Appendix 2: Stories of Progress in Orchestras | Diversity in the Orchestra Field 2023

During the period covered by this research, 65 symphony orchestras undertook structured programs to build EDI culture and capacity as grantees of the League’s Catalyst Fund and 117 symphony orchestras signed up as Annual Partners in the National Alliance for Audition Support. By the 2021-22 season, notable progress had been made by the field as a whole in the representation of composers of color within orchestra programming (Deemer and Meals, 2022). In other areas, however, the work of challenging conventions, systems, and processes calls for significantly increased investment and coalition building.

We appreciate the magnitude of the work ahead to improve diversity of representation both on stage and off. At the same time, we lift up and applaud the work of the many orchestras who have demonstrated their commitment to this journey. While not an exhaustive inventory of work underway nationwide, the following list provides examples of actions that are being taken.

• The New Haven Symphony Orchestra discusses the steps it has taken to center new and diverse voices at the board table, and how the orchestra has benefited as a result: Catalyst Snapshots: EDI Case Studies from American Orchestras.
• The Reno Philharmonic’s work showcasing the work of women conductors and composers is highlighted in Symphony: Women Conductors and Composers Breaking Classical Music’s Glass Ceiling.
• The San Francisco Symphony discusses the importance of EDI Training in retaining new and more diverse musicians, board members, and staff members: Catalyst Snapshots: EDI Case Studies from American Orchestras.
• Albany Symphony discusses how its partnership with the National Alliance for Audition Support, backed up by internal change work, aims to diversify its musician demographics: Albany Symphony’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access task force gets to work.
• The Dallas Symphony Orchestra has convened an annual Women in Classical Music Symposium since 2019.
• Rhode Island Philharmonic reports on increasing the number of BIPOC artists hired from 20% to 50% between the 2017-18 and 2021-22 seasons: Rhode Island Philharmonic to expand diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in music education.
• The Detroit Symphony reflects on its long journey in EDI work: How Far We’ve Come: What’s Working and What Isn’t.
• Mwakudua waNgure and Maalik Glover speak about their appointment as new Columbus Symphony violinists, and the state of diversity in the orchestra field: “We Can Always Do More”: New Columbus Symphony Musicians on Diversity and Inclusion at Orchestras.
• The Kennett Symphony shares its perspective on beginning an EDI journey: Getting Started on the EDI Journey with the Kennett Symphony.
• The Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s Steve Collins outlines the orchestra’s work to attract racially and ethnically diverse board members, staff members, and musicians: Hartford Symphony administrative restructuring, reflecting focus on diversity and inclusion.
• The Seattle Symphony took part in the Seattle Arts Fellowship, offering placements to support emerging arts administrators and leaders of color: Seattle Arts Fellowship announces recipients of year-long placements in administrations of Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera, Pacific Northwest Ballet.
• The Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra, Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, and Reno Philharmonic all participated in a Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship Global Concert Series featuring women conductors during the 2022-23 season: Nine women conductors to lead Taki Alsop concerts in U.S. and internationally in 2022-23.
• The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s IN UNISON program partners with 33 churches to provide a chorus dedicated to the preservation of music with African and African-American origins, coupled with mentoring, coaching, and college assistance: SLSO IN UNISON.
• The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra shares its EDI journey: Accelerating Change.
• The Dallas Symphony’s Employee Resource Groups aim to build community among musicians, staff, and chorus members, and are profiled here: Dallas Symphony Community Groups (ERGs).
• The Chicago Philharmonic Society’s Terell Johnson outlines the orchestra’s work to highlight diverse voices, both on stage and behind the scenes: At Chicago Philharmonic, diversity is a priority.
• The New World Symphony, Oakland Symphony, and Phoenix Symphony discuss their implementation of the new NAAS Audition and Tenure Guidelines: Orchestrating a Better Future with New Audition and Tenure Guidelines from NAAS.
• The Chicago Symphony Youth Orchestras outline a Youth Orchestra’s approach to EDI work: Catalyst Snapshots: EDI Case Studies from American Orchestras.
• The following orchestras are among those who ran Fellowship Programs for BIPOC musicians during the period 2012-13 to 2022-23.
  • Chicago Sinfonietta and Grant Park Music Festival: Chicago Sinfonietta and Grant Park Music Festival’s “Project Inclusion” fellowships.
  • Chicago Symphony Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Fellowship Program Now Accepting Applications for 2023-24 Season.
  • Cincinnati Symphony: Cincinnati Symphony and CCM announce Diversity Fellowship Program achievements.
  • Dallas Symphony Orchestra: Dallas Symphony Announces New Fellowship Program for Underrepresented Musicians.
  • Greater New Haven Youth Orchestra and New Haven Symphony Orchestra: New Haven Symphony and Neighborhood Music School create orchestral fellowship.
  • The Handel and Haydn Society: Applications Open for Handel and Haydn Society’s Fellowship for Musicians from Historically Underrepresented Groups.
  • Houston Symphony and Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music: Houston Symphony’s music-education fundraiser, plus new musician fellowship program with Shepherd School of Music.
  • IRIS Orchestra: IRIS Orchestra’s new Artist Fellows program for African-American and Hispanic musicians.
  • Los Angeles Philharmonic: Catalyst Snapshots: EDI Case Studies from American Orchestras.
  • Memphis Symphony: Memphis Symphony’s new fellowship program for African American and Latinx musicians gets underway.
  • Minnesota Orchestra: Minnesota Orchestra names first two Rosemary and David Good Fellows: a trombonist and a tubist.
  • New Jersey Symphony: New Jersey Symphony accepting applications for Colton Fellowship for early-career Black and Latinx musicians.
  • New York Philharmonic: New York Philharmonic and Music Academy of the West’s 2017 Fellows.
  • Orpheus Chamber Orchestra: Performance Fellowship.
  • Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Launches New Fellowship Program.
  • Pittsburgh Symphony: Pittsburgh Symphony expands program for pre-professional Black musicians.
  • The Virginia Symphony: Virginia Symphony adds fellowship program for Black string musicians, in partnership with Old Dominion University.
• The following orchestras are among those who ran Fellowship Programs for BIPOC or women conductors during the period 2012-13 to 2022-23.
  • Chicago Sinfonietta: Chicago Sinfonietta expands fellowship to include emerging conductors.
  • Spokane Symphony: Spokane Symphony adds music director fellowship program.
  • Georgia Symphony in partnership with Girls Who Conduct: Georgia Symphony partners with Girls Who Conduct for 2021-22 fellowships for women conductors.
• The following orchestras are among those who ran programs to build pathways into professional practice for young musicians during the period 2012-13 to 2022-23.
  • Dallas Symphony Orchestra Young Strings Program: Dallas Symphony’s long-running Young Strings program, providing career pathways for underrepresented students.
  • St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra: Peer to Peer and SLSO College Connections.
  • Chicago Symphony Orchestra, in partnership with Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative: About CMPI.
  • The Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, in partnership with USC Thornton School of Music: Orchestrating change with the Los Angeles Orchestra Fellowship.
  • Seven symphony orchestras have joined Equity Arc, an organization dedicated to advancing racial equity in classical music by developing new pathways for BIPOC instrumentalists to pursue their passions: Equity Arc: Advancing Equity & Social Justice.

“How To” Resources for Orchestras’ EDI Work

• Board Room: How Orchestra Boards Can Advance Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Building Diverse and Equitable Teams
• Inclusive Boards and Governance

Jump to another page:

• Introduction
• Overview
• Key Findings
• Recommendations
• Definitions
• Technical Notes
• Detailed Analysis 1: By Orchestra Role (see full PDF)
• Detailed Analysis 2: By Demographic Group (see full PDF)
• Detailed Analysis 3: By Role and Budget Size (see full PDF)
• Detailed Analysis 4: Focus on the Pandemic Years (see full PDF)
• Appendix 1: Methodology
• Appendix 2: Stories of Progress in Orchestras
• Appendix 3: References
• Acknowledgements

This project was supported in part by an award from the Research Grants in the Arts program at the National Endowment for the Arts, Grant #1863433-38-20. Additional funding was provided by a generous grant from the Mellon Foundation, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.