Listen again to S2, E6-7 of the podcast Success Beyond The Score
Continuing with our journey down memory lane, today we bring the two episodes of the podcast Success Beyond The Score dedicated to the award-wining international operatic soprano Abigail Kelly.
Her engagements include a variety of roles, like the female lead in the âThe Marriage of Figaroâ, which she performs in various languages â Italian, Russian, German and French. Abigail is the Ambassador for the National Touring Opera and is passionate about making opera available to all. Abigail is a workshop leader and vocal tutor and has been featured in Black Hair and Beauty magazine.
In the first part, episode 6, Abigail explains why she chose to become an operatic soprano, the things opera singers do which singers in other genres do not, her journey to becoming a full-time musician, and the impact that COVID-19 had on her life and career.
In the second part, Abigail gives her insights on how to bounce back; dealing with fame and the mundane; tips for building a full-time music career...
âWe Demand Betterâ National March and Rally
On Saturday 18th June, the Musicians Union will be joining the trade union movement in London to tell the government that the workers of England demand and deserve better! Members of the union are invited to join, assembling from 10:30 am at Portland Place in Central London. There will also be a rally from 1:00 pm in Westminster Square.
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These are some of the demands:
- A real pay rise for every worker â and a real living wage for all
- Respect and security for all workers â ban zero hours contracts, ban âfire and rehireâ
- Demand decent sick pay now
- End racism at work
- Tax energy profits to pay our bills
- Raise universal credit
- Boost union bargaining rights
- And more than that: we demand a government that listens and acts to support working people.
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 Register your interest to join the MU on the March: campaigns@theMU.org
 Additional information:
Millicent's Speech For (MU) Motion 20: âBeing Black In The UK Music Industryâ.
This was Millicent's speech to move the (MU) Motion 20: Being Black in the UK Music Industry, delivered at the TUC Black Workers Conference:
Good morning Conference. I am Millicent Stephenson, Musiciansâ Union, and I am moving Motion 20, âBeing Black In The Music Industryâ.
Music is important and woven into the fabric of our society. It motivates, soothes, conveys âI love youâ and âgood-byesâ. It is a social, physical, spiritual thing which goes through our being. What would life be like without music?
Music is also a professional career choice on par with any other. However, within the music industry there are stratas and issues. One of which is âbeing black in the music industryâ.
You may be familiar with Jazz music, songs like âSummertimeâ and âAt Lastâ, but did you know that it came from the black communities of the United States? Also, the root of Jazz is the âBluesâ, the music of African people, the victims of transatlantic slavery. This genre was originally scorned because o...