New Report Says U.S. Orchestras Are Programming More Works by Composers of Color and Women

The new “2022 Orchestra Repertoire Report” says that over the last several years there’s been an increase in how often American orchestras perform works by composers of color, women composers, and living composers. The report also examined programming trends dating back from 2015 to the current season.

The study was produced by SUNY Fredonia’s Institute for Composer Diversity, in partnership with the League of American Orchestras, with support from the Sphinx Organization’s Venture Fund. Data for the study was gathered from season announcements and the websites of medium and larger budget orchestras.

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

“Cool Story”: Jonathan Bingham's Plan to Record and Publish Unheard Howard Composers

As a student at Howard University in 2010, composer Jonathan Bingham attended a small chamber music concert by “The President’s Own” United States Marine String Quartet with about 40 other audience members. On the program was the 1st movement of a string quartet by the late composer Mark Fax (1911-1974). A private recording of the concert was made by Howard and shared with Bingham and other composition students and faculty.

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

CONVERSATIONS: Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate On Being True to Your Identity

RC Editor Christine S. Escobar speaks with Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate in the latest installment of “Conversations” on being true to your identity and defining how the world sees you.

Each episode of Represent Classical’s “Conversations” series features in depth interviews with industry leaders, notable musicians, movers, shakers, and innovators.

Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate is a critically acclaimed Oklahoma based composer and pianist dedicated to the development of American Indian classical composition.

EVENTS: Violinist Creates New Music Fest to Showcase BBIPOC artists

This August, a new music festival is coming to New York City highlighting musicians who are Black, Brown, Indigenous, and People of Color in genres ranging from classical to jazz to musical theatre.

The Omnipresent Music Festival will showcase the talents of BBIPOC composers and musicians through concerts, lectures, and seminars. The free 5 day series runs from August 9 to 14 at the Morris Jumel Mansion (Manhattan’s oldest surviving residence). No tickets are required.

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

New Youth Orchestra Initiative to Match Composers and Orchestras in Collaboration

The Youth Orchestra Commissioning Initiative is designed to create remote performances of new works by women and composers of color. The project hopes to connect young musicians with new music by composers who will write short chamber pieces for groups of various instrumentation to rehearse and perform virtually from the young musicians’ homes.

composers, music, chamber music, commissions, youth orchestrasChristine EscobarSeptember 1, 2020composers of color, women composers of color, youth orchestra commissioning initiative, metropolitan youth symphony, new jersey youth symphony, Portland youth philharmonic, chamber music, virtual events