Rochester, NY – May 13, 2016 | The Gateways
Music Festival
today announces the appointment of Lee Koonce, who has served on Festival’s
board since 1998, as President & Artistic Director. Additionally, the Festival and the Eastman
School of Music,
which have partnered since 1996, announce a new alliance that strengthens the
organizations’ efforts to promote and increase diversity in the field of
classical music. The Festival, which
will remain an independent non-profit organization, is now “The Gateways Music
Festival in association with the Eastman School of Music.”
“It is an honor to have been
selected for this important role. This is
an extraordinary time for the Festival,” said Koonce. “We have more musicians
participating than ever, the programming and audiences are growing and we have
recently gained the attention of the national classical music industry. I am grateful for the Eastman School of
Music’s visionary support and excited to be a part of the Gateways Music
Festival’s promising future.”
Founded in 1993 in Winston-Salem,
NC by Armenta Hummings Dumisani, a Juilliard-trained pianist and former
Associate Professor of Music at the Eastman School of Music, the Festival has a
long history of artistic excellence —
attracting professional classical musicians of African descent from the
nation’s top orchestras, chamber music ensembles and educational institutions
— and has been
awarded two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Eastman School of Music has been the
Festival’s home since 1995 and has provided rehearsal and performance space, as
well as financial support since that time. Through the new partnership, Eastman will now
help support the administrative and leadership growth of the Festival. The next Festival is set for August 8 through
13, 2017.
“Our University and our Eastman
School of Music are particularly committed to increasing access to music and
the arts and we are very proud to further this partnership that celebrates
diversity and a rich cultural tradition in classical music,” said University of
Rochester President & CEO Joel Seligman.
Recently, the Gateway Music Festival
achieved significant national attention following its appearance on the cover
of Symphony magazine, the orchestra industry’s
top trade publication published by the League of American Orchestras. According to
Jamal J. Rossi, Joan and Martin Messinger Dean of the Eastman School of Music,
“Gateways is at an important juncture in its history and the Eastman School of
Music is proud to have played a role in its success. Eastman is committed to providing
a leadership role in supporting and enhancing diversity in classical music.”
Paul Burgett, Chairman of the Board
of Directors of the Gateways Music Festival said “As a long-time member of the
Gateways Board of Directors and the University of Rochester community, I am
moved by President Seligman’s and Dean Rossi’s commitment to the Festival and to
the issues of diversity and inclusion.
These matters are of vital importance to our local community and to the
entire nation. This is a bold step for
Eastman and the University and I couldn’t be more proud.”
The appointment of Koonce as President
& Artistic director—a newly created full time position—marks a turning
point for the Festival, which has been completely volunteer-led and -run since
its inception in 1993. In his new role, Koonce will continue to lead the Artistic
Programs Committee, which includes Eastman alumni as well as participants from
many of the country’s other leading conservatories, schools of music and
orchestras. He will also lead efforts to
raise funds for the Festival, recruit members for the Board of Directors and
lead strategic planning to develop strategies to expand the Festival’s scope
and impact. In addition,
Koonce will serve as Senior Advisor to the Dean at the Eastman School of Music.
About
Lee Koonce
Lee Koonce has held leadership
roles as Executive Director of Ballet Hispanico and Third Street Music School
Settlement in New York City; Executive Director of Sherwood Conservatory of
Music in Chicago; and Director of Community Relations for the Chicago Symphony
Orchestra.
He frequently serves on panels
for the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Arts Council and
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Guild of Community Arts
Educations and the Gateways Music Festival.
Koonce received a Bachelor’s of
Music degree in Piano Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, a
Bachelor’s of Arts in Spanish Literature from Oberlin College and a Master’s of
Music in Piano Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music.
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