In his writings on music, Sir Roger Scruton argued that music is not mere sound, but a deep expression of human feeling that is capable of moving the soul, elevating the listener, and revealing glimpses of the transcendent. Yet much of contemporary composition has abandoned these higher ends, replacing the pursuit of beauty and meaning with fragmentation, irony, and technical gimmickry.

In response to this cultural drift, composers Henry Wolfe Carradine and Stephen Limbaugh issued last year a "Statement of Principles for Contemporary Classical Music Composition," calling for a renewed commitment to the deeper purposes of the art: to foster contemplation, elevate the soul and orient listeners toward the good. Their statement offers a powerful vision for rebuilding the tradition of classical music in our time not by retreating into nostalgia, but by reclaiming craft, hierarchy, and inspiration as living forces.

In this conversation, moderated by Andrew Balio, President of the Foundation for the Future of Classical Music, Carradine and Limbaugh will discuss the future of serious composition, the challenges facing young composers today and how the tradition can once again become a source of renewal rather than decay.