Gateways Music Festival

It was a day we won’t soon forget!! 🙂‍↔️ Young string players from all over joined Gateways teaching artists for a super fun day of music-making at the Young Musicians Institute.

The magic of YMI lies in its ability to connect musicians and artists across generations. This year, Josh Henderson (violin), Alexandria Hill (violin), Jennifer Arnold (viola), Angelique Montes (cello), Anthony Morris (string bass), program director Armand Hall and conductor Jherrard Hardeman led the immersive “Day of Strings”, sitting among the students in the orchestra, guiding them through musical pieces, and offering encouragement and direction. As a pillar of Gateways Music Festival’s programming, we’re inspired year after year to cultivate a nurturing space for young players to learn from artist-educators who look like them. 🙌🏾

Our is best summed up in one word: JOY 📣 We are continually grateful for the opportunity to showcase the brilliance and the dedication of Black classical artists and honored to have the support of so many friends and supporters.

💚 Shout out to .alexvndria .us for bringing your artistry front and center and to our partners .school for your support.

👏🏾 A round of applause to the amazing team 🙌🏾 and a special thank you to all of for showing up and showing out.

⭐️ The magic of our festival is the community within and surrounding it and we couldn’t be more honored to celebrate Black classical artistry with all of you. 🙂‍↔️

…our sentiments exactly!! What a remarkable week of music making it’s been at our Fall Festival! 🙌🏾 As we head into tonight’s closing, SOLD OUT evening concert featuring the , we are grateful to all of for sharing the joy of artistry with us …more highlights on the way! ‼️❤️

Young string players are invited for a merry day of music-making at Eastman School of Music! 🎻 Join us at the , a free, full-day immersive experience, focusing on music-making, collaboration, and creativity, culminating in a showcase performance at .

Register your student or child 🎈 https://wkf.ms/3TsC8qq

See you there!! 🤩

The countdown to the 2024 has begun! 📣 Unfolding at Eastman School of Music, the festival’s centerpiece performances include a piano recital by in collaboration with the George Walker Center for Equity and Inclusion in Music and a vibrant concert highlighting the genre-defying, multi-instrumental versatility of violinist and the Gateways String Artists.  🎻

The Young Musicians Institute will offer a free, full-day of music-making for young string players ages 9 years old and up.  The Earshot CoLABoratory, produced in partnership with the American Composers Orchestra, will develop Jordyn Davis’s definition-expanding new composition for orchestra.

The festival will explore the influence of Black classical artistry with a night of film, discussion and performance centering the legacy of “The Harlem Hellfighters”, 🎥 the all-Black WWI regiment led by legendary bandleader and composer James Reese Europe, who forever changed the landscape of American music, and concludes with a celebratory concert featuring the Gateways Brass Collective, marking a triumphant end to the Fall Festival.

🟠 All Fall Festival events are FREE with RSVP, “Pay-What-You-Choose” or ticketed general admission, with new full festival passes also available! 💫

💚 Join us in Rochester to celebrate the past and present of Black classical artistry!!

I invite you to attend the Ode to the Black Fiddler on Saturday, September 7, from 1 to 9 pm at the Bronx Brewery.

Founded 8 years ago by the wonderful violinist and entrepreneur Iymaani Abdul-Hamid, this day-long celebration showcases amazing music, award-winning artists, delicious food and drinks, DJ sets, and much more!

Gateways Music Festival is delighted to co-host and support Iymaani and these other extraordinary artists!

For more information, go to:

8th Annual Ode to the Black Fiddler (OBF) Music Festival Prepare for the 8th Annual OBF Music Festival – a full day of extraordinary string music, amazing food, local vendors & vibrant atmosphere!

Congratulations to the Gateways Brass Collective on their successful performances and clinic at the Texas Bandmasters Association 2024 Convention! Look for more pictures soon!

Do not miss the Gateways Brass Collective in San Antonio at Texas Bandmasters Association 2024 conference!

We are excited to have the Gateways Brass Collective as one our featured groups for the 2024 TBA Convention! They will perform at the TBA Opening Session on Thursday, July 25 at 9:00 AM in Lila Cockrell Theatre. You also have a chance to see them as a part of "Strategic Approaches to Building a Successful Band Through Brass Quintets" on Friday, July 26 at 11:00 AM in Bridge Hall!

Reflecting on Day 4 of our incredible week-long residency in Chicago, featuring three memorable events at the South Shore Cultural Center.

The evening began with the Paul J. Burgett lecture & community conversation with Dr. Horace Maxiel, Jr., offering profound insights on Black compositional traditions.

Next, violinist Caitlin Edwards curated a remarkable Chamber Music concert, featuring outstanding classical musicians from Chicago and around the country.

We ended the night with D-Composed Chicago "D-Composition X Love is…" performance, a powerful blend of chamber music, poetry from six incredible poets, and archival home movie footage by .

We sincerely thank Dr. Horace Maxiel Jr., Caitlin Edwards, D-Composed, and all the talented musicians and artists for their dedication and exceptional work. We are especially grateful to the South Shore Cultural Center for their warm hospitality and support.

Gateways Music Festival thrives on the shared experiences of Black musicians. Your donations help us host festivals and year-round programs, fostering a vibrant community of artists. Let's continue to pave the way for groundbreaking expressions of Black creativity.

***Donate to our spring appeal, and you'll automatically be entered to win a Gateways hoodie. 🎁 But wait, there's more! If you donate $100 or more, you'll also be entered to win a pair of Beats by Dre headphones! 🎧***

Visit https://www.gatewaysmusicfestival.org/checkout/donate?donatePageId=616a6ab448caf16d9d4c2d0a or the to give today.

Reflecting on a remarkable season at Gateways Music Festival! From Carnegie Hall to Symphony Center, we celebrate so many unforgettable moments. Your support empowers us to elevate Black artistry in classical music. Join us in making a difference.

***Donate to our spring appeal, and you’ll automatically be entered to win a Gateways hoodie. 🎁 But wait, there’s more! If you donate $100 or more, you’ll also be entered to win a pair of Beats by Dre headphones! 🎧***

Visit https://www.gatewaysmusicfestival.org/checkout/donate?donatePageId=616a6ab448caf16d9d4c2d0a or the to give today.

1. Reception before the Gateways Festival Orchestra’s debut performance on April 19, 2024, at Symphony Center. Photography: Todd Rosenberg ()
2. 2022 Gateways Music Festival Carnegie Hall debut with conductor Anthony Parnther and singer-songwriter, Jon Batiste. Photography: Chris Lee.
3-5. 2022 Gateways Music Festival debut at Carnegie Hall with Gateways Festival Orchestra and conductor Anthony Parnther. Photography: Chris Lee.
6. 2024 Gateways Music Festival Symphony Center debut, featuring award-winning a ca****la group, Take 6, and conductor, Anthony Parnther. Photography: Todd Rosenberg.
7-10. 2024 Gateways Festival Orchestra debut performance at Symphony Center with conductor, Anthony Parnther.

🏆WIN ME! 🏆

Make your donation of any size by June 30th and you are automatically entered to win one of five Gateways’ hoodies. If you donate $100 or more, you’ll also be entered to win a pair of Beats by Dre headphones.

🌟All online donations made from May 31st to June 30th will be counted. 🌟

Thank you for supporting Gateways Music Festival!

Visit https://www.gatewaysmusicfestival.org/donate-now or the to give today.

Happy Juneteenth! Today, we commemorate June 19, 1865, when word finally reached enslaved African Americans in Texas that they were freed. This historic photograph from June 19, 1900, in Austin, Texas, features the Emancipation Day Celebration Band, captured 34 years after the first Juneteenth. As we reflect on our shared heritage, resilience, and pivotal moments in history, let us remember: the sweetest and most beautiful music is that which brings more justice in the world.

Photo courtesy of Austin History Center / Austin Public Library

Congratulations to , a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, for winning the fourth annual Emerging Black Composers Project (EBCP) prize, announced in May! The San Francisco Symphony, in partnership with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, will premiere Tyler’s commissioned work during their 2025-26 season under the direction of Cristian Măcelaru. This prestigious award is named the “Michael Morgan Prize,” after the celebrated conductor and musician. Michael Morgan led the Gateways Music Festival Orchestra for over 25 years, conducting the very first Gateways Music Festival in 1993. We’re excited that his name and legacy live on through this award and the next generation of rising musicians.

Stewart Goodyear's piano recital at the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall, Bienen School of Music, Northwestern University, marked a standout moment in our Chicago residency. His remarkable artistry and brilliance captivated the audience, leaving a lasting impression on all in attendance. We extend our gratitude to Stewart Goodyear for his extraordinary talent and commitment to his craft, and to the Bienen School of Music for graciously providing the venue for this incredible concert.

Today, our esteemed colleague and former President & Artistic Director, Lee Koonce, is honored with the League of American Orchestras’ Gold Baton Award. This prestigious recognition, whose past recipients have included Leonard Bernstein, Yo-Yo Ma, and John Williams, highlights Lee’s transformative leadership and his unwavering commitment to advancing Black classical artistry.

Over the last 15 years, Lee not only revolutionized Gateways Music Festival but also etched its legacy into the fabric of the classical music landscape at large. From our sold-out Carnegie Hall debut to the establishment of a full-time staff and national touring, Lee’s impact has been profound and inspired us all through the power of community and performance.

As we approach the end of our fiscal year on June 30th, we are in the midst of a crucial fundraising push to meet our goals. Your year-end gift is vital to these efforts. Together, let’s celebrate Lee’s remarkable contributions and support the future of Gateways Music Festival. ✨