Showcasing Emerging Talent
The National Pathways Festival Orchestra is an ensemble composed of young artists who study at Pathways programs across the country.
Extending Support
Pathways programs offer comprehensive support and mentorship to pre-college musicians from backgrounds underrepresented in classical music. The Festival Orchestra rehearses and performs as part of Equity Arc’s Annual Convening, typically held in the spring. The next Festival will be held in Nashville, TN on April 6-8, 2024 in partnership with the Nashville Symphony.
To be eligible to apply, young musicians must study at a Pathways program that is part of the Collective for Musical Pathways and be nominated by your program director. You will need to sign an eligibility statement as part of your application.
If you have been nominated, please submit your application and audition via Acceptd. Feel free to contact us for questions about audition materials.
Bonus: Your application fees are covered by Equity Arc!
Questions? Contact us at info@equityarc.org.
“Being in professional environments, like on stage at Music Hall with the Cincinnati Symphony, taught me a lot about how to hold myself professionally and how to accomplish not just musical goals but any goals I have.”
Renee Perpignan, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Nouveau Program Fellow
2023 Festival Orchestra Fellows

Ellen Saputra
Violin I
Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative

Miro Raj
Violin I
Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth

Rishab Das
Violin I
Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth

Javier Irizarry
Violin I
Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative

Chloe Hyun
Violin II
Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth

Samuel Igbo
Violin II
Youth Orchestras of San Antonio Rising Stars

Adam Elbohy
Violin II
Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth

Anthony Holc
Violin II
Baltimore Musical Pathways Initiative (BMPI)

Patricia Harden
Violin II
Primavera Fund

Lucas Lauprasert
Viola
Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth

Israel Anselme
Viola
Bridge to Equity and Achievement in Music

Dubravko Rodriguez
Viola
Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative

Brandon Leonard
Cello
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Talent Development Program

Alex Aranzabal
Cello
Bridge to Equity and Achievement in Music

Emilia Lacy
Cello
Bridge to Equity and Achievement in Music

Kwanchi Loo
Cello
Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth

Lucas Das
Cello
Washington Musical Pathways Initiative

Xavier Ip
Cello
Project STEP

Caleb Graupera
Cello
Project STEP

Anderson Bernal
Bass
Baltimore Musical Pathways Initiative (BMPI)

Mateo Estanislao
Bass
Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative

Travis Phillips
Bass
Cleveland Institute of Music Musical Pathways Fellowship

Zachary Allen
Oboe
Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative

Giovanni Sanchez
Oboe
Bridge to Equity and Achievement in Music

Alliese Bonner
Flute
Nashville Symphony Accelerando

Aarushi Kumar
Flute
Nashville Symphony Accelerando

Nicholas Garrett
Clarinet
Cleveland Institute of Music Musical Pathways Fellowship

Jackson Bernal
Bassoon
Washington Musical Pathways Initiative

Jin Zhang
Bassoon
Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth

Derek Woods
Horn
Nashville Symphony Accelerando

Austin Adaranijo
Horn
Washington Musical Pathways Initiative

Aryana Rodriguez
Horn
Youth Orchestras of San Antonio Rising Stars

Alexander Vinson
Trumpet
Nashville Symphony Accelerando

Ricardo Lazaro
Trumpet
Youth Orchestras of San Antonio Rising Stars

Orlandis Maise
Trombone
Nashville Symphony Accelerando

Dayla Spencer
Trombone
Nashville Symphony Accelerando

Jonathan Martinez
Trombone
Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative

Cameron Hall
Tuba
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Talent Development Program

Wanye Williams
Percussion
Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative

Raymond Macias
Percussion
Youth Orchestras of San Antonio Rising Stars