As medici.tv’s Chief Content Officer I spend a lot of time thinking about classical music—and a lot of time on the internet. Here’s my selection of the top five news items you need to see this week if you want to stay in the know.
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Reading time estimated : 4 min
What Musical Variations Teach About Creativity (NYT)
In this fascinating feature article, the NYT spoke to musicologist Anthony Brandt, who studies music cognition, about variations, to explore what this beloved musical form can teach us about creativity. Brandt draws on science and artistic practice to argue that musical variation isn’t just technique: it mirrors how the brain generates ideas, solves problems, and innovates.
Marin Alsop launches #PurpleBaton campaign (Operawire)
Conductor Marin Alsop has kicked off the second global “#PurpleBaton” social media campaign to mark National Women’s History Month. Organized alongside the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship, the initiative encourages musicians and institutions to use the hashtag to spotlight women conductors and leaders in the field. Alsop is the first woman to lead a major U.S. orchestra and has consistently worked to challenge persistent gender gaps throughout her career. A recent report shows only about 10% of chief conductors worldwide are women.
Lifelong benefits of making music (BBC)
This BBC Future article highlights research showing that engaging with music yields wide cognitive and emotional benefits. Studies suggest music training can enhance memory, decision-making, and brain plasticity, helping preserve neural function into old age, and in addition to these cognitive advantages, also boost mood, social connection, and emotional wellbeing. The piece also touches on how lifelong musical engagement fosters resilience and adaptability, suggesting that music isn’t just a childhood hobby but a tool for mental agility and health at every age.
Elite American institution Interlochen in the Epstein files (NPR)
NPR analyzed hundreds of newly-released documents in the Epstein files to trace how Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell used philanthropic ties to the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, an elite arts training camp, as access points to recruit and groom young girls. Epstein and Maxwell donated money and rented a cabin near the school, fostering relationships with students under the guise of mentorship, yet survivors recount grooming behaviors beginning at age 13 or 14, and an “open campus environment” that made supervision difficult.
Musical Biography of Florence Beatrice Price (WQXR)
In The Price of Admission, WQXR’s Terrance McKnight, presents an hour-long musical biography celebrating pioneering African-American composer Florence Price. Weaving together biographical storytelling and many musical excerpts, the program traces her life and legacy, her unique style blending classical forms with African-American music traditions, and her pathbreaking career.
Further reading: Jack Pepper’s portrait of Price, published just a few weeks ago on Page Turner.
And further listening: start with Price’s Second Violin Concerto, a late work discovered and premiered after her death:
