The orchestra’s program features the world premiere of I Can, written by Batiste, and more!
On Sunday April 24 at 3:00PM, the Gateways Music Festival Orchestra-comprised entirely of professional classical musicians of African descent-makes their highly anticipated Carnegie Hall debut in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage under the direction of acclaimed Hollywood and symphony orchestra conductor Anthony Parnther. The orchestra's program features the world premiere of I Can, an original composition for piano and orchestra written by Oscar- and Grammy Award-winning composer, musician, and bandleader Jon Batiste, who also appears as piano soloist. Batiste's new work is performed alongside Brahms's Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Florence Price's Symphony No. 3, and Sinfonia No. 3 by George Walker, the first African American laureate of the Pulitzer Prize for Music. The concert concludes with James V. Cockerham's Fantasia on "Lift Every Voice and Sing," a signature piece for the ensemble, whose distinguished members hail from leading orchestras and conservatory teaching faculties nationwide.
"We are delighted to be presenting the Gateways Music Festival Orchestra in its Carnegie Hall debut. We have long been inspired by the festival's commitment to extraordinary artistry as it celebrates the many contributions that musicians and composers of African descent continue to make to classical music," says Clive Gillinson, Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall. "We look forward to introducing the Gateways musicians and the immensely talented Anthony Parnther to audiences as they embark upon their residency, connecting with music lovers throughout New York City," he adds.
Leading up to the orchestra's Carnegie Hall April 24 concert, some of New York City's most esteemed cultural institutions will partner with the Gateways Music Festival to present a variety of events featuring Gateways musicians and special guests, beginning this Thursday, April 21. New York City residency events will take place at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, 92nd Street Y, The Cooper Union, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Morgan Library & Museum, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center. In addition, on Saturday morning, April 23, Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute (WMI) will present master classes with young musicians and a panel discussion with Gateways orchestra members and teachers from WMI's Music Educators Workshop in Carnegie Hall's Resnick Education Wing. A full schedule and further details on Gateways' New York City festival events are available here.
The mission of Gateways Music Festival is to connect and support professional classical musicians of African descent and enlighten and inspire communities through the power of performance. Founded in 1993 by concert pianist and retired Eastman School of Music associate professor Armenta Hummings Dumisani, Gateways comprises 125 musicians-players in major symphony orchestras, faculty from renowned music schools and conservatories, and active freelancers-who perform at concert halls and community venues throughout their host city. 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. For more information on Gateways Music Festival, please visit gatewaysmusicfestival.org.
Sunday, April 24, 2022 at 3:00 PM
Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage
Gateways Music Festival Orchestra
Anthony Parnther, Conductor
Jon Batiste, Piano
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