Catalyst Guide: The Power of Inclusion

by Theodore Wiprud and Dr. Karen Yair with Pratichi Shah

Behind every inspiring performance is a strong and motivated team. An orchestra’s staff and musician culture can be the cornerstone of its success—shaping a welcoming audience experience, creating dynamic onstage energy, and ensuring everyone can contribute their talents to furthering the symphony’s work.   

Orchestras of all budget sizes are intentionally cultivating a sense of belonging in their team cultures, generating powerful ripple effects across their entire organizations. This Catalyst Guide from the League of American Orchestras identifies ten clear characteries of these inclusive orchestra cultures, drawn from ten case studies of member orchestras across the nation. Read their stories and discover how investing in people pays off, often in unexpected and inspiring ways.  

Scroll down or download the PDF to learn more about their vital work and to build a case for meaningful, lasting culture change in your own organization.  

Join us for a free member webinar on Thursday, November 6 to hear directly from leaders at orchestras featured in the Catalyst Guide and leave with practical ideas and proven models to spark meaningful, lasting change in your own organization.

Capsule Case Histories

For this Guide, we interviewed staff and musicians at ten orchestras that scored a high Inclusion Index. We wanted to know what practices led to staff and/or musicians giving strong ratings for the various characteristics of an inclusive culture listed above. Their stories—drawn from all budget sizes and regions of the country—provide helpful, practical ideas on how to improve any orchestra’s workplace culture.

Conclusion

In today’s challenging operating environment, a strong culture of inclusion helps sustain morale, reinforce alignment with shared goals, and foster teams that are more resilient, adaptable, and better equipped to navigate change.

The ten orchestras sharing their experience here demonstrate the results that can flow from a focus on inclusive culture. Often, they describe small courtesies, welcoming interactions, habits and behaviors that become embedded in the organization’s culture. There are many specific ideas that can be adapted to other orchestras; but equally, they show us how important a positive, welcoming attitude is.

The people who work in orchestras—musicians and staff alike—are drawn to this work by the music. The Inclusion Index results affirm that musicians and staff care about their work and have a very strong sense of purpose: they are proud to achieve to their highest potential on and off stage and are inspired to contribute to their communities. We all deserve each other’s respect, care, and support in making a rewarding workplace where our mission and values come to life. Truly, inclusion and belonging are in the very nature of the art we create.

Photo: Students rehearsing with South Dakota Symphony Orchestra musicians on new compositions by Zjhamere Richardson, written as part of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra’s Music Composition Academy program. Credit: Photo by Connor Gibbs.