Opinion: “Another Opera for White People”

Diversity, equity, and inclusion, as engaged by arts institutions across the country, have centered performers, but what about audience members? With a few exceptions (including the diverse audience turnout for the Metropolitan Opera’s “Fire Shut Up In My Bones”), opera audiences remain predominantly white.

The creation of a fictional, white character in “Emmett Till” for the sake of affirming the feelings of these predominantly white audiences is not only a perpetuation of a status quo that countless arts administrators, advocates, and activists work to dismantle, but a celebration of it.

WORLD PREMIERE: National Phil Performs Hailstork and Martin’s Requiem for George Floyd

The National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale, in partnership with The Washington Chorus, will present the world premiere of composer Adolphus Hailstork and librettist Herbert Martin’s Requiem Cantata in memory of George Floyd: “America’s Requiem – A Knee on The Neck” on March 26 and March 28 in Bethesda, MD.

EVENTS: "Girls of Yellow Diamonds" Concert To Honor Asian American Women

Wear Yellow Proudly will present “Girls of Yellow Diamonds” a concert featuring Asian women composers and poets Friday, March 11 at 7:30 pm. ET at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia.

The event aims to uplift the stories of Asian women, honor the memory of the victims of the March 2021 Atlanta shootings, and celebrate International Women’s Day. Mezzo-sopranos Alice Chung, Sophia Maekawa, Pauline Tan, and pianist Ting Ting Wong will perform.

NEW RELEASE: James Sanders & Conjunto "Evidencia"

James Sanders and his Latin jazz ensemble Conjunto, will celebrate the release of their new album, Evidencia on Friday at 8:30 p.m. with a performance at Constellation in Chicago.

Sanders is a violinist with the Chicago Sinfonietta orchestra, where he’s been a member since 1993. Though he didn’t study jazz during his college career or prior (he is a graduate of Yale), his dual musical citizenship, was mirrored in his bilingual upbringing.

EVENTS: Midwest Premiere of "The Chevalier"-Music of The Baroque ft. Brendan Elliott

Music of the Baroque will perform the Midwest debut of the concert theater work “The Chevalier”, written by Bill Barclay and featuring violinist Brendan Elliott, February 18 to 20 in Chicago.

The Human Element: Connecting With Your Audience: Q&A with Tiffany Poon

Pianist and popular YouTuber Tiffany Poon answers our questions on audience interaction, humanizing classical music, and assisting up and coming musicians through her nonprofit organization Together With Classical.

EVENTS: Pianist Tiffany Poon to Debut at Kennedy Center in All Schumann Recital

Tiffany Poon will perform December 12 at 2 p.m. at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as part of Washington Performing Arts' 2021-2022 season. The program features the works of composers Clara and Robert Schumann.

EVENTS: Ear Taxi Festival Celebrates Chicago’s New Music Scen

Ear Taxi Festival, one of the largest urban celebrations of new and experimental music, runs September 15 to October 4 in venues across Chicago.

Presented by New Music Chicago, the festival is now in it’s 5th year and celebrates new, contemporary classical, experimental, creative, electronic, and other types of music and “sound-practice” composed by, improvised by, and performed in Chicago by Chicagoans.

UrbanArias Commissions Song Cycle for Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 100th Anniversary

“UNKNOWN”, a song cycle honoring the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on the centennial of its founding will have its world premiere performance Tuesday, October 5, at 7:30 p.m. at the Barns at Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA.

Featured performers for the performance are baritones Michael Mayes and Schyler Vargas, and mezzo-soprano Taylor Raven, accompanied by members of the Inscape Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Robert Wood, the Founder and Artistic Director of UrbanArias.

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.

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.

Chicago Sinfonietta Announces 2020/21 Season “Stories of The People”

Chicago Sinfonietta has announced their innovative hybrid new season “Stories of The People”. The three concert series will consist of two virtual performances plus a May in person concert.

Guest artists will be Joel Thompson, composer, Ifetayo Ali-Landing, cello, and Victor Wooten, bass. To kick off the season on October 17, the orchestra led by Conductor, Mei-Ann Chen, will perform a virtual program including a world premiere commission by Chicago Sinfonietta Artist in Residence composer Kathryn Bostic.