Caroline Whiddon on breaking the mental health stigma in the orchestral world

In this episode, David talks with Caroline Whiddon, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Me2, a classical music organization created for individuals with mental illnesses and the people who support them.The organization started in Vermont, USA in 2011 and has grown to include orchestras, choruses, and a flute choir located in three New England states.The unique nature of Me2’s work has garnered attention from the NBC Today Show, Al Jazeera, and the BBC, as well as numerous newspapers including the Boston Globe and the New York Times. A feature-length documentary about Me2’s work titled “Orchestrating Change” was broadcast on PBS stations across the U.S. in the fall of 2020, and you can find a link to this in the show notes.In this conversation, we dive into how classical music can serve as a vehicle for social change and a sanctuary for mental health. We look at how removing auditions and fees creates an inclusive, stigma-free environment, and why leading with love can transform orchestra management. We also explore the practical accommodations that help musicians thrive, the power of community music-making as part of mental health treatment, and how civic partnerships offer a new future for arts organizations.Show notes:Me2 - https://me2music.org/ “Orchestrating Change” - https://orchestratingchangethefilm.com/ Join us in Katowice, Poland for Classical:NEXT 2027 from the 11th to the 14th of May: www.classicalnext.comFollow us on: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedInThe Classical:NEXT Podcast:Hosted by David TaylorProduced by Aliena HaigLearn more: classicalnext.com/update/introducing-the-classicalnext-podcastwww.classicalnext.com