“When you go backstage at the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra it can be intense, as each musician feels the pressure to uphold an international reputation,” writes Scoop Jefferson in Thursday’s (3/17) WFAA-TV (Dallas/Fort Worth). “Imagine that feeling for the symphony’s youngest musician, principal bassoonist, 24-year-old Joshua Elmore. This is Elmore’ first full-time job as a musician with the orchestra. His love of music is something that runs in the family. ‘My mother played music throughout school,’ Elmore said. ‘Most of my family did. My uncle was a very theatrical guy.’ Elmore started early too, not knowing one day he would almost be in a class by himself as a young African American bassoon player, among so much talent…. Elmore’s fellow symphony musicians have taken him under their wings. He is constantly learning from his colleagues. But despite the support, Elmore has had challenges answering his own questions about his love for classical music. ‘And you’re like, “Do I really fit into this space? Do I really belong here?” ’ he said. ‘I think my biggest challenge as a musician definitely is the lack of representation and not really seeing myself portrayed … from the stage.’ That lack of representation is changing.”
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