The Eastman School of Music was founded in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman (1854-1932), founder of Eastman Kodak Company. She created Gateways. John: It turns out that Gateways isn't just an organization that serves musicians. 3. My good friend Titus Underwood likes to often post the question to American orchestras, "Are we American orchestras or are we European approximations?" That is as Lee Koonce told us again and again, that's one of the most important things that's happening here this afternoon. About Eastman School of Music. Accuracy and availability may vary. Gateways Music Festival is grateful to the following institutions, foundations and governmental agencies for their generous support of the 2022 Gateways Music Festival. I would love to see this orchestra record especially literature that has been under-recorded or not recorded at all by underrepresented composers. Anthony Parnther | Photo by Konstantin Golovchinsky. He also told us they want to be a resource for the larger community. Gateways Music Festival Orchestra. Anthony Parnther, conductorAntoine T. Clark, assistant conductor, VIOLIN I Kelly Hall-Tompkins, concertmaster Cleveland A. Chandler Daniel Constant Caitlin Edwards Mellasenah Edwards Brendon Elliott Alex Gonzalez Mariana Green-Hill Marianne Henry Ashley Horne Amyr Joyner Kyle Lombard Jessica R. McJunkins Chelsea Sharpe Lionel Thomas Anyango Yarbo-Davenport, VIOLIN II Derek Reeves, principal Lucinda Ali-Landing Charlene Bishop Jeffrey Boga Dale Breidenthal David Burnett Nicole Cherry Frdrique Gnaman Bennie Harris Joshua Henderson Sarah E. Martin Phillip Payton Meredith Riley Booker Rowe, VIOLAJennifer Arnold, principalLeslie DeShazorAndrew FrancoisAshleigh GordonLinda GreenChristopher JenkinsCaroline JonesJaven LaraDeidra LawrenceAundrey MitchellYvonne SmithGeorge Taylor, CELLO Troy Stuart, principal Ifetayo Ali-Landing Cremaine Booker Eric Cooper Gordon Grubbs Joseph Hbert Timothy Holley Thapelo Masita Prudence McDaniel Derek Menchan James Ryan Murphy Wayne Smith, DOUBLE BASS Rick Robinson, principal William Johnson Kevin Mauldin Anthony Morris Jacqueline Pickett Patricia Silva Weitzel, FLUTE Judith Dines, principal Dennis Carter Jacqueline Cordova-Arrington Patricia Reeves, OBOE Titus Underwood, principal Hassan Anderson Sarrah Bushara Geoffrey Johnson, CLARINET Alexander Laing, principal Pamela Coats Robert Davis LeTriel White, BASSOONJoshua Elmore, principalAlexander DavisKai RockeMaya Stone, FRENCH HORN Larry Williams, principal David Dickerson Adedeji Ogunfolu Priscilla Rheinhart Jeffrey Scott, TRUMPET Herbert Smith, principal Javian Brabham Leonard Foy Courtney Jones, TROMBONE Burt Mason, principal Isrea Butler Timothy Robinson Martin McCain (Bass), PERCUSSION Ralph Barrett, principal Jauvon Gilliam Cleo Goldberg Don Johns Terry McKinney. As you know, you're moving an orchestra or a music festival across a giant state like this is a big effort. Carnegie Hall Live is a co-production of WQXR and Carnegie Hall. It's a real challenge for us to in very limited rehearsal time with a lot of events going on simultaneously put together especially a program of this difficulty and variety together and lightning fast. What does it mean to have you and your colleagues in this place at this time? What was the idea there? I thought you were going to say George Gershwin because what strikes me is the similarity to the, -did not have fully finished at the time of the world premiere, and famously in the written score for the conductor, wrote the words, "Wait for a nod.". Butler is a Conn-Selmer clinician and performing artist. Recent guest. They were led by James Reese Europe, and they were one of the finest Black music ensembles to perform in Carnegie Hall and one of the first at that time. Gateways Music Festival is grateful to the following institutions, foundations and governmental agencies for their generous support of the 2022 Gateways Music Festival. Of course, that's not true. 3. Gateways Music Festival is thrilled to announce that renowned Hollywood and symphony orchestra conductor Anthony Parnther will lead the Gateways Orchestra for its concerts in Rochester, NY and New York City, including the Orchestras Carnegie Hall debut! The Gateways Music Festival Orchestra, making their debut today, taking their place alongside the Clef Club Orchestra and a lot of other great African American musicians in the illustrious history of Carnegie Hall. The performance was the first by an all-Black classical symphony orchestra in Carnegie Hall's history. That'll be the next work on the program. WQXR is a proud media partner of the Gateways Music Festival 1,198 views Apr 19, 2022 On April 24, 2022, at 3pm WQXR is proud to present a live broadcast of the Gateways Music Festival. Our thanks to Clive Gillinson and the staff at Carnegie Hall, the WQXR recording crew, Edward Haber, George Wellington, Irene Trudel, Duke Marcos, and our production team. In May 2016, Gateways Music Festival formally affiliated with the Eastman School of Music, a festival partner since 1995, but remains an independent non-profit organization. Now, Batiste on his feet, really not moving away from the piano, receiving the applause from this audience and passing it on to all the members of the Gateways Music Festival Orchestra, and a deep bow from everyone on the stage. It turns out that Gateways isn't just an organization that serves musicians. Thank you so much. Follow me. John: Can you distinguish for us the difference between the festival proper and the festival orchestra? This is going to be quite a wonderful world premiere and a big occasion. His answer was, "I felt that Carnegie Hall, that places like that were not meant for people who looked like me and it was important to make that step and to be seen on that stage. I think that's really a significant thing that's happening right now in real-time. BRUNO WALTER AUDITORIUMNEW YORK LIBRARY FORTHE PERFORMING ARTSLincoln Center111 Amsterdam AvenueNew York, NY. A terrific program today bookended by two sets of variations. She's never taken medication. Take care. It was a historic concert when the Gateways Music Festival Orchestra performed in Carnegie Hall. I think we're really making some ground today in terms of that piece of it, in terms of, is this a space that celebrates and uplifts Black people, Black culture, not just Black performers. This is a guy, Jeff, who is having a moment. In the spirit of sharing a little of the backstory behind this piece, I want to share a poem that I wrote. As long as we stick to that principle, I think that's the vision. The orchestra comes together and you just dig into the music. I'd love to see this orchestra personally go on tour so that audiences outside of New York State have the privilege of witnessing the power and beauty of such a special ensemble. Alex: Yes. One of which is to support musicians of African descent who are isolated even in the ensembles in which they play as happens in other kinds of workplaces in the world, but also looking out at, as you said, the audience members who haven't found that Carnegie Hall is for them as well. We exist outside of space, time or this place." 2022 Gateways Orchestra 2022 Guest Artists & Chamber Music Musicians Gallery Listen Gateways Radio Stream . World premiere, so a song and a kind of sweet for piano into orchestra all in one extraordinarily well-received performance here on the main stage at Carnegie Hall. The African cloth comes out and no two people look exactly the same. -on stage, certainly, but certainly I think this was the best possible opportunity to have my first outing with this great orchestra on this great occasion. At least that's the case with her first, third, and fourth symphony. I think we're really making some ground today in terms of that piece of it, in terms of, is this a space that celebrates and uplifts Black people, Black culture, not just Black performers. John: It is interesting that you went to Mozart and Beethoven. I should have asked you that before this began, but I'll lay it on you anyway. Our satisfied clients include youth, high school, college, university and adult groups, including church and alumni tours. The festival has just grown and grown and grown since 1993, from that vision. This music we call classical likes to drape itself in narratives of universality and likes to position itself as being aracial and reflecting some universal culture. They're leaving the stage for a few minutes, but we have managed to grab one of them by the coattail as he walks by. At recent festivals, the Gateways Music Festival Orchestra comprised 125 instrumentalists, many drawn from such major orchestras as the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics, the Cleveland Orchestra and the National, Boston, Houston, Phoenix and Detroit symphonies. Pleasure to talk to you. She was part of the inaugural class of the Artist Propulsion Lab at WQXR. Well, I think that's another thing we're saying about what do we think can and should happen in a concert that would be called classical and where is this music coming from and who are our composers. The Gateways Music Festival Orchestra is a 125+ member ensemble of musicians of African descent under the leadership of conductor Anthony Parnther. Hear both works performed by outstanding members of the acclaimed Gateways Music Festival Orchestra, conducted by longtime Marsalis collaborator Damien Sneed. Exhausting, but exciting. That's available to everyone. During the Gateways Music Festival, 125 professional classical musicians of African descent come from across the United States, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and South America to Rochester,. A very gala-feel to this event. They'll open the second half of the program with a big work by prolific American composer, Florence Price. That type of dance and the music that accompanied it was so important that Florence Price actually gave that name, Juba, to the third movement of all of her symphonies. 3 James V. Cockerham: Fantasia on Lift Every Voice and Sing. There was this outpouring of interest from all over the country. The final . Favorites More Music Features Yes. I love the way this harkens back to the days of Mozart and Beethoven, who would also write works that contained a great deal of written music finished for the players but also places for them to improvise. It's an incredibly exciting week for all of us. In fact, the third movement is called Juba, which is a type of body percussion and dance that was widely found in musical traditions of enslaved Afro-Caribbean people. I would love to see this orchestra record especially literature that has been under-recorded or not recorded at all by underrepresented composers. All rights reserved. Adults: $20 | Seniors and Students: $15 | Children/Youth (Under 18): Free, ABYSSINIAN BAPTIST CHURCH132 W 138th StreetNew York, NY. Of course, the orchestra, a whole bunch of people on stage, makes a great sound, gets a lot of attention, makes a big statement. We exist outside of space, time or this place." In NYC, five of New York Citys premier venues welcome Gateways ensembles and guest artists. Paul Burgett was a leader in classical music. Next performances this artist is scheduled to appear at: This artist has no upcoming performances - yet! In May of 1912 at Carnegie Hall, where the stage welcomed a large ensemble of African American musicians, the Clef Club Symphony Orchestra. Jeff: -for Soul, the Pixar film, and has also just won five Grammys, including Record of the Year at the most recent Grammy Awards just a few weeks ago. In May of 1912 at Carnegie Hall, where the stage welcomed a large ensemble of African American musicians, the Clef Club Symphony Orchestra. It's an incredibly exciting week for all of us. Announced by Gateways Music Festival in association with the Eastman School of Music, the news is very welcome to the 28-year-old organization, which works to connect and support . We know that it is, and that's what we're doing. John: Alex Laing, the principal clarinet of the Gateways Music Festival Orchestra, also serves on their board of directors. It's our national anthem. Gateways Music Festival is thrilled to announce that renowned Hollywood and symphony orchestra conductor Anthony Parnther will lead the Gateways Orchestra for its concerts in Rochester, NY and New York City, including the Orchestra's Carnegie Hall debut! In 2015, Anthony was profiled by Los Angeles' KCET/TV as a "Local Hero" for his extensive community outreach and advocacy for the performance of works by Black, Latinx, and Women artists. 3 in C Minor, James Cockerhams Fantasia on Lift Every Voice and Sing and the world premiere of a work for narrator and orchestra by Oscar-winning, GRAMMY-nominated Jon Batiste, host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Not heard in this place until just now by the Gateways Music Festival Orchestra. The two pieces are musical cousins and were actually intended to be so. We had to really be on our feet, go with Jon wherever he decided to go at any given minute. Her goal was "to open the gates to classical music for musicians and audiences alike so that as many people as possible could play, see and hear the music". It can also serve as a beard or it can veil other, I think, less inclusive narratives. We should also mention Kelly Hall Tompkins, if that's a familiar name to our WQXR listeners, there's a good reason for that. It's full orchestra and piano and just him. Dmitri Berlinsky Dmitri Berlinsky is professor of violin and artist teacher at the MSU College of Music. See locations and times below. by James V. Cockerham in this initial performance of the Gateways Music Festival Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, a performance you'll hear from Carnegie Hall Live. . Okay. That's available to everyone. George Walker composed it in 2003. I'm sure she wouldn't mind me telling her age. Proof of vaccination is required to enter Carnegie Hall and masks must be worn inside at all times. Another first for this concert by the Gateways Music Festival Orchestra. Lauren Purcell Joiner, Christine Herskovits, Eileen Delahunty, and Max Fine. This April, the Gateways Music Festival Orchestra, comprised entirely of classical musicians of African descent, presents events around NYC, culminating with its eagerly anticipated Carnegie Hall debut on April 24. What was the idea there? What does it mean to have you and your colleagues in this place at this time? This is a guy, Jeff, who is having a moment. The festival originated in Winston-Salem and then moved with our founder, Armenta Hummings Dumisani to Eastman where she was on faculty. Sure. Gateways Orchestra concert, 4:00 p.m. at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre on Sunday, August 11, $15 for adults, $10 for students and senior citizens with ID, and free for youth under 18. We understand its importance, so that's really significant. John: This program has an almost built-in encore, which is a work by James V. Cockerham Fantasia on Lift Every Voice and Sing. Gateways Music Festival Orchestra was founded in 1993 by prominent pianist and educator Armenta Adams Dumisani. There is an improvisatory element to it. Gateways Music Festival Overview 530 views 10 months ago The Gateways Music Festival 2022 will take place from April 18-24, culminating in the Gateways Orchestra's Carnegie Hall debut,. . Gateways is an all-Black classical symphony orchestra created in 1993 by concert pianist and educator Armenta Adams (Hummings) Dumisani. Gateways Music Festival was founded in 1993 by Armenta Adams Hummings Dumisani in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Now, we spoke with Lee Koonce, who is the president and artistic director of the Gateways Music Festival, whom we had a chance just to say what Jon Batiste's piece that he had heard, and what we could expect. People come to, I think, to concerts halls, not only to hear music but also to be affirmed culturally in their selves. It's a beautiful moment. Gateways musicians let their hair down in a fun, club-like environment and perform pop, R&B, Jazz, gospel, reggae and everything in between! Jeff: Backstage at Carnegie Hall, I'm Jeff Spurgeon. From August 6 through 11, 2019, 125 professional classical musicians of African descent are invited to Rochester, NY from across the . General Admission. Mary also enjoys teaching private trumpet lessons with students from ages 10 - 94! What else is Gateways beyond this? The concert also included works by the German composer Johannes Brahms (18331897); George Walker 56E (DMA) (19222018), the first composer of African descent to win a Pulitzer Prize (Lilacs for Voice and Orchestra, 1996); Florence Price (18871953), the first African American female composer to have her work performed by a major orchestra (1933 Chicago Symphony performance of Symphony No. There's a great degree to which American orchestras and American so-called classic music generally has really kept its most powerful legacy at arm's length, which is the music of Black people and Black Americans. I agree with you when I saw the program that had been given to me. It seems like there was a real intention behind the planning of this program today. 3. Now, Batiste on his feet, really not moving away from the piano, receiving the applause from this audience and passing it on to all the members of the Gateways Music Festival Orchestra, and a deep bow from everyone on the stage. 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