S4 E05: Er-Gene Kahng found community, Florence Price, and her Asian American identity in Arkansas

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GUEST BIO

Er-Gene is a Korean-American violinist and college professor who lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas. As an immigrant, she was always interested in assimilation as a survival strategy until she discovered Florence Price, the first Black American woman composer whose compositions were performed by major symphony orchestras. Since then, she has championed Price's music and continues to investigate ways classical music can participate in global conversations around diversity, social justice, and equity..

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MENTIONED

• Florence Price
• Er-Gene Kahng performing Florence Price's concertos
• Randall Goosby
• Doenjang Jjigae

TAKEAWAYS

1. People from so-called progressive states like California often make assumptions about the South but fail to realize the same issues exist at home.
2. Exposure to classical music early and ability to afford lessons is a key determinant of one's chances of making it into an orchestra. Diversity efforts need to start there.
3. History is far from static because it only shows the perspective of those who wrote it. Whose perspective might have been left out?
4. To be in community is not only to receive, but also to give back.

CONTACT

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Host: Lazou

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