I imagined John Blanke as a very confident, talented musician. He had enough faith in his own talent to demand & receive a pay rise, & he must have had confidence - there’s no hiding when you’re the lead brass player! But there’s also mystery. What was his real name? Is John Blanke a nickname someone gave him? How did he feel about that? Was he ever enslaved? Even if he lived in freedom, he would undoubtedly have faced prejudice. Despite that, he reached the top of his game & I like to think of him enjoying his success.

Kate Morrison
​Writer