ORCHESTRAL ADVENTURES FOR ALL AND THE WORK THAT LIES AHEAD
Hey, y'all.
What does an orchestra look like that is truly inclusive and accessible? And how does an anti-racist orchestra not just look, but sound?
Systemic racism and oppression have plagued our society for far too long, and the orchestra and concert halls are no exception. Awesöme Orchestra's vision has always been to create a new model for orchestras to represent, serve, and inspire our communities. Over the last few weeks, we've been thinking about what we can do better as a collective to serve and inspire our community here in the Bay Area and beyond.
How can we continue amplifying voices from oppressed communities? Deeply layered oppression of marginalized communities has been passed off as "tradition" for centuries in orchestral music and the spaces it occupies, and our team is more committed than ever to combat that inequality. Below are just some things we are working on to create an orchestra that better serves our community:
creating an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Task Force and hiring professional consultants to develop an Anti-Racism Action Plan
working with this plan to make our orchestral adventures a safe space for all people who want to participate
programming more orchestral pieces by composers from marginalized communities for our upcoming Digital Adventures, and continuing that programming for open sessions when it's safe to meet in person
allocating the majority of our new music budget for orchestral commissions by living composers and arrangers of marginalized communities
continue collaborating with communities leaders and BIPOC-led organizations to create joyful orchestral experiences that are accessible to all
A lot of work and difficult introspection lies ahead for everyone, and I remain hopeful that we can bring more beauty and equity to this world, one note at a time. We want to hear from you, so please don't hesitate to reach out to any members of our staff with your ideas for how our orchestra can help communities that are hurting. We are listening.
Black Lives Matter. We will continue listening to and boosting BIPOC voices, educating and re-educating ourselves about systemic racism and oppression, protesting, donating to Black-led non-profit organizations aiding those in need, and supporting Black-led businesses. Please help in any way you are able to make this world safer, healthier, and more equal for Black people everywhere.
In solidarity and love,
David Möschler
Founding Artistic Director & Conductor
Awesöme Orchestra Collective