Filipino American Violinist Adrian Nicholas Ong Debuts at Carnegie Hall

Ong is the first recipient of FilAm Music Foundation’s New York City Recital Debut Award. He is a member of the young artists roster of the FilAm Music Foundation. Victor Santiago Asuncion, internationally acclaimed pianist and founder and artistic director of the FilAm Music Foundation, will accompany Ong on piano.

artist feature, awards, chamber music, classical music, concerts, Filipino American musi..., global, in person concerts, international, music, scholarships, solo performances, strings, support for BBIPOC music, young artistsChristine EscobarMay 8, 2023

2023 Grammy Nominations Announced

This year BIPOC classical composers' works have been Grammy nominated in several award categories and BIPOC classical musicians perform on a number of Grammy nominated recordings in the Classical Music category, as well as the Americana category.

american orchestras, announcements, awards, chamber music, classical music, commissions, composers, global, international, music, new music, opera, orchestras, solo performances, strings, young artists, youth orchestrasNovember 16, 2022

CONVERSATIONS Season 1 Now Available on Spotify

Represent Classical’s popular video series, CONVERSATIONS, is now available to listen to on Spotify.

Hosted by Christine S. Escobar, Founder and Editor of Represent Classical, each episode of “CONVERSATIONS” features in depth interviews with industry leaders, notable musicians, movers, shakers, and innovators in classical music and related genres.

Stay tuned for Season 2 beginning in late spring with more insightful and thought-provoking discussions on the change that musicians of color are creating in the music industry.

american orchestras, artist feature, arts activism, audio, awards, ballet, bass, books, chamber music, commissions, competitions, composers, conferences, conservatories, dance, fellowships, forums, funding, in person concerts, in person events, inspiration, international, interviews, justice reform, music, music administration, music education, music history, music schools, musicology, new release, opera, opportunities, orchestras, premieres, scholarships, season announcements, social justice, solo performances, strings, summer programs, support for BBIPOC music, tour dates, video, virtual concerts, young artists, youth orchestras, announcements, podcastChristine EscobarApril 18, 2022Conversations, interviews, music, musicians of color, musicians, composers of color, orchestras, classical music, audioo, audio, video, series, featured artists, BBIPOC musicians, BBIPOC classical musicians, BBIPOC composers, support for BBIPOC music, podcast

The Grammys and The Challenge of Equitable Diversity

Chart-topping artists like Lil Nas X walked away empty handed, but people like Jazmine Sullivan and Doja Cat reaffirmed their footing with fans, and the Recording Academy, by taking home the highly coveted trophy in their respective categories. Even the biggest award, the Grammy for “Album of the Year”, went to Jon Batiste, who himself seemed to be surprised when his name was called, making him the 11th Black artist to win this award in Grammy history.

With these, and several other Black artists taking home awards, it would seem that the Recording Academy is paying close attention to the continued push for more Black representation in the way these awards are distributed, but a closer look shows there is still a high level of marginalization toward Black artists that many people ignore in light of the success of a select few.

Sphinx Org Announces 2022 Venture Fund Recipients

The Sphinx Organization has awarded two grants of $100,000 and one grant of $97,500 for 3 projects that meet the Sphinx Venture Fund’s mission to support initiatives designed to solve a challenge or an issue related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in classical music.

american orchestras, awards, chamber music, competitions, composers, commissions, conservatories, funding, music, music administration, music education, music schools, opera, opportunities, orchestras, social justice, strings, support for BBIPOC music, young artistsChristine EscobarNovember 12, 2021music competitions, competitions, composers of color, Sphinx Venture Fund, Sphinx, sphinx organization, BBIPOC musicians, BBIPOC classical musicians, BBIPOC composers, Art of the Piano Festival & Foundation, Awadagin Pratt, Nina Simone Piano Competition, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, Manhattan School of Music, Alexa Smith, New York City Opera’s Duncan-Williams Voice Competition, The Juilliard School, Weston Sprott, Composing Inclusion, New York Philharmonic, American Composers Forum

New $2 million Mellon Foundation Grant to Fund DEI Practices in 20 American Orchestras

A new gift of $2.1 million from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will support the League of American Orchestras’ next phase of their Catalyst Fund: an incubator program to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion practices in American orchestras. The new grant follows the receipt in 2019 of $2.1 million from the Mellon Foundation to fund a three-year pilot program that provided grants to 49 orchestras.

Concertia's Inaugural “Emerging Composers Fellowship” Accepting Applications

The Texas based nonprofit arts organization, Concertia, is offering a new composer fellowship this spring. Three recipients will be chosen for awards that include cash grants and opportunities to have a performance of a previously unperformed, unpublished work, or the opportunity to have a studio quality recording of a newly commissioned work.

awards, composers, funding, music, scholarships, fellowshipsChristine EscobarApril 20, 2021fellowships, diversity fellowship, equity fellowships, composers of color, grants, grants for musicians, grants for composers, fellowships for composers, Concertia, arts organizations, emerging composers, music

Lift Music Fund Microgrants Are Elevating BBIPOC Student Musicians

The Lift Music Fund is a new microgrant program open to U.S. students aged 11 to 22 who identify as Black, Latinx, or Native American/Indigenous/First Nations. Funds of up to $250 per awardee are given to help offset the costs of studying music.

The next application deadline for the Lift Music Fund is January 15th at 11:59 PM EST. Interests students may apply here.

Lewis Prize for Music Announces 2021 Accelerator Finalists

10 finalists have been chosen for this year’s Lewis Prize celebrating people building “positive change in their communities through music". The programs they lead include choral, jazz, orchestra, musical theatre, and audio and music tech programs that foster the “holistic growth of young people” in their local communities.

awards, fellowships, music, music administration, music education, music schools, musicology, opportunities, orchestras, support for BBIPOC musicChristine EscobarDecember 3, 2020lewis prize for music, awards, music awards, Accelerator Awards, funding

CSO/CCM Diversity Fellowship Accepting 2021-23 Applications Until Dec. 1

University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music (CCM) and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) are now accepting applications for the 2021-23 Class of CSO/CCM Diversity Fellows. Applications and pre-screen materials are due December 1 online.

The Diversity Fellowship is awarded to 5 graduate level students of violin, viola, cello and double bass from “populations that are historically underrepresented in classical music.” The fellowship includes a full tuition scholarship to complete a two-year Master of Music or Artist Diploma at CCM, and a performance commitment of five weeks per season with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

awards, funding, music, music schools, young artists, conservatories, orchestras, american orchestras, summer programsChristine EscobarNovember 17, 2020fellowships, scholarships, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Chautauqua Institution, University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music, orchestra, diversity fellowship

Stulberg Competition Accepting Applications

Beginning October 15 until February 1, 2021, the Stulberg Competition, based in Kalamazoo, MI is accepting applications from young musicians for its 46th annual event.

Entries Sought for 2nd annual William Warfield Classical Vocal Competition

The 2nd annual William Warfield Scholarship Fund Classical Vocal Competition for African American High School Students will take place October 24, 2020. Entries are now being sought for the first round of this vocal competition, supporting Black high school classical singers. Prizes range from $500 to $2000. The first round of entries is due on September 25, 2020.