The Sphinx Organization,
New World Symphony and
League of American Orchestras
Form the
National Alliance for Audition Support
(NAAS) with a Grant from
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Unprecedented Approach Will Offer
a Customized Combination of Mentoring,
Audition Preparation, Financial Support,
and Audition Preview Showcases for
Black and Latinx Musicians
New York, NY (April 18, 2018) – Three
national organizations – The Sphinx Organization, New World Symphony,
and the League of American Orchestras – have partnered to create the
National Alliance for Audition Support (NAAS), a field-wide initiative
with the long-term goal of increasing diversity in American orchestras.
Supported by a four-year, $1.8
million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, along with
additional financial and programmatic contributions from America's
orchestras, the Alliance will offer a holistic and personalized array of
support to Black and Latinx musicians to develop their audition skills,
increase their participation in auditions, and ultimately, increase
their representation in orchestras.
"This is a critical time for all of
us to act with renewed commitment and drive to help our orchestras to be
more reflective of their communities and to represent perspectives and
talents from Black and Latinx musicians," said Sphinx President and
Artistic Director
Afa S. Dworkin.
"We are honored to join forces with key industry leaders, humbled to
receive and incorporate extensive insight directly from artists, and
incredibly grateful to The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for prioritizing
this vital work."
"New World Symphony envisions a strong and secure future for classical music," said NWS President
Howard Herring.
"We believe that is possible only if the orchestras of this country are
representative of their communities. New World is committed to
diversifying its Fellowship with the support of our alumni, who have won
positions in orchestras and ensembles around the world. We are honored
now to partner with Sphinx and the League in forming this new Alliance
dedicated to making equity and inclusion part of the future for American
orchestras."
"This unprecedented collective
action on the part of America's orchestras addresses some of the main
barriers to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in orchestras,"
said
Jesse Rosen,
President and CEO, League of American Orchestras. "The unique and
coordinated network of support is informed by research and extensive
discussions with many Black and Latinx musicians as well as many other
individuals in orchestras and higher education. We are especially
grateful to the American Federation of Musicians, the International
Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians, and the Regional Orchestra
Players Association for their participation and support."
"I'm grateful that Sphinx, New World Symphony, and the League are collaborating to offer this special initiative," said
Anthony McGill,
Principal Clarinet, New York Philharmonic and a member of the League's
Board of Directors. "We need a national, comprehensive approach to
overcoming the barriers that face Black and Latinx orchestral musicians.
I know that these are the kinds of resources that can make a real
difference."
The customized array of support to be offered through the NAAS will include:
Mentoring:
the Alliance will match participants with appropriate mentors in the orchestral field.
Audition preparation
through initiatives such as a three-day audition preparation intensive offered by the New World Symphony.
Financial support
in the form of stipends for audition travel and other professional development expenses.
Audition previews
through showcases offered by The Sphinx Organization, enabling orchestras to familiarize themselves with the talent pool.
The Sphinx Organization, heralded for
its role in transforming lives through the power of diversity in the
arts, is the lead program administrator and exercises fiscal oversight
for the NAAS. The New World Symphony, America's Orchestral Academy, will
provide expertise and access to its renowned workshops, artist
development resources, and online assets, as well as help recruit
musicians for the program. The League of American Orchestras will
convene and mobilize its 700 member orchestras, which will
provide funding, mentoring, and guidance for the musicians. The League
will also serve as the communications lead for the project, and collect
and disseminate research and data.
The Alliance will be advised by an
Artists' Council of Black and Latinx orchestral musicians, orchestra
administrators, and representatives from higher education. NAAS
musicians participating in the audition training programs or receiving
financial support for audition activities will be selected through an
open competitive process. The first NAAS Audition Intensive takes place
June 6-8, 2018, hosted by the New World Symphony in Miami. The Sphinx
Orchestral Partners Auditions (SOPA) take place in
Detroit during the annual Sphinx Connect conference in February 2019.
The mentoring program is in development.
The
National Alliance for Audition Support (NAAS)
is an unprecedented national initiative to increase diversity in
American orchestras. It will do so by offering Black and Latinx musicians a customized combination of mentoring, audition preparation,
financial support, and audition previews. The NAAS is made up of
The Sphinx Organization,
the lead program and fiscal administrator for the Alliance; the
New World Symphony, America's Orchestral Academy;
and the
League of American Orchestras,
representing 700 orchestras. A group of Black and Latinx professional
musicians will be thought leaders, guides, and advisors for the
Alliance. The NAAS is supported by a four-year grant of $1.8M from The
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation as well as contributions from orchestras
across the U.S. Learn more at
www.auditionalliance.org.
The Sphinx Organization
is a Detroit-based, national organization dedicated to transforming
lives through the power of diversity in the arts. Sphinx programs reach
more than 100,000 students, as well as live and broadcast audiences of
more than two million annually. Sphinx works to create positive change
in the arts field and in communities across the country through a
variety of programs organized into four main principles: Education and
Access, Artist Development, Performing Artists and Arts Leadership. Read
more about
Sphinx's programs at
www.SphinxMusic.org.
The New World Symphony,
America's Orchestral Academy (NWS), prepares graduates of music programs
for leadership roles in professional orchestras and ensembles. In the
30 years since its co-founding by Artistic Director Michael Tilson
Thomas and Lin and Ted Arison, NWS has helped launch the careers of more
than 1,000 alumni worldwide. A laboratory for the way music is taught,
presented and experienced, the New World Symphony consists of 87 young
musicians who are granted fellowships lasting up to three years. The
fellowship
program offers in-depth exposure to traditional and modern repertoire,
professional development training and personalized experiences working
with leading guest conductors, soloists and visiting faculty.
Relationships with these artists are extended through NWS' extensive
distance learning via the internet. NWS Fellows take advantage of the
innovative performance facilities and state-of-the art practice and
ensemble rooms of the Frank Gehry-designed New World Center, the campus
of the New World Symphony.
Learn more about the New World Symphony at
www.nws.edu.
The League of American Orchestras
leads, supports, and champions America's orchestras and the vitality of
the music they perform. Its diverse membership of more than 2,000
organizations and individuals across North America runs the gamut from
world-renowned symphonies to community groups, from summer festivals to
student and youth ensembles, from conservatories to libraries, from
businesses serving orchestras to individuals who love symphonic music.
The only national organization dedicated solely to the orchestral
experience, the
League is a nexus of knowledge and innovation, advocacy, and leadership
advancement. Its conferences and events, award-winning Symphony
magazine, website, and other publications inform people around the world
about orchestral activity and developments. Founded in 1942 and
chartered by Congress in 1962, the League links a national network of
thousands of instrumentalists, conductors, managers and administrators,
board members, volunteers, and business partners. Visit
www.americanorchestras.org.
1 comment:
Extraordinary accomplishment
John Malveaux
MusicUNTOLD
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