“The Arts & The Sound of America” brings together musicians across genres as the United States marks 250 years

UNCSA has released a new episode of its podcast, “The Arts & Everything,” hosted by Chancellor Brian Cole, exploring the artists, traditions and lived experiences that have shaped the country’s
musical identity. In “The Arts & The Sound of America,” Cole asks musicians from across the country and across genres a seemingly simple
question: What does American music mean to you?

The episode features reflections from beloved North Carolina singer and bandleader Martha Bassett; pianist and frontman
Ben Folds; Black Sacred Music Symposium Founder and Director Ollie Watts Davis; singer,
guitarist, educator and Music alumnus Justin Poindexter (HS ’01, BM ‘06); celebrated Appalachian singer, songwriter and storyteller Aristotle
Jones; indie singer-songwriter Eric Slick, who has performed and recorded with Dr.
Dog, Taylor Swift and more; the acclaimed jazz singer and songwriter Madeleine Peyroux;
saxophone virtuoso and Music alumnus and faculty member Steven Banks (H.S. ’11); Innovative American roots multi-instrumentalist Rex McGee; Artistic Director
of Sing Democracy 250 G. Phillip Shoultz; award-winning music director, conductor,
and Music alumna Mary-Mitchell Campbell (HS ’92); and Grammy Award-winning violinist and producer Johnny Gandelsman. Together,
their perspectives span classical, jazz, rock, roots, gospel, musical theater, soul,
indie music and more.

Released as the United States marks its 250th anniversary, “The Arts & The Sound of
America” considers American music not as a single genre or tradition, but as an evolving
conversation shaped by generations of people bringing their histories, cultures and
experiences with them.

Poindexter demonstrates that evolution through the traditional ballad “Wayfaring Stranger,”
tracing how its musical structure can move through Appalachian folk, blues, ragtime,
gospel, jazz and popular song.

“The sound keeps changing, but the soul of the song stays intact,” Poindexter says.
“To me, that’s the sound of American music.”

“The music of Black Americans is a shield,” Davis says. “It is armor for trauma. It
is shelter, a haven in times of storm.”

Pianist and singer-songwriter Folds reflects on how touring internationally deepened
his appreciation for the complexity and influence of American music.

“I could feel how complex the melting pot in my system was,” Folds says. “I could
tell that it’s something that might grow on trees here but can’t be imitated elsewhere.”

Several guests describe American music as an ongoing exchange among traditions, communities
and generations. North Carolina singer and bandleader Bassett connects that evolution
to the people and places surrounding each artist.

“American music is who we are based on where we’ve been, and it’s never static,” Bassett
says.

Jazz singer and songwriter Peyroux considers both the creative freedom and contradictions
within the American experience.

“From within this enormous, messy, barbaric landscape, the American people influence
the world with creative freedom, secular passion, open-mindedness, life-giving ideas
and beauty,” Peyroux says.

Indie singer-songwriter Slick expands on that tension, describing American music as
both experimental and deeply connected to the experiences of people pushing against
social and creative boundaries.

“American music dares to be different, but it’s also rooted in deep pain and the yearning
to break out of traditional boxes,” Slick says.

Together, these perspectives show how musicians build upon inherited traditions while
introducing their own experiences and creative points of view. Saxophonist and composer
Banks describes music made in America as a reflection of the country’s cultural, social,
political and spiritual life.

“We ask questions, imagine better futures, and express and inspire feelings from joy
to frustration to hope and determination,” Banks says. “American music is as diverse
as the people are, with an endless array of stories to tell.”

Other guests explore the influence of immigration, musical theater, regional communities and artists working beyond conventional
creative boundaries. Their reflections trace connections among spirituals, blues,
jazz, gospel, country, rock, roots, hip-hop and other forms that have developed in
the United States.

Cole concludes the episode by recognizing the many cultures and communities whose
contributions made those traditions possible.

“For all of the incredible musical riches that we have in the United States of America,
we are indebted to the many diverse peoples that brought their culture to this land
from elsewhere,” Cole says. “On this nation’s 250th birthday, we celebrate how so
many different traditions of music-making made our music what it is today.”

“The Arts & Everything” examines timely issues shaping the arts and their future through
conversations with thought leaders and arts and entertainment industry experts. Past episodes have explored artificial intelligence and creativity, the realities behind an artist’s
“big break,” and the relationship between the arts and brain health.

Brian Cole is the ninth chancellor of the University of North Carolina School of the
Arts (UNCSA). Since becoming chancellor in 2020, he has led the development and implementation
of the university’s strategic plan, “UNCSA Forward,” guiding the institution as it
adapts to a transforming arts and entertainment landscape. His initiatives include
expanding industry partnerships; launching the university’s mission-driven media publishing arm, UNCSA Media; and elevating campuswide mental health and wellness
efforts. Cole has filled key leadership roles, overseen several major capital projects,
and is leading the comprehensive $85 million renovation of the university’s performing
arts center and learning laboratory, the Stevens Center in downtown Winston-Salem.
An experienced conductor, Cole previously served as dean of the School of Music at
UNCSA, founding dean of academic affairs at Berklee Valencia, and associate dean of
academic affairs at the Puerto Rico Conservatory, and holds degrees from Louisiana
State University and the University of Illinois.