The League of American Orchestras’ 71st National Conference, “The Richness of Difference,” attracted positive attention as well as extensive press coverage for its urgent focus on diversity and inclusion. Held from June 9 to 11 in Baltimore and hosted by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Conference drew nearly 1,000 stakeholders—orchestra managers, musicians, staff, trustees, and volunteers—from across the country. This was the first League Conference to take place in Baltimore, and the first to focus on diversity.
The Conference opened with celebratory performances by the Baltimore Youth Symphony Orchestra and members of the BSO’s OrchKids program, which provides free music education for Baltimore youth. League President and CEO Jesse Rosen provided context with his introductory remarks on “The Richness of Difference,” and Earl Lewis, president of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, delivered the opening keynote address. A panel discussion on diversity initiatives followed, with Lewis, BSO Music Director Marin Alsop, ArtsPlace in America Executive Director Jamie Bennett, and Phoenix Symphony Principal Clarinet Alex Laing. Sessions throughout the Conference explored diversity and inclusion at orchestras, along with such topics as music education, fundraising, emerging subscription models, new music, electronic media strategy, and building a healthy organizational culture. In “Taking Out the Guesswork: Using Research to Build Arts Audiences,” based on a new guide from the Wallace Foundation, marketing expert Bob Harlow demonstrated how research is helping arts groups. Intensive, two-day Pre-Conference seminars focused on donor development, education and community engagement, and training for new executive directors.
Association of California Symphony Orchestras Executive Director Kris Sinclair, who retires this year after 31 years at the group’s helm, received the Gold Baton, the League’s highest honor. Five orchestra players were awarded the new Ford Musician Awards for Excellence in Community Service: Penny Anderson Brill, viola, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; Sharon Orme, bass clarinet, Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Jeff Paul, principal oboe, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra; Brian Prechtl, percussion, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; and Beth Vandervennet, cello, Oakland Symphony. (See page 48 for complete coverage of these musicians.)
Musical, social, and networking events included a Baltimore Symphony Orchestra concert led by Music Director Marin Alsop featuring music by Thomas Adès and Ravel, and Copland’s Appalachian Spring performed with its Martha Graham choreography by young dancers from the Baltimore School of the Arts. Alsop led a conducting masterclass on June 11.
The closing luncheon focused on identifying key actions orchestras can take, individually and collectively, to help our institutions and art form better reflect of the diversity and dynamism of 21st-century America. Speakers included Marin Alsop; Jamie Bennett; Dr. Monique Chism, deputy assistant secretary for policy and programs, U.S. Department of Education; The Honorable U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings (Maryland District 7); Alex Laing, principal clarinet, Phoenix Symphony; DeRay Mckesson, activist, educator, organizer; Anne Parsons, president and CEO, Detroit Symphony Orchestra; and Gayle S. Rose, board chairman, Memphis Symphony Orchestra.
Conference Resources
Check out the videos, presentations, toolkits, transcripts, and additional resources from the League’s 2016 Conference at the post-Conference web page, https://americanorchestras.org/conference-2016-highlights/ (member login required).
