Lara Downes is an American classical pianist and cultural activist who has made the popularization of classical music by women and black Americans one of her causes.[1][2][3] She was selected as the Classical Woman of the Year for 2022 by a poll of listeners to the radio program Performance Today.[4]
She is host of the NPR show AMPLIFY with Lara Downes and is an Artist Ambassador for Headcount, working to promote participation in democracy through music.[5] On March 18, 2022, Downes was announced as the successor to the recently retired Jim Svejda on KUSC radio in Los Angeles. Since then, she has hosted "Evening Music", which can be heard Mondays-Fridays from 8 PM - midnight.
- ^ Anne Midgette (2019-02-24). "The unbearable lightness of women's music: Pianist Downes celebrates the matriarchy". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
- ^ Ruff, William (23 October 2017). "Lara Downes at Nottingham's Royal Concert Hall - Review". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
- ^ Kosman, Joshua. "Review: Oakland Symphonys triumphant season opener begins new chapter". sfchronicle.com. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
- ^ "2022 Classical Woman of the Year: Lara Downes". www.yourclassical.org. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
- ^ "Boston Symphony Orchestra, about Lara Downes".