So, I promised at the end of our season finale episode last week that I would separate a couple of minutes here just to have a moment of reflection and some dedicated time to say thank you to all of you out there that are listening. It’s almost been two years since I came up with the idea of interrogating classical music and creating some sort of space or resource where we could have conversations. I hadn’t really been a podcast person and only occasionally listening to the odd true crime and naturalist podcast here and there, but realised that this would be a great way to listen to thoughts and exchange ideas. And so in late June of 2020, Declassify was born and its first episode with Felicity Wilcox was broadcast only 6 weeks later.
If you’ve been following from the start, the first season across 2020-2021 was dedicated to unpacking some of the greater issues of diversity, representation and education that were plaguing classical music and reflecting its increasing exclusivity and inaccessibility to broader audiences (and to musicians themselves). Season 1 mainly focused on Australia and so came Season 2: The Aftermath. As some of you know, this was in the hope of shifting the conversation to one driven by more action and one on a more international scale. This season spanning August 2021 to March 2022 was dedicated to chatting to individuals who had put into place programs, methodologies and approaches from quota-driven programming techniques through to starting their own conservatoriums, to push for change across the classical music industry. I hope it has been enlightening and hopeful for you all as it has been for me.
I just want to quickly thank all the guests across both seasons for taking part in this adventure and what I hope will continue to exist as an amazing resource to everyone out there. Just as a heads up, the podcast will continue to be available via podcasting services, Apple and Spotify until the end of this year in December, where it will then shift into an online archive made available on Sound Cloud and Youtube (where it already has a home), with all the transcripts staying permanently on my website should anyone need access to it and the podcast resources.
Now most importantly, I wish to thank each and every person who has listened to this podcast over the last two years. You’ve emboldened me to further my own commitment to change in art music or classical music and have been such a remarkably supportive community as this space grew. The podcast is coming to an end as I think it is time for me to shift my focus, as per the theme of season 2, into action! Again, thank you to all for listening, I could not have done this without you all and I hope if anything, this podcast has sparked some ideas and conversations for you too.
Wishing you all the best and best of luck, and maybe sometime in the future, catch you all next time.
Victoria