The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation “recently announced a four-year, $1.8 million grant to support the National Alliance for Audition Support, an initiative focused on helping more African-American and Hispanic musicians audition for and land orchestra jobs,” writes Mike Scutari in Thursday’s (4/26) Inside Philanthropy. “Created by the Sphinx Organization, the New World Symphony, and the League of American Orchestras (LAO), the alliance will train musicians for auditions, pair them with mentors, showcase their work in concerts, and provide travel stipends.… Mellon has accumulated years of valuable experience in this area, and the mechanics of the new alliance reflects a holistic strategy for boosting diversity.… The LAO 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 New World Symphony will provide expertise and access to its workshops, artist development resources, and online assets, as well as help recruit musicians for the program. And the Detroit-based Sphinx Organization will act as the lead program administrator, exercise fiscal oversight, and offer ‘audition previews’ enabling orchestras to familiarize themselves with the talent pool.”
Posted April 30, 2018
