Today’s episode features MJ Albacete, a native Cantonian who devoted his entire professional career to the Canton Museum of Art, serving as executive director for over 25 years. An arts educator well-versed in both the visual and performing arts, MJ teaches art and architecture history at Kent State Stark, has given pre-concert lectures for the Canton Symphony and the Cleveland Orchestra, and hosts the online series Music History with MJ. A lifelong supporter of the Canton Symphony and a subscriber for 45 years, MJ joins us for a slightly different kind of conversation. While this podcast typically centers on the voices of underrepresented professionals in classical music, we open Season 3 with MJ’s perspective as a dedicated audience member to explore why he believes equity and diversity are essential for the future of classical music—and how community members like him play a vital role in that progress.