Professor Caroline Bressey Features in New Podcast Series on Composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

Titled Tracks of a Trailblazer, the series follows Coleridge-Taylor’s journeys by train across Britain at the turn of the twentieth century, highlighting his work as a pioneering musician of Black mixed-race heritage.

Professor Bressey, whose research focuses on the Black presence in Victorian and Edwardian Britain, was interviewed as part of the series, offering expert insights into the broader social and historical context of Coleridge-Taylor’s life and work.

The project is led by The Mixed Museum — a digital museum dedicated to preserving and sharing the histories of racial mixing in Britain — and is funded by the Great Western Railway Customer and Community Improvement Fund.

As part of the research, the team visited locations including Gloucester, Newton Abbot and Swansea, and explored the venues, chapels and halls where Coleridge-Taylor performed during his travels.

Professor Bressey’s contribution helps illuminate how Coleridge-Taylor’s career challenged and reflected the racial attitudes of his time.

She said: “Samuel Coleridge-Taylor is such an important part of Black British cultural history, it is always nice to have a chance to reflect on his work.  This podcast, by taking train journeys as a focus, was a great way to approach his work in a new way. The newspaper archives surfaced some really interesting material for me, including his reflections that music can be heard in every sound in the world – including the hoot of the locomotive!”

Dr Chamion Caballero, Director of The Mixed Museum, said: “We were delighted to be able to feature Professor Bressey, whose expertise on this period of British history has added richly to the series. Among other fascinating insights, Professor Bressey has helped us explain to listeners how difficult it is to place exact numbers on Britain’s Black and mixed race population at this time, and explore some of the complex attitudes Coleridge-Taylor, his family, and others may have faced.

“She also introduced us to a wonderful little-known quote from Coleridge-Taylor connecting music and trains. People will have to listen to episode three to find out what it is!”

Tracks of a Trailblazer will be released across all major podcast platforms and YouTube soon, and is accompanied by a digital exhibition at The Mixed Museum.

This collaboration reflects the Department’s continuing commitment to research that deepens understanding of race, heritage, and belonging in Britain.