WQXR.org: Cleveland Institute of Music: Ann Pilot is Commencement Speaker

Ann Hobson Pilot

Boston Records

WQXR

May 25, 2018 · by Jennifer Gersten

Cleveland Institute of Music

Cleveland’s commencement stage welcomed Ann Hobson Pilot, former principal harpist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra — and the first African-American woman to hold a principal position in a major orchestra. Pilot described the racial discrimination she has encountered in her career, and reflected on how her dealings with adversity have yielded strength and character. “I’m often asked, how could you put up with this? And the answer is, how could I not? I was hired to play the harp, and that is what I tried to do to the best of my ability. I recognize that other African Americans had to endure much, much more than I ever did. And so in continuing to blaze a trail as so many others before me had, I made sure that I was considerate, honest and that I treated others with the same respect that I expected to be treated with, even if it meant expressing displeasure if someone made an insulting or, shall we say, ‘off-color’ statement or joke. After a while, I think these same people realized that ‘the racial thing’ was their problem, not mine.”