November 26, 2023—The Black Orchestral Network (BON) recently held a summit to explore the future of inclusivity within American orchestras and featured the voices of Gen Z students who are pursuing classical music careers.

BON was founded by a group of Black orchestral musicians who first began meeting to develop a connection with each other and to harness their collective creativity to develop initiatives to benefit other Black orchestral musicians in the field or who are pursuing orchestral careers. They also are working to elevate the history and culture of Black orchestral artists and composers within the field.

The summit was a day of learning, connection, and celebration of the Black roots that have informed and influenced the history of and culture within classical music. A major feature was a panel discussion moderated by renowned bassoonist and thought leader Loki Karuna, who also is the host of the weekly podcast Trilloquy, which seeks to decolonize the traditional definitions and conversations surrounding classical music. The panelists were Blue Shelton, a third-year flute student at the Manhattan School of Music, and percussionist Sean Edwards, who is in his fourth year at The Juilliard School. They shared their thoughts about the current orchestral climate and what they would like to see in the future as they pursue orchestral careers.

Both the summit and the organization are supported by funding from Gateways Music Festival, Mellon Foundation, and the New York State Council on the Arts.

The BON is also expanding its footprint with its podcast, Black Music Seen. The podcast highlights and celebrates Black musicians in genres where Black people are seldom seen, lifting the voices of these talented artists, and sharing their stories.

I urge the readers of Arts & Culture Connections to check out and follow this podcast and support their efforts to ensure that Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Access become the principal values of the American orchestra community. You can also sign the BON Open Letter to American Orchestras at this link.

As always, I would like to know what you think. I invite you to share your comments below.