Pittsburgh Symphony To Hold Auditions For EQT Orchestra Training Program For African American Musicians

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra announced it will hold auditions in March 2017 for its two-year pre-professional program for young African American musicians, which is entering its 10th anniversary year in 2017.

Applications for the Pittsburgh Symphony's EQT Orchestra Training Program for African American Musicians (OTPAAM) must be submitted on or before Friday, December 9. Auditions will be held March 7 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.

Recent EQT OTPAAM Fellows have achieved success in the orchestral world. The 2011-2013 EQT OTPAAM fellow, Ryan Murphy, won a cello position with the San Antonio Symphony in 2012. The winner of the 2013-2015 fellowship, horn player Adedeji Ogunfolu, also won a position with the San Antonio Symphony during his first year of the fellowship. The 2015-2017 EQT OTPAAM fellow, Torrell Moss, a percussionist, is actively auditioning for various opportunities while training and performing with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

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 at pittsburghsymphony.org/OTPAAM. A list of repertoire and an application can be found at pittsburghsymphony.org/auditions. This year, EQT OTPAAM applicants will need to submit a prescreening CD in order to be invited to the live audition/interview round. Recording guidelines and other information will be sent via email after application submission.

EQT OTPAAM is one of several programs showcasing the Pittsburgh Symphony's commitment 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 the EQT Foundation.

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