University of Cincinnati Program Aims to Increase Diversity in America’s Orchestras

cincinnatiThe University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra have announced the first cohort of Diversity Fellows. The fellows program, made possible by a $900,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, seeks to increase diversity in America’s leading orchestras. Only 4 percent of the members of America’s professional orchestra musicians are Black or Latino, according to the League of American Orchestras.

More than 100 musicians auditioned to become fellows. The five fellows were then selected from a group of 12 finalists. The fellows will participate in a two-year program where they will be taught by faculty at the University of Cincinnati, be mentored by musicians of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and participate in performances by the orchestra. Each fellow will pay no tuition and receive a $10,000 annual stipend from the university. They will perform in five concerts and receive an additional $8,000 from the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Peter Landgren, dean of the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, stated that “we have selected a cohort of astonishingly talented musicians. Working in close cooperation with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, we will prepare these Fellows for long and fruitful artistic careers, while challenging the status quo in our industry.”

Among the five fellows are two African Americans.

BAJohnsonBlake-Anthony Johnson is a native of Atlanta. He began play cello at the age of 12 and was self-taught until the age of 18. Johnson is a graduate of Vanderbilt University in Nashville and received a master’s degree through study with musicians of the Cleveland Orchestra. He has also studied at the Manhattan School of Music in New York.

Maurice Todd is a native of Louisville, Kentucky. He is currently a bassist for the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra. Todd holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. As a graduate assistant at the university, Todd received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the Graduate School of the University of Cincinnati.

Related Articles

1 COMMENT

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

California State University Sacramento Launches Black Honors College

Officially launching for the fall 2024 semester, the Black Honors College will support students from all backgrounds who study Black history, life, and culture by providing them with a specialized curriculum and mentoring opportunities.

Higher Education Gifts or Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

In Memoriam: Norman B. Anderson, 1955-2024

Dr. Anderson was the assistant vice president for research and academic affairs at Florida State University at the time of his death. He had an extensive career in clinical psychology, which led him to become the first African American chief executive officer of the American Psychological Association.

Georgia State University Launches Program to Support Black Women in Tech

While Black women account for roughly 29 percent of the Georgia State University undergradaute student body, they represent only 10 percent of the university's computer science majors and 18 percent of the computer information systems majors.

Featured Jobs