In 1930, William Grant Still conducted his Symphony no. 1 “Afro-American” with the New York Philharmonic becoming the first Black composer “to have a symphony performed by a professional orchestra in the U.S.” The classical music industry was less diverse then than it is today, and yet African Americans and Latinos continue to be underrepresented in classical music in the 21st century. Just 1.8% and 2.5% of all classical musicians are Black and brown, respectively, according to a report published by the League of American Orchestras. That figure has remained stagnant for years.
It’s a reality that has prompted orchestras like the Albany Symphony to rethink their diversity practices. Established in 1930, the orchestra self-reported in April 2022 that it has never had a full-time Black musician as part of its nearly 70-person ensemble. Their Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Task Force, or IDEA, aims to address that disparity by “[taking] action toward being more inclusive by broadening the Albany Symphony’s audience and community partnerships.”
One of those community partners is the Sphinx Organization, a social justice nonprofit based in Detroit “dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts.” Aaron Dworkin, a Black violinist, founded the organization to “provide an avenue through which the top young string musicians of color would have access to professional development and performance opportunities,” according to the Guardian. Sphinx has partnered with 108 orchestras across the country, helping to build trajectory and equity for musicians of color who are beginning their professional careers.
Robert F. Smith’s Work to Support Diversity in the Arts
Robert F. Smith has supported the Sphinx Organization’s mission to strengthen the next generation of diverse classical musicians by funding a $50,000 prize awarded to the winner of the Sphinx Competition. Smith also supports Sphinx’s partnerships with organizations such as Carnegie Hall, where Smith serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Sphinx and Carnegie Hall work in tandem to “commission, present, and perform new classical works by Black and Latinx composers” each year according to the website.
Learn more about the work Smith and Sphinx are doing to train and advance artists of color for leadership roles in their industries through the Sphinx Lead program.
