Cincinnati 2023
Equity Arc* National Pathways Festival and Annual Convening
Festival: March 16-19, 2023
Convening: March 18-19, 2023
Presented in partnership with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Supported by the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation.
*Formerly NIMAN
Pathways Festival
On March 16, 2023, Pathways Fellows from across the country will arrive in Cincinnati for a unique, intensive musical experience, working alongside musicians from the CSO. This incredible program builds on last year’s Chicago Youth in Music Festival presented in collaboration with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Merit School of Music, and Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative.
Selected through a competitive audition process, the Pathways Fellows will have opportunities to learn from musicians from one of the most highly-regarded orchestras in the country, perform for a panel of faculty from some of the most prestigious higher learning institutions, and take part in a project designed to explore those topics that they feel the field needs to hear most about. Peer networking is also emphasized – once a Fellow, always be a Fellow!
The Festival and Convening culminates on March 19, 2023, in a performance of Brian Raphael Nabors’ “Pulse for Orchestra” and Dvořák’s 9th Symphony, led by Maestro Kevin John Edusei at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s Music Hall.
Please note that to be eligible to audition, students must study at a Pathways program that is part of the Collective. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, all eligible students are able to apply for free.
We hope that you will join us in Cincinnati to share your voice and to celebrate the remarkable Fellows in the Festival Orchestra!
Annual Convening
The Equity Arc Annual Convening takes place concurrently with the Pathways Festival, from March 18-19, 2023. The Convening is designed to bring together our members and partners from all stages of the musical arc for conversations that will promote progress toward our goal to create a level playing field in classical music.
The Convening opens on Saturday, March 18 with a luncheon and keynote address by Demarre McGill. The opening session will set the context for our conversations, building on foundations from our Chicago convening in 2022.
The afternoon will include a panel presentation before we break into small groups for further discussion. Convening attendees are invited to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s concert that evening. Tickets will be included in the registration fee for those who register by January 20.
Sunday morning opens with a panel by our Pathways Fellows, providing insight into what the new generation of musicians have identified as the most critical in building equity in the field. Small group discussions will lead to a culminating comprehensive session. Following dinner, the Festival Orchestra will perform side-by-side with musicians from the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, led by Kevin John Edusei. Maestro Edusei will also give closing keynote remarks.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
We appreciate the generous support of the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation for their sponsorship of the Festival and Convening.
