About this episode

James Zimmermann discusses his controversial departure from the Nashville Symphony and the implications for diversity, equity, and inclusion in classical music.

James Zimmermann is an American clarinetist and former principal clarinet of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra whose career has become a flashpoint in the debate over DEI in American classical music. Zimmermann spent more than a decade with the Nashville Symphony, performing on major stages and contributing to recordings heard around the world, before his tenure ended amid contested allegations of racial insensitivity and workplace conflict that many supporters call a cancelation. Just this w...

People in this episode

Host: Ed Clay

Guest: James Zimmermann

Topics covered

• DEI
• classical music
• cancellation
• workplace conflict
• racial insensitivity

Keywords

• James Zimmermann
• Knoxville Symphony
• Nashville Symphony
• DEI
• classical music
• cancellation
• racial insensitivity

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Knoxville Symphony, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, American classical music

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