Showcasing Emerging Talent
The Equity Arc Pathways 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 Pathways Orchestra rehearses and performs as part of Equity Arc’s National Convening, typically held in the spring.
Audition Eligibility & Requirements
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. Pathways program alumni are eligible if they graduated from their program in good standing and are 21 years old or younger as of January 1, 2026. You will need to sign an eligibility statement as part of your application.
Dates, Location and Travel:
- The Equity Arc Pathways Orchestra will be held in the Washington, D.C. metro area from April 30 – May 3, 2026. It will be in residence concurrently with the Equity Arc Wind Symphony.
- The Equity Arc Pathways Orchestra is tuition-free, and Equity Arc covers travel and hotel expenses for accepted musicians.
Audition Timeline:
- Applications are due by 11:59 pm ET on October 15, 2025.
The Audition:
- Solo Work: The solo should be 3-5 minutes of any work of your choice and may be performed with or without accompaniment.
- Orchestral Excerpts: Two contrasting orchestral excerpts of your choice.
You are encouraged to pick a piece with your private instructor that best demonstrates your musical abilities. Professional recording equipment is not required.
Questions? Watch the virtual Pathways Orchestra info session, or send an email to mark@equityarc.org.
View Past Pathways Orchestra Fellows
“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
Music Director
Lina González-Granados
Praised for her “rich, heartfelt orchestral sound” (Chicago Sun-Times), “rhythmic vitality” (San Francisco Chronicle) and “raw power” (LA Times), Colombian American conductor Lina González-Granados has distinguished herself nationally and internationally as a singular talent. Her spectacular interpretations of the symphonic and operatic repertoire, as well as her dedication to highlighting new and unknown works by Latin American composers, have earned her international recognition. Most recently, she was named one of Bloomberg Línea’s 100 Influential Latinos of 2022. She is also the recipient of the 2021 Sphinx Medal of Excellence, the Third Prize and ECHO Special Award (European Concert Hall Organization) of La Maestra Competition, and the 2020 and 2021 Solti Foundation US Career Assistance Award.
After winning the Fourth Chicago Symphony Orchestra Sir Georg Solti International Conducting Competition, Lina was named the Solti Conducting Apprentice, and served as the assistant to Maestro Riccardo Muti from February 2020 through June 2023. In the fall of 2022, she was appointed Resident Conductor by the LA Opera, a post she will hold through June 2028. She has also previously held positions as the Inaugural Conducting Fellow of the Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as the Conducting fellow of the Seattle Symphony.
Faculty
Juliana Athayde
Violin
Concertmaster of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra since 2005, Juliana Athayde serves as Artistic Director of the Society for Chamber Music in Rochester. Associate Professor of Violin at the Eastman School of Music, Ms. Athayde is a passionate educator and teaches masterclasses across the country, including frequent visits to the New World Symphony, NOI + Festival and Carnegie Hall’s NYO-USA.
Matt Young
Viola
Matt grew up on a farm in Kentucky, and joined the SFS viola section in 2012. A previous member of the Minnesota Orchestra, he was a founding member of the Verklärte Quartet, Grand Prize of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. He’s co-artistic director of the Duluth Chamber Music Festival. Winner of a 2007 McKnight Artist Fellowship and the Robert Vernon Prize for Viola Performance.
Brinton Averil Smith
Cello
The principal cellist of the Houston Symphony and faculty at the Shepherd School of Music and the Aspen Music Festival, Smith’s renowned recordings include groundbreaking revivals of concerti by Rózsa and Castelnuovo-Tedesco and live youtube performances of unusual cello works and virtuosic transcriptions. He received his masters and doctoral degrees from Juilliard, studying with Zara Nelsova.
Owen Lee
Bass
Owen Lee has been principal bass of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra since 1996. He also teaches at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and during the summer at Chautauqua School of Music. His students can be found in orchestras throughout the world.
Hannah Hammel Maser
Flute
Hannah Hammel Maser is Principal Flute of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and is on the Flute Faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music. A native of Richmond, Virginia, she holds a Bachelor of Music in flute performance and a minor in music theory from the Oberlin Conservatory and a Master of Music from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.
Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida
Oboe
Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida was appointed by Lorin Maazel as Principal Oboe of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 1991. For two years prior, she was Associate Principal Oboe of the Philadelphia Orchestra under Riccardo Muti. She has performed as guest Principal Oboe with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Seiji Ozawa and with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Riccardo Muti.
Joshua Elmore
Bassoon
Joshua Elmore is Principal Bassoon of the San Francisco Symphony. A Juilliard Kovner Fellow, he has performed with major orchestras including the Boston Symphony, New York Philharmonic, and Chineke!, and appeared at Carnegie Hall with the Gateways Festival Orchestra. He is passionate about music education and nurturing young musicians.
David Bilger
Trumpet
David Bilger is Professor of Trumpet at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. From 1995 to 2022, he held the position of Principal Trumpet of The Philadelphia Orchestra, having previously held the same position with the Dallas Symphony. Mr. Bilger recently completed his 27th and final year on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music.
William D. Caballero
Horn
Presently he is an Associate Teaching Professor of Horn at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA. Other teaching positions have included Adjunct Teacher of Horn at Rice University and Duquesne University. Master classes and teaching have included Northwestern University, Indiana University (Bloomington), Maryland University (College Park), New England Conservatory, Colburn Conservatory, Curtis Institute of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, Beijing Conservatory, Shanghai Conservatory, and the Pacific Music Festival (Sapporo, Japan).
Kenneth Thompkins
Trombone
Kenneth Thompkins is currently the Associate Professor of Trombone at Michigan State University. He was Principal Trombone of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra from 1997 to 2024. Thompkins has performed masterclasses and recitals at many institutions including the Curtis Institute of Music, The Juilliard School, Peabody Conservatory, and the Eastman School of Music.
Kyle Turner
Tuba
Kyle Turner was Principal tuba with the New York Philharmonic for 3 complete seasons as a full time interim player. He is currently the Principal tuba player with the American Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. Mr. Turner teaches at the Manhattan School of Music, New York University, Montclair State University and the Juilliard Pre-College/MAP.
Joshua Jones
Percussion
Josh Jones is a Chicago native and accomplished percussionist who has been playing drums since the age of three. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from the DePaul School of Music, and held the position of principal percussionist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, and Grant Park Orchestra, where he is currently based.
