“Yo-Yo Ma is giving up artistic directorship of the Silkroad ensemble as it approaches its 20th anniversary,” writes Grant Taylor in Thursday’s (10/26) Musical America (subscription required).”He will maintain links with the group but is handing over the reins to three long-term members, Jeffrey Beecher, Nicholas Cords, and Shane Shanahan…. The new co-artistic directors said, ‘At this moment of transition, we have an opportunity to reconsider how we reflect the communities in which we live and work. It is in this spirit that we announce a new commitment to diversity and inclusion across our board, staff, and ensemble, as well as among our collaborators and in our audiences…. to ensure Silkroad’s continued impact on the world’s stages, in classrooms, and in our communities, we must engage an ever-broader coalition of voices, one that represents the many perspectives that shape our world. The imperative to reach across divisions is more urgent than ever, especially here at home. To meet this challenge, over the next year we will launch a series of US-based residencies, partnerships deeply informed by global perspective and guided by the passions of our growing collective of musicians, teaching artists, and cultural advocates.”
Posted October 27, 2017
