly in 2021? And finally, as always, we've found more than a few reasons to be joyful this week, so we'll send you out into the weekend with a little PB&J! Let's do it to it!

And please note, we'll be switching our release day to Monday starting with our next episode! See you then!

Hosts: Lee Bynum, Rocky Jones, Paige Reynolds

Guest: Rebecca Blackwell

Producer: Rocky Jones

Timestamps:

Welcome & Current Events - 0:00:33

Big BIPOC News in Opera - 0:19:58

In Conversation w/Rebecca Blackwell - 0:28:00

Fire That Canon! - 1:00:10

PB&J - 1:17:44

If you like what you hear, please support us and SUBSCRIBE to the show on your favorite podcast app and be sure to SHARE our show with your friends. Also leaving a 5-star REVIEW on Apple Podcasts is a great way to help get the word out. For more info about the exciting EDI work happening at MN Opera, please visit mnopera.org/edi. Email your questions or comments to thescore@mnopera.org