The Score | Gateways 2019

Every other summer, musicians from around the country gather in Rochester, New York for the Gateways Music Festival, which aims to increase the visibility of and opportunities for classical musicians and composers of African descent. This August’s festival launched with a free discussion about efforts to make the classical music field more diverse and inclusive. The discussion was moderated by Garrett McQueen, a professional bassoonist and radio host, with panelists including author Robert L. Watt, a retired French hornist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic; Jennifer Arnold (viola, Oregon Symphony); freelance violinist Jessica McJunkins; Herbert Smith (trumpet, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra); and Titus Underwood (principal oboe, Nashville Symphony). The six-day festival featured recitals, film screenings, and other events at the Eastman School of Music and elsewhere in Rochester. The Gateways Music Festival Orchestra concert led by Michael Morgan, the festival’s music director, included music by Olly Wilson, Florence Price, and Carlos Simon.