The Fullness of Being: Dr. Maria Thompson Corley on Art, Inclusion & Creative Legacy
This episode is brought to you by Juneteenth LP — celebrating Black artistry and legacy in classical music. 🎉 Get Your Ticket: https://publictheater.org/performances-jp/2025/j/juneteenth-lp/
🎹 What does it mean to live and create with authenticity?
In this powerful season finale, we sit down with Dr. Maria Thompson Corley — pianist, composer, novelist, poet, educator, and advocate — for a conversation that is as multifaceted as her artistry. From performing her compositions to championing music by Black composers and writing novels and librettos, Dr. Corley shares how her lived experiences—as a mother, artist, and scholar—fuel a profoundly human and inclusive vision for classical music and beyond.
💡 In this episode, we explore:
- ✅ What true inclusion looks like in classical music today
- ✅ How Dr. Corley integrates underrepresented composers into mainstream repertoire
- ✅ Her experiences raising two creative children, one of whom is neurodivergent
- ✅ Writing opera, novels, and poetry as extensions of her voice
- ✅ Co-founding Silence-Optional concerts for sensory-sensitive audiences
- ✅ Her reflections on legacy, authenticity, and creative purpose
Whether you are a musician, educator, or listener seeking a deeper connection through music, this conversation will move you, challenge you, and expand your sense of what classical music can be.
🔗 Connect with Dr. Corley:
📰 The Piano Pod Links
- 🎧 Sounds of Inspiration (Season 5) - all the music mentioned
- 📝 Substack VIP Access
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