“Three national organizations … [are] joining forces to try to help more African-American and Hispanic musicians audition for and land coveted orchestra jobs,” writes Michael Cooper in Wednesday’s (4/18) New York Times. “The new initiative—created by the Sphinx Organization, the New World Symphony and the League of American Orchestras—will train musicians for auditions, pair them with mentors, showcase their work in concerts and give them stipends to travel to auditions…. The new initiative, supported by a four-year, $1.8 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, aims to help black and Hispanic musicians navigate the challenging audition process—where it is not uncommon for hundreds of talented, well-trained candidates to find themselves competing for a single opening. The program, being called the National Alliance for Audition Support, will begin in June … [League President and CEO] Jesse Rosen … said that he had been encouraged by the enthusiasm orchestras have shown for the program…. ‘We got 100 percent yeses,’ he said in an interview. ‘People said “This is very important, and we want in.” ’ ”
Click here for more on the National Alliance for Audition Support.
Posted April 19, 2018
