Atlanta Symphony’s Talent Development Program: Working to Increase Diversity Among Musicians for 30 Years

In Thursday’s (2/22) CNN, Ivan Rodriguez and Cole Higgins report, “A lifelong music lover, Azira G. Hill served as co-chair of the Atlanta Symphony Associates’ Action Committee for Audience Development in the Black community. This propelled her to launch a program that went on to serve as a model across the country, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Talent Development Program (TDP). Over the last 30 years, the TDP has mentored more than 100 young Black, African American and Latino musicians. Some of them go on to continue their education at top music schools across the country … Each year the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra serves up to 25 students. The students are paired with current ASO musicians who provide weekly private lessons. The program also helps students with financial assistance, and performance and audition opportunities…. A 2023 League of American Orchestras survey of its members found that … roughly 1 in 5 were identified as people of color, compared with about 1 in 7 a decade ago. The survey found relatively little change over that time in the share of musicians who were identified as Black or African American…. Since the creation of the TDP in 1993, similar programs within orchestras have sprung up across the country, proving there is an appetite to be more inclusive at the highest levels of musicianship.”