Catalyst Guide: Youth Engagement and the Future of Orchestras

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Theodore Wiprud is a composer and a consultant in arts and education, and was the longtime Vice President, Education at the New York Philharmonic. He has been active in multiple EDI initiatives, including the launch of The Catalyst Fund in 2019.

Dr. Karen Yair serves as the Vice President of Research and Resources at the League of American Orchestras. Under her leadership, the League has become the go-to location for orchestra data and insights, with an emphasis on EDI topics including demographic representation, inclusion and belonging, and audition and tenure practices. Karen developed the Catalyst Guide series to share learnings from orchestras advancing in EDI efforts to provide the orchestra field with the actionable, evidence-based intelligence needed to drive meaningful change.

Megan Delatour began playing the viola at the age of eight. As a violist, she has had the opportunity to study with musicians such as Barry Lehr, Jennifer Arnold, Shelly Tramposh, Gregory Williams, Daniel Philips, Kerry Ryan, and Brett Deubner. Ms. Delatour’s experience includes teaching with InterSchool Orchestras of America and the Harmony Program. As part of Interschool Orchestra’s summer administrative staff, Ms. Delatour created scholarships to increase students’ access to quality music education by auditioning for 15 slots on viola and cello for students of El Sistema programs to participate in ISO on a full ride. She maintains a private viola studio and has sent several students to participate in All State as well as students who pursued summer study at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Ms. Delatour holds a bachelor’s in music education from Queens College and M.M in Music Education with her focus being Culturally Responsive Pedagogy from Boston University. In partnership with Dr. Susan Davis, she will be presenting on culturally responsive concert programming and youth engagement as a part of the NYSSMA Winter Conference 2024. Ms. Delatour is currently the orchestra director of Talent Unlimited High School, Summer Arts Institute, and serves as Artistic Director of Interschool Orchestras of New York.

Suzanne Perrino is Senior Vice President of Learning and Engagement at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. She is a strong advocate for access to high quality music learning opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds and abilities. Under her leadership, the PSO became a nationally recognized leader in orchestra education programming, cited as such in publications, presentations, and national forums. Under her leadership, the PSO has launched several ‘firsts’ in the industry, including the first fully inclusive Sensory Friendly Program, Music and Wellness, Early Childhood Initiative and Symposium, Entry Points Program, Community Side-By-Side, and the Audience of the Future. During the pandemic shutdown in 2020, she produced virtual educational programs including “Make Time for Music with Fiddlesticks” for preschool audiences, Practice! Practice! Practice! for middle and high school instrumental students, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” digital orchestra video for 143 Kindness Day, virtual “Lift Every Voice” Concert, a “Musical Storytelling” week in collaboration with the Allegheny County Library Association, and an in-patient room six-concert video series for UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. The Digital Schooltime Concert series continues to be offered online free for educators across the globe with multi-language offerings coming soon. Ms. Perrino has held local, state, and national board positions and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Performance (Oboe) and Certificate in Music Education (PA, K-12) from Carnegie Mellon University as well as a Master of Arts in Arts Management from American University.

The Catalyst Fund Incubator, Catalyst Guides, and Catalyst Snapshots are made possible by the Mellon Foundation.

Additional support for this Catalyst Guide is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Thank you to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, El Sistema USA, Empire State Youth Orchestra, Equity Arc, Houston Youth Symphony, Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, InterSchool Orchestras, Madison Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony, Palm Beach Symphony, Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Seattle Symphony, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, Talent Unlimited High School, The Lewis Prize for Music, and YOSA (Youth Orchestras of San Antonio), whose learnings in equity, diversity, and inclusion work inform this Catalyst Guide.

Lead Author: Theodore Wiprud

Contributing Authors: Dr. Karen Yair, Megan Delatour, and Suzanne Perrino

Reviewers: Sam Andrews, Andrew Anzel Ph.D, Heather Briere, Najean Lee, Heather Noonan, Caen Thomason-Redus, and Simon Woods

Content Developer and Producer: Dr. Karen Yair

Creative Director: Rachel Rossos Gallant

Editor: Rachel Rossos Gallant

Designer: Melanie O’Neill

Web Layout: Joanna Bettelheim

Interviewees: Karisa Antonio, Eric Booth, Dwayne Burrell, Rebecca Calos, Amy Chung, Karen Cueva, Megan Delatour, Charles Dickerson, Lorin Green, Alison Levinson, Lindsey Nova, Gary Padmore, Suzanne Perrino, Laura Reynolds, Peter Rodgers, Bryce Seliger, Ankur Senapati, Jennifer Teisinger, Stanford Thompson, Daniel Trahey, Olga Vasquez, Sara Vicinaiz, and Najib Wong

© 2024 League of American Orchestras
Published on November 19, 2024.
A Catalyst Guide by the League of American Orchestras.
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