In recent years, the classical music world has been increasingly confronted with its own exclusionary practices. Dr. Maiko Kawabata, an award-winning musicologist, violinist and professor at the Royal College of Music and the Open University, examined some of those challenges in her article “The New ‘Yellow Peril’ in ‘Western’ European Symphony Orchestras.” Kawabata’s extensive research and personal experiences highlight the systemic barriers that East Asian musicians face, from biased audition processes to discriminatory attitudes at conservatories and daily orchestra rehearsals. I spoke to her about how biography informs methodology, the empowerment of speaking out, and how institutions can improve their policies.
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