Works by women composers, long underrepresented in orchestra programming, are being commissioned and performed in greater numbers—and the Women Composers Readings and Commissions Program, an initiative of the League of American Orchestras in partnership with American Composers Orchestra, is making an impact.
The pandemic hasn’t stopped orchestras and organizations from commissioning composers to connect listeners with new music that captures the turbulence of recent months.
Excerpts from a new Wallace Foundation/SMU DataArts report by Zannie Voss and Glenn Voss that identifies common strategies utilized by twenty arts groups to achieve organizational health.
Meet Simon Woods, the new president and chief executive officer of the League of American Orchestras.
On August 11, the League of American Orchestras issued a Statement on Racial Discrimination expressing how it is coming to grips with the history and impact of racism within the League and the wider community of orchestras, and committing to sustained action. Read the complete Statement as well as Frequently Asked Questions and a Guide to Additional Resources.
News and updates from orchestras everywhere. In this issue: Wide-ranging reports on the multiple ways that orchestras nationwide are adapting to keep live classical music going at a difficult time; violin vigils for Elijah McClain, a Black violinist slain by police; new studies on aerosol transmission rates for musical instruments; remembering Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court justice and classical music fan.
The Wallace Foundation has released Navigating Uncertain Times: A Scenario-Planning Toolkit for the Arts and Culture Sector, developed by AEA Consulting and designed to help arts and culture organizations approach planning for a future marked by uncertainties, including the COVID-19 pandemic, social justice movements, climate change, emerging technologies, and other unforeseen circumstances.
How can you tap into the generosity of women to navigate through this prolonged time of crisis? The COVID-19 pandemic, economic downturn, and social unrest have left arts nonprofits reeling; many are struggling to continue operating while serving members and audiences with reimagined programming. One group of donors may offer a lifeline: women.
The headlines hit in rapid succession. The New York Philharmonic cancelled its season—for the first time in 178 years. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra cancelled concerts through March 2021. The Pacific Symphony postponed its 2020-21 season to 2021-22.
Read the whole issue online via Issuu.