“Those who would imagine that the rarefied realms of classical music or opera are removed somehow from the rancor of racism would be, as [soprano Jessye] Norman put it, ‘mistaken. Sadly mistaken,’ ” writes Michael Andor Brodeur in Wednesday’s (7/16) Washington Post. “The call to improve institutions from criminal justice to arts organizations to newsrooms is extending to the stages (and offices) of the classical world. Data collected from … American orchestras for a 2016 study by the League of American Orchestras paints a starkly white picture when it comes to diversity in classical organizations…. The urgency of the cultural moment … inspired [the League] to post a statement … in early June that feels more like a call to action: ‘There is an urgent need for White people and predominantly White organizations to do the work of uprooting this racism.…’ For its part, the league … teamed with … the Sphinx Organization and Miami’s New World Symphony to create the National Alliance for Audition Support, an initiative involving 80-plus American orchestras to provide ‘long-term support to Black and Latinx orchestral musicians [in auditions].…’ It has also launched the Catalyst Fund, which this month awarded grants … to 28 U.S. orchestras ‘to strengthen their understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion.’ ” The article includes initiatives at other arts groups and commentary from Black classical artists.
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