“A 2016 report on diversity issued by the League of American Orchestras found that less than five percent of [musicians are] African American, Hispanic or Native American,” writes Laurie Niles in Wednesday’s (12/6) Violinist.com. “That is one reason for the development of … the LA Orchestra Fellowship [a two-year postgraduate program] designed to help top-tier string musicians from underrepresented communities get established as professionals in the classical world…. The LA Orchestra Fellowship is the brainchild of Scott Harrison, director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO), and Charles Dickerson, director of the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA), in partnership with the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music…. Two violinists, a violist and a cellist will be chosen for full-time fellowships that will begin in August 2018…. Each fellow will be enrolled in USC Thornton’s Graduate Certificate Program and will be expected to perform and rehearse with LACO, ICYOLA and USC orchestras…. LACO is working with … the Sphinx Organization, the Gateway Festival, the Color of Music Festival and conservatories … to recruit applicants.” Says Harrison, “We’re only going to continue to survive and thrive as arts organizations if we better represent the communities we serve.”
Posted December 8, 2017
