Chi-chi Nwanoku: ‘I want black musicians to walk on to the stage and know they belong’ |
Chi-chi Nwanoku: ‘I want black musicians to walk on to the stage and know they belong’
The Guardian
2015-06-02
 Chi-chi Nwanoku: ‘I feel sure that bringing a group of people together to play incredible music is a creatively powerful and positive thing.’ Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi |
For 30 years, double bassist Chi-chi Nwanoku has enjoyed a successful career and as a classical musician and never felt the colour of her skin has held her back. So why is she now embarking on and ambitious plan to form Europe’s first professional black orchestra? She explains all
Perhaps I was one of the lucky ones? I somehow slipped through the net. I’m a classical musician, an all too rare black face on concert platforms among what are usually all-white orchestras. My Nigerian father and Irish mother brought me up believing that I could do anything I wanted. They never doubted me for a second, and I was surrounded by people who supported and encouraged me.
We were the only black family at my primary and secondary schools, and I didn’t think at all about being the only black student at the Royal Academy of Music…
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Tags: Chi-chi Nwanoku, Chineke! Orchestra, music, The Guardian