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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

CONVERSATIONS: Armando Castellano on Culture, Expression, and Leadership in Classical Music

RC Editor Christine S. Escobar speaks with Armando Castellano: President, Founder and Artistic Director of Quinteto Latino in the latest installment of “Conversations” about the contributions and experience of Latinx/Latin Americans to classical music, and the importance of changing the nature of arts leadership.

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

Classical Music Industry Leaders On the What, Why, and How of EDI

Thursday at the League of American Orchestras virtual conference “Embracing a Changed World”, a number of leading figures held discussions in two sessions focused on racial equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). They focused on tangible solutions to barriers facing orchestras and organizations attempting to reckon with equity, diversity, and inclusion from within.

New UK Based “Black Lives in Music” to Use Data, Advocacy to Advance Equity

The UK-based organization Black Lives in Music (BLiM) is using data and advocacy to amplify and empower Black musicians and music creators, in response to the widespread calls for equity for Black musicians.

"Embracing A Changed World": League of American Orchestras Conference Begins June 7

The League of American Orchestras’ upcoming annual conference, “Embracing A Changed World”, will be held Monday, June 7 to Thursday, June 17 virtually online.

NIMAN: Newly Formed Coalition To Take Holistic Approach to Racial Equity in U.S. Classical Music

While many classical music organizations are looking inward to address racial equity issues, a new initiative is taking a new approach to advocating for young musicians of color. The National Instrumentalist Mentoring and Advancement Network (NIMAN) is a network made up of like-minded organizations and individuals seeking to promote racial equity in classical music.

El Sistema USA Launches Individual Membership

El Sistema USA (ESUSA) has launched an individual membership tier. A nationwide membership organization, ESUSA serves as the connective tissue between U.S.-based music programs inspired by the successful El Sistema model. The El Sistema program, established by maestro José Antonio Abreu in Caracas, Venezuela in 1975, provides musical instruction to youth with the greatest need at no cost, with an emphasis on ensemble programming. The continued success of this program in Venezuela inspired the replication of its programming model around the world, and eventually, the formation of ESUSA.

Abolish the Systems of Anti-Asian Racism and Xenophobia in Industry and Community

In the history of the United States, there exists no industry or institution that has been spared from the systemic oppression of white supremacy. This publication was founded to push back on the pervasiveness of white supremacy within the industry of classical music.

Tonight: Activist Orchestra "The Dream Unfinished" Debuts New Show

Tonight at 4:30 p.m. EST, The Dream Unfinished will debut a new YouTube series spotlighting the economics and labor of learning repertoire outside of the classical music canon, lesser-known masterworks by underrepresented composers, diversity, equity, and inclusion within classical music, and concrete tips for everyday people to become instruments for change.

Series Debut: "Conversations": D-Composed on Intentionality and Honoring Black Creativity through a New Chamber Music Experience

Represent Classical talks with Chicago based ensemble D-Composed: Yelley Taylor – Artistic Director, Violist, Arranger Caitlin Edwards – Violinist Kyle Dickson – Violinist Tahirah Whittington – Cellist & Composer Kori Coleman – Founder/Executive Director

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.

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.

Violinist, Music School Founder, Educator, and Parent Coach Lucinda Ali Landing: Supporting parents of young musicians, leading racial healing in the music industry

Interview with Lucinda Ali Landing: Violinist, Music School Founder, Music Educator, and Parent Coach on her latest practice book for parents and bringing musicians together in racial healing dialogues.