Knocking Down The Door with Céline Peterson and Roger Wilson

The first episode in our new podcast series 'Knocking Down the Door' with partners Céline Peterson and Black Lives in Music, produced and hosted by Ashaine White. Platforming inspirational black women in the Jazz industry. In our first episode, host Ashaine White talks to our partners Céline Peterson and Roger Wilson. Artist Representative and Producer Céline Peterson has presented concerts and given inspiring speeches all over the globe (Canada, The United States, Denmark, Barbados, Switzerland, and South America), and manages some of the most exciting jazz artists on the scene today, including JUNO Award winner Robi Botos, 2018 Ellis Marsalis Piano Competition winner Ben Paterson, and Member to the Order of Canada, Dr. Dave Young. She is a producer of the Kensington Market Jazz Festival, which takes place every September in the heart of downtown Toronto and over the course of 3 days and presents over 400 local artists in 24 venues to 5000+ patrons. This artist-driven and volunteer-fuelled festival is led by singer, songwriter, philanthropist, and Officer of the Order of Canada, Molly Johnson. Céline has also worked extensively with Coalition Canada and their Youth4Music initiative as an Ambassador. Céline has always been a proud ally to the up-and-coming generations of musicians, and along with her work at the Coalition, has done workshops at various schools including Durham College, and The Chicago Academy for the Arts. "Working with Music Makes Us, and specifically as a youth ambassador for the Youth4Music program, Céline has consistently proven to be an articulate, passionate and inspiring leader who motivates others in person and through her writing." - Holly Nimmons • former Executive Director, Music Makes Us, the Coalition for Music Education in Canada. Black Lives in Music addresses the current inequality of opportunity for black people aspiring to be artists or professionals in the Jazz and Classical music industry. Black Lives in Music believes in real equality for Black people to learn musical instruments at grassroots level and to allow them to pursue and realise their musical ambitions. Made up of a number of partners who are all working towards the same goal: to dismantle structural racism in our industry, they aim to support the industry in providing better professional opportunities and achieve equality for Black professionals at all levels and in all areas of the UK Jazz and Classical industry. Representation matters, we need to take action together and create a level playing field for everyone to have an equal chance to succeed. Black Lives in Music stands for equal opportunities – for Black people to be able to work successfully in the UK music industry without being the subject of discrimination. Roger Wilson has many years of experience on both sides of the stage as musician, educator, tour manager and administrator. Conservatoire trained, he has worked extensively in the commercial, jazz and classical sector with a wide range of artists from Lesley Garett and Bryn Terfel to James Brown and Quincey Jones. He has also played in some of London’s most successful music theatre productions. As an instrumental teacher and lecturer, Roger has worked throughout the UK music education sector at all levels. In recent years, he has been dedicated in his support for the professional development of aspiring young jazz musicians.