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Will the drive to diversify the repertory prove lasting? The dozens of interviews behind this report show that while many orchestras have only just begun to diversify their artistic programming, their efforts are already being rewarded. They are finding new artistic vitality in a broader repertory, and in surfacing neglected voices both old and new. …

In this section: Leadership and internal alignment make the difference. A committed and diverse staff led by a committed and diverse board will more easily identify and present diverse artists, who will in turn expand an orchestra’s network. And when artistic planning is part of a broader strategy for equity, diversity, and inclusion, branding and …

In this section: Further Reading: Making the Case for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Orchestras: A Guide from the League of American Orchestras An essential resource when advocating for programming diversification and overcoming resistance to change. Fighting the narrative that unfamiliar repertory is of lower quality can be a daily battle. The underlying assumption that …

In this section: Treat an equity mandate an as opportunity. Research into historically excluded composers of the past and the present can re-energize musicians and staff alike. California Symphony Music Director Donato Cabrera describes feeling liberated by the orchestra’s 2017 commitment to diverse programming. He quickly exceeded the orchestra’s agreed minimum percentage of women and …

In this section: Set targets and be accountable. One model for more inclusive programming is to set measurable targets for historically excluded composers and guest artists, and chart progress toward a more representative repertory. A target may for instance be at least one work by a BIPOC composer on every concert. This approach provides accountability …

In this section: You are what you play. What orchestras put on stage defines their identity. The creativity of the past will continue to inspire the audiences of the future. But a vital art form needs an evolving repertory shaped by artists who represent contemporary communities. Broadening the music and the artists we present is …

Representation of composers of diverse racial, ethnic, and gender identities has seen a notable increase among orchestral programs in recent years. Responding both to a zeitgeist insistent on a more inclusive culture and to certain catalytic events (most devastatingly, the murder of George Floyd), our cultural sector has made commendable efforts to be intentionally reflective …

Consider this Catalyst Guide a challenge to fulfill a moral imperative to transform the classical music sector into one whose canon, culture, artistry, and leadership are expansive and inclusive of those historically excluded due to structural racism.1 This Guide focuses on artistic planning, but the practices it outlines should be implemented at the convergence of …

To survive and to thrive, orchestral music must continue to evolve as a vibrant and dynamic art form that is engaged with our times and meaningful to increasingly diverse audiences and communities. Especially since the murder of George Floyd in Summer 2020 brought issues of racial equity to the forefront of national consciousness, many orchestras …