The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Announces Auditions for its EQT Orchestra Training Program for African American Musicians

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra announced it will hold auditions in March to select one musician for its two-year pre-professional program for young African American musicians.

Applications for the Pittsburgh Symphony's EQT Orchestra Training Program for African American Musicians (OTPAAM) must be submitted on or before Friday, January 9. Auditions will be held March 11 and 12 at Heinz Hall in downtown Pittsburgh.

Created in 2007, the EQT Orchestra Training Program for African American Musicians aims to prepare young African American musicians for careers in a professional orchestra. Fellows' time with the Pittsburgh Symphony will include practice time, education and community engagement opportunities, and audition training. The fellowship, awarded to one fellow every two years, includes an annual stipend, as well as additional payment toward health insurance, audition expenses and professional development.

The Pittsburgh Symphony's most recent EQT OTPAAM Fellow, horn player Adedeji Ogunfolu, won a position with the San Antonio Symphony after only one year in the program. He began his new position in Texas at the start of the 2014-2015 season.

To be eligible for EQT OTPAAM, applicants must be African American musicians between the ages of 18 and 30 at the start date of the fellowship, and must also play a standard orchestral instrument (no keyboard). Applicants can find more information atpittsburghsymphony.org/OTPAAM. A list of repertoire and an application can be found at pittsburghsymphony.org/auditions.

EQT OTPAAM is one of several programs in the Pittsburgh Symphony's Diversity Plan, which outlines a multifaceted approach to promoting conversations about diversity in orchestra settings, recruiting leadership and advisors for diversity initiatives, and building opportunities for performance on and off the orchestral concert stage to better reflect the diverse communities and audiences that orchestras serve.

EQT OTPAAM is made possible in part by Milton & Nancy Washington and EQT Foundation.

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