Made For Us

Despite training as a classical pianist, Pete Letanka always knew he was a jazz musician. In this episode, he talks about that early tension and his struggles with what he describes as “musical dyslexia.” He reflects on what years of leading music workshops with schoolchildren have taught him, and his ongoing work uncovering the composers left out of the history books. This is the final episode in our mini-series with Classically Black, a festival taking place on October 10, 2026 at King’s Place in London. Learn more about Pete’s workshop here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/classical/classically-black-full-day-pass/ Catch up on the other episodes: Rebeca Omordia: https://pod.fo/e/6115c2 Victoria Oruwari: https://pod.fo/e/64e57b Berginald Rash: https://pod.fo/e/67c1f6 --- About Pete Letanka Pete Letanka is a critically acclaimed jazz pianist, educator, composer and presenter. After graduating from Leeds Conservatoire, he formed the Pete Letanka Trio and was signed to the award-winning label Zephyr Records, who released his debut album, "Afrostocracy", to critical acclaim. He has performed at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, the Barbican Centre and the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and works extensively in music education, leading creative music projects across the UK and in South Africa, India, Lebanon, Spain and Portugal. Learn more: https://www.peteletanka.com/ --- About Classically Black Now in its third year, Classically Black is a festival redefining what classical music looks and sounds like today. The programme celebrates and elevates Black and global majority musicians and composers in classical music, past and present. Curated by Black Lives in Music, Classically Black 2026 returns to Kings Place, London on Saturday 10 October 2026. Learn more about Black Lives in Music: https://blim.org.uk/ Follow Black Lives in Music on Instagram: https://instagram.com/BlackLivesinMusic Purchase tickets for Classically Black: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/black-lives-in-music-presents-classically-black/ --- Connect with Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/

Berginald Rash's original ambition was to be a cardiologist, but then he discovered the clarinet. In this episode, he shares his path from pre-med to the concert stage, the inspiration behind his new album, Black Boy, and argues that classical music needs to get better at telling its own story. This is the third in a series of episodes we’re bringing you in collaboration with Classically Black, a festival taking place on October 10, 2026 at King’s Place in London. Learn more about Berginald’s panel here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/classical/classically-black-full-day-pass/ --- About Berginald Rash Hailed for his "especially stylish" playing (The Guardian), acclaimed American-Irish clarinetist and period clarinet practitioner Berginald Rash was awarded the Recital Artist Diploma from the Royal Irish Academy of Music, where he was an 1848 Scholar and Teaching Fellow. He has been heard with orchestras including the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Orchestra of the Swan, the Virginia Symphony and the Ulster Orchestra, and has made debuts at the BBC Proms, Lucerne Music Festival, Oregon Bach Festival, Southbank Centre, Elbphilharmonie and the Concertgebouw. A TEDx speaker and broadcaster, he has presented on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4. He sits on the Board of Directors for Chamber Music Scotland. Berginald's website: https://linktr.ee/berginald --- About Classically Black Now in its third year, Classically Black is a festival redefining what classical music looks and sounds like today. The programme celebrates and elevates Black and global majority musicians and composers in classical music, past and present. Curated by Black Lives in Music, Classically Black 2026 returns to Kings Place, London on Saturday 10 October 2026. Learn more about Black Lives in Music: https://blim.org.uk/ Follow Black Lives in Music on Instagram: https://instagram.com/BlackLivesinMusic Purchase tickets for Classically Black: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/black-lives-in-music-presents-classically-black/ Connect with Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/

For soprano Victoria Oruwari, music and color are inseparable. In this episode, Victoria shares what it's like to experience music through synesthesia, how she discovered singing after losing her sight at seven, and the reality of building a career as a musician with a disability - from performing at the Royal Opera House to the barriers still facing disabled artists. This is the second in a series of episodes we’re bringing you in collaboration with Classically Black, a festival taking place on October 10, 2026 at King’s Place in London. Learn more about Victoria’s panel here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/classical/classically-black-full-day-pass/ The excerpts included in this episode, courtesy of Victoria Oruwari, are: Romance de Mignon by Henri Duparc, Song to the Seals by Granville Bantock and Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal by Roger Quilter. Performed by Victoria Oruwari, accompanied by Rianka Bouwmeister. --- About Victoria Oruwari Acclaimed soprano Victoria Oruwari is a British-Nigerian singer whose versatile repertoire covers art songs, operatic arias, musical theatre and folk songs. She acquired her Bachelor of Music degree and postgraduate in Voice at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She has since pursued a career as a classical singer and has performed at various prominent venues in and out of the United Kingdom, including The Royal Opera House, the Barbican, Wigmore Hall and Bristol Beacon. She is a member of the British Paraorchestra and the Inner Vision Orchestra. In addition to singing, Victoria is also a humanistic psychotherapist and works in private practice. Victoria’s website: www.victoriaoruwari.com Follow Victoria on Instagram: www.instagram.com/victoriaoruwarisoprano/ --- About Classically Black Now in its third year, Classically Black is a festival redefining what classical music looks and sounds like today. The programme celebrates and elevates Black and global majority musicians and composers in classical music, past and present. Curated by Black Lives in Music, Classically Black 2026 returns to Kings Place, London on Saturday 10 October 2026. Learn more about Black Lives in Music: https://blim.org.uk/ Follow Black Lives in Music on Instagram: https://instagram.com/BlackLivesinMusic Get tickets for Classically Black: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/black-lives-in-music-presents-classically-black/ --- Connect with Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/

Rebecca Omordia knew she wanted to be a concert pianist from the age of seven. As a music student, she mastered the demanding repertoire of Western composers and at home, she listened to Igbo songs sung by her Nigerian father. So when she discovered piano music by African composers, she wondered, “ why shouldn't this be in the canon?” In this episode, Rebeca reflects on her journey bringing African classical music to the concert stage, how she won over the doubters, and the moment she realised there was an audience for this undiscovered genre. This is the first in a series of episodes we’re bringing you in collaboration with Classically Black, a festival taking place on October 10, 2026 at King’s Place in London. Learn more about Rebeca’s performance here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/classical/keyboard-warriors/ The following excerpts included in this episode are from African Pianism, Vol. 2 by Rebeca Omordia (Somm Recordings): Elilta - Cry of Joy (Girma Yifrashewa), Two Preludes on Yoruba Sacred Folk Melodies, No. 1, “K’A Mura” (Fela Sowande), Study in African Pianism No. 1 (Akin Euba), Crépuscule sur la baie d’Alger (Salim Dada), and Senzeni Na (arranged by Grant McLachlan). --- About Rebeca Omordia Rebeca Omordia is an award-winning British-Nigerian concert pianist and curator, internationally recognised as a pioneer of African Pianism. Hailed as a “classical music game changer” (Classical Music Magazine), she founded the first African Concert Series, resident at London's Wigmore Hall. Visit Rebeca’s website: https://www.rebecaomordia.com/ Follow Rebeca on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeca_omordia/ Purchase African Pianism vol 2: https://somm-recordings.com/recording/african-pianism-volume-two/ --- About Classically Black Now in its third year, Classically Black is a festival redefining what classical music looks and sounds like today. The programme celebrates and elevates Black and global majority musicians and composers in classical music, past and present. Curated by Black Lives in Music, Classically Black 2026 returns to Kings Place, London on Saturday 10 October 2026. Learn more about Classically Black: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/black-lives-in-music-presents-classically-black/ Learn more about Black Lives in Music: https://blim.org.uk/ Follow Black Lives in Music on Instagram: https://instagram.com/BlackLivesinMusic --- Connect with Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/

This September on Made For Us, we’re bringing you a series of conversations with some of classical music’s innovators - performers and composers who are expanding the boundaries of the genre. We’ve teamed up with Classically Black, a festival in the UK that is redefining what classical music looks and sounds like today. Curated by Black Lives in Music, Classically Black takes place on October 10, 2026 at King’s Place in London. The programme features live performance, discussion, a new talent showcase and a workshop for young musicians. Learn more here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/black-lives-in-music-presents-classically-black/ Subscribe to Made For Us and be the first to hear when new episodes drop. --- Connect with Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/