“Take a look at many orchestras around the country and there’s … an overwhelming number of white faces behind the instruments,” writes Lisa Cunningham in Sunday’s (2/3) Pittsburgh City Paper. “The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is working on programs to bring more people of color to the stage. The PSO belongs to the National Alliance for Audition Support, a national initiative to increase diversity in American orchestras.” The National Alliance for Audition Support is a program of the Sphinx Organization, the New World Symphony, and the League of American Orchestras. “The PSO is currently seeking applicants for its EQT Orchestra Training Program for African American Musicians, a two-year program giving one young musician a chance to train with a professional orchestra.… In addition to getting the chance to play with an established symphony on stage in Pittsburgh, the fellowship can also lead to employment after the training is complete. Previous success stories include Joshua Jones, the PSO’s 2017-2019 fellowship winner, who studied and played drums with the symphony before being named the Principal Percussionist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Adedeji Ogunfolu, the PSO’s 2013-2015 fellow, now plays second horn with Pacific Symphony in Orange County, California. Application deadline for this year’s fellowship is Mon., Feb. 11.”
Posted February 4, 2019
