MusicPlus: Chi-chi Nwanoku

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE is founder and artistic director of the Chineke! Foundation, which gives a platform to musicians from BAME backgrounds. A former sprinter, she also helped to found the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and was its principal double bass player for 30 years. Here, she speaks to Classical Music about diversity in the industry, the government’s ‘criminal’ assault on musical education, and about how classical music is retreating from society.

“I’m seeing greater diversity in lots of other industries, but unfortunately, the classical music industry is the last one that seems to be completely white.”